LauraLee's Lifesong Changes to "Selah~Pause. Ponder. Praise.

Hello, my friends,

I'm excited to announce my new ministry blog:
"Selah~Pause. Ponder. Praise."
Spinning cartwheels, virtually-speaking, of course.

My lifesong will keep right on singing, just not in the same way. As I've laid my priorities before the Lord this year, He has clearly spoken about how I need to change my ministry focus.

I wrote a devo about my commitment for 2009 right here. In case you don't remember what I'm referring to...here's a small excerpt:

"In the Lord’s perfect wisdom, He has led me to a verse for 2009 that is a passionate cry of my heart:

“Teach me Your way, O LORD, 

and I will walk in Your Truth;

give me an undivided heart, 

that I may fear Your name.”

Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

I believe this is a year of simplifying, weeding out distractions, and allowing Him to teach me new things about Himself. Honestly, I believe He gave me this verse out of necessity for my emotional, physical and spiritual health. It may take the whole year or even longer, but the decisions and commitments I make will be a direct result of keeping in tune with this prayer."

Every single day I've laid this prayer before Him, and He continues to lead me to write, to teach, to exhort and to encourage. With three kids in the adolescent and teen stages, however, my spare time is much more scarce. The part the Lord has asked me to cut back on is the time spent online chatting and reading. One of my spiritual gifts is encouragement, and I'm also very social, so it's extremely easy for me to get trapped into "that part" of blogging, you know? This worked great when the kids were younger, and it may work again in a few years if something else in my life frees up, but right now, I'm "dropping balls" everywhere.

I hope you hear my heart. I love my blogging friends so much. I plan to set aside a day each week to read and comment as I can, and I hope we can keep up some through email and Facebook; however, I'm no longer going to hold myself to reading each day (as much as it will pain me not to do so). It's taken me this long to completely get the message from the Lord and follow through in obedience.

Back to some exciting changes: I will be using guest bloggers from time to time. Sometimes I read something that pushes the "Aha" button in me, and I just wanna share it. I'll be asking people permission to do that as the Lord leads. I also have a few memes (Word-filled Wednesday and Friday Fiction) that I'll keep participating in as time allows, because they cause me to worship, grow in an area of giftedness, as well as get a little social time in on a planned basis. Also, I've got about 10-12 blogs that really pour into me, so I'll probably continue to visit them more frequently than once a week.

And finally, my 200th post is around the corner. I'm going to be asking people to submit their testimonies, either by email or by posting on their blogs or Facebook note pages, for a chance to win a "Women of Passions" book and one other mystery gift that goes along with the Pause. Ponder. Praise. theme. (Yes, men, I still want you to enter if you want...you can give the book to mama, auntie, wife or sister...and I'll make sure the 2nd gift is gender-friendly). I may also reprint the testimonies on my blog as I have the time. As I've said over and over and over...I truly believe a person's testimony is one of the most powerful tools for evangelism. I don't care if you think your testimony is boring or uneventful, or if it is a difficult one for you to write. Pray about it, and if the Lord leads you, I would love for you to enter. If HE is behind your words, it will minister to someone, THAT I know for sure.

I'm going to be writing my own salvation testimony for my 200th post, and the thing I've realized is that I've never actually done that before. Here I've been writing about God's Word for over five years, and I've never written my salvation testimony, though I've touched on it here and there. That is very strange to me, so I'm going to pray for inspiration and do it. I found this site, and I thought it gave some very useful information on writing one's testimony:
Write His Answer

Other great resources exist, I'm sure. If you know of one, leave it in the comment sections here.

How do you feel about all this? I'd love to know. I wish I could share my personal and intimate struggles with you more openly, but I am not able to do that on my blog for various reasons. I also wish I could be a Super-woman and do it all, but "God in me" has spoken, and I want to show myself willing and obedient. Please pray for me, that I would speak the Truth boldly, lovingly and clearly as the Lord continues to lead me on the path of ministry. I am so excited about the "newness" of this, an opportunity to redirect my focus.

"SELAH. His glory covers the skies, and His praise fills the earth." Habakkuk 3:3b

Dear Father, You are such an awesome God, and I praise You. I give You all the glory and the honor and the worship you deserve. In Jesus' name, Amen.