Back to School!

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. As a child, I loved going "Back to School" because everything was NEW! I loved shopping for new crayons and a new lunchbox, making new friends and having a new classroom teacher. And of course, who doesn't look forward to that crisp air, football season (Geaux Tigers!), and the anticipation of holiday celebrations just around the corner?! My kids definitely share the same enthusiasm. They love the "Back to School" shopping for new clothes, tennis shoes, and supplies! We make a production out of it and have SO much fun shopping as a family. I get JUST as excited for them!

I loved school so much, that before I became a wife and mom, I became a teacher and taught at Bethany Christian in Louisiana. It was my PURE JOY to be there. I loved my teaching staff, my students, and all the parents. I had the privilege of coaching their varsity cheerleaders for many years. I developed even more of a passion to teach and learn as the years went by. School was my home and my sanctuary (Literally and Physically!! My classroom was the first room off the foyer of our main church auditorium!)

But after I begin having my own children, I didn't want to give up being with them, so I chose to stay at home. Instead of teaching other people's children, it was time to teach my own! Having a family was my PASSION. And by choice, I didn't want to give up my time with my children. Year after year, for 10 years now, I have been blessed to stay with them. Now, that my oldest is 5th grade and my youngest is Pre-K and they have all headed "back to school" I am left wondering what new beginnings I personally will have to look forward to this fall!

I can RELATE to all you moms out there that are feeling the need to DISCOVER what you should be doing with your time. You love your family and want to watch out for them, and yet you feel the need to be everywhere- all the time- meeting everyone's needs. And LORD HELP US!!! Facebook, social networking, the internet, emails, invites, and PINTEREST (I love that website!) can make us feel like we are less than the average woman. Maybe this fall, instead of tackling the to-do lists, you can give yourself permission to settle down on the outside so you can start to settle down on the INSIDE! Get yourself a brand new notebook, find a quiet spot, and begin to let the Lord lead you in HIS direction this season! Don't allow that busy world to influence the way you lead YOUR daily lives. You are a child of God- created in His image. He has something new for you to discover, and it will come when we spend more time WITH HIM, not with our check-lists! Go Back-to School- find out what God is saying to you, what things HE wants you to learn! I am challenging myself to refocus this fall on being a better student in the Word, and and definitely I hope to become a better listener!

Love and Prayers for you this Friday :)

This was my FAVORITE book as a child- Now it is one of my kids favorite too!

Daily Devotion: DREAM ON!

This fall, I've been challenged in my life to "Dream On!" There are times when it seems dreams are real and times they just seem to dwindle away. If you're like me, maybe you have been carrying a dream around for a long time? Let me encourage you today- Don't let it go. DREAM ON!

Begin to see yourself beyond just what you see in the mirror. You are more than a conquerer because of the power of Jesus who lives in you! Refuse to believe what the world says about you and counter those thoughts with what GOD's Word says.

When God puts a dream in your heart, there's no limit to what you can do! He placed those dreams inside you to IGNITE a passion so that you will PURSUE them. So don't give up on your dreams just because others have no clue how to do it- it's not their dream! Just because it seems impossible doesn't mean it can't be done.

Habakkuk 2:2 says:

"Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it."

When we take the time to write out what's in our hearts, then God can begin to do his part to see our dreams come true. (Just make certain they line up with God's Word!)

RUN with joy today! Maybe the joy on the inside of you will spark God's dream on the inside of someone else. DREAM ON!

Why do I Blog?

I read the other day a quote from a pastor I highly respect, that stated, "DILIGENCE: Is investing all your energy to complete the task assigned to you. The antonym is procrastination." So my guilt is catching up with me because I felt some time ago that I should begin blogging my daily devotions.

I have discovered in my own life that my days are FAR better when I start them with "God first." When I read my Bible, I journal and I LOVE IT. I guess that's why I majored in English- I love to read, write, and share! My hope is that each day, if you have time to read this blog, you will find some encouragement. Without God's Word, I am helpless. As I am navigating through my own life- managing family, household, relationships and all of life's interruptions, I need all the strength I can get! If you would like to join me on this journey, please feel free to let me know so that I may also keep up with you! I'm striving to become more DILIGENT to write and use this window to the world to promote God's love, goodness, and mercy. We ALL need it EVERY minute of EVERY day!

Much love,

Hayley

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for BUILDING OTHERS UP according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

RUN THE RACE!

RUN THE RACE!


Summer is approaching... FINALLY!!! I think instead of kids awards day, there should be a "Parents" awards day! Maybe like:

"My child was dressed for the day, head to toe without forgetting anything at home!"

"Healthiest Lunch Award goes to....."

"Kids overslept but made it to school in LESS THAN 20 minutes before the tardy bell rang and didn't get stopped by a Madison Cop Award!" (Troy and I could win this one!)

WHEW!!! Equipping your children for their day, knowing it will affect their future is a full time job! HATS OFF to all the moms and dads who labor to take care of their little ones EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! You all deserve an award! Many days Troy and I feel like we are in a race: a race of time, a race to get out the door and on to the next event, or a race to see everyone and do everything that comes up on the calendar. But we have learned that even though there are lots of things worth racing for, none of them matter as much as the RACE of LIFE that the Lord has set before us.

WIth summer approaching, I plan to STOP and just re-check my status in the Race of Life, so I don't wear myself out!!! If you are like me and feel the need for a re-check, here are 3 thoughts for the summer:

1. GET UP AND RUN!

(Acts 20:24)

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Get in the Race! The RACE we are to be running is to testify of the Good News of Jesus and tell of His grace. Some days, the hardest part for me is just getting started. In a given day, no matter what our occupation or specific talents and responsibilities are, everyone should have this goal in mind when they wake up and go to sleep. "If I can put my head on my pillow each night and KNOW that I have shared God's love and grace to my family or those in my reach, I have RUN the race of the day." REGARDLESS of how many other things there are on the "TO-DO" list, just GET UP AND RUN!

2. BREATHE!!!

I can't run fast and I am SO tired!! WHY?
I ask myself this question all the time. Check out the following scripture:

(Hebrews 12:1-3)

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Feeling weary and losing heart? The things that slow me down are things that I sometimes CARRY with me while I'm running! It's just like taking a lap around the track- when everybody running has those cool wind shorts that breathe air so they can glide faster, I have a backpack full of JUNK in it- imagine trying to win running like that?!!!

I have to learn to THROW IT OFF! It could be something as simple as over-committing to another calendar event, when I could just easily have said no. It could be that I have procrastinated and not given myself time to finish a job that has to get done. (I think women especially take on way more than they can handle because they want to prove they CAN do something! I know I've been there before.) But what really matters- man's opinion or God's? Say no to the things that weigh you down- especially if it is a sin you know has kept you heavy hearted. You have a choice to put it down and RUN!

Hebrews 12:2 Also says if we FIX our eyes on Jesus, it will help us get going in the right direction. Jesus ran hard to the finish line because of the JOY set before him- He was RUNNING FOR YOU AND ME AND HE DIDN'T QUIT! I can guarantee you our race is not as difficult as His was- Thank you Lord!


3. FINISH STRONG!!!!

Can I actually WIN this race??

(Philippians 3:14)

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.

I have a lot of friends who like to run for fun, and then there are those who run to WIN. Back at my home church in Baton Rouge, we had a whole group of Olympic athletes who competed in Track and Field- they are amazing!! Many of them from Jamaica-they had awesome physique and very cool accents! I knew that whatever they were competing, they were in it to win it!
I bet if you asked, they would tell you they spent hours and months and days and years preparing for that big day. It wouldn't be good enough to just "enter" the race. They were running as if to WIN the prize. I'm sure at the race, they set their eyes on the prize of an Olympic Medal!

The prize I want to win is the "WELL DONE!" award when I cross over to eternity!
If you ask me, training for my lane in the race has been awesome! I have been blessed by
getting to do what I LOVE to do- be a mom, a wife, serve in our local church, create, and dream and share life with friends! But there have been some hard parts of the training. Sometimes sore muscles and a fatigued body don't even compare to a crushed spirit, feeling grieved by hurt words, or just discouraged and lonely at times. We ALL experience those painful emotions on the journey that make us want to just quit.

Let me encourage you today- DON'T QUIT!!! You not only represent yourself, but a whole team! You have your family and those in your window that need your special touch. But beyond that, the entire team of believers needs you to do your part in the race. You are created unique and have a PLACE in this race of life. YOU ARE A VALUABLE TEAM PLAYER! When you start to feel like throwing in the towel, put your shoes back on: Get up and run, lay aside the weights, and FINISH STRONG. You will hear those words one day, "WELL DONE!" and it will have all been worth it.

I believe in you and I'm cheering you on!!!

Have a blessed day :)

HPC