Fall is in the air. I absolutely love fall. I love the colors, the breeze in the air and the start of the holiday season. I just returned from the mountains in Tennessee and fall up there is amazing. The air was so cold, but it breathed new life. I love the change of seasons.
Everyone is different though. Some are ready for a new season and then there are some who always wants to linger in the previous one. Of course then there are always people who like to rush seasons too. Like life, seasons come and seasons go.
I think I have said this before, but I believe I am in a season of growth. I believe I have been presented with this season before but instead of sulking in it, I am actually now becoming proactive and growing so that I will learn and grow. I don't really know how to explain it other than to say that its not like I am experiencing new feelings or circumstances, instead I am reacting and listening to God's voice in a different way. My attitude has changed and instead of reacting to situations negatively I am reacting by listening to God's voice and truly finding my guidance and peace in ONLY Him.
Ephesians 6:10 says "Finally, be strengthened by the LORD and by His vast strength." I love that verse. That verse allows me to settle down and quit the works of the flesh. I can not do anything on my own. To finally realize that was so liberating. It is God's work in me that allows me to grow. All I have to do is trust that He is working in me and that I am growing into the women He wants me to be.
I do not know where my life is going. I am a teacher, I am in Seminary, I am single, and I am going to enjoy life in all of the seasons I am going through.
I trust that God knows exactly what He is doing, and I find my strength in that knowledge. This realization did not come over night. This has been a battle for a very long time. Those closest to me know how hard I have battled loving life during the lonely times.
I was playing right into the hands of the enemy. I was doing exactly what was not going to get me anywhere. I was accepting a lonely life and hating every bit of it. I am so happy I have grown and moved past that prideful attitude. I can't tell you that I fixed it or that there is a ten step program to get out of where you are.
However, I can tell you that when I truly engulfed myself in the Word, opened up my heart to the Lord, and just finally became too tired to fight it anymore, I grew. And you may not want to hear this but sometimes it just takes time. It takes time to learn and grow, to realize that this can be a good season or a bad season and its all up to you.
Please do not get confused, I am still in this season. It is not as if I am speaking from the other side, on the contrary, I am still here. The season I once hated still surrounds me. However, I am now growing in this season, instead of acting pitiful and sad. It isn't always easy. Sometimes my old mindsets and habits try to creep back, but as soon as I sense it, I pray and read the Word. I also trust that God's strength will always give me strength.
No matter how long you are in this season of your life good or bad, trust that God knows exactly what He is doing and He loves you and has reasons for this. You may not understand it now, but once you submit to the understanding that you have no clue, He will give you peace above your understanding. This will humble you and you will grow. If I have learned anything from this, it is how prideful I am because it is easy for me to ask why I am not getting everything I want. As I am growing I have realized its not all about me, its all about God. That is who I want it all to be about. May He use me how He will. I pray that I become a vessel for everything He wants to do through me. But the only way to be that is to grow in every season He has me in.
Trust in God above your own understanding. Lift your hands to Him and shout: I trust in your will for my life and I believe I am in the season for your glory!!!! Like me, I believe a weight will be lifted once you do.
God Bless you!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tiny Whispers of God's Graciousness
There are many things that put a smile on my face. I believe everyday holds something to smile about. Even if we are faced with hard times, God gives us little blessings through out the day to help us along. All of these blessings can be seen through nature, a word from a friend, or just a stress free afternoon with a good cup of coffee.
Even when God is redirecting us, we can still have a smile on our face. Recently, God showed me an area in which I could refine or work on in my life. As I was hearing God’s small nudge of redirection I couldn’t help but smile. I am so happy God cares for us so much he starts with a small whisper. It is only when we are unable to hear and do not wish to hear that our life’s are sometimes turned up side down before we listen to what we need to do.
The more I read my Bible, and strive to become closer to God, the more I can hear the small voice of God. I love to hear when God speaks softly. I praise God during those times. I want to learn how to take those small voices just as serious as those loud and over-powering voices we experience when we get to far in. I do not want to go so far that my entire life is crumpling around me before I stop and listen to God. I want to listen to Him now, in the most quiet areas of my life.
When I pray every day, a part of that prayer is asking God to continue to prune me and make me who He wants me to be. However, In the middle of that “pruning” process I can get overwhelmed and feel defeated. This however is not what God wants us to feel like. Especially when we ask Him to prune our areas that need to go away.
I have realized that the “pruning” process is a process and it takes time. God will not show me everything I need to work on all at once, as well as, just because He is showing me areas I need to work on, I should be jumping up and down for joy that He in all of His wonderful grace and mercy is continuing to teach me. I need not feel defeated and over whelmed. This is a wonderful thing. I am praising that small voice, and thanking God I am hearing that small voice, before it becomes too loud to bare.
I am so thankful God is still using me and molding me to be exactly who He wants me to be. I am so humbled at the fact that God views me as usable. I want God to use me in any and all areas of my life. My prayer is that He will dig out all the bad stuff and refill me with everything I can not produce on my own. However, before that can happen we need to have the ability to listen and obey Gods voice, may it be small or large.
Psalms 18: 30 says “God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is a rock? Only our God. God, He clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me securely on the heights. He trains my hands for war; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your humility exalts me. You widen a place beneath me for my steps, and my ankles do not give way.”
God is power. Turn to Him in all areas of your life. You won’t be disappointed. He is calling for you to turn to Him. Trust in Him. If you are a Christian, self examination is a good thing. What areas of your life has God been whispering to you in? Turn to Him in those areas so that God may transform your life!!! Our God can do all things! He is powerful and mighty, don’t wait, let him in!!!
God Bless you!
Even when God is redirecting us, we can still have a smile on our face. Recently, God showed me an area in which I could refine or work on in my life. As I was hearing God’s small nudge of redirection I couldn’t help but smile. I am so happy God cares for us so much he starts with a small whisper. It is only when we are unable to hear and do not wish to hear that our life’s are sometimes turned up side down before we listen to what we need to do.
The more I read my Bible, and strive to become closer to God, the more I can hear the small voice of God. I love to hear when God speaks softly. I praise God during those times. I want to learn how to take those small voices just as serious as those loud and over-powering voices we experience when we get to far in. I do not want to go so far that my entire life is crumpling around me before I stop and listen to God. I want to listen to Him now, in the most quiet areas of my life.
When I pray every day, a part of that prayer is asking God to continue to prune me and make me who He wants me to be. However, In the middle of that “pruning” process I can get overwhelmed and feel defeated. This however is not what God wants us to feel like. Especially when we ask Him to prune our areas that need to go away.
I have realized that the “pruning” process is a process and it takes time. God will not show me everything I need to work on all at once, as well as, just because He is showing me areas I need to work on, I should be jumping up and down for joy that He in all of His wonderful grace and mercy is continuing to teach me. I need not feel defeated and over whelmed. This is a wonderful thing. I am praising that small voice, and thanking God I am hearing that small voice, before it becomes too loud to bare.
I am so thankful God is still using me and molding me to be exactly who He wants me to be. I am so humbled at the fact that God views me as usable. I want God to use me in any and all areas of my life. My prayer is that He will dig out all the bad stuff and refill me with everything I can not produce on my own. However, before that can happen we need to have the ability to listen and obey Gods voice, may it be small or large.
Psalms 18: 30 says “God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is a rock? Only our God. God, He clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me securely on the heights. He trains my hands for war; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your humility exalts me. You widen a place beneath me for my steps, and my ankles do not give way.”
God is power. Turn to Him in all areas of your life. You won’t be disappointed. He is calling for you to turn to Him. Trust in Him. If you are a Christian, self examination is a good thing. What areas of your life has God been whispering to you in? Turn to Him in those areas so that God may transform your life!!! Our God can do all things! He is powerful and mighty, don’t wait, let him in!!!
God Bless you!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Dreaded Legalism
Wow! What a week. I know, I did not update last Thursday but I decided that although my goal is to update every week, I am not going to dread or force myself to by postponing things so I will make time to update my blog. I love this blog. I almost do not want to call it a “blog” because it is so much more to me than that. I really enjoy expressing myself and “venting” sometimes about what is going on in my life. The main reason I decided to begin this is because I wanted to speak on what all God has shown me and give those who may be reading this a inside look of someone that struggles everyday, as we all do, but also a look at someone who loves the Lord and will to continue to work everyday to become everything, He wants me to me.
I am not too prideful and I do not think that everyone is begging to learn all about my life. However, like me, I know there are individuals out there who would like to see they are not alone in some of their thoughts, feelings, fears, and struggles. I wrote my first blog post on another site a couple of years, ago. It was filled with simple thoughts, just about what I had been going through. After I posted the blog, I received so many responses, I decided that, at least in my group of friends, there was a need for this type of authentic expression.
The point of stating all of this is to say, that I love writing this blog, however I am not going to “force” to update, and give myself rules for something I enjoy. So many times we make rules and regulations for what we once enjoyed doing. I have struggles with this in so many areas. For example, I love reading my Bible, but I will make rules as to how much I should read in a week, how long I should read my Bible each day, and before I know it, I am so overwhelmed by the rules I have placed on something I once loved doing, that I am now burdened while doing it. I do this about working out too! I love working out, however I have a tendency in making this a rule of law. So much so, that if I do not work out on the days I have assigned, I will feel bad the whole day. This struggle is not just in the realm of religious activities. Rarely, any of our struggles just pertain to our spiritual relationship; it usually is within our secular activities as well.
How do we stop this? I believe it begins with our prayer life and asking the Lord to open our eyes and heart when we are turning “legalistic” in certain areas. If I am not constantly in prayer about this weakness, it will over take my life on most days. I am currently reading Matthew, and this is a great book to read when God is opening your eyes to this struggle. Jesus is constantly talking with the Sadducees, and the Pharisee about their rules and how it will get them nowhere. At this moment I am reminded of a verse in Matthew, which says “…I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Matthew 12: 7) In Matthew 12 the disciples are passing through a grain field on the Sabbath and are hungry. They begin to pick some of the grain. When the Pharisees saw this they stated the disciples were doing unlawful things on the Sabbath. Jesus stated that some things are greater than the Sabbath are. Jesus continues by stating “If you had known what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”. The Pharisees and Sadducees were obsessed with rules, laws, and regulations. They could never fully rely on Jesus because they were focused on the wrong thing. Sadly, Jesus knew most would not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven because of their mindset.
This is a sobering thought, when I realize how serious this is, and the work I have to continue to be bondage free in this area. I am not so much focused on what others do, nor am I focused on the rules they must hold to. However, I am very focused on myself in this area. I may not worry about how many check marks others have checked off, but if I am not careful, I can be totally focused on how many I have checked off. When I feel God is pruning me in certain areas, sometimes I go overboard and think I have to react double to what God is doing.
This is most certainly not true. It was never me who sparked the urge to change inside myself anyways. God prunes us, and he gives us the strength to become more like Him. In our own earthly nature, we as humans will never want to change. However, with the Holy Spirit in us we are changed every day from glory to glory, to become more like our Father. There is nothing we can do to make this process go faster. Like wise, there is nothing we can do to change anything about us, without God. We can not read our Bible enough, hang out with our Christian friends enough, not watch certain t.v. shows enough and so on. Those are all good disciplines; however, just doing those things will never make us more like Jesus. If we understand that, then our understanding towards legalism should be clear, rules do not make us a better Christian.
However, it is hard to not feel like we have to do more. However, if we feel like we have to have rules, then we are not trusting God fully in our lives. If our heart is in the right place, God will continue to work in us to make us more like Him. Think about it, if you say you trust God completely in your life, you will also understand that God is in complete control of your life.
Does this mean we do not have to read our Bibles anymore, go to Church, evangelize, or continue to fellowship with our Christian friends? Absolutely not, those examples are very good disciplines, that I believe once we start God will give us the desire to continue. For example, once I stopped making myself read my Bible a certain amount of time a day, and realized how legalistic I was, I actually was reading my Bible more. Really, I was!! This is because I started enjoying reading my Bible again, and I didn’t make it a chore.
God began to show me so much more when I was able to read my Bible cheerfully and not because I was obligated to. Yes we should take our Bible reading seriously, actually my last blog talks all about that. However, we must pray and seek boundaries so that we are able to grow and learn in a way only God can nourish. Even if you do not know how to stop being legalistic or even know in what areas, just pray to God and ask Him to reveal to you areas, in which you are focusing less on God and more on your own status.
I pray these words have helped you today as they have helped me. God Bless you!
I am not too prideful and I do not think that everyone is begging to learn all about my life. However, like me, I know there are individuals out there who would like to see they are not alone in some of their thoughts, feelings, fears, and struggles. I wrote my first blog post on another site a couple of years, ago. It was filled with simple thoughts, just about what I had been going through. After I posted the blog, I received so many responses, I decided that, at least in my group of friends, there was a need for this type of authentic expression.
The point of stating all of this is to say, that I love writing this blog, however I am not going to “force” to update, and give myself rules for something I enjoy. So many times we make rules and regulations for what we once enjoyed doing. I have struggles with this in so many areas. For example, I love reading my Bible, but I will make rules as to how much I should read in a week, how long I should read my Bible each day, and before I know it, I am so overwhelmed by the rules I have placed on something I once loved doing, that I am now burdened while doing it. I do this about working out too! I love working out, however I have a tendency in making this a rule of law. So much so, that if I do not work out on the days I have assigned, I will feel bad the whole day. This struggle is not just in the realm of religious activities. Rarely, any of our struggles just pertain to our spiritual relationship; it usually is within our secular activities as well.
How do we stop this? I believe it begins with our prayer life and asking the Lord to open our eyes and heart when we are turning “legalistic” in certain areas. If I am not constantly in prayer about this weakness, it will over take my life on most days. I am currently reading Matthew, and this is a great book to read when God is opening your eyes to this struggle. Jesus is constantly talking with the Sadducees, and the Pharisee about their rules and how it will get them nowhere. At this moment I am reminded of a verse in Matthew, which says “…I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Matthew 12: 7) In Matthew 12 the disciples are passing through a grain field on the Sabbath and are hungry. They begin to pick some of the grain. When the Pharisees saw this they stated the disciples were doing unlawful things on the Sabbath. Jesus stated that some things are greater than the Sabbath are. Jesus continues by stating “If you had known what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”. The Pharisees and Sadducees were obsessed with rules, laws, and regulations. They could never fully rely on Jesus because they were focused on the wrong thing. Sadly, Jesus knew most would not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven because of their mindset.
This is a sobering thought, when I realize how serious this is, and the work I have to continue to be bondage free in this area. I am not so much focused on what others do, nor am I focused on the rules they must hold to. However, I am very focused on myself in this area. I may not worry about how many check marks others have checked off, but if I am not careful, I can be totally focused on how many I have checked off. When I feel God is pruning me in certain areas, sometimes I go overboard and think I have to react double to what God is doing.
This is most certainly not true. It was never me who sparked the urge to change inside myself anyways. God prunes us, and he gives us the strength to become more like Him. In our own earthly nature, we as humans will never want to change. However, with the Holy Spirit in us we are changed every day from glory to glory, to become more like our Father. There is nothing we can do to make this process go faster. Like wise, there is nothing we can do to change anything about us, without God. We can not read our Bible enough, hang out with our Christian friends enough, not watch certain t.v. shows enough and so on. Those are all good disciplines; however, just doing those things will never make us more like Jesus. If we understand that, then our understanding towards legalism should be clear, rules do not make us a better Christian.
However, it is hard to not feel like we have to do more. However, if we feel like we have to have rules, then we are not trusting God fully in our lives. If our heart is in the right place, God will continue to work in us to make us more like Him. Think about it, if you say you trust God completely in your life, you will also understand that God is in complete control of your life.
Does this mean we do not have to read our Bibles anymore, go to Church, evangelize, or continue to fellowship with our Christian friends? Absolutely not, those examples are very good disciplines, that I believe once we start God will give us the desire to continue. For example, once I stopped making myself read my Bible a certain amount of time a day, and realized how legalistic I was, I actually was reading my Bible more. Really, I was!! This is because I started enjoying reading my Bible again, and I didn’t make it a chore.
God began to show me so much more when I was able to read my Bible cheerfully and not because I was obligated to. Yes we should take our Bible reading seriously, actually my last blog talks all about that. However, we must pray and seek boundaries so that we are able to grow and learn in a way only God can nourish. Even if you do not know how to stop being legalistic or even know in what areas, just pray to God and ask Him to reveal to you areas, in which you are focusing less on God and more on your own status.
I pray these words have helped you today as they have helped me. God Bless you!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
The Living Word
What a week! Patients is the key this week. Over all, I really can't complain, by God's grace, its been a pretty good week. Lately I have been reading and listening to many different sermons. From the regular ones of Joyce Meyers, Josh Harris, to new ones like John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Charles Spurgeon, and the likes. I have learned so much from hearing and reading different view points. So many talents pastors and leaders out there, I just love it!
I was listening to one sermon and the pastor was talking about how by the voice of God creation started, the world began, birds were created, and life was born. God's voice is so powerful, and at that moment I realized how amazing His voice is. How amazing that God spoke and it came to be. To really meditate on that is almost too much to take. I also realized another thing at that point. The Bible is also God's spoken word, and how absolutely powerful the Bible is.
Lately I have been drawn to reading my Bible more, and not just reading it but to really learn, meditate, and pray over everything I have read. I read Matthew chapters 1-10 every day this week. I believe it was John MacArthur that spoke about doing the same thing, and it inspired me. I used to read through books of the bible and continue on to the next one. However, if you think about it, if you start at Matthew 1, when will you hit Matthew 1 again. Its going to take a long time to work through the entire New Testament and then you will probably move to an Old Testament book, and then go back to Matthew 1. So most likely after all is considered, you will read Matthew 1 about once a year. So I decided, (because I am trying to memorize more versus anyways) to read Matthew 1-10 for a week (so that is seven times). Then move on to 11-20 every day, and so on and so forth. I must say I know Matthew 1 through 10 pretty good by now. I do not know it verbatim, but I know it more than I did before.
Oh to pull out scripture every time we are tempted or tried!!!! How amazing that would be. Instead of immediately thinking of some carnal response when we are mad, sad, angry or everything in between, how wonderful it would be to speak the living Word of God. Some times that happens. Especially the lines we learned in children's church. Remember this one... "turn the other cheek" ? But how powerful as Christians we could be if we dedicated more time in the Word and less time on Facebook, or in reality t.v. Instead of quoting a line from last nights MTV show, why not quote a line from God's Word, the only thing that will help us all of our lives.
When we become Christian we can not pick and chose what we will do. We are either going to follow to our fullest, or we will not. We are either going to cultivate those righteous seeds that were planted in us, or we are going to let them die off. Its our chose
How wonderful God's Word is. You know I can listen to sermons and read articles by Godly theologians all day long, but it will never get me where I need to go. It will lead me some, but definitely not all the way without God's Word. See the key to this is that the reason they are able to produce such inspiring works and sermons is because they did the work. They read the Bible and searched, learned and spent hours meditating in it. So they are giving the audiences the over flow of their knowledge, and what a blessing that is. But I don't just want the overflows. I want to experience that myself. The only way to do that is to dig deep, and read the Word.
The more and more I read, the more I realize how just absolutely POWERFUL it is. How INSPIRATIONAL it is. I can't live without it. So in return it changes my heart, my actions, and desires.
Again I will ask the question, how different would this place be if we all studied the Word, and realized how powerful it is? Living in a society that is so power hungry, I am not surprised by the situation modern day society is in now, because most are missing the most powerful tool, the living Word of God.
God Bless You
I was listening to one sermon and the pastor was talking about how by the voice of God creation started, the world began, birds were created, and life was born. God's voice is so powerful, and at that moment I realized how amazing His voice is. How amazing that God spoke and it came to be. To really meditate on that is almost too much to take. I also realized another thing at that point. The Bible is also God's spoken word, and how absolutely powerful the Bible is.
Lately I have been drawn to reading my Bible more, and not just reading it but to really learn, meditate, and pray over everything I have read. I read Matthew chapters 1-10 every day this week. I believe it was John MacArthur that spoke about doing the same thing, and it inspired me. I used to read through books of the bible and continue on to the next one. However, if you think about it, if you start at Matthew 1, when will you hit Matthew 1 again. Its going to take a long time to work through the entire New Testament and then you will probably move to an Old Testament book, and then go back to Matthew 1. So most likely after all is considered, you will read Matthew 1 about once a year. So I decided, (because I am trying to memorize more versus anyways) to read Matthew 1-10 for a week (so that is seven times). Then move on to 11-20 every day, and so on and so forth. I must say I know Matthew 1 through 10 pretty good by now. I do not know it verbatim, but I know it more than I did before.
Oh to pull out scripture every time we are tempted or tried!!!! How amazing that would be. Instead of immediately thinking of some carnal response when we are mad, sad, angry or everything in between, how wonderful it would be to speak the living Word of God. Some times that happens. Especially the lines we learned in children's church. Remember this one... "turn the other cheek" ? But how powerful as Christians we could be if we dedicated more time in the Word and less time on Facebook, or in reality t.v. Instead of quoting a line from last nights MTV show, why not quote a line from God's Word, the only thing that will help us all of our lives.
When we become Christian we can not pick and chose what we will do. We are either going to follow to our fullest, or we will not. We are either going to cultivate those righteous seeds that were planted in us, or we are going to let them die off. Its our chose
How wonderful God's Word is. You know I can listen to sermons and read articles by Godly theologians all day long, but it will never get me where I need to go. It will lead me some, but definitely not all the way without God's Word. See the key to this is that the reason they are able to produce such inspiring works and sermons is because they did the work. They read the Bible and searched, learned and spent hours meditating in it. So they are giving the audiences the over flow of their knowledge, and what a blessing that is. But I don't just want the overflows. I want to experience that myself. The only way to do that is to dig deep, and read the Word.
The more and more I read, the more I realize how just absolutely POWERFUL it is. How INSPIRATIONAL it is. I can't live without it. So in return it changes my heart, my actions, and desires.
Again I will ask the question, how different would this place be if we all studied the Word, and realized how powerful it is? Living in a society that is so power hungry, I am not surprised by the situation modern day society is in now, because most are missing the most powerful tool, the living Word of God.
God Bless You
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Relying on what God says I am
Well I must say, I kept my word. I said I was going to start posting at least once a week. I am excited to report for this week, I did what I said I would do! This was not an easy promise to keep. This week as been super busy and it will not slow down for a while. However, that being said, I believe there is always time, to sit, type and describe some of the amazing things God has revealed to me through His Word this week.
It seems I have really felt such a draw lately to be submersed in the Word. I absolutely LOVE reading my Bible and find great comfort in the words that I read over on a daily basis. Although the passion to read the Word comes and goes, depending on how busy we are with our daily lives. I feel that the more we dedicate time to God's Word, the more of a desire we will gain and the more we will not be able to put it down. I am currently reading Matthew. I am up to Chapter 10. Although today , I am rereading all of it again, because I want to really understand and concentrate on Jesus' journey.
Most mornings when I am driving to work I ask the Lord for Him to use me as a light in any dark places that day. Matthew 5:14-16 speaks of just that, as Jesus says "You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the home. In the same ways, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." I want to be used in any form or fashion for Christ. Even if it is just a simple smile to brightens someones day. I want to do that, because even that is showing the love of Christ.
Believe me though, when you ask to be the light in a dark place, you will often find yourself in situations that will test your ability to be the light. This week has been one of those weeks for me.
Often when you pray for God to help you in an area, or pray for Him to use you in some way, you will see it all around you. Often if we pray for good thoughts through the day, we may be faced with an unkind word from a co-worker that sends up mentally through the roof. How are we to meditate on good thoughts after something like that happens? I believe by restating what God has said about us. Mentally speak good things from the Word of God you remember reading. In the end however, just praying to ourselves for God to give us direction even in that moment is something we all can do to stay focused on God and not the unkind word.
I will often drive home, reprimanding myself of the wrong thing I said, or did not say, or generally just the way I behaved. Literally picking myself apart until I feel destroyed and that I botched the whole day. Luckily, I have come to the conclusion (on most days) to just give myself a break. I am not giving God enough credit if I think I can fix everything about myself, every second of the day. God has never failed in showing me or guiding me in someway if I needed to work on certain areas of my life. Yes, it is important to pray for areas we feel are struggles, and keep praying and reading the Word about those areas, until we feel that we are delivered, but to continuously knock our own self down because we feel like we have to is absurd. I mean really, it isn't anything we are doing that is going to change us. It is only the Holy Spirit inside of us that will change us, if we do what we are suppose to do, which is to lean on God, read the Word and have faith the He will lead us up and over the mountain.
However, most people give up on themselves changing before they reach victory because the journey may take some time. As one of my favorite teachers Joyce Meyers' has said before "it took longer than a day to get into your mess, and its going to take longer than a day of doing right to get out of it". You have to fight the good fight of faith and realize that your circumstances may not change over night. However, that is why God is so good, because having faith that God will change your circumstances and being dedicated to staying strong to see the deliverance will only be a GAIN for your life and it will also allow you to get closer to God more than you ever expected you could be. Believe me, keep going, stay strong because victory is on its way. Don't beat yourself up, but renew your mind in what God's Word says you are, which is righteous, and victorious!
God Bless you!!!
It seems I have really felt such a draw lately to be submersed in the Word. I absolutely LOVE reading my Bible and find great comfort in the words that I read over on a daily basis. Although the passion to read the Word comes and goes, depending on how busy we are with our daily lives. I feel that the more we dedicate time to God's Word, the more of a desire we will gain and the more we will not be able to put it down. I am currently reading Matthew. I am up to Chapter 10. Although today , I am rereading all of it again, because I want to really understand and concentrate on Jesus' journey.
Most mornings when I am driving to work I ask the Lord for Him to use me as a light in any dark places that day. Matthew 5:14-16 speaks of just that, as Jesus says "You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the home. In the same ways, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." I want to be used in any form or fashion for Christ. Even if it is just a simple smile to brightens someones day. I want to do that, because even that is showing the love of Christ.
Believe me though, when you ask to be the light in a dark place, you will often find yourself in situations that will test your ability to be the light. This week has been one of those weeks for me.
Often when you pray for God to help you in an area, or pray for Him to use you in some way, you will see it all around you. Often if we pray for good thoughts through the day, we may be faced with an unkind word from a co-worker that sends up mentally through the roof. How are we to meditate on good thoughts after something like that happens? I believe by restating what God has said about us. Mentally speak good things from the Word of God you remember reading. In the end however, just praying to ourselves for God to give us direction even in that moment is something we all can do to stay focused on God and not the unkind word.
I will often drive home, reprimanding myself of the wrong thing I said, or did not say, or generally just the way I behaved. Literally picking myself apart until I feel destroyed and that I botched the whole day. Luckily, I have come to the conclusion (on most days) to just give myself a break. I am not giving God enough credit if I think I can fix everything about myself, every second of the day. God has never failed in showing me or guiding me in someway if I needed to work on certain areas of my life. Yes, it is important to pray for areas we feel are struggles, and keep praying and reading the Word about those areas, until we feel that we are delivered, but to continuously knock our own self down because we feel like we have to is absurd. I mean really, it isn't anything we are doing that is going to change us. It is only the Holy Spirit inside of us that will change us, if we do what we are suppose to do, which is to lean on God, read the Word and have faith the He will lead us up and over the mountain.
However, most people give up on themselves changing before they reach victory because the journey may take some time. As one of my favorite teachers Joyce Meyers' has said before "it took longer than a day to get into your mess, and its going to take longer than a day of doing right to get out of it". You have to fight the good fight of faith and realize that your circumstances may not change over night. However, that is why God is so good, because having faith that God will change your circumstances and being dedicated to staying strong to see the deliverance will only be a GAIN for your life and it will also allow you to get closer to God more than you ever expected you could be. Believe me, keep going, stay strong because victory is on its way. Don't beat yourself up, but renew your mind in what God's Word says you are, which is righteous, and victorious!
God Bless you!!!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Revelation in Trust
A new school year has started yet again. Many things have changed in my life since my last post. I have made a commitment to myself and to anyone else out there that reads this, that I will be posting at least once a week. Yes, once a week! So here we go!!
Today I woke up, and was unusually running late for work. I do not always run late for work, but at the last minute I decided to change my outfit of choice and wear something else. So that includes getting out the iron again, finding another belt, and so on. So I was running late. When I got to work I found that my very favorite mug that hold all my important pens on my desk was broken into pieces laying on my desk! I was at first outraged. I loved that mug, and to see it in such condition on my desk was horrible. I was bound and determined to find out which person at night that cleans up, broke my mug. However, after a few minutes I realized that I needed to calm down and not get so angry about what was probably an accident. Although, I still was upset I decided I was not going to let that ruin my day, and spoke out loud that I was having a great day and nothing could go wrong today.
A few minutes after that I decided to use a machine grade some papers, only to find out that it would not work for me. It wasn't broken... two teachers had used it earlier, but for me it just wouldn't work. I had to laugh at that point. Things just weren't going my way today, and it was only two hours in.
I decided to calm my mind down, and just relax and take my time the remainder of the day. There was nothing I could do about the grade machine, there was nothing I could do about my pitiful mug, so the best thing I could do was to recenter and continue on.
All of this to say that life is this very same way. Seriously, life has ups and downs, its busy, and then its calm. What we are to do as Christians is to trust in the LORD and know more than we know anything else, that He is in control of everything.
Isn't that hard though? Especially for me. I have such a hard time not trying to fix everything, or think things through, or defuse a situation. But we are to trust in the LORD. I have recently started catching my self when I start the "what ifs" to just stop and focus on God. I will never know what is going to happen tomorrow, but God does. I will never have the answers to everything, but God does. The only job I am to have is to pray, meditate on God's will, and to read the Word.
To trust the LORD fully with everything in your life may be difficult. However, doing this will only strengthen your relationship with Him. When I began this new challenge to trust in God more with everything in my heart I became excited. I knew this journey would only lead me closer to God and would show me God in a totally different way. When we have faith and trust God more, I believe we begin to view things in a whole different way.
I have wrote down many Bible verses pertaining to this subject, and I often take them out and read them.
Isaiah 43:18-19: Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not preceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
How cool is that?? God will make a way for us, no matter where we are! He is in complete control and loves us more than we could ever imagine.
Psalms 19:14 says "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer". I love this verse. I often say it in the mornings to begin my day.
My life has changed so much, and I love the place God has me at right now. I want to learn all I can, and grow closer to God every single day. I truly believe the only way is to totally trust God and rely on Him during all the seasons of our lives. If you don't completely know where to start, just simply tell God 'I want to grow closer to you, show me how'. He will honor your request to grow closer to Him.
I really can't imagine my life without Him. Until next week.....
Today I woke up, and was unusually running late for work. I do not always run late for work, but at the last minute I decided to change my outfit of choice and wear something else. So that includes getting out the iron again, finding another belt, and so on. So I was running late. When I got to work I found that my very favorite mug that hold all my important pens on my desk was broken into pieces laying on my desk! I was at first outraged. I loved that mug, and to see it in such condition on my desk was horrible. I was bound and determined to find out which person at night that cleans up, broke my mug. However, after a few minutes I realized that I needed to calm down and not get so angry about what was probably an accident. Although, I still was upset I decided I was not going to let that ruin my day, and spoke out loud that I was having a great day and nothing could go wrong today.
A few minutes after that I decided to use a machine grade some papers, only to find out that it would not work for me. It wasn't broken... two teachers had used it earlier, but for me it just wouldn't work. I had to laugh at that point. Things just weren't going my way today, and it was only two hours in.
I decided to calm my mind down, and just relax and take my time the remainder of the day. There was nothing I could do about the grade machine, there was nothing I could do about my pitiful mug, so the best thing I could do was to recenter and continue on.
All of this to say that life is this very same way. Seriously, life has ups and downs, its busy, and then its calm. What we are to do as Christians is to trust in the LORD and know more than we know anything else, that He is in control of everything.
Isn't that hard though? Especially for me. I have such a hard time not trying to fix everything, or think things through, or defuse a situation. But we are to trust in the LORD. I have recently started catching my self when I start the "what ifs" to just stop and focus on God. I will never know what is going to happen tomorrow, but God does. I will never have the answers to everything, but God does. The only job I am to have is to pray, meditate on God's will, and to read the Word.
To trust the LORD fully with everything in your life may be difficult. However, doing this will only strengthen your relationship with Him. When I began this new challenge to trust in God more with everything in my heart I became excited. I knew this journey would only lead me closer to God and would show me God in a totally different way. When we have faith and trust God more, I believe we begin to view things in a whole different way.
I have wrote down many Bible verses pertaining to this subject, and I often take them out and read them.
Isaiah 43:18-19: Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not preceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
How cool is that?? God will make a way for us, no matter where we are! He is in complete control and loves us more than we could ever imagine.
Psalms 19:14 says "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer". I love this verse. I often say it in the mornings to begin my day.
My life has changed so much, and I love the place God has me at right now. I want to learn all I can, and grow closer to God every single day. I truly believe the only way is to totally trust God and rely on Him during all the seasons of our lives. If you don't completely know where to start, just simply tell God 'I want to grow closer to you, show me how'. He will honor your request to grow closer to Him.
I really can't imagine my life without Him. Until next week.....
Monday, April 18, 2011
Can I Tell You Something?
I am overwhelmed at how amazing our God is. A few days ago I couldn't tell you this would be the first words out when writing this today. Things have been hectic lately. Going with the flow and trying to get things done from day to day had just become my life. Counting down the days until summer break was the high light.
However, a few months ago when my life went in a very different direction and things settled down, I knew God was telling me to take this time when school was on a pause and things at work were winding down to really focus on Him, and learn all I could from His word. He was calling me to a time that I would grow closer to Him. God does this very specifically to each of us; calling us on a journey with just Him to be loved, grow in His word, and grow in our faith. I knew that this was my season if I allowed God to work in my life. It is a choice, you know. God will call out to us, and it is up to us to accept His calling, or to simply ignore it.
God has been showing me so many things about myself and about my life. Too often we depend on other people and other things to make us happy. Sadly that is one of my down falls. I rely on friendship more often for advice than praying. I am extremely happy when I get things that I want, instead of praising God that during this economic down turn, I am not feeling most of it.
Yet, my God is amazing. Still calling my name to focus on Him.
I have come to the realization more than ever now, that life without fully in God's will is not the life I want to live. Last night I was laying in bed, about to fall asleep and all I could hear in my head was "focus on me, focus on me". This morning I woke up and felt over joyed with the love of God. I felt that every place in my heart was filled with the love of God.
I yearn for all God has for me. I am very passionate about following God's will. I am very passionate about this, because I still remember when I was only living for myself. Yes, I was a Christian but you could barely see it from the out side. I was living life for myself and it got me absolutely no where. I have tried living like that, and it only leads to destruction.
I know what God has for me is greater than anything I could ever imagine. Yet, I feel the society we live in is so afraid to grasp that. I am too at times. We feel that relying on the unknown is a risk too hard to take. So instead we live life, and we make decisions based on what our feeble minds think is good. Yet if we would just GIVE IT TO HIM, He would transform it to something amazing. Do not be satisfied with a simple day to day life. Expect more, search for more, live for more in Christ. Be a solider for Christ, and fight the good fight for others, not for your self. Life is short and our journey here is but a blink of an eye. Make a difference. You and I were made for more.
God Bless You!
However, a few months ago when my life went in a very different direction and things settled down, I knew God was telling me to take this time when school was on a pause and things at work were winding down to really focus on Him, and learn all I could from His word. He was calling me to a time that I would grow closer to Him. God does this very specifically to each of us; calling us on a journey with just Him to be loved, grow in His word, and grow in our faith. I knew that this was my season if I allowed God to work in my life. It is a choice, you know. God will call out to us, and it is up to us to accept His calling, or to simply ignore it.
God has been showing me so many things about myself and about my life. Too often we depend on other people and other things to make us happy. Sadly that is one of my down falls. I rely on friendship more often for advice than praying. I am extremely happy when I get things that I want, instead of praising God that during this economic down turn, I am not feeling most of it.
Yet, my God is amazing. Still calling my name to focus on Him.
I have come to the realization more than ever now, that life without fully in God's will is not the life I want to live. Last night I was laying in bed, about to fall asleep and all I could hear in my head was "focus on me, focus on me". This morning I woke up and felt over joyed with the love of God. I felt that every place in my heart was filled with the love of God.
I yearn for all God has for me. I am very passionate about following God's will. I am very passionate about this, because I still remember when I was only living for myself. Yes, I was a Christian but you could barely see it from the out side. I was living life for myself and it got me absolutely no where. I have tried living like that, and it only leads to destruction.
I know what God has for me is greater than anything I could ever imagine. Yet, I feel the society we live in is so afraid to grasp that. I am too at times. We feel that relying on the unknown is a risk too hard to take. So instead we live life, and we make decisions based on what our feeble minds think is good. Yet if we would just GIVE IT TO HIM, He would transform it to something amazing. Do not be satisfied with a simple day to day life. Expect more, search for more, live for more in Christ. Be a solider for Christ, and fight the good fight for others, not for your self. Life is short and our journey here is but a blink of an eye. Make a difference. You and I were made for more.
God Bless You!
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