Chaos

Well the past few weeks have been a bit chaotic with Thanksgiving and such. It was a blessing to have the whole Derby family with us though! They all stayed the night (aren't we glad that God blessed us with such a huge house!)

 What a bunch of crazies we are! But I can tell you that they are one of the biggest blessings of my life. They are loving and caring and silly as ever. They make life fun and interesting and I love them to pieces.

 Meet the Derbys! From Right to Left (Bottom): David, John (Jonathan), Caleb, Joel, Seth, Ben; (Top) Joy, Esther, Hannah, Rebekah, Bethany, Ruth, Lydia

"God has called us out of chaos into order" -Acey Martin

Acey has been a great mentor for 10 years! Most of the time I feel like I live in chaos. I have three children, 12 hens, a huge house, an emerging business and working husband. Busy hardly describes my life. Choas is a better term. I try and fight it, really I do. I make lists and now my lists have become weekly lists. I set aside time to clean...and clean and clean. I try to do preschool with the kids each day. After all of that, I still feel like I live in chaos. Every time I look around, the dishes are piling up (didn't I JUST do them?!), the laundry needs to be folded (I swear I just put those away!), there is dirt piling up everywhere and the children are screaming because someone took the other's toy. *sigh* Things are never complete and the task-oriented person in me goes crazy! Chaos. I feel defeated. I sit down and my heart sinks. "Is this all life is supposed to be?"

40 days is a little more than half over. I am learning that God calls us OUT of chaos. When I start my day with HIM, there seems to be more order. Not so much that the dishes get done or the kids aren't screaming, but that I have more peace and calmness in my soul. I am learning that "apart from God, I can do nothing." Really, nothing. When I put myself in charge, there is one ending: CHAOS! When I let God take control, and submit to Him throughout the day, life is so much more pleasant. Hmmm...

Do you live in chaos? Are you desperate to get out of it? Come to Jesus. Meet with Him today. 

-Kristin

Fear or Peace?

Well, here I am on day 10! I am happy to report that I lost three pounds! Woo! It hasn't been easy, but I knew that it wouldn't be.  As I let go of my comfort (food), it peels back the layers in my heart that I've been shielding myself from. I've noticed that since I've started this, I've become more paranoid and fearful.

I used to struggle with fear when I first got married. After my husband would leave for work in the morning, I would instantly be afraid. I would double check all the doors were locked and even lock my bedroom door. Then I would stuff clothes under the door just in case. I finally started taking it to the Lord and he helped me overcome my fear. I read in the Bible about David and how he was being pursued by his enemies who wanted to kill him, yet he wasn't afraid.  I thought, "well, David ACTUALLY had people trying to hurt him and he WASN'T afraid, and I don't have people trying to harm me and I AM afraid. I can overcome!" and with the help of the Lord and memorizing David's words, I overcame! It is interesting how it is starting to surface again. Hmmm...

I wonder if not putting God first for so long made me lose my trust of Him? Today part of my verse memorization is, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." Oh how this speaks to me today!

Do you struggle with fear? Do you trust Him with your WHOLE life?  Let us choose today to trust in an Almighty God that knows our name and is taking care of us.

Derby Delights

Well here is my very first blog! I have a farm blog which just keeps everyone updated, but this blog is just for me! I haven't decided what it is going to be. I am sure that it will morph over time.  I am on a journey...to find passion.  I think when most people think of passion, they think of a strong feeling between a man and a woman. Passion is so much more than that though. What are you passionate about? And so the journey begins...

My husband went to visit my long time mentors, Acey and Sarae Martin, and they are all about passion. It is why we love being around them! They encourage us in our passions. Over the years, getting married and having kids, I feel as though I have lost my passion.  Maybe I never really took the time to find it in the first place.

So, I am embarking on a 40 day journey of transformation.  I am committing to focus on me and getting my life back in order. I have become a victim of life with an excuse for everything and I need to change.  I am committing to specific goals for my mind, body and soul.

Here is my challenge, maybe you will consider challenging yourself in those areas that you need it:
MIND
-Write something you are thankful for each day in your journal
-Complete 4 different personality tests
-Read 1 book
BODY
-Follow 4-Hour Body diet plan
-Exercise 30 min 4x/week
-Take vitamins everyday
SOUL
-Memorize Col 3:12-17
-Do daily devotions
-Find and write one verse to stand on each day

Today is DAY 2 of my adventure and it is going well! I have not realized that I haven't been spending any real time with God. I am doing a Precept study on Exodus and it is amazing to me the behavior of the Israelites! But deep down, I know that I am not that different from them.  God removed His presence from them because of their disobedience.  I have learned that the more we commune with and obey God, the more we will KNOW Him.  We will sense His presence and have peace. That is what I long for and that is what I am running after.   40 days of transformation...I am excited for what God will do in me! I'll keep you posted!