Motl Ministries for Her

February Freebies - Day 3

2012-02-02T21:55:00.000-08:00

This week's February Freebies centers around the theme: Matters of the Heart

This audio message is titled: Beautiful in His Eyes and was given as part of a three session series at a mother-daughter retreat.

This message highlights one part of the seven week Bible study: My Reflection in His Eyes - Seeing Yourself as God Sees You

Click the link below to purchase this study - $10.00

February Freebies - Day 2

2012-02-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

This week's February Freebies centers around the theme: Matters of the Heart

This audio message is titled: Guarding your H.E.A.R.T. and was given at a mother-daughter Valentine's tea. Above all else, guard your heart because it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

February Freebies - Day 1

2012-02-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

This week's freebies center around the theme: Matters of the Heart

The first audio message is titled, The Lord, My Defender. It was given at Pine Valley Bible Camp's Women's Retreat.

Generations Before Us

2012-01-30T04:46:00.000-08:00

The captain of the LORD'S host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:15

Years earlier a similar exchange had occurred between Moses and the Lord...

That time God spoke through a burning bush. But in both instances the Lord required His audience to remove their sandals. Previously in the book of Joshua God parted the Jordan River paralleling the way He parted the Red Sea. Each event had its own signature circumstances, yet each had similar outcomes. However, at the end of the day, it was Joshua and his generation that obeyed the Lord and received their Promised Land. Moses was successfully used to bring the people out of bondage, but Joshua was the instrument God used to bring them into freedom.

Each generation is given the same call, “choose this day whom you will serve!” (Joshua 24:15). While every generation has marked similarities, each one has its own distinctiveness as well. This interaction between God and his selected leaders from two generations reflects this same concept. Our fathers before us were given choices to make concerning their faith, obedience and devotion to God. Regardless of their decisions, we have our own to make. We can look into God’s Word and let it shape us into the woman we were meant to be.

Some of us have been handed down a great legacy of faith and some of us are the first to call on the name of the Lord in our family. There are also a great many of us who were brought up in a church environment yet perhaps the examples around us were a little more like Moses’ generation of peers- those with faith, but just not enough faith and obedience to press on to their Promised Land. Sometimes, those around us can easily discourage our whole-hearted devotion to the Lord. When we see Christian leaders fail us or discover some kind of misuse of power our vision can get clouded over. I often tell those around me who are facing that same discouragement that they cannot let someone else’s relationship with God define theirs. When I see Jesus face to face and give an account for my days here on earth, I can’t say, “I could have run the race harder or more diligently, but I just got my feeling hurt because she gossipped about me or because he was such a power-monger that I gave up on church, etc, etc.” Regardless of those around us and those before us, we have choices to make today! It might be a choice in your church, or it might be a choice in your family or workplace. There are some roads that every generation walks down. When you get there you decide whom you will serve. Maybe it’s time to take your shoes off and let God hand you a pair that was custom made for your life, fashioned in His truth, supported in His love and propelled by His grace. Look into His Word for your answers and direction. Wrestle with it until you understand how to apply it and then run in His ways!

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Looking for more encouragement in your walk with God?

Check out Walking with Jesus 101: One Hundred and One Days of Devotionals to Strengthen your Walk with God

Most of us have wished for a Cinderella moment when we could step into a new pair of shoes and in the blink of an eye have our lives transformed. Or, perhaps like Dorothy, we wish we could close our eyes, click our heels and find ourselves instantly transported away from the adventure we accidentally got dropped into. While it might not come from new shoes or heel clicking, God knows our need for a changed life and fresh start! Discover the life transformation that happens when you say "Yes" to God and step into His fullness. Walking with Jesus 101 is a collection of devotionals journeying through the Scriptures that point our feet to God's pathway for living. What walk of obedience, leap of faith or stand of endurance might God be calling you to? He has good things stored up for His children who eagerly seek His highway for living!

Confession from a Woman in the Woods

2012-01-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

This guy was in our backyard

Warning! Warning! This post (and all similarly titled sequel posts) might be a little messy. There. You have been forewarned....

Almost six months ago now, my husband and I moved from sunny SoCal to New England. The changes have been wildly intense. So. Wild. I tend to divulge way more than is necessary, healthy or helpful for any party involved so I really haven't written about it much - hoping to save both of us from irrevocable, eternally-cemented-in-blogger awkwardness. But today, I thought I'd share a somewhat messy, but honest, rambling confession from what I've learned so far...

Be grateful! Another friend (who is the sweetest thing since apple pie) moved out to PA from our community back home. (Another aside - her story is amazing and maybe one day she will share it with all of us - her story, her and her family are all amazing and knowing them just blesses me beyond words!) Anyway, she moved out this way too, but strangely, God moved both of us to this coast, but we are six stinkin' hours away from each other. So no scrappin' nights or swinging by Starbucks together (ooops! I'm in Dunkin' land - almost forgot ;) ). Huge bummer. But in a unique way we are sort of in this boat together. Her mom and grandma (ladies I also adore!) have taken turns living with her in order to help her navigate her new life back East as a single mom (an amazing single mom, I might add). As her and I have talked, and her mom and I have talked, we have all come to the conclusion that we didn't mean to, but there were things we should have been more grateful for back home. Things like warmth, like being able to get outside easier, soul-feeding Mexican food restaurants on every corner, that the roads of the West that are laid out in a more grid-like fashion and don't have wicked snow ruts or toll roads, the beach and mountains being just an hour apart, like not having mice, squirrels and chipmunks in my house! Stuff like that. Oh, not to mention our FAMILIES that we miss far more than we even previously realized was humanly possible. So, I didn't mean to be ungrateful back home - but now I am trying even harder to be grateful right where I am now. No matter where any of us live, we have more than we realize that we can be grateful for. Even though it sounds a little hokey, legs, arms and eyes that work even remotely well are huge things to be grateful for. So! I am learning to be more grateful :)

And just for kicks, here's today's grateful list.

I'm thankful for:

- God's grace that saved me, despite me
- my man (who is cute, sweet and just plain wonderful... who I am totally in love with!)
- our marriage (and every bump in the road we've crossed together)
- our health - and the fact that we are both healthy together!

- my utterly precious little gray shadow Toby dog!

(aka Tobers, Little Dog, little bear and monkey (bet cha didn't know we were that weird and had that many names for our very small dog;) )

- My dear, dear sisters! One of which just came to visit! They are my best friends and the ones I have laughed and cried with more than just about anyone else.
- The precious opportunities the Lord has given us to serve Him
- And lastly (for today) I am thankful for the way He has woven His love, grace, support and provision for us through His people - our family in Christ. Many of whom are reading this post. You have been a blessing to us beyond words. We love you! Thank you!

Well, that's it for today. We all lived through that rambling post :) Happy Friday!

Me and my dear friend @ Sturbridge Village

A different world

2012-01-23T13:20:00.000-08:00

You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes. You are to perform My judgments and keep My statutes, to live in accord with them; I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 18:3-4 NAS

Remember playing outside as a kid and then hearing your mom call you in for dinner?

It was often so hard to pull away from the pretend world of knights and dragons and back into reality. But as soon as you hit the table your pretend world drifted from desire as food filled that hungry place. Playtime ended years ago, but we are still being called away from one world and into another, one that offers real fulfillment.

Just as the children of Israel were called out of the ways of the world around them, as Christians and children of the Most High God we too are called to live differently from the ways of our world. Over every area of our lives we are given the choice to answer God’s call to come with Him or follow after the ways of the world.

Think about how the world goes about finding a spouse. God gives us examples of how He brings love and marriage into the lives of His people.

In Genesis 2:20-25 we see that God specifically designed a helper that would be just right for Adam and then brought her to him. In Genesis 24 we see how God hand picked the right woman for his son Isaac. In the story of Ruth we see God answer the heart’s desire of a foreign woman who had been widowed at a young age and the longing of an older man who loved and served the Lord. The love story there is written with faith and trust in hearts that waited for the Lord’s provision. You are God’s loved and special child just like these men and women. Will He not work in your life in this area as well? If you are looking for “the one,” consider how God might be calling you away from the ways the world goes about finding a spouse.

The list of the things we do that might look like the world goes on and on. How do we define beauty, importance, value? How do we spend our money, time, talents? How do we talk to our husbands and children? How do we respond to troubles and turmoil? God is calling you out of the world and into His ways of abundance and blessing. Will you let Him be the LORD your God and follow after Him? He only has your best interest at heart.

“I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly” – Jesus. John 10:10

Everyone Needs a Cheerleader

2012-01-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

Just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

One of the most profound blessings in my walk with God has been the process of mentoring.

When I was a senior in high school, I realized I had a number of snags in my life that required extra help from an outside source. A "mentor" or discipler is someone who can walk beside you (often for a season or specific purpose) to help you along the path of growth. The woman who mentored me is still involved in my life, but for a season of about nine months I saw her nearly every week as we went through a discipleship program and Bible study. She then invited me into her life by helping or joining her at ministry events. I got to learn from those experiences what can only be "caught, not taught"!

In the passage above, Paul says that he was exhorting, encouraging and imploring the Christians there at Thessalonica. The first two words have the phrase along side of compounded in the original Greek word. The third word requires a coming along side of in its definition as well.[1]

Discipleship is just that: coming along side another brother or sister in the Lord to help them in their walk. Paul used three words to describe his heart toward the people. One word wouldn't suffice. No three were necessary because he was so intently there next to them, watching every step and rooting for them every moment.

The woman who mentored me painted a word picture of those encouraging, exhorting, imploring sort of relationships that will stick with me always. When she and her husband were building their house she learned a construction term that beautifully depicted these relationships. The term is called sistering. This concept of sistering is employed by nailing two 2x4's together as support beams. The two sets of beams could bear more weight when they were nailed together than if they were used separately. Just like 2x4's, our lives are able to bear up against the burdens of life when someone else comes alongside us!

All of us need cheerleaders in our life. We were wired to need other people.

Take time to think of someone in your past and someone in your present who cheers you on in your walk with God. Then shoot them an email or card, thanking them for the impact they had in your life. If you can't think of someone who has been a cheerleader for you, ask God to show you someone who could be. And then invest the time and effort in making that relationship successful. Be honest with that person, even vulnerable.

Then look around and see who you might encourage in their walk with the Lord. Be available to them, love them with your encouragement and prayers. Your walk with God will be so much richer!

Choosing (and being) a good discipler: Lots of people out there offer their opinions and guidance, but not all of them are good disciplers. Use these questions to guide you as you select someone you want to learn from:

- Has a relationship with God that I admire
- Has relationships with people I respect
- Has a quality I want to learn to have also
- Has wisdom on a certain issue I need
- Is not currently trapped in sin (Everyone makes mistakes, but your discipler should not be actively
involved in a habitual sin)
- Is trustworthy
- Will not make fun of you and will keep what you share in confidence
- Is the same gender as me (guys with guys, gals with gals)
- Will look out for my best interest
- Will be honest with me, even if that means telling me something that might offend me

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[1] Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. PC Study Bible. 1994
Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. PC Study Bible. 1994

Looking for more encouragement in your walk with God?

Check out Walking with Jesus 101: One Hundred and One Days of Devotionals to Strengthen your Walk with God

Most of us have wished for a Cinderella moment when we could step into a new pair of shoes and in the blink of an eye have our lives transformed. Or, perhaps like Dorothy, we wish we could close our eyes, click our heels and find ourselves instantly transported away from the adventure we accidentally got dropped into. While it might not come from new shoes or heel clicking, God knows our need for a changed life and fresh start! Discover the life transformation that happens when you say "Yes" to God and step into His fullness. Walking with Jesus 101 is a collection of devotionals journeying through the Scriptures that point our feet to God's pathway for living. What walk of obedience, leap of faith or stand of endurance might God be calling you to? He has good things stored up for His children who eagerly seek His highway for living!

New Year's Confession

2012-01-02T12:07:00.000-08:00

I have a New Year’s confession... Every year I decide that this will be the year I remember everyone’s birthday by sending a card (a card that is on time - unlike my usual, “if it’s not late, it wouldn’t be from me” kind of birthday remembrances!), memorize Scripture, lose weight and actually put into practice amazing organizational systems that will keep everything in my world on time, neat, clean and .... well, perfect!

And every year I fail!

If you are like me, you probably have a list of amazing resolutions that would turn you into Superwoman... but fall short of her tall profile. Maybe you are already Superwoman, in which case, discontinue reading this post. But if you are looking at 2012, wanting to grow without nursing the guilt trip over never being perfect, maybe you also share my New Year’s confession.

This year, my heart’s prayer is to just be faithful!

I’m not going to be a perfect wife, with a spotless house and amazing, eternally-ready-for-whatever-schedule-life-takes-us-on hot dinners, or always have a sweet, serene smile on my face. But I want to be faithful in my calling as a wife. I want to be faithful with the opportunities to love my man, encourage him and care for him. I’m far from a perfect pastor’s wife and I want to kick that hamster wheel of expectations I can run myself through. I want to be faithfully available for however God wants to use me and seek His desires for me - nothing more, nothing less. I won’t be a perfect friend. But I would want my friends to know I am a faithful friend. And as a writer... well, thank God for editors! While I might read others' work and marvel at their insight, turn of phrase or how well they maneuver social media and writing platforms, I just want to be faithful to share what God lays on my heart. I don’t want to be distracted by what my writing is or isn’t, I just want it to reflect a heart of faithfulness to my God.

As I consider all the places I have walked with the Lord, there is one thing I am confident of! God has been so incredibly faithful to me! My prayer for 2012 is that I might grow in my faithfulness to Him.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful , for He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 NAS

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If you’d like to join me, this year I am going through a Scripture Memorization/Meditation list that you can download for free. It is a compilation of 52 verses focusing on faith, hope and love that have been formatted into pretty little cards. I want to grow in these attributes and so I am setting my heart’s focus on them through Scripture memorization and meditation. If you’d like to join me, just visit the website, sign up for the weekly email updates and we’ll send you the download, or email info@motlministries.com

Blessings to you in 2012!

A New Year & New Things!

2011-12-29T17:27:00.001-08:00

He put anew song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:3 NAS

Happy New Year! On this side of the computer there have been lots of changes and lots of new things!

My husband and I moved across country a little over three months ago - what a change! We are learning to serve a new church and community, learning our way around geographically and relationally, and adjusting to what each of those changes brings to our family.

One of the ministry changes that we prayed over and are excited to share with you is that we are merging, moving and shifting our efforts to collaborate on this single website :) All the In His Eyes Ministries devotionals and updates will continue through Motl Ministries. Eric's messages and devotionals will also be moved to Motl Ministries.

We are also moving print published materials to ebooks and downloads. We are hoping this will be a good way to share our hearts with more people for less expense.

This blog will also be syndicated on crosswalk.com; you can click here if you'd like to connect to our updates via their site.

And last, but not least, you can also connect to us via facebook, twitter and pinterest. Quite honestly, we've avoided the web of networking because it has such a strong whirlpool affect on time - but we are giving it a try for a while :) If it proves fruitful we will keep it up!

All that said, we have some fun stuff coming your way! Freebies, audio downloads and some surprises :) So stay tuned!

Thanks for all of you who have been a blessing and encouragement to both of us as we serve the Lord!
May your New Year be blessed with the sweetness of joy, peace and grace from our Lord!

Standing in the Return Line

2011-12-27T16:45:00.001-08:00

This year the hubby and I had promised not to buy each other Christmas gifts. After our big cross-country move, presents just weren’t in the budget. I had done my best to make cards and small gifts to share our love with close friends and family. And I had only bought a couple, small, true necessity items for my man. But I just love to buy presents! And I especially love to buy presents for my sweetheart....
On a total impulse I found something that I thought would be just perfect for him and even though I knew we’d be really tight, I bought it. I had made sure I could return it, so I figured it was “safe” to buy it! I was so excited to surprise him... and it turned out that he loved it!

It also turned out that despite how fun the surprise was and how much I had picked a winner of a gift, it still had to go back to it’s home at the store.

As I stood in line waiting to return the impulsive Christmas purchase, I was thinking how we could all stand in a line to take back a purchase, but there was no take-back line for most choices in life.

No return line for bad relationships; no return line for hasty words spoken in frustration or pain; no take-back line for the too many cookies I ate this Christmas. No return line for most of the choices that we’d really like to “take back” in life.

There’s no going back. But in Christ, thankfully, we can move forward!

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 NIV

In Christ we can find the grace to cover everything that we wish we could take the “return line” and everything we need to move forward.

As the New Year approaches, may your heart be washed afresh with the freedom that comes from the grace of our Lord - grace enough to cover our past and propel us into a good and hopeful future!