Monday, February 23, 2009

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.


19 friends shared a comment:

Anonymous said...

Your heart for the Lord is so apparent, Laura Lee. Your sharing here, I believe, will give many readers great insight into how to listen to the Lord and follow His leading. I understand where you are coming from and pray God's richest blessings on your expanding ministry.

-bill
http://spiritualoasis.org

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

I of course just emailed you but I forgot to tell you how much I like the new blog look. It is so peaceful and makes me want to Selah!
Love you my sister.
Hugs from Kim

Patty Wysong said...

I love your new look and direction, Laura, and I'm looking forward to seeing it play out as time goes on. Praying, too, as you carry this out in your life.

My 200th post was last week and I couldn't figure out what to do--I looove your testimony idea! Especially since writing out mine has been on my heart for a bit.
Huggles!

Peggy said...

Blessings Laura Lee ...Congratulations on a BEAUTIFUL NEW BLOG! I LOVE how everything looks and though I have not read
the full post (pressed for time),
I do know from my glimpse that this one will be just as full of PRAISE & YOUR LOVELY SONG & insights as the others! Looking forward to reading more! May your heartsong be FULL as you continue to walk in His Truth with an undivided heart! May Our Lord use Selah~Pause, Ponder, Praise and your heart!

Beth in NC said...

I love your new blog layout! So beautiful!

I totally understand and I pray God will continue to direct your steps.

Many blessings!
Beth

Joanne Sher said...

Your blog is GORGEOUS - almost as beautiful as your heart for God. I am excited for your new adventure. I look forward to being alongside you as you enter this phase of your life! Praying too. I am VERY anxious to see your salvation testimony!

Yvonne Blake said...

I pray for you often...for wisdom and patience as a mother and wife, for faithfulness to your commitments, for rest in God's plan for your life.
Love you, Lalee,
Vonnie

Laurie Ann said...

I love your new title, LauraLee, and I'm so glad you are being obedient to the Lord. It requires sacrifice and I admire you for being willing. Much love and many prayers being said for you, my friend.

lori said...

Hey girl....you know there are only so many hours in our days and in our lives...We have to LISTEN to what the Lord puts on our hearts..even when it's hard...your heart is SO CLEAR and I will pray for you...
We find ourselves in such similar places in life and choices HAVE to be made...as long as the Lord leads, we are called to obediently follow...

Ever heard the words to Order My Steps...it's SOOOO you...
Glen Burleigh...look it up if you haven't heard it...it's one that motivates and moves me...

Your header ADORABLE...soooo YOU!

praying along!
lori

Sherri Ward said...

I surely understand the weeding out of distraction, so if stopping by my blog to pick up an award is a distraction, feel free to ignore, but you might enjoy the tag you're it nature of it.
http://candidthought.blogspot.com/

LisaShaw said...

LauraLee, I'm so excited about this next phase in your life and I understand it well.

I don't believe blogging should be pressure. For me it's ministry. Come as the Lord leads and share as the Lord leads is how I view it. It's not possible to get to everyone every day or even every other day at times. It's easy to get caught up in it however and that I know too because I've met some wonderful women and men through blogging but I take your message as a little conviction for me because just a week ago my husband reminded me not to lose focus on the Ministry work the Lord has for me/us to do and so then a few days ago I changed one of my blogs to reflect MORE of what it's supposed to do MINISTER. I shared that to say I am with you sister. I understand and you are such an incredible blessing to all of us.

I look forward to all God will do with you now...I grabbed your header for my side bar.

Love ya and indeed I will pray for you as you asked.

Terri Tiffany said...

I love what you are choosing to do and I love your new blog. Never apologize for going where the Lord leads you. I take my time off and I answer when I can but we need to focus on what is right!

Dee Yoder said...

I 100% agree that time management is one of the most difficult things to do on the net. My list gets so long sometimes, that I feel incredibly stressed. At my age (ancient as I am!), I've learned to do what you're doing--take a breather and not pressure myself so much. Don't worry--we'll all still be here when you can pop in for a visit! I love the new look of your blog, too. It is very cheerful and reverent at the same time.

Esthermay Bentley-Goossen said...

It always warms me to read a post like this. Your obedience to HIS voice is awesome - when we take real physical steps to follow his prompting, that's a testimony of His call on our life.
My little girl's name is SELAH, so I'm quite partial to your new title
:-)
Selah.
God Bless your ministry.

Anonymous said...

Hi LauraLee,
I Just wanted to share a verse with you and my affirmation of your Godly desire to weed out all that is un-necessary. May you continue to be blessed and bless many others with your heart and words.

"I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them." Jeremiah 32:39.

Love from a fellow traveler,
Lesley-Anne

Julie Arduini said...

I am just thrilled to see where God is taking all of us through your blog. Thanks for being obedient.

I pray His peace would envelope you as you continue to move in His direction and especially as you share do deeply.

Keep doing what you're doing!

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

First of all, I agree with everything, YES 100%. God has been speaking to me in many of the same ways. Secondly, I've been working on my testimony as of late as I will be giving it in part this weekend for a group of women at a ladies' event. It's called, "Living Stones from Brokenness", based on my bible study of Nehemiah and on 1 Peter 2:4-5. It's been a hard write...a whole lot of broken crammed into 45 minutes, but a worthy work my friend. I would appreciate your prayers.

Lastly, just a formatting thing...when I click over here, I have to scroll down a mile to get to an actual post. The side bar seems fine, but there's a huge gap between your header and most recent post. Maybe it's just my computer, but thought I would give you a head's up.

Love you so much and am so glad for the changes coming your way. I just might follow your lead friend.

peace~elaine

Denise said...

May God bless over your new blog sweetie.

Sheila said...

I share so much of your heart Laura Lee. Though God truly moves in me to share what He's teaching me through the word and times of learning in my life on my blog, He doesn't let me loose to just sit and "visit" in the blog, facebook, twitter, etc. world. As much as I'd love to just build a bunch of tabernacles up on the high hill of revelation with my sisters in Christ online, God keeps saying, "Listen to my Son! Go back down to the valley... to the everyday unseen service with your kids."

My kids aren't even teenagers yet, but there's a pressing in me to keep God's order of things. He uses the example of Elisha's widow for me. How her sons brought her the empty vessels and she poured out. God says to me, "When your sons bring you an oppurtunity to pour out, do so, but don't try to creat your own oppurtunity at their expense." So I so understand you miss LauraLee!!!

May you abound as you obey His Spirit! And as far as the testimony... I too have not yet sat down to fully just write mine out. I've touched on it here and there, but not given it it's own vessel. I'll be praying about doing just that!

Here's a word God gave me the other day as I was reading through Proverbs, "A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart." I felt He was saying to me, "Just delight in understanding Sheila. If i give you something beautiful, delight in the fact that you understand... I gave that to you! You don't have to express your own heart about everything, just delight in understanding. Then you'll know what to share."

sorry for the long comment :0)
Sheila