Designed for What?

Jumping in on Edie's Random Question this week - which is WHAT ARE YOU DESIGNED FOR?

I love to talk. Can you imagine, Chatty Kelly is a talker? When I began leading my Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group two years ago, I introduced myself by way of reading my 9th grade report cards to them. Teacher after teacher wrote phrases such as "Kelly is an excellent student, but she talks too much in class." "Kelly does well in class when she isn't talking." "Excessive talking in class." I don't remember that I talked too much, but clearly I did. (Still do!)

I love to lead. My husband laughs that every group I join I end up the leader of! (I don't take over...it just happens!) I was president of my Junior Club. I've led the MOPS group for two years. I have led and continue to lead a bible study for 9 years. I love leading and have a knack for organization.

I love to write & blog! Writing is just talking on paper! I'm not a gifted writer, but I do enjoy writing and am learning the craft as I work on improving my work.

I love to teach! Of course that requires learning. My new tag line (motto) is "Sometimes Teaching, Always Learning." It's not that I am an expert, it's that I'm not afraid to facilitate. That is what a real teacher does, facilitate the group because everyone has something to teach the rest of us.

Put together all these things - and I think God designed me for ministry, specifically Women's Ministry. I love to write and speak and teach for the Lord. All my spiritual gifts tests always point to evangelism and shepherding. So that's why I'm here!

Finally, my heart's desire (different from my design perhaps) has always been to be a mom. I love being a mom. Some days I think I'm not too good at it, while others day I think I am the best. The truth is probably somewhere in between. But I love my girls and think I am raising them right. They both know and love God. Everything else is just stuff.

So -what's your design? After you blog about it, head over to Edie's to link up. Or leave your answer in her comment section or mine.

Follow Me...

First off - I'm getting a blog make over!!! On Monday, I'll be debuting my new, beautiful custom made blog by Rich Gifts and Graphics. You may know Edie from her blog Rich Gifts. Rich Gifts and Graphics is her new business. Check her out!

In conjunction with my blog make over, I'll be holding a contest here next week so that YOU can win a blog make over by Edie! Details will appear Monday so be sure and check back. And if you come by Sunday, I may be "under construction" so don't worry!

Now, about the Follow Me title today. Jesus said to those who he picked to be his disciples "Follow me" He says it in Matthew 4:19 to Peter and Andrew, and again to another disciple in Matthew 8:22. But that isn't what I'm blogging about today.

Today, I am going to ask you to follow me. What?! No, I'm not getting freaky on you. This is a new blogger tool. I'm going to leave behind my blog roll, and instead update my blog to a "Follow Me" listing. This seems to be the latest & greatest blog tool. It is similar to a blog role, only it allows me to see who is "following me" and then in turn I can follow them. Sometimes I teach you about God, today I'm going to teach you about blogger.

By following YOUR blogs, I can see from my blogger dashboard when and if you've updated, allowing me to read more blogs, because I'll only visit you when you've updated, and not on days when you haven't. So I can visit someone else on that day. It will save me time, and by following me you can only visit me when I've updated, and it will save you time too. Plus you won't miss if I do a "bonus" blog, because it will let you know on your dashboard when I've updated.

To Follow Me, simply click the pink "Follow This Blog" link under "Chatty Friends."

If you want more information - here is what blogger has to say on the subject:

What is Following?
Do you have a favorite blog and want to let the author and readers know that you are a fan? Well now you can do that and more with the Blogger Following feature! You can even keep track of the blogs you follow on the Blogger dashboard.

How do I become a Follower of a blog?
There are several ways to become a follower of a blog. One of the easiest ways is to visit a blog that has added the Following widget and click on the "Follow this Blog" link under the "Followers" widget:

You'll then see a popup window with the options to either follow publicly or anonymously:
Select how you'd like to follow the blog, then click the orange "Follow" button. It is that simple, you are now a follower of the blog!

So today, I'm hoping you will FOLLOW ME! Thanks! Have a great weekend! Look for my exciting new look on Monday!

More Free Stuff!

The really cool thing about the FREE gift of eternal life and the Holy Spirit from God, is that from the FREE gift, we become FREE.

Dictionary.com lists no less than 12 definitions of the word "free." One meaning is without cost. We received the gift of eternal life from God without cost to us - even though there was a large cost for Jesus it costs us nothing. It is truly a free gift.

Another definition of "free" is personal rights or liberty. That is what we receive when we accept the free gift. We are liberated from a life of sin, and free to be a child of God.

A third definition is free from external authority, interference, restriction, etc., as a person or one's will, thought, choice, etc.. We all have free will, and the ability to chose or reject the free gift of eternal life that frees us from sin.

Free can mean clear of obstructions or obstacles, as a road or corridor: The highway is now free of fallen rock. After accepting gift of Jesus, we are now free of old self, we are a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Free also means having immunity or being safe (usually fol. by from): free from danger. We are free from the eternal punishment of hell. Even though we continue to sin, we don't have to pay the price for our sins. We're free from eternal punishment.

Finally, free means set free, to release; liberate; The prisoners were set free. The Contemporary Christian song by Chris Tomlin says "My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God, my Savior, has ransomed me."

If you are free in Christ, you are truly free indeed. (So act now, and join God today! You can become a Christian - For free!)

John 8:36 -- So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Psalm 116:16 -- O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant ; you have freed me from my chains.

Psalm 118:5 -- In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.

Free Stuff

I love free stuff! "Buy one, get one free," "Free shipping," "In you act today, FREE." How about free samples? I love the little make-up samples at the mall. At those Bulk Discount Warehouses my kids love to sample the yummy foods, and they're free!

God offers us something wonderful, for free. It is the gift of eternal life. While we receive it without cost to us, Jesus paid the price in full so we could have this free gift. He died on the cross, paying the price for our sins. The wages (cost) of sin is death. But because Jesus paid that cost by his own death, then we are free to receive this gift.

But wait, there's more! If you act now, you will also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. In addition to the gift of eternal life with God which you will receive at the time of your earthly death, you will also receive now, without waiting, the gift of the Holy Spirit. No shipping fees! Acts 2:38 says "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." There is no cost for this additional gift.

Act now! Don't miss out on this great offer. Simply confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

There is no phone call to make, and He doesn't need your credit card number! Simply pray something like this:

"God, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

Don't let this FREE offer slip away! And come back for more FREE STUFF on Wednesday.

John 3:16 -- "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 8:32 -- Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Galatians 1:3-5 -- Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.