The most exciting news to share this month is that grandchild #5 arrived on January 19. His name in Bennett Brooks and he, along with my other four grandchildren, are so precious and bring such joy. I am blessed!!! Laurel captured my first time of holding him and put that picture on my Facebook page. Thanks, Laurel. What a joyful moment that was. As I write this, I'm looking forward to seeing, holding, and cuddling little Bennett tomorrow as I take a trip to Newton. I can't wait!:) Also, will get to see all of my grandchildren when we celebrate Clara's 2nd birthday (January 30) on February 1.
As I mentioned last month, I want to share with you what the Lord has taught me through this past year as I have fasted from all shopping and buying of clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc... for myself. For those of you who didn't read my blog last January...a quick summary:
The Lord challenged me to this fast in January of 2013. At first I questioned if it needed to be for a whole year--that maybe 3 months or 6 months would do. I even had a few others ask me if I was sure that it needed to be a year. Well, my Lord made it clear in a number of ways as He always does when He calls us to do something that this was what He was asking. I have shared with you here that the Lord had already taken me on a journey from serving money (materialism) to realizing that knowing, loving, serving and finding my worth and satisfaction in Him is what brings true peace and contentment. I wondered what else He would teach me as I fasted from these things and focused even more on Him.
It has been a wonderful journey and learning experience which began on January 15, 2013 and ended on January 15, 2014. Honestly, as with each time that I blog here, it's very hard to figure out what to share because our Lord teaches me so much. I'm thankful for His promise to lead and guide me and to give me wisdom. The word that He gave to me this morning was PEACE. As I pondered that, He gave me some thoughts for each letter to explain to you what this fast has given me.
Peace in being reminded every day that Jesus is enough--that seeking Him and drawing closer to Him by reading and studying His Word (His precious love-letter to me) as well as talking with Him will bring more delight than any shopping trip. I heard recently that if you DESIRE to KNOW our Lord better then you need to first of all choose to be disciplined to read His Word every day for thirty days. That discipline will then help you to desire Him more as you continue to read and study the next thirty days. Then not only will you desire to know Him better but you will delight in His Word, and it will become more precious to you than anything else. Psalm 119:72 "The Law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold" That is what happened in my life.He and His Word are now my greatest treasures! Instead of just reading His Word so that I could check it off of my to do list, I became desperate for Him and chose to seek Him (Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.") instead of trying to find peace in the things of the world.
Enjoying more time with Jesus as well as more time with others. It's not that I was shopping alot before, but I realized how much time I would look through catalogs when they came in the mail or look at things online as well as go into stores to look. It was freeing to throw away all the catalogs and to not look online or go into any stores unless I was shopping for a gift for someone else. And...for someone who has problems making decisions, it was great because I had already made the only decision needed--not to buy for myself--therefore no shopping because I didn't want to be tempted to buy. Our goal in fasting from anything that our Lord asks us to should be to get to know Him better as we free up time that had been devoted to that thing (whether it's eating, watching TV, shopping, etc...)
Appreciation for others as well as God's many blessings. I was reminded of how much I have to be thankful for and that faith, family, and friends are God's most precious gifts. As my focus was taken off getting anything for myself, I noticed that I focused much more on appreciating others and wanting to encourage and bless them. The Lord gave me more joy in Him as I delighted in His Word, believed His promises, and listened to pastors' messages on the radio. We become what we put into our mind and hearts, and I continue to find that the more I feed on His Word, the more I appreciate everything and everyone more and can have joy regardless of the circumstances around me.
Contentment with what I already have which is a gift that far exceeds any material gift. My contentment was in the Lord before the fast, but throughout the year I was reminded even more of the riches that I have in Him alone. Having my security in Him then frees me up from thinking that I have to have a new outfit every season or have to get something new for each event. He had taught me that before but the fast made me evaluate needs vs. wants and how often I want something that isn't a need. It was fun to put together outfits from the things that I had and to realize how often that I would just get something new without really evaluating whether it was really needed. Truth be told--I really don't need much and honestly--who really cares if I wear the same things? Now don't misunderstand. I'm not saying that having new things is wrong--it depends on where your heart is and where you are finding your worth/contentment... in things or in Christ alone. I have lived in both worlds and believe me contentment in Jesus brings a freedom and joy that is truly beyond describing and beyond my understanding!!! James 4:4-6 talks about friendship with the world: "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Honestly, that's where I was at one point in my life. I was much more concerned with "fitting in" and "being accepted" by the world than being a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ. The answer to that is shared so well in the commentary of my Bible. It says: "The cure for evil desires is humility (see Proverbs 16:18,19; I Peter 5:5,6). Pride makes us self-centered and leads us to conclude that we deserve all we can see, touch, or imagine. It creates greedy appetites for far more than we need. We can be released from our self-centered desires by humbling ourselves before God, realizing that all we really need is His approval. When the Holy Spirit fills us, we see that this world's seductive attractions are only cheap substitutes for what God has to offer." All I can say is amen and amen. Things aren't wrong in themselves, but they will never bring contentment. More of anything other than Jesus will only bring wanting more and an endless cycle of never having enough and a hoping that the next new thing or new person or new adventure will bring lasting peace and contentment. Trust me--it or they won't. Only a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit in us will!
Excitement about the future knowing that He is enough. Excitement in being reminded this year of how much more fun it is to give than to get for myself as well as in being reminded that the less I get for myself the more I have to give away. None of what I have is mine anyway...it's all my Lord's and I am more aware now of how little I need and how much I desire to honor Him with all that He has given me. Also, an excitement to continue to tell others of the faithfulness of my Savior and to share about the abundant riches that we have in Him. Dr. Charles Stanley sums things up well: "The key to receiving life's good things is to seek the Lord Himself rather than just the treasure He has to give. We often approach God with an empty basket rather than an open heart; we tell Him what we need and wait for the bin to be filled. But an open heart says, "God, I just want more of You." Giving blessings from His storehouse is in God's nature, but He wants His children to seek Him above all else. A mind set on finding material success will miss the spiritually fulfilling path. However, pursuing the Lord doesn't imply abandoning plans and dreams; it simply means we prayerfully subject our hopes to His will. As we strive to know God, our desires change to reflect His. By studying His Word and asking for His revelation, every believer who genuinely wants to be trained in the Father's ways can expect His instruction. When we receive new knowledge of God, our desire for Him will be kindled like dry twigs touched by a flame. And the More we seek to learn about Him, the more we will want to know."
So there you have it. My journey over the past year has brought more PEACE as I have continued to cling to my Lord and His Word. Psalm 119 is filled with verses about God's Word being true and wonderful. I'd like to close with a few of my favorites, but would encourage you to read all of the chapter and be reminded that obedience to God's precious Word is the only way to achieve real happiness.
Psalm 119:14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
Psalm 119:16 I delight in you decrees; I will not neglect your word.
Psalm 119:24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.
Psalm 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
Psalm 119:32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.
Psalm 119:92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my
affliction.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my HOPE in your word.
Psalm 119:140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves
them.
In closing, I wanted to share with each of you that this will be my last message on this blog. I have been blogging here since the death of my husband, Ty in 2009. It has been such a blessing to be able to share with you what the Lord has taught me and how He has been my HOPE and deliverer. I love Him so much and my greatest desire is to continue to encourage others to know and love Him more but believe that my gifts are more in sharing one on one with people in meeting with them or through e-mailing or messaging on facebook. There are so many wonderful blogs out there (the ones here at Lovely Branches of course) but also elsewhere. One daily devotional that I would definitely recommend is John Piper's "Solid Joy". If any of you would like to contact me to visit or get together, you can e-mail me at kevafarney@gmail.com or find me on facebook. Thanks so much for letting me share my heart and my love for Jesus here. It has been a faith-building adventure for me as I have trusted Him to guide and lead me in the words of hope that He wanted me to share.
The final song that I'd like to share with you really sums up much of what I have told you here as well as expresses my love for Jesus and what He's done for me. I have found strength in His presence. He is my everything and my one desire. As the song ends with: "My heart will always sing, I love You." Praying for each of you...that you will hunger for and delight in Jesus more every day. He is forever faithful and I am forever grateful!
