So, every year I decide I should do daily devotions :) It lasts for about a week... a month at most. I was actually laughing about it today because I'm always so into it until I just straight up forget for the rest of the year. It's also funny that it's a yearly thing. All that to say I have once again decided it's time for daily devotions and yesterdays has stuck with me for quite awhile. So... I want to share it. I hope you enjoy.
It's from "My Utmost for His Highest."

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us."
        John 17:21

         "If you are going through a solitary way, read John 17, it will explain exactly why you are where you are--Jesus has prayed that you may be one with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or have you some other end for your life? Since you became a disciple you cannot be as independent as you used to be.
           The purpose of God is not to answer our prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mid of God, and must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus-- "that they may be one, even as We are One." Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?
            God is not concerned about our plans; He does say-- Do you want to go through this beravement; this upset? He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either makings us sweeter, better, nobler men and women; or they are making us more captious and fault-finding, more insistant upon our own way. The things that happen either make us fiends, or they make us saints; it depends entirely upon the relationship we in to God. If we say-- "Thy will be done," we get the consolation of John 17, the consolation of knowing that our Father is working according to His own kingdom. When we understand what God is after we will not get mean and cynical. Jesus has prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far off it, and yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him, because Jesus prayed that we may be.

It was good talking to you.
Halie
 

Today I am Thankful.

Thankful that God has had enough grace to bring me to this point and that the Holy Spirit continues to work and open my eyes to things.

For so long I have fought to call my self a christian and yet fought even harder to live another way. Trying and trying to make my god conform to me. Trying to find myself in this world yet avoiding the fact that Christ says we find ourselves in Him and also to lay down our old self and take up His cross. 

I have more to say but I need to go to work so maybe later...

me

Do you ever wonder...

How you can sit in church and pray and pray and pray that this week would be different and then even before the sermon is over your mind is already set on the week ahead and your begging prayers forgotten?
I don't know why but every Sunday I sit in church, crycrycry and then almost refuse to follow Christ through out the week.
I feel kinda crazy right now...

This World.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I hear there has been another earthquake and tens of thousands of people are dead. Not overwhelmed like what can I do but overwhelmed like "How much more can happen before this all just becomes the norm and people stop responding?" I don't think will stop responding all together but when the tsunami in Japan happened everyone jumped on it and helped, raised money all that but lately I've been realizing that big things happen very often and people need help ALL THE TIME... sometimes growing up sucks.

Self Care.

Let us talk about this notion.
Self Care.
Last week I met with a friend to talk about some things and as I was leaving she kept saying to me "self care, self care, self care."
I thought it was simple enough. I take care of myself everyday.
Almost a week later and I'm realizing I do not take care of myself everyday. Self care is actually more than waking up 10 minutes late, brushing your teeth, awkwardly smiling at yourself in the mirror trying to reassure yourself that you do actually look good, running to the barn to do chores knowing I won't eat until around 2ish and won't leave the barn until around 10pm. That's how I take care of myself... basically by running myself into the ground.
Honestly I don't see it as running myself into the ground at the time. I love (understatement) my job and do not mind working 14 hour days. I don't always work that long but this last week the lady that normally does morning chores was sick so I took on her hours.
Either way, I was thinking this morning a lot about the importance of taking care of yourself because well... in order to not let other down even if you are attempting to not let others down by not putting yourself first, you will eventually get to a point where you just can't do it anymore. So... I definitely have not reached the "I can't do it" point but I have reached the "Is God in this anymore" point.
That's the biggest uh-oh of not taking care of yourself. Or of me not taking care of myself. God and everything gets thrown out the window.
So... how do we change this?
Seems like it could be simple but I think it will be a hit or miss kind of thing.
I've never been the kind of girl to wake up early to put on makeup and actually make myself look good for the day and I think I'm going to start there.
Seems silly, I know but I've actually always wanted to be that girl that wakes up and cares about what she looks like because well.. the first thing you've done with your day is take of yourself... I think...
I'll let your know how this goes.
If you have any self care ideas let me know.

State Fair.

Yesterday was my birthday and I decided that after I got morning chores done and went to church I wanted to go to the fair. So I did and it was probably the best time I've had in a long time. I saw part of a sheep show, a kid playing with his trucks in the dirt in his wranglers and cowboy boots, swine auction, more men in wranglers and cowboy boots and hats than I've seen in a long time (one of the best parts of the day), some lambs, puppy for sale :) which in turn made me want a puppy. I saw all kinds of great things. It makes me miss the days of showing. Those were long days but fun and worth it :)

I'm usually absolutely sure...

that God just wants the worst for me all the time.
It's not true of course but how do you change such thinking?
Read your bible and get truth in your brain... I hate when I ask questions and then almost immediately I know the answer but I swear I didn't know the answer yesterday when I was asking myself the same question.