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
Thursday, September 22, 2011
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.....
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