Verse Mapping John 1:12

I love how God continually teaches us throughout our life....

High School: Learned I could have a personal relationship with Christ...I could talk to him as I would a friend.

College: I learned about Quiet Time with God...taking time to dig into the word and to take time to listen to what God to say to me.

Adulthood: Through my time at Palm Valley Church in Goodyear Arizona I learned a practical application I could use while reading the bible called S.O.A.P (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) below is a link if you want to learn more:
http://www.palmvalley.org/nextsteps/study-tools/

Now through my Online Bible Studies provided by Proverbs 31 Ministires I have learned how to verse map. As an educator I love how verse mapping allows you to take any verse and really dig deep into the meaning and what it is saying. I love how you can make it your own. I have noticed depending on what is going on in my life I verse map with different perspectives. Below is a link if you want to learn more about verse mapping:
http://heatherbleier.com/2012/06/13/a-day-with-jesus/

This week our memory verse is John 1:12
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—"

Here is my verse map this week: 

 Some take aways: 
Believe: means to have confidence. I have confidence in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I have confidence that God has great things in store for my life. 

Accepted: to receive. I receive the Grace that God freely gives. The sacrifice God made so that we could be FREE of sin and suffering is unimaginable to me. 

Children: Because of Gods love for his creation he calls us His children. I have two young girls of my own and my love for them is unfathomable. If I love my own children that much how much more does God love me! Through a commentary I learned that because of Christ we were predestined to be ADOPTED by our PAPA. I am adopted not only in Christ but in real life as well.  I am confident that God knew before my own mother was even born that he would conceive me for my mother to raise, love and cherish.

In the Valley of Sheep

I am currently in my 7th Online Bible Study through Proverbs 31 Ministries entitled "Limitless Life" by Derwin Gray. Just like the previous studies this is impacting and changing my life in a powerful way. 

In the first chapter Derwin recounts the story of David and how when everyone else was trembling in fear, David stepped up to confront and insurmountable foe Goliath. It was through David's faith in God that he was able to defeat this foe and stand strong to defend name of God. 
In my own life the devil has sought to be a thief that "seeks and destroys". 

 For those of you that don't know I was born in 1983 in a small fishing village in South Korea on a small hut on a dirt floor. Shortly after my birth I was left at an orphanage in a sense abandoned. Yet I live by the promise that God gave us that "He has a plan for our life..". The definition of "orphan" was not going to stick. God placed me in the loving arms of my forever family and no longer did I not have a family but placed me in the loving arms of my parents and I had a name "Kerr" and I became a apart of the "Balyeat" family and now through marriage the "Corradi" family. I have more family than one person could ever dream of. Family that loves me unconditionally, that accepts me as theirs whether it be through adoption or marriage. And yet...the devil whispers in my ear "you were unwanted, abandoned, not good enough to be kept." I have never really spoken of this to anyone because anytime this small seed creeps into my heart God reminds me how loved I am. Not only by my family but by Him. 

I have always been one  to hate change..yet I think God sometimes chuckles about this because change is a part of my every day life. I have gone through great change in my 30 years and each time God has shown me that he has so much good to come out of the change. Here is a short overview: 
1. Born in South Korea but adopted into a loving family halway around the world here in the United States. 
2. Moved throughout my childhood each time to a better place where God would lead me to grow in my faith and find foundation that impact my life in major ways. (One of those being my Dad, my father figure who is there for me in thick and thin who will always be my side. (I used to have some daddy issues)). 
3. Feeling alone and afraid of being alone forever: I didnt have a first date until I was 18 years old and that was to my forever soul mate my husband who God knew he had waiting just for me. 
4. Inadequacy: Not knowing how to be a wife, or new teacher thinking I could not be either. Yet God placed a patient, loving husband who still reassures me to this day that I am enough. My first principal who had faith in me..not allowing me to quit and give up. Who through his faith I am now the teacher I am today. (I have found my true calling in life, or at least one of them). 
5. God placing amazing people in my life to support and sustain me in every trial and change. (Forever friends through each stage of my life, bible study and small groups that have changed who I am and made me a seeker of the Word). 
6. Recently God answered my cry and prayer and moved me back to family reminding me that everything is in His time. (I moved back just in time to spend quality time with family prior to the death of my Grandfather, my children have been able to develop close relationships with family just as I grew up doing). 
7. Dreams that God fulfills giving me a job that I had prayed and dreamed about working for Mason City Schools..even though I sometimes wonder if I am good enough to truly teach in this amazing school district. 
I could go on and on but it would take quite awhile. 

In Chapter one of "Limitless Life" Derwin states "fear paralyzes us from acting on behalf of God's glory, but faith mobilizes us to live courageously for God's glory." pg. 11 Wow! That is how I am trying to live my every day life on FAITH. Faith allows me and gives me the strength to feebly attempt to fulfill Gods plan and His purpose. Faith gives me the will to open my eyes each morning and welcome the new day. 

Although I walk through the valley God will lead me to the promise he has for me that one day I will see Him face to face and I hope I hear him say "well done my faithful servant".  

3. WRITE IT: In the Valley of Sheep ~ It is here David learns to depend on God. Are you here now? Do you feel unnoticed and like your assignment is not important? After reading this chapter of Limitless Life, how has your perspective changed? - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/current-study/page/2/#sthash.phT1s2Ec.dpuf

3. WRITE IT: In the Valley of Sheep ~ It is here David learns to depend on God. Are you here now? Do you feel unnoticed and like your assignment is not important? After reading this chapter of Limitless Life, how has your perspective changed? - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/current-study/page/2/#sthash.phT1s2Ec.dpuf

3. WRITE IT: In the Valley of Sheep ~ It is here David learns to depend on God. Are you here now? Do you feel unnoticed and like your assignment is not important? After reading this chapter of Limitless Life, how has your perspective changed? - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/current-study/page/2/#sthash.phT1s2Ec.dpuf

3. WRITE IT: In the Valley of Sheep ~ It is here David learns to depend on God. Are you here now? Do you feel unnoticed and like your assignment is not important? After reading this chapter of Limitless Life, how has your perspective changed? - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/current-study/page/2/#sthash.phT1s2Ec.dpuf

Changed & Transformed

I am currently in a new Online Bible Study entitled "Living So That" by Wendy Blight...and boy is it impacting my life in powerful ways, I started Online Bible Studies through Proverbs 31 ministries a little over a year ago and with each study I have found God speaking into my life at important life changing moments. A year ago my Grandfather had quadruple bypass surgery, as a family we gathered by his side, prayed, and had faith that Gods will would be done. He successfully came out of surgery and spent the next year of his life changing every person he came in contact with. Gods plans for him were not over yet! That summer we did a study "When Women Say Yes to God"....God shocked me with his amazing plans when he dropped an amazing opportunity in my lap one that was also an answer to many years worth of prayer. Still although it was clear I was hearing Gods voice speak to me I was unsure, I had reservations, the devil laid doubt heavy upon my heart. But this study helped give me the push I needed to say YES...YES!

This point in my life I have felt a void like something was missing. I believe, I have faith, but I couldn't figure it out. This bible study has changed and transformed my life one chapter at a time. I never really understood what it meant to take the next step in my spiritual life. To take God and truly make him a priority and thirst for his word and what he has to teach me. With each chapter I learn more and more about what God desires for my life as his follower, how I can learn, pray, and deepen my relationship with God.

This is life changing, never again will I be content with a surface level relationship with God. One where I can just attend church or attend a bible study here or there. I want to dig into his word daily, pray all the time, and share this great news with others. There is so much more then just believing, of asking the spirit into your life. Not that these things are not important they are a great foundation. But once that foundation is firm it is time to take the next step in your relationship. This study is doing just that...helping me take baby step after baby step to learn what it means to not just believe but to be a follower of Christ.

Soul filling Satisfaction

 “For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:9). As I continue on this journey of "Made to Crave" some of my biggest take aways are that my focus and passion needs to be for Jesus. How my cravings, desires, wants, and needs to be to be for Him and not food or material possessions. By doing this I can truly have effective life change.
The promise given in Psalm 107:9 gives me a pace that I don't have to find ways on my own to satisfy my thirst...God will satisfy these needs. He is enough. If I could ask God for one thing I would ask for peace. For so long I have felt that I have a big empty hole that I cannot fill. In the times I have turned to God I have notice a peace that has washed over me. During this adventure God has shown me how he will provide for my every need if I only relay on Him. When I wanted to buy snacks in the store I knew would not be good for me...I prayed and strength was given to resist my temptation. When we went out to eat and I had a choice between a salad or a juicy burger...I prayed and God gave me the strength to make the right choice. To conclude this post I will end with a SOAP...(Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)
S:“For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:9)
O:God fills us with GOOD things...not bad things..not things that will make us fat or unhealthy but Good. God desires us to want this for ourselves and I believe with prayer he will help us change our desires to GOOD things.
A: I need to turn to God to satisfy my every need..not food, or material possessions. I also need to trust that God will meet my needs.
P: Dear Lord help me to turn to you in every moment of every day. You meet my every need and care for me beyond measure. Thank you for your love and guidance. Amen.

Peace

Currently I am going through the study "Made to Crave" by Lysa Terkeurst as well as participating in the 24 Day Advocare challenge. This has been an interesting journey causing much reflection and thought about how I view myself and how much I value the opinion of others when it comes to my physical appearance. I have found myself turning more to God and more to his word as I work on this journey of making my body a "temple to the Lord..". As I do this I find a inner peace that I have not had before.

In Chapter 6 Lysa asks us to reflect and choose if 1. We would rather have your physical body altered to be more in tune with what we desire or 2. Have a deep sense of beauty about who we are no matter what shape or form. This question really caused me to pause and think which I would desire. My first instinct was to have my body physically altered and fixed just like that. The area I would want fixed is my tummy...I have thought about a tummy tuck many of times.

I was always the skinny girl the size 00...but then I got older my metabolism changed, I got pregnant and had to have an emergency c section, then I got pregnant again and had another c section. These things change your body and especially the tummy area. Since then my weight has climbed and my belly has gotten bigger and flabbier.  A tummy tuck would be really tempting but would it really change anything other than my appearance?

After much thought and prayer I decided I would rather option 2...to have a deep sense of beauty and peace because that is eternal. More than a cute tummy, or jeans that fit just right I think having a peace bout you does not go unnoticed. Having a deep sense of contentment is what I would desire it spills over into so many other areas of your life. I want my girls to grow up knowing and thinking that they are beautiful no matter what and I can teach them this by feeling this way about myself.
This journey is more than just becoming healthy, losing weight, or looking better. It is about growing closer to God and coming to the realization that I am beautiful just the way He made me.

#Determination

Everything is in God's timing. For the past six months I have been determined to eat healthier, exercise and lose some of this weight I gained since having two kids. I say "having two kids" like it is an excuse and at first 2 years ago maybe it was a valid reason for weight gain...but now it is a result of laziness, and lack of commitment. I didn't realize how much my physical appearance was a part of my identity  until I started gaining more and more weight, my face became more full, my pants larger and larger. I started to have pain in places I had never felt pain before such as my knees, hips, and back.
This past fall through prayer and time in Gods word it weighed heavily on me that if I was bothered by my weight gain and appearance change I needed to make a personal choice to make changes. I started out in November on the 24 day Advocare challenge and was not successful I blamed poor timing but really I just was not determined...I gave up too easily.
The biggest factor missing in my first attempt was God. I wasn't really praying about my goals, I was including God in the equation of change in my life. I decided to try again and this time I am doing it along with the "Made to Crave" study. It has totally changed my outlook to one of feeling isolated and  alone to being with thousands of others on this journey.
I still have my good days and bad but this time when I am struggling or I am feeling tempted I pray about it...I turn to God and it has made all the difference. As of right now I have lost 3 lbs and have already noticed a improvement on my energy and stress levels. I cant wait to see what God has in store for me as I continue this journey more determined than ever!

A Raging Battle

My two biggest issues are material possessions (the need to spend money) and food. It has taken me many years to realize I have a "spending" problem. I have a hard time figuring out needs verses wants. To take money and spend it on clothes, food, "stuff" gives me an emotional rush where I feel good for a while. Then my emotions fall down when I realize I have spent the money I needed for bills and other necessities. I have been on this vicious cycle for years and have made a choice to stop! I have found something that can give me an emotional "high" that will last for days, even weeks....GOD!

It has been a roller coaster, I say I will change and fully intend to and then fail. I get up one day planning to do better and Don't. But this time I am doing something radically different. First my husband and I are going on this journey together...we are talking, praying and supporting one another. Second we are consulting financial coaches through our church to guide and pray for us. We have tried to change on our own countless times and failed...we knew we needed to do something different this time. Third I am praying ALL the time and reading my bible. When I have a desire to spend money or I am not sure I should spend money I am going to God and asking Him in prayer...I am going to the word of God and consulting what the book of truth has to say.

This process is drawing me closer to God and I pray will change me in radical ways. IN ways so evident people will ask and I will be able to share my story one day. I know there will be good days and bad....but I am not trying on my own this time. I have the power of God standing behind me.