Get Up From Learning and Start Serving

I'm sitting here thinking about something one of our pastors said Sunday morning, and I loosely paraphrase,

"Get up from learning
and start serving."

We should always be in a state of being teachable and learning new things, but it does no good to hang on to knowledge and not pass it on!
I can sit for hours and study God’s Word, or read writings from others.
But I’m just being a consumer. There’s no output, and I feel that’s a HUGE waste of life! 
God has gifted each one of us.
We can each be generous in our gifts by serving.
You can serve in a way that no one else can.
I asked God to show me where I need to serve; to be on mission.
I sheepishly think that I already know the answer and I realize that I’m not walking fully in my “serve”.

Reflection time:

• Have I made myself available?
• When I know that I’ve clearly heard the voice of God speaking to my spirit, do I make excuses and blatantly disobedient?
• How much do I love the God I serve; following His commandment to love others?
• Why am I hesitant or afraid?

These are tough questions for me because it is a call to action and I am without excuse to follow through.

As I take a self-exam, will you be willing to ask those same questions of yourself?
What is your gifting and serve call? How have you been hearing God instruct you?

Do you feel that what you have is too small and ordinary to be used?
Think about this:

”What was once normal and common became supernatural with the touch of God.” –Rich Butler, Restoration Church

 **Updated content: My husband and I were highly encouraged and called to order by the message from our lead pastor Rich Butler at Restoration Church.
Follow this link to hear the message from the Gospel of Mark series, Redefining Apostolic Ministry.


With Sword and Coffee,
Kela

Saturday Ease: Mugs, Coffee, and Great Reading

A friend brought this great offer to my attention! You’d think that I’d already know about it!
My readers and friends know how much I REALLY enjoy coffee.
Just as much, I like pretty, quirky, and basic coffee mugs!

Dayspring has an amazing MUG special going on right! I have two of the mugs from the collection!
Strong and Beautiful and Holly Gerth – Perfectly Loved

Click on the image below!



I also want to draw your attention to coffee!
I’d be remiss to leave you without some steamy, hot coffee to feel those beautiful mugs, right?
I wouldn’t say that I’m a coffee snob, but life is too short to drink bad coffee. 

Delighted and overjoyed could pretty much sum up my emotions when I received a sampling of Avodah Coffee in the mail.
I’ve enjoyed every sip of the samples I’ve received. Its fresh, rich and bold.
To read about the Avodah Coffee brand and the fantastic owners, click  HERE!




I’ve had a great time this week getting to read new websites and blog posts.
I’d like to pass the blessings of those place on to you also!

The Pointed Life (Facebook page)

We’ve Been Robbed by Rebecca Lee Gates
Rebecca lays it down when it comes to taking notice that we truly do have an enemy!
Decaf Devotions by 1 Minute Bible Love Notes
How to Develop a Writing Practice that Works for You by The Gift of Writing
Simple Organization: Goodbye Color-Coded Bins, And Multiple Planners by Simply Living for Him
40 Powerful Blessings to Pray Over Your Marriage by Gary Thomas

Remember the new 31 Days to a Better Marriage {Spring Edition 2015} that will be starting March 1st at Managing Your Blessings!
I’ll have a teaser post waiting for you when its my turn in the series!



*this post contains affiliate links




With Sword and Coffee,
Kela

Making Time To Read

Image courtesy of Apolonia at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 
This post is inspired by the plethora of books I’ve received lately from awesome giveaways, free Kindle books, and book launch teams that I’ve had the privilege to be a part of. {This post contains affiliate links}

One simply doesn’t have time to finish every book they start…or do they? Usually not.

This girl jumps from book to book in a heartbeat. 
As a result, I don’t learn much from what I’m reading.

I used to do very well with finishing books that I start; several books at once.
I read in what I call “clusters”.

I’d choose a book from several different genres to be well-rounded.
God’s Word is of course the only book that has been my constant companion. That’s a given!

I read a blog post from my Abra of Mere Breath : Reading Encouragement for Mommies that reminded me of how I used to cluster read.

I saw my friend, Celeste’s Instagram photo of a stack of books. She had hers in order of reading them. I was inspired to put a plan on paper!

I wrote the following note to myself:

My goal for 2015 is to be intentional in “Cluster Reading”.
Not to set too lofty a goal to condemn myself, but to stretch myself.
My clusters are:

• Spiritual/Prayer
  
• Marriage
  
• Parenting/Home Education
  
• PMA (Positive Mental Attitude/Entrepreneurship)
  
• Writing (skills)

Book choice will change as new books are available/presented.

 

So, friend, how do YOU keep to your reading? Do you intentionally schedule it or does it happen as it happens?

What are you currently reading?

See How I Feel About Books (Pinterest Board)

Happy reading!

With Sword and Coffee,
Kela

God’s Love Changes Me

 
God is love.
It is exactly Who He is and what He does.

Love invokes so many feelings; some great and some…not so great. Today I want to talk about the awesomeness of God’s love and how being alone with Him can send me deeper in love.

Alone with love is being alone with God.

In the quietness of a moment.

{after Jesus fed the five thousand}…
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. – Matthew 14:23 (NKJV)

I’m not saying that what I do as a home-educating mom comes close to the task of feeding and ministering to five thousand people, but…
{Read the rest of Alone With Love at Managing Your Blessings}

 
With Sword and Coffee,
Kela

Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net