Hebrews 10:24-25

Hello, all my lovely GROW friends! I missed you all last week! I got pretty sick and didn't do much of anything Internet related for the whole week. Even still I am under the weather. I am also trying to draft this post with Hubby and Baby Girl hanging on me, so please bear with any incoherent thoughts. This will also probably be short! But, I didn't want to miss out on another GROW linkup, especially in light of this week's verse!!

The verse this week was Hebrews 10:24-25: "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." 

Uff-da! Is it just me or are these verses just heavy?!

Verse 24 is just fantastic. I feel like it should be the motto of my life. Let us think of ways to motivate one another. Okay. Let's get real, friends. How can I motivate you to acts of good works?? In which ways can I help you in acts of love?? God didn't want us to just say "Ah, what a mighty good verse. We should do that" and part ways.

Let's get practical. 

I feel that the GROW link-ers are pretty close. Each week we spend our time contemplating the same verse, looking at it from all angles, growing close to God, and sharing our thoughts and insights with each other. GROW is one way to motivate each other. But who is willing to take it the next step? Our GROW posts motivate us to think about God and grow in our walk, but how can we motivate each other to acts of love and good works? This is where God really wants to take us.

I am dying to read everyone else's posts on this verse!!

Verse 25 is just as involved. We cannot neglect meeting with each other. It's why I am here, writing brief thoughts to share with you. I didn't want to neglect meeting with you again. The importance of meeting with other Christian friends hides in the last bit "especially now that they day of his return is drawing near".

I think we all know how much of a struggle this life can be. Motherhood is tough. The world is changing so fast. Our children will be growing up in a world where videos like Miley Cyrus' latest is the norm. We need to be meeting together and encouraging one another. As the day of God's return draws near, it is going to get worse. As Christians, we will have nothing but each other to turn to on this earth, to look to for parenting help, homemaking help, work place help, educational advice... But if we become wrapped up in our own little busy worlds, if we neglect our time together, we miss all of that, and we miss community that God intends for us.

We need to stick together, we need to be a team, we need to be community. Not where we just check in, get something for ourselves, but where we check in, connect, spend time, pray, and pour into others.

This verse motivates me! I hope it motivates you as well :)

How can we get practical?  Share some ways I can help motivate you to acts of love and good works!! 

September 2013 Goals

First, a review of August!!!

Ten Goals for August 2013

1. Read at least 5 fiction books.

2. Read at least 3 non-fiction books. Read 2: 50 Fridays Marriage Challenge and Desperate. 

3. Workout at least 2x a week.  I did once a week! Go me. I went on frequent walks with hubby, but don't consider it a workout per se, because we bring baby in stroller and stroll around. 

4. Have "mommy time" 1x a week.  Not even close ://

5. Complete 1 ''big'' cleaning project each week.  mostly :D 

6. Finish season 6 of Doctor Who with Hubby.  And beyond! We should be finishing season 7.2 soon!

7. Complete the "Anything" study from GMG (although I finished the book I didn't finish the study. Oops.)

8. Try 2 new recipes. I tried a new banana bread glaze and an orzo recipe. 

9. Choose 5 signs for Selah and really focus on them all month long. (I have been signing with Selah since 6 or 7 months old. She recognizes "eat" and kind of "more", but I really want to put more focus on this to cut out some frustrations) I stuck with the two signs, 'eat' and 'more', but when I do other signs like 'book' or 'ball' she watches intently.

10. Complete one large craft.   I did some glass painting on my tall drinking glasses. I will try to remember to share a picture soon! 


So, five of my ten goals were completed. Others made good progress and came close. Others weren't even touched. In lieu of this, I think I am going to cut back on my September goals, setting only 5. 

Five Goals for September 2013

1. Workout 2x a week.

2 . Read 3 non-fiction books.

3. Plan and craft for Baby Girl's 1st Birthday Party

4. Complete one large craft.

5. Try 1 new Crockpot Recipe

A short list mayhaps, but hefty goals. #3 will require lists upon lists of its own! Since it is her first and it is really just for me :) I want to plan something nice. Her birthday is in October, so if I can get some of the craftiness done in September, I know I can do some nice things by hand to keep costs down. 

Tell me, what are your September goals? Have any End of the Summer plans? Any Fall Bucket list items you can't wait to check off??