What power there can be in a simple moment. God never ever ceases to amaze me with his overwhelming, beautiful, powerful love that he has for us…for me. Even as I write this I’m having a hard time holding back the tears…Yes, Jesus loves me. He loves me so much, way more than I can come close to comprehending. He really, truly, loves me with all the love He can give. I have no idea why, but He does.
A lot has been going on in my life lately. Things have gotten confusing because of some decisions we’ve made, and other decisions that have been presented to us. Decisions that will completely change our lives yet again. I’ve honestly grown very tired of having to be in a “transitional” state of life. It feels like we’ll never be settled. Of course, the great promise of God is that we always know where we belong if we’re with Him. He truly is the only thing constant in life, and I’ve been holding on to Him very tightly lately. Today while I was walking at the park, laying in the fall sun, and just trying to spend some time with Jesus, my mind was on other things. I was praying about everything going on, praying for friends, family, and just thinking even about all that I had to do. I’ve been feeling physically bad the past few days as well, so I was rather “blah” you might say while I was out there. Every now and then I’ll decide to put the ipod on shuffle, where I don’t have the control of what’s coming up next, and that’s what I did today. I was thinking about all of these things and as I looked down to see what was coming up next the song “Can I have this Dance?” from High School Musical 3 flashed across the screen. I heard Jesus loud and clear speaking directly to my heart, asking me a simple question: “Can I have this dance?” Tears immediately came and God showed me once again in one simple moment just how much he loves me.
What a powerful moment that was for me. In the midst of turmoil, sickness, and hurt Jesus came to me and simply wanted me. Nothing else. He didn’t want all the ways I serve him or anything that I could do for Him, He wanted my heart. He wanted to dance with me. So we did. I sobbed and sobbed to my best friend, the lover of my soul, the one who makes all things new…and that’s just what he did again. He caused my heart to well up with his amazing love and filled me to overflowing...all in an instant.
A simple question from Jesus: “Can I have this dance?” Amidst all of the crazy things going on in life, he gently asks, “Can I have this dance? I want to dance with you and love on you…I want to fill your heart and let you know just how special you are to me. I long to look into your eyes, face to face, so you can see just how much I delight in you. I desire for you to know that I love you, just the way you are and there is no one else like you. There is nothing more you can do to gain my attention…you’ve already captured me. I think about you all the time. Oh, you are so beautiful to me and I just want you…nothing else. Trust me, and I’ll lead the way. You’ll be safe with me…don’t be afraid to fall, I’ll catch you through it all.”
So, in the midst of the busyness of life, Jesus is whispering, “Can I have this dance?” In the middle of hardship, pain, or even joy, “can I have this dance?” When you feel like you’ve failed and you’re not worthy of anyone’s love, Jesus asks you, “Can I have this dance?” What an amazing gesture of love from our Father to us. A simple question that speaks volumes to one’s heart. “Why would God want to dance with me?”, you might ask. Simply because of His great love, and the fact that you are beautiful. Forget about everything else…all the struggles, sin, fear, insecurity, and everything else that might be getting in the way, and when you hear Him ask “Can I have this dance?” run into his arms and let him sweep you away in His presence. What an amazing Lord we serve.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Jesus Wept..The Amazing Compassion of our God
Jesus Wept
This one scripture alone has been known for being the shortest, easiest verse in the Bible to remember. If you ever want to memorize a scripture, there it is…John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”
It wasn’t until tonight that I truly understood the power of those words. Jesus, the son of God, creator of the world and everything in it, the one who knows all the hairs on my head, who flung the stars into the sky, and who is bigger and more powerful than any other….he wept. Why in the world would the man, God, have any need in weeping? Why would he show this apparent weakness? (at least the world would call it that)
If you know me at all, you know that crying is something that I’ve tried not to do too much of throughout my life. I grew up in a home where we never really talked openly about our feelings and I never truly felt as if I could open up my heart to anyone. I always wanted to be able to cry, but never felt released to do so. I had to be the strong one, I mean, after all there really is nothing to cry about, right? Nothing could possibly be so wrong in my life that I would need to shed any tears over it. Wrong!
As I was spending time with Jesus this evening, he reassured me that it’s ok to be broken. It’s ok to let your heart be vulnerable. In fact, in these moments is when God seems to touch my heart the deepest. It’s ok to weep. After all, Jesus wept. Jesus, the king of all kings, had reason to shed tears, and so do I.
This passage is telling the story of when Jesus came to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’s house after a journey to visit. He knew and even waited two extra days before he decided to go, knowing all along that Lazarus was sick and would die. When he arrived the sisters and all the Jews that were there were in tears. They had lost their brother, so their hearts were broken. This is the good part…Jesus wept with them. This man who had all the answers, the power to heal and raise from the dead, took time to weep with those who were weeping. He had compassion on them and displayed just how deep his love extends to those who are hurting. He didn’t correct or rebuke. He didn’t even raise Lazarus immediately. He wept. This hit me, and it hit me hard. If Jesus weeps, then I can feel free to do the same. His friends were broken. They had just lost their brother, and he felt their loss deeply, so he shed tears along with them. What an amazing man.
I know when I’m broken, many times I’ll try to talk myself out of it. I’ll feel like a failure, as if I should have more faith, or as if something so trite shouldn’t affect me this deeply. All I know is that I’ve been in tears a lot lately, and God has met me. He has shown me his compassion. He has wept with me, held me, and been more patient with me in my struggles than I could ever have hoped. I feel no condemnation, even though I feel the way I do.
As I was praying, He was with me, encouraging me though, that it doesn’t stop with Him simply weeping. He weeps with us, shows us deep compassion, and then what happens after that in the story? He raises the dead! All these trials, all the brokenness, all the pain…what does it end in? A resurrection! One that no one was expecting, after all Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. Wow. God is just like that. One day we’re broken, crying out, and the next moment God comes in and resurrects the dead. He lifts us out of our brokenness, touches our heart and sets us free. He takes the place in our heart and makes it new again. He takes our situation and completely makes it new. What an amazing, compassionate, powerful, resurrecting God we serve. I love learning about his great love for us…a love that I will never know fully until I meet him face to face. Thank you for weeping with me, Jesus, and better yet, for the victory you constantly bring to my life. There is none like you!
This one scripture alone has been known for being the shortest, easiest verse in the Bible to remember. If you ever want to memorize a scripture, there it is…John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”
It wasn’t until tonight that I truly understood the power of those words. Jesus, the son of God, creator of the world and everything in it, the one who knows all the hairs on my head, who flung the stars into the sky, and who is bigger and more powerful than any other….he wept. Why in the world would the man, God, have any need in weeping? Why would he show this apparent weakness? (at least the world would call it that)
If you know me at all, you know that crying is something that I’ve tried not to do too much of throughout my life. I grew up in a home where we never really talked openly about our feelings and I never truly felt as if I could open up my heart to anyone. I always wanted to be able to cry, but never felt released to do so. I had to be the strong one, I mean, after all there really is nothing to cry about, right? Nothing could possibly be so wrong in my life that I would need to shed any tears over it. Wrong!
As I was spending time with Jesus this evening, he reassured me that it’s ok to be broken. It’s ok to let your heart be vulnerable. In fact, in these moments is when God seems to touch my heart the deepest. It’s ok to weep. After all, Jesus wept. Jesus, the king of all kings, had reason to shed tears, and so do I.
This passage is telling the story of when Jesus came to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’s house after a journey to visit. He knew and even waited two extra days before he decided to go, knowing all along that Lazarus was sick and would die. When he arrived the sisters and all the Jews that were there were in tears. They had lost their brother, so their hearts were broken. This is the good part…Jesus wept with them. This man who had all the answers, the power to heal and raise from the dead, took time to weep with those who were weeping. He had compassion on them and displayed just how deep his love extends to those who are hurting. He didn’t correct or rebuke. He didn’t even raise Lazarus immediately. He wept. This hit me, and it hit me hard. If Jesus weeps, then I can feel free to do the same. His friends were broken. They had just lost their brother, and he felt their loss deeply, so he shed tears along with them. What an amazing man.
I know when I’m broken, many times I’ll try to talk myself out of it. I’ll feel like a failure, as if I should have more faith, or as if something so trite shouldn’t affect me this deeply. All I know is that I’ve been in tears a lot lately, and God has met me. He has shown me his compassion. He has wept with me, held me, and been more patient with me in my struggles than I could ever have hoped. I feel no condemnation, even though I feel the way I do.
As I was praying, He was with me, encouraging me though, that it doesn’t stop with Him simply weeping. He weeps with us, shows us deep compassion, and then what happens after that in the story? He raises the dead! All these trials, all the brokenness, all the pain…what does it end in? A resurrection! One that no one was expecting, after all Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. Wow. God is just like that. One day we’re broken, crying out, and the next moment God comes in and resurrects the dead. He lifts us out of our brokenness, touches our heart and sets us free. He takes the place in our heart and makes it new again. He takes our situation and completely makes it new. What an amazing, compassionate, powerful, resurrecting God we serve. I love learning about his great love for us…a love that I will never know fully until I meet him face to face. Thank you for weeping with me, Jesus, and better yet, for the victory you constantly bring to my life. There is none like you!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
You Stoop Down to Make ME Great
YOU Stoop Down to Make ME Great…
I love Psalm 18. It has to be one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible. David was writing this after God had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from Saul, who was trying to put him to death. David was rejoicing in God, his Rock and Deliverer. He is explaining that when he, the man after God’s own heart, cried out to the Lord, how powerfully God came and rescued him. In verse 6 David, in his distress, called to the Lord and cried to his God for help. It says that from His temple God heard David’s voice and that his cry came before him, into his ears. Then God responds in such an amazing way…as only God can do for the child that He loves. In verses 7-19 the Psalm explains how God was angry at David’s enemies and the earth trembled and quaked. God parted the heavens and came down, shot his arrows and scattered the enemies. He did not sit still. His child, who was righteous in his sight, cried to him and He heard…and acted. He not only comforted David, He routed the enemy with great force and placed David in a safe place. In verse 19 “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Later, in verse 35 David writes “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not turn.” What a great God we serve!
Our God delights in us! God delights in me! He loves me, saves me, rescues me when I am in trouble and sets my feet on a place where I can walk. He makes me great. He does all this out of his amazing love for me. All I have to do is ask.
So many times I’m going through a difficult time in life and I never ask for help when I desperately need it. I think to myself that I can handle it. Many times I don’t even think to ask God, and if I do ask God I don’t really expect Him to do anything. That wasn’t David’s cry when his life was about to be taken from him. He was desperate for God to move. He was crying out to God to save him…and He did. Sometimes I think we’re not really desperate enough for God to move. Maybe our physical life might not be at stake like David’s was, but our spiritual life, emotions and faith are being attacked and we just sit back and let the devil beat us up. Why in the world don’t we ask for help? We seem to have this false view that it’s wrong for us to be praying and believing God to move in our life. I mean, why should I ask God for anything for me when there are people out there who have real problems? Mine are only miniscule compared to everyone else’s. Well, maybe that’s the problem right there, and a lie from straight from the enemy. We compare ourselves to others and because of this sell ourselves short of God’s best for us. God has a desire to give us HIS best…yes, even to me and you. It’s not only for other people. He wants to rescue YOU and ME…not only him or her. It’s absolutely NOT selfish to cry out to God and ask for help. It’s not selfish to believe God for his favor, protection, peace, and prosperity for YOUR life, since it is a promise from Him because He delights in you. Sure, other people are all needy as well, and of course God wants us to help and pray for others, but we are only truly responsible for taking care of ourselves. If we don’t take care of ourselves and cry out to God to move in our lives, how can we truly expect to ever really help anyone else?
I know in my life when I’m loving on Jesus and experiencing him and His presence on a daily basis I have a great desire to bless others and help meet their needs. When my “love tank” is full, I want to give, and it’s easy to give. If I’m struggling every day, wondering why I do what I do, and have no direction in my own life, then there is no way that I can listen to the voice of God to be an encouragement to someone else. It’s only when we’re full of the Holy Spirit and walking in step with Him that we can truly put others needs before our own, like the scripture says to do.
So, do you believe that you’re great? Do you believe you have what it takes to do what God has called you to do, or are you letting the world dictate your life and being tossed back and forth without direction or purpose? Remember, YOUR needs are important. God delights in you and longs to fill your heart with more of the fullness of his love every single day. He wants YOUR heart to be well, so you can truly love others and serve them out of the joy inside, and not out of obligation. God stoops down to make YOU great!
I love Psalm 18. It has to be one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible. David was writing this after God had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from Saul, who was trying to put him to death. David was rejoicing in God, his Rock and Deliverer. He is explaining that when he, the man after God’s own heart, cried out to the Lord, how powerfully God came and rescued him. In verse 6 David, in his distress, called to the Lord and cried to his God for help. It says that from His temple God heard David’s voice and that his cry came before him, into his ears. Then God responds in such an amazing way…as only God can do for the child that He loves. In verses 7-19 the Psalm explains how God was angry at David’s enemies and the earth trembled and quaked. God parted the heavens and came down, shot his arrows and scattered the enemies. He did not sit still. His child, who was righteous in his sight, cried to him and He heard…and acted. He not only comforted David, He routed the enemy with great force and placed David in a safe place. In verse 19 “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Later, in verse 35 David writes “You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not turn.” What a great God we serve!
Our God delights in us! God delights in me! He loves me, saves me, rescues me when I am in trouble and sets my feet on a place where I can walk. He makes me great. He does all this out of his amazing love for me. All I have to do is ask.
So many times I’m going through a difficult time in life and I never ask for help when I desperately need it. I think to myself that I can handle it. Many times I don’t even think to ask God, and if I do ask God I don’t really expect Him to do anything. That wasn’t David’s cry when his life was about to be taken from him. He was desperate for God to move. He was crying out to God to save him…and He did. Sometimes I think we’re not really desperate enough for God to move. Maybe our physical life might not be at stake like David’s was, but our spiritual life, emotions and faith are being attacked and we just sit back and let the devil beat us up. Why in the world don’t we ask for help? We seem to have this false view that it’s wrong for us to be praying and believing God to move in our life. I mean, why should I ask God for anything for me when there are people out there who have real problems? Mine are only miniscule compared to everyone else’s. Well, maybe that’s the problem right there, and a lie from straight from the enemy. We compare ourselves to others and because of this sell ourselves short of God’s best for us. God has a desire to give us HIS best…yes, even to me and you. It’s not only for other people. He wants to rescue YOU and ME…not only him or her. It’s absolutely NOT selfish to cry out to God and ask for help. It’s not selfish to believe God for his favor, protection, peace, and prosperity for YOUR life, since it is a promise from Him because He delights in you. Sure, other people are all needy as well, and of course God wants us to help and pray for others, but we are only truly responsible for taking care of ourselves. If we don’t take care of ourselves and cry out to God to move in our lives, how can we truly expect to ever really help anyone else?
I know in my life when I’m loving on Jesus and experiencing him and His presence on a daily basis I have a great desire to bless others and help meet their needs. When my “love tank” is full, I want to give, and it’s easy to give. If I’m struggling every day, wondering why I do what I do, and have no direction in my own life, then there is no way that I can listen to the voice of God to be an encouragement to someone else. It’s only when we’re full of the Holy Spirit and walking in step with Him that we can truly put others needs before our own, like the scripture says to do.
So, do you believe that you’re great? Do you believe you have what it takes to do what God has called you to do, or are you letting the world dictate your life and being tossed back and forth without direction or purpose? Remember, YOUR needs are important. God delights in you and longs to fill your heart with more of the fullness of his love every single day. He wants YOUR heart to be well, so you can truly love others and serve them out of the joy inside, and not out of obligation. God stoops down to make YOU great!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Will we press in or sit back?
When the woman who was subject to bleeding for 12 years saw that Jesus had returned to Galilee she knew this was her chance. She knew that if she could just touch his cloak, she would be healed and restored. When she finally broke through the tremendous crowds who the bible said were almost crushing Jesus, she was able to touch the edge of His robe. The result? She was completely healed. Her bleeding immediately stopped and Jesus then commended her by saying “your faith has healed you.” Before the woman came forward and told Jesus that she was indeed the one who touched him, He asked “who touched me?” The disciples replied, master, people from all sides are surrounding you and pushing up against you…He said in response, “Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out of me.”
Reading this story again made me think about my faith, and where I am in relation to Jesus. There were probably thousands of people surrounding Jesus that day, pressing up against him, wanting to get just a glimpse. Thousands who were in awe of this man and the amazing things they saw him say and do. What was the difference between the woman who forced her way through the multitude to touch him and the ones who were surrounding him, pressing up against Him? This causes me to ask myself a couple of questions. Am I someone who is standing around Jesus watching him do miracles and touch others, or am I like the woman who is so desperate for his touch that I’ll do anything I possibly can to get to him? Do I believe his word enough to believe it to the point of no return? The woman had absolutely no doubt that when she touched Him she’d be healed.
Sometimes I think that we’re not sure deep down in our hearts that what God says is absolutely true, so we stand around Jesus in the crowd, not pressing in to Him to obtain all that He has for us. We’re not really convinced that God’s desire is for us to be healed, so we don’t really press in to get what He’s promised. We’re not sure that God has great plans for us, so we stay on the sidelines of life rather than taking that step of faith in order to get in the game. We don’t really know that when Jesus says in John 10:10 that “He has come in order that we will have life in abundance, to the full, until it overflows”, he really means it. Are we pressing into Jesus enough to really believe these promises? Do you really believe that when the Bible says “by his stripes you are healed” that this applies to you? The great news, is that it absolutely does. Every promise, every word from the mouth of God is for us. We just have to believe it. We don’t need to go with our past experiences, or think that we’ve never seen anyone healed when we pray for them. We need to move past those things and believe the word of God in faith, not in sight. We need to know that when things look tough and the bills are coming in, God says that he provides according to His riches in glory. God promises that as we obey him and believe, he takes care of us. He heals us. He provides for us. He is our Father and we don’t have to worry.
Another thought is that people think it’s humility to allow others to get a touch from God and not themselves. “Just let her go…she needs it more than I do.” Or “I’ll pray for her healing, but I’ll be fine. I can handle it.” “It’s always better to pray for others, and when you do, you’ll also be blessed.” I know I’ve been guilty of saying these things before, but the truth is that God wants YOU healed and whole, too. He wants to touch YOU with his presence and fullness, as well as others. He wants you to walk in wholeness and be fulfilled in every area of your life because he LOVES YOU. When you walk in the power of God and his fullness it releases others to do the same. Shrinking back has never helped anyone. The truth is, there is enough of God to go around so that EVERYONE can experience his goodness and all He has to give.
So, a question to ask yourself today is “am I living a life pressing in to receive all that Jesus has for me, expecting God’s best today, or am I just one of the crowd staying back watching as He touches others?”
God wants you to be fulfilled and whole in every way. He wants us to live a John 10:10 life! A life in abundance, to the full and till it overflows!
Reading this story again made me think about my faith, and where I am in relation to Jesus. There were probably thousands of people surrounding Jesus that day, pressing up against him, wanting to get just a glimpse. Thousands who were in awe of this man and the amazing things they saw him say and do. What was the difference between the woman who forced her way through the multitude to touch him and the ones who were surrounding him, pressing up against Him? This causes me to ask myself a couple of questions. Am I someone who is standing around Jesus watching him do miracles and touch others, or am I like the woman who is so desperate for his touch that I’ll do anything I possibly can to get to him? Do I believe his word enough to believe it to the point of no return? The woman had absolutely no doubt that when she touched Him she’d be healed.
Sometimes I think that we’re not sure deep down in our hearts that what God says is absolutely true, so we stand around Jesus in the crowd, not pressing in to Him to obtain all that He has for us. We’re not really convinced that God’s desire is for us to be healed, so we don’t really press in to get what He’s promised. We’re not sure that God has great plans for us, so we stay on the sidelines of life rather than taking that step of faith in order to get in the game. We don’t really know that when Jesus says in John 10:10 that “He has come in order that we will have life in abundance, to the full, until it overflows”, he really means it. Are we pressing into Jesus enough to really believe these promises? Do you really believe that when the Bible says “by his stripes you are healed” that this applies to you? The great news, is that it absolutely does. Every promise, every word from the mouth of God is for us. We just have to believe it. We don’t need to go with our past experiences, or think that we’ve never seen anyone healed when we pray for them. We need to move past those things and believe the word of God in faith, not in sight. We need to know that when things look tough and the bills are coming in, God says that he provides according to His riches in glory. God promises that as we obey him and believe, he takes care of us. He heals us. He provides for us. He is our Father and we don’t have to worry.
Another thought is that people think it’s humility to allow others to get a touch from God and not themselves. “Just let her go…she needs it more than I do.” Or “I’ll pray for her healing, but I’ll be fine. I can handle it.” “It’s always better to pray for others, and when you do, you’ll also be blessed.” I know I’ve been guilty of saying these things before, but the truth is that God wants YOU healed and whole, too. He wants to touch YOU with his presence and fullness, as well as others. He wants you to walk in wholeness and be fulfilled in every area of your life because he LOVES YOU. When you walk in the power of God and his fullness it releases others to do the same. Shrinking back has never helped anyone. The truth is, there is enough of God to go around so that EVERYONE can experience his goodness and all He has to give.
So, a question to ask yourself today is “am I living a life pressing in to receive all that Jesus has for me, expecting God’s best today, or am I just one of the crowd staying back watching as He touches others?”
God wants you to be fulfilled and whole in every way. He wants us to live a John 10:10 life! A life in abundance, to the full and till it overflows!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
God is so good….enough said!
God is so good….enough said!
Every now and then I get blown away by the presence of God. The closer I get to Him, the more of these moments I seem to have. I love God. That’s it. Nothing gets better than Him and who He is to me. He is the absolute best friend and Father I could ever have or ever want to have. I can truly say that no one on this earth compares to Him and his great love for me. When I look back at my life I am truly floored by where I am right now, and how He got me to where I am. The funny thing is, none of it at all was planned by me. If I’d have planned it, things would look way different than they do now. It’s just amazing how God does things in our lives when we let loose, or even when we don’t! He’s always working behind the scenes in ways that we don’t have the slightest idea about. He has ways out of our problems that we can’t even come up with. It’s amazing how just one person comes into your life at the right time, and things completely get changed upside down. God is just like that. We think we have this amazing plan, but God determines our steps, and I am so thankful for that.
I’m so thankful for a God who loves me just the way I am, but calls me to be so much more. I’m so thankful for my friend Jesus who encourages me and calls me to do even greater things than even He did on this earth. I’m so thankful for an amazing Father who lets me climb up into His lap and love on Him, and rest in his presence when I’m weary from this journey, or when I just want to be with Him. I’m so grateful to God for loving me for who I am right now exactly the way I am, and not just who I will become in the future. I’m so thankful that my Daddy is pleased with me and delights in me simply because I’m His child. Thank you, Jesus for your great love and forgiveness. I’m so thankful that Jesus laid down His own life for me to forgive my sin and never holds it against me, so therefore I don’t have to hold it against myself! I’m so thankful to Jesus for setting me free…truly free…now, in this life so I can live in confidence and watch God’s amazing power at work in and through me. I’m so thankful that the mountains in front of me aren’t big at all in the eyes of my God and best friend. I know that my God is bigger than anything I could ever face. I am so glad that I am His and I belong to no one else. I am in love with Jesus, who gives me joy and inner strength every single day, so that I’m not only “making it by” but I’m living life in abundance, to the full, and till it overflows, according to His word! I’m just so thankful for who God is to me and all the ways He pours out his blessing on my life…immerses me with His goodness in so many ways I see and don’t see. I’m thankful for His protection and mercy. I’m thankful for the amazing blessing of my family, church family, and great friends that He has abundantly given me. I’m so encouraged by His love and faithfulness, and that HE never ever breaks his promises. I’m thankful that I’m full of life and love and the power of Jesus, and that absolutely no weapon formed against me will prevail. Thank you, God, for your great arms of love and acceptance. If you are for me, God, then who truly can be against me? Everyone, every enemy, and every thing pails in comparison to my God.
I’m so thankful to be me, and to know the one who made me. What an amazing privilege it is to love and lay down my life for the one who laid down His life for me. What a privilege it is to love God.
Sometimes all I can do in this life is stand in awe of God, and wait for the next amazing adventure that He’s going to take me on…It might not always be easy, but He’s always there through it to bring the greatest peace and joy I could ever ask for. God is so good….enough said!
Every now and then I get blown away by the presence of God. The closer I get to Him, the more of these moments I seem to have. I love God. That’s it. Nothing gets better than Him and who He is to me. He is the absolute best friend and Father I could ever have or ever want to have. I can truly say that no one on this earth compares to Him and his great love for me. When I look back at my life I am truly floored by where I am right now, and how He got me to where I am. The funny thing is, none of it at all was planned by me. If I’d have planned it, things would look way different than they do now. It’s just amazing how God does things in our lives when we let loose, or even when we don’t! He’s always working behind the scenes in ways that we don’t have the slightest idea about. He has ways out of our problems that we can’t even come up with. It’s amazing how just one person comes into your life at the right time, and things completely get changed upside down. God is just like that. We think we have this amazing plan, but God determines our steps, and I am so thankful for that.
I’m so thankful for a God who loves me just the way I am, but calls me to be so much more. I’m so thankful for my friend Jesus who encourages me and calls me to do even greater things than even He did on this earth. I’m so thankful for an amazing Father who lets me climb up into His lap and love on Him, and rest in his presence when I’m weary from this journey, or when I just want to be with Him. I’m so grateful to God for loving me for who I am right now exactly the way I am, and not just who I will become in the future. I’m so thankful that my Daddy is pleased with me and delights in me simply because I’m His child. Thank you, Jesus for your great love and forgiveness. I’m so thankful that Jesus laid down His own life for me to forgive my sin and never holds it against me, so therefore I don’t have to hold it against myself! I’m so thankful to Jesus for setting me free…truly free…now, in this life so I can live in confidence and watch God’s amazing power at work in and through me. I’m so thankful that the mountains in front of me aren’t big at all in the eyes of my God and best friend. I know that my God is bigger than anything I could ever face. I am so glad that I am His and I belong to no one else. I am in love with Jesus, who gives me joy and inner strength every single day, so that I’m not only “making it by” but I’m living life in abundance, to the full, and till it overflows, according to His word! I’m just so thankful for who God is to me and all the ways He pours out his blessing on my life…immerses me with His goodness in so many ways I see and don’t see. I’m thankful for His protection and mercy. I’m thankful for the amazing blessing of my family, church family, and great friends that He has abundantly given me. I’m so encouraged by His love and faithfulness, and that HE never ever breaks his promises. I’m thankful that I’m full of life and love and the power of Jesus, and that absolutely no weapon formed against me will prevail. Thank you, God, for your great arms of love and acceptance. If you are for me, God, then who truly can be against me? Everyone, every enemy, and every thing pails in comparison to my God.
I’m so thankful to be me, and to know the one who made me. What an amazing privilege it is to love and lay down my life for the one who laid down His life for me. What a privilege it is to love God.
Sometimes all I can do in this life is stand in awe of God, and wait for the next amazing adventure that He’s going to take me on…It might not always be easy, but He’s always there through it to bring the greatest peace and joy I could ever ask for. God is so good….enough said!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Peace or no Peace, That is the Question
Peace or no Peace...that is the Question.
Wondering what to do in life can be so challenging at times…should I take this job? Should I stay home with the kids? Should I do this or that? What about my career and my dreams, and where do they come into play? Will I ever really do what I feel God has called me to do?
I’ve been hearing these types of questions so much lately…whether it’s from family members, friends, or even myself, everyone is always wondering if they’ve chosen correctly. Answering this question of knowing exactly what God wants you to do in a certain situation or event in life can be very difficult at times. All the different things that you could choose from seem like good options, but which one truly is the best? What is really God’s best for my life? Which decision should I make that will truly honor God?
These are all decisions that are so very important in life. I know for me, I just gave up a job working at the YMCA because I felt like the Lord was leading me to. It was a great job with great people, and it was flexible to fit around my schedule. When the kids were sick and needed to be home from school, my supervisor was always so gracious and helped me find someone to cover my shift and if it wasn’t, there were no hard feelings. A job like that one is definitely hard to come by. I believe that God was even ministering through me to many different co-workers and people there. It seemed to be a great fit for awhile…but then I felt like it was time to move on. I had only been working there for about six months, but I sensed in my spirit that God wanted me to let go of this job. I went back and forth for quite a while, and then finally decided to put in my 2 weeks notice. Sure, the extra money every month was nice and meeting new people was great, too. Even the free membership at the YMCA was a great perk, but none of those things compared AT ALL to the PEACE that I experienced when I walked out those doors for the last time as an employee. It wasn’t as if I was leaving prison, I mean, the Y was a great place…but it wasn’t for me, and God knew it. He had better plans for me. And for the first time in quite a while I’m at peace with what I’m doing in life. I don’t feel as if I’m in a battle anymore for the time that God has given me and the calling that He’s placed on my life.
For many years I’ve gone from one job to another trying to help “make ends meet” for our family. I’ve done everything from working in the Kid’s club at Gold’s Gym (and if anyone knows me, working with kids is NOT my preference) to delivering free publications to gas stations and grocery stores. I even helped in the accounting office at my church for a season…all of these things were done with kids in tow, and it was not very easy. They never enjoyed it, either, which made it all the more difficult for me to do a good job. At one point I had 4 different jobs, and I honestly hated every minute of it. I always had something looming over my head to get done, and I couldn’t stand it. That was definitely NOT a peaceful time in my life. It was hard to stay focused on what was really important during those times because I had so many other things (that I decided to put there) competing for my time and energy. I rarely had quality time with the family, and when I did, I was always thinking about what else I needed to get done.
When I finally decided to walk away from the YMCA, for me, it was a decision to finally trust God to provide. No longer was I going to strive to make money for the family at any expense. No longer was I going to let what I thought overrule what GOD thought. It’s not easy to let go of a source of income that is part of your working budget every month, but God knew better. We’ve been more blessed financially ever since then, and I know that God will continue to provide, even when I can’t see where it’s coming from. He’s just that trustworthy. He’s just that faithful. He always keeps His promises, so I choose to believe Him and His word.
If there’s a job or something that you’ve chosen to do in life that has “run out of peace” then maybe it’s time to re-evaluate why you’re doing it. Is it because you don’t trust God to make ends meet, so you NEED this job? Is it because you’re doing it to please someone else, but really don’t want to or feel called to do it? Maybe you’ve been doing it for so long that you don’t want to let anyone down by giving it up. I truly believe that if God calls you to do something, or to continue to do something that there will be a peace in your soul like no other. There will be a “knowing” in your spirit that you’re doing the right thing, and if that’s not there, then maybe, just maybe it’s time to take a step of faith and just say no. Life is way too short and our time is way too valuable to let others demand of us things that God doesn’t want us to do. If God has called me to be a stay at home mom and that’s all I need to do in this season, then getting another job is going against His will for me and I’ll never experience the fullness of his peace. If God’s called me to get a job, then there most certainly will be the grace and peace of God surrounding it. It won’t be full of toil or strife. Even if the job is a difficult one, there still will be a tranquility inside that can only come from God, confirming I’m exactly where He wants me.
I challenge you to ask yourself if what you’re doing in your life is bringing you peace. Are the things you’re doing creating strife and stress? If so, ask God to bring peace to that area. If it doesn’t arrive, chances are it’s time to let it go. Just trust Him to meet your every need…He’ll never hesitate to do it.
Wondering what to do in life can be so challenging at times…should I take this job? Should I stay home with the kids? Should I do this or that? What about my career and my dreams, and where do they come into play? Will I ever really do what I feel God has called me to do?
I’ve been hearing these types of questions so much lately…whether it’s from family members, friends, or even myself, everyone is always wondering if they’ve chosen correctly. Answering this question of knowing exactly what God wants you to do in a certain situation or event in life can be very difficult at times. All the different things that you could choose from seem like good options, but which one truly is the best? What is really God’s best for my life? Which decision should I make that will truly honor God?
These are all decisions that are so very important in life. I know for me, I just gave up a job working at the YMCA because I felt like the Lord was leading me to. It was a great job with great people, and it was flexible to fit around my schedule. When the kids were sick and needed to be home from school, my supervisor was always so gracious and helped me find someone to cover my shift and if it wasn’t, there were no hard feelings. A job like that one is definitely hard to come by. I believe that God was even ministering through me to many different co-workers and people there. It seemed to be a great fit for awhile…but then I felt like it was time to move on. I had only been working there for about six months, but I sensed in my spirit that God wanted me to let go of this job. I went back and forth for quite a while, and then finally decided to put in my 2 weeks notice. Sure, the extra money every month was nice and meeting new people was great, too. Even the free membership at the YMCA was a great perk, but none of those things compared AT ALL to the PEACE that I experienced when I walked out those doors for the last time as an employee. It wasn’t as if I was leaving prison, I mean, the Y was a great place…but it wasn’t for me, and God knew it. He had better plans for me. And for the first time in quite a while I’m at peace with what I’m doing in life. I don’t feel as if I’m in a battle anymore for the time that God has given me and the calling that He’s placed on my life.
For many years I’ve gone from one job to another trying to help “make ends meet” for our family. I’ve done everything from working in the Kid’s club at Gold’s Gym (and if anyone knows me, working with kids is NOT my preference) to delivering free publications to gas stations and grocery stores. I even helped in the accounting office at my church for a season…all of these things were done with kids in tow, and it was not very easy. They never enjoyed it, either, which made it all the more difficult for me to do a good job. At one point I had 4 different jobs, and I honestly hated every minute of it. I always had something looming over my head to get done, and I couldn’t stand it. That was definitely NOT a peaceful time in my life. It was hard to stay focused on what was really important during those times because I had so many other things (that I decided to put there) competing for my time and energy. I rarely had quality time with the family, and when I did, I was always thinking about what else I needed to get done.
When I finally decided to walk away from the YMCA, for me, it was a decision to finally trust God to provide. No longer was I going to strive to make money for the family at any expense. No longer was I going to let what I thought overrule what GOD thought. It’s not easy to let go of a source of income that is part of your working budget every month, but God knew better. We’ve been more blessed financially ever since then, and I know that God will continue to provide, even when I can’t see where it’s coming from. He’s just that trustworthy. He’s just that faithful. He always keeps His promises, so I choose to believe Him and His word.
If there’s a job or something that you’ve chosen to do in life that has “run out of peace” then maybe it’s time to re-evaluate why you’re doing it. Is it because you don’t trust God to make ends meet, so you NEED this job? Is it because you’re doing it to please someone else, but really don’t want to or feel called to do it? Maybe you’ve been doing it for so long that you don’t want to let anyone down by giving it up. I truly believe that if God calls you to do something, or to continue to do something that there will be a peace in your soul like no other. There will be a “knowing” in your spirit that you’re doing the right thing, and if that’s not there, then maybe, just maybe it’s time to take a step of faith and just say no. Life is way too short and our time is way too valuable to let others demand of us things that God doesn’t want us to do. If God has called me to be a stay at home mom and that’s all I need to do in this season, then getting another job is going against His will for me and I’ll never experience the fullness of his peace. If God’s called me to get a job, then there most certainly will be the grace and peace of God surrounding it. It won’t be full of toil or strife. Even if the job is a difficult one, there still will be a tranquility inside that can only come from God, confirming I’m exactly where He wants me.
I challenge you to ask yourself if what you’re doing in your life is bringing you peace. Are the things you’re doing creating strife and stress? If so, ask God to bring peace to that area. If it doesn’t arrive, chances are it’s time to let it go. Just trust Him to meet your every need…He’ll never hesitate to do it.
Monday, March 21, 2011
At Just the Right Time...
God always moves at just the right time. I never can explain the way He does it, but so many times, out of nowhere, God moves…and it’s always, without fail, at the exact time I need Him to. Not only does He send encouragement my way, He sends people who absolutely change my life…and I’m deeply thankful. A couple of years ago I was in a rut in my life, looking for more. I was love with Jesus, but I never felt free—always down and discouraged about things and couldn’t seem to really get a hold of my life. I felt as if I was just going from one thing to the next, spinning out of control. I felt very alone and honestly depressed much of the time. I knew that I was saved and had the Holy Spirit living in me and that I shouldn’t feel this way, but day in and day out I felt like a total failure…bad wife, bad mom, and a bad friend. In fact, it felt as if I didn’t really have any friends. I knew that Jesus died to set me free, but where was this freedom and confidence that’s promised so clearly in the Bible? Why was I walking around angry, confused, and overwhelmed? If you looked at my life from the outside in, everything looked great…I was a mom of 3 truly great kids, I had a great husband, and I spent time meeting with and ministering to college students. What in the world could possibly be so bad about this life?
Well, at just the right time, God sent me an amazing new friend. I was leading worship at a women’s retreat and she was there ministering through soaking prayer. I remember going for a walk one morning by myself, crying out to God to please help me. I was at the end of my rope and needed a touch from Him…not just a temporary one, but one that would sincerely change my life. I was pouring my heart out to Him about so many different issues, and no doubt, He heard my cry. Later that day I experienced, for the very first time, what’s called soaking prayer. I was laying in the dark with all the other ladies from the retreat in my own little space, listening to worship music. Pretty much as soon as the music started I was weeping. I desperately needed something to change in my life…that’s when He sent Holly my way. She began praying for me and tears were streaming down my face—and hers. It was a moment I’ll never forget. As she prayed, God called out every single thing that I’d mentioned to Him just a few hours before. She prayed for all the issues that I’d lifted up to Him…and I never even mentioned one of them to her. God used Holly that weekend to change my life. He changed my life because she was faithful to live life as a healer. She had exactly what I was searching for…and that was freedom. Freedom to minister, freedom to love, freedom to show mercy, and freedom just to be who God divinely made her to be. Because of that one moment, my life was changed forever…not to mention I have a wonderful forever friend in Holly thanks to Jesus and His great love for me.
After that weekend was over I began meeting with Holly and we worked through some of these issues together. It was just what I had been asking for. For years I asked God to send me a “mother in the Lord,” and that’s exactly what He did…at just the right time. Because of the Holy Spirit working through Holly, God has set me free from so many things, and I’m totally different than I was just a couple of short years ago. I’m so thankful that God, through his mercy, used a divine friendship to get rid of so many of the things in my life that were holding me captive from living a life of freedom in Christ. God made a way, where there seemed to be no way, and I live life so much differently now than I did just two short years ago. I’m so much freer to be me and to live life full of joy!
What’s amazing is that there have been countless other stories in my life just like this one, where God “showed up” at just the right time. Even now God has placed us with an amazing local church plant because of a connection with my son’s wonderful preschool teacher. I never would have dreamed that this would happen in a million years! Even though being there was not even remotely in my plan, God showed up again, at just the right time, and made a new, better way than I could ever have imagined.
So, if you’re wondering what in the world is going on in your life not sure of what to do, get on your knees and cry out to God. If you feel abandoned and confused, not knowing where to go, just be patient…God is absolutely moving on your behalf. You might not see the answer yet, but it is indeed coming…and it will be at just the right time. Never give up because God will show up when you least expect Him to, in a way or through someone you’d never have anticipated, gently reminding you that He is still on the throne and loves you so much more than you can fathom. Thank you God for your amazing plans for us!
Well, at just the right time, God sent me an amazing new friend. I was leading worship at a women’s retreat and she was there ministering through soaking prayer. I remember going for a walk one morning by myself, crying out to God to please help me. I was at the end of my rope and needed a touch from Him…not just a temporary one, but one that would sincerely change my life. I was pouring my heart out to Him about so many different issues, and no doubt, He heard my cry. Later that day I experienced, for the very first time, what’s called soaking prayer. I was laying in the dark with all the other ladies from the retreat in my own little space, listening to worship music. Pretty much as soon as the music started I was weeping. I desperately needed something to change in my life…that’s when He sent Holly my way. She began praying for me and tears were streaming down my face—and hers. It was a moment I’ll never forget. As she prayed, God called out every single thing that I’d mentioned to Him just a few hours before. She prayed for all the issues that I’d lifted up to Him…and I never even mentioned one of them to her. God used Holly that weekend to change my life. He changed my life because she was faithful to live life as a healer. She had exactly what I was searching for…and that was freedom. Freedom to minister, freedom to love, freedom to show mercy, and freedom just to be who God divinely made her to be. Because of that one moment, my life was changed forever…not to mention I have a wonderful forever friend in Holly thanks to Jesus and His great love for me.
After that weekend was over I began meeting with Holly and we worked through some of these issues together. It was just what I had been asking for. For years I asked God to send me a “mother in the Lord,” and that’s exactly what He did…at just the right time. Because of the Holy Spirit working through Holly, God has set me free from so many things, and I’m totally different than I was just a couple of short years ago. I’m so thankful that God, through his mercy, used a divine friendship to get rid of so many of the things in my life that were holding me captive from living a life of freedom in Christ. God made a way, where there seemed to be no way, and I live life so much differently now than I did just two short years ago. I’m so much freer to be me and to live life full of joy!
What’s amazing is that there have been countless other stories in my life just like this one, where God “showed up” at just the right time. Even now God has placed us with an amazing local church plant because of a connection with my son’s wonderful preschool teacher. I never would have dreamed that this would happen in a million years! Even though being there was not even remotely in my plan, God showed up again, at just the right time, and made a new, better way than I could ever have imagined.
So, if you’re wondering what in the world is going on in your life not sure of what to do, get on your knees and cry out to God. If you feel abandoned and confused, not knowing where to go, just be patient…God is absolutely moving on your behalf. You might not see the answer yet, but it is indeed coming…and it will be at just the right time. Never give up because God will show up when you least expect Him to, in a way or through someone you’d never have anticipated, gently reminding you that He is still on the throne and loves you so much more than you can fathom. Thank you God for your amazing plans for us!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
A Couple of Thoughts on Deep Friendships
A couple of thoughts on deep friendships…
Through the course of my life I’ve had the privilege of having many close friends. Some of my friends have come and gone, yet many have remained constant through the years. They have been with me through many trials, through joys and tears and through it all. Even though the relationships change over the years because of location, marriage, or other life changes, I have to say that I am deeply thankful for the true friendships that God has brought into my life. I may only talk to some of these friends a few times a year, but when we talk it’s as if there’s a deep connection…one that will always be there. A depth that occurs from living through and sharing deep experiences together. A depth that comes from shedding tears together, sharing joys, as well as simply living day to day life as part of one another’s path. Spending time together laughing and talking, playing games, going on fun outings with groups, or just one on one conversation over dinner or on the phone. One of my very favorite things to do and probably some of the most memorable times with friends is simply being in a car with them. Even if it’s a trip to a local restaurant and back, there’s nothing (in my mind) like spending time together with someone in a car. I’ve had so many wonderful times and conversations riding together with others. So many stories are told, both funny and serious, and even deep ministry has occurred for me just riding together with others.
What a true blessing friendship is and has been in my life. As seasons have changed throughout the years, some friends from the previous season remain, but God also chooses to bless me with new friends to share these new experiences with, and I get the chance to start all over again…yet keep my life long friends! I get to make even more life long friends as time goes by and it is so exciting for me...of course it can be scary, but I always enjoy getting to make new friends.
I know that I’ve made many, many, mistakes as a friend, but there definitely are some things that I’ve learned about being a good friend over the years. One thing that I’d say tops the list is expectation. I used to carry so many expectations into my relationships and end up being hurt almost everyday. If someone didn’t call me back or respond I’d feel deeply rejected by them and think they didn’t like me, or didn’t want me around. I’ve learned over the years, to truly be thankful for the time I get to share with my friends, not putting unreasonable expectations on the friendship solely to meet my needs. I’ve learned that I’m in the relationship to love and serve the other person first. I’m not in it to receive love or to fill some deep need, although in a good relationship receiving love is most likely to happen. I’m not even in the friendship to receive encouragement or some other need I might have…I’m in it to serve and to bless the friend that God has placed in my path, trusting that God will bring that love and encouragement that I need…maybe through that friend, or maybe (even better) through my relationship with Him.
I’ve also realized throughout the years that friendships are not always easy. I’ve shed many, many, many tears over broken friendships and even when I was confused or unsure about a friend’s love toward me. Many times I’ve been left in the dark wondering “what in the world is she thinking?” “Did I do something to offend her,” or “maybe I’m asking too much..” I’ve honestly come to understand during these times that I need to be free to be me. If I feel like God is putting it on my heart to serve a friend or bless them in some way then I need to do it regardless of what I think the friend I’m doing it for might think about me. Sometimes I feel like God wants me to do something for someone and I don’t always feel like doing it! Sometimes I honestly believe that God asks me to do something to make sure my motive is truly to bless the other person, not expecting something in return. I love going out of my way to bless others, and how a friend receives the blessing is truly between them and God. Of course, most will receive it with a smile, but maybe won’t always let you know that your gift was appreciated.
One more thought on friendships…if you really love someone and appreciate them in your life, let them know. Be vulnerable and put yourself out there. If you’re secure in your relationship with Jesus, it won’t matter as much what the other person thinks. So many times I’ve let moments pass because I was too afraid that maybe the other person might not love me as much as I love them. If someone is your friend and you are thankful for them, tell them often. Period. Does it really matter that much if that person loves you as much as you love them? Remember, God has put them in your life for a reason. Telling people how you feel brings a confidence and a security in the friendship that can’t be described. When I know I’m loved by a friend I feel much more free in the relationship. If I’m not sure someone really wants to be in the relationship, then I’m always wondering, and looking for any signal that might indicate that they feel the same way. Too many friendships only reach a certain depth because of fear. Fear of rejection and vulnerability. People are afraid that if someone gets to know the “real you” then they wouldn’t actually want to be your friend. That is so NOT TRUE! The more I get to know someone, their past, thoughts, concerns, fears, etc, the more I love them and appreciate them. That’s why God gives us these deep friends to share life with!
So remember…serve your friends, expect nothing (but appreciate everything), and tell them OFTEN how much you appreciate them being in your life. I don't think you can over do it. Oh, and never ever forget to thank God every day for the gifts that He has given you of deep life long friendships…He is the ultimate friend, and the only friend that won’t ever disappoint!
Through the course of my life I’ve had the privilege of having many close friends. Some of my friends have come and gone, yet many have remained constant through the years. They have been with me through many trials, through joys and tears and through it all. Even though the relationships change over the years because of location, marriage, or other life changes, I have to say that I am deeply thankful for the true friendships that God has brought into my life. I may only talk to some of these friends a few times a year, but when we talk it’s as if there’s a deep connection…one that will always be there. A depth that occurs from living through and sharing deep experiences together. A depth that comes from shedding tears together, sharing joys, as well as simply living day to day life as part of one another’s path. Spending time together laughing and talking, playing games, going on fun outings with groups, or just one on one conversation over dinner or on the phone. One of my very favorite things to do and probably some of the most memorable times with friends is simply being in a car with them. Even if it’s a trip to a local restaurant and back, there’s nothing (in my mind) like spending time together with someone in a car. I’ve had so many wonderful times and conversations riding together with others. So many stories are told, both funny and serious, and even deep ministry has occurred for me just riding together with others.
What a true blessing friendship is and has been in my life. As seasons have changed throughout the years, some friends from the previous season remain, but God also chooses to bless me with new friends to share these new experiences with, and I get the chance to start all over again…yet keep my life long friends! I get to make even more life long friends as time goes by and it is so exciting for me...of course it can be scary, but I always enjoy getting to make new friends.
I know that I’ve made many, many, mistakes as a friend, but there definitely are some things that I’ve learned about being a good friend over the years. One thing that I’d say tops the list is expectation. I used to carry so many expectations into my relationships and end up being hurt almost everyday. If someone didn’t call me back or respond I’d feel deeply rejected by them and think they didn’t like me, or didn’t want me around. I’ve learned over the years, to truly be thankful for the time I get to share with my friends, not putting unreasonable expectations on the friendship solely to meet my needs. I’ve learned that I’m in the relationship to love and serve the other person first. I’m not in it to receive love or to fill some deep need, although in a good relationship receiving love is most likely to happen. I’m not even in the friendship to receive encouragement or some other need I might have…I’m in it to serve and to bless the friend that God has placed in my path, trusting that God will bring that love and encouragement that I need…maybe through that friend, or maybe (even better) through my relationship with Him.
I’ve also realized throughout the years that friendships are not always easy. I’ve shed many, many, many tears over broken friendships and even when I was confused or unsure about a friend’s love toward me. Many times I’ve been left in the dark wondering “what in the world is she thinking?” “Did I do something to offend her,” or “maybe I’m asking too much..” I’ve honestly come to understand during these times that I need to be free to be me. If I feel like God is putting it on my heart to serve a friend or bless them in some way then I need to do it regardless of what I think the friend I’m doing it for might think about me. Sometimes I feel like God wants me to do something for someone and I don’t always feel like doing it! Sometimes I honestly believe that God asks me to do something to make sure my motive is truly to bless the other person, not expecting something in return. I love going out of my way to bless others, and how a friend receives the blessing is truly between them and God. Of course, most will receive it with a smile, but maybe won’t always let you know that your gift was appreciated.
One more thought on friendships…if you really love someone and appreciate them in your life, let them know. Be vulnerable and put yourself out there. If you’re secure in your relationship with Jesus, it won’t matter as much what the other person thinks. So many times I’ve let moments pass because I was too afraid that maybe the other person might not love me as much as I love them. If someone is your friend and you are thankful for them, tell them often. Period. Does it really matter that much if that person loves you as much as you love them? Remember, God has put them in your life for a reason. Telling people how you feel brings a confidence and a security in the friendship that can’t be described. When I know I’m loved by a friend I feel much more free in the relationship. If I’m not sure someone really wants to be in the relationship, then I’m always wondering, and looking for any signal that might indicate that they feel the same way. Too many friendships only reach a certain depth because of fear. Fear of rejection and vulnerability. People are afraid that if someone gets to know the “real you” then they wouldn’t actually want to be your friend. That is so NOT TRUE! The more I get to know someone, their past, thoughts, concerns, fears, etc, the more I love them and appreciate them. That’s why God gives us these deep friends to share life with!
So remember…serve your friends, expect nothing (but appreciate everything), and tell them OFTEN how much you appreciate them being in your life. I don't think you can over do it. Oh, and never ever forget to thank God every day for the gifts that He has given you of deep life long friendships…He is the ultimate friend, and the only friend that won’t ever disappoint!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Will you Take Your Land?
Will You Take Your Land?
God is so amazing. Today I’ve been reading a little in the book of Numbers chapters 13-14. It’s a very familiar passage, but it always convicts me every time I read it. It tells of the time when the Israelites had already come through the amazing deliverance from Egypt and they are on their way to the promised land…the land PROMISED to them by God. They send out some men to scope out the land and see if it actually is what they’ve heard it was…a land flowing with milk and honey. When they returned their report was as follows, found in 13:27: “we went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large…” Caleb then stops them from continuing to talk and tells Moses “we should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” The other men continue “we can’t go up there and attack those people; they are stronger than we are…” and they go on to say “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
After all of this went down the Israelites were complaining and grumbling against the Lord, saying “if only we had died in Egypt! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?”
Remember, all of this was after God parted the Red Sea for them and saved them from the Egyptians. They had already seen amazingly miraculous signs, and quickly forgot that God would indeed give them the land He promised them, no matter how big the inhabitants looked or what they had to face to even get there.
So, that’s the question we should ask today…the thing that really sticks out to me is how the men saw themselves. They viewed themselves as grasshoppers, and that’s exactly what we do in life so many times. When God promises certain things to us that we read in His word, we say, “there’s no way I can do that. God, how can you expect me to face that and win?” It’s His promise, that’s how, and He is with us! It’s his power that defeats the enemy, we just need to obey and follow His lead. We get defeated by so many schemes of the enemy, and don’t remember who God has made us to be. We are more than conquerors! We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength! With my God I can advance against a troop, and scale a wall! We are strong, firm, and steadfast. We have the same power that rose Jesus from the dead living in us! The one who is in us is GREATER than the one who is in the world. All of these amazing things that God says we are, and we just sit back and let the devil attack us and take away the promises of God. God says “by Jesus’ stripes we are healed.” Jesus says in John 10:10 that he has come that we will have life in abundance, to the full, till it overflows! How exciting is that! The question is, do you REALLY believe it? Do we live our life in such a way that demonstrates that we trust Jesus and all he has done for us? Do we hold onto these promises, knowing that God absolutely, 100% has them for us and we won’t let go until we see them? Or, do we see ourselves as defeated, and that the enemy is just way too big for us to conquer? These promises are ours. Period. God does not forsake his promises. He keeps them. He wants things to be done “on earth as it is in Heaven.” Is there sickness in heaven? How about poverty? None of those things are there. God doesn’t just want us to sit back and take what the devil gives. If we see sickness, we need to believe that GOD is our healer. That's HIS promise. He wants us to know who we are, children of God, and stand up and fight for the promises He’s given to us. He always has our best in mind, and if we trust Him and believe in Him we will win victory after victory. It might not come easy, we might actually have to stand up and fight, renewing our mind with GOD's truth, not what we hear all around us, but the battle for the promised land has already been won! We just need to step up and fight, trusting that when we hope in the Lord, we will never be put to shame. Change the way you view yourself. Know that sickness, sin, strife, and the ways of this world are NOT God's best for you, and that His promises are waiting there for you to take hold of!
God is so amazing. Today I’ve been reading a little in the book of Numbers chapters 13-14. It’s a very familiar passage, but it always convicts me every time I read it. It tells of the time when the Israelites had already come through the amazing deliverance from Egypt and they are on their way to the promised land…the land PROMISED to them by God. They send out some men to scope out the land and see if it actually is what they’ve heard it was…a land flowing with milk and honey. When they returned their report was as follows, found in 13:27: “we went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large…” Caleb then stops them from continuing to talk and tells Moses “we should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” The other men continue “we can’t go up there and attack those people; they are stronger than we are…” and they go on to say “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
After all of this went down the Israelites were complaining and grumbling against the Lord, saying “if only we had died in Egypt! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?”
Remember, all of this was after God parted the Red Sea for them and saved them from the Egyptians. They had already seen amazingly miraculous signs, and quickly forgot that God would indeed give them the land He promised them, no matter how big the inhabitants looked or what they had to face to even get there.
So, that’s the question we should ask today…the thing that really sticks out to me is how the men saw themselves. They viewed themselves as grasshoppers, and that’s exactly what we do in life so many times. When God promises certain things to us that we read in His word, we say, “there’s no way I can do that. God, how can you expect me to face that and win?” It’s His promise, that’s how, and He is with us! It’s his power that defeats the enemy, we just need to obey and follow His lead. We get defeated by so many schemes of the enemy, and don’t remember who God has made us to be. We are more than conquerors! We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength! With my God I can advance against a troop, and scale a wall! We are strong, firm, and steadfast. We have the same power that rose Jesus from the dead living in us! The one who is in us is GREATER than the one who is in the world. All of these amazing things that God says we are, and we just sit back and let the devil attack us and take away the promises of God. God says “by Jesus’ stripes we are healed.” Jesus says in John 10:10 that he has come that we will have life in abundance, to the full, till it overflows! How exciting is that! The question is, do you REALLY believe it? Do we live our life in such a way that demonstrates that we trust Jesus and all he has done for us? Do we hold onto these promises, knowing that God absolutely, 100% has them for us and we won’t let go until we see them? Or, do we see ourselves as defeated, and that the enemy is just way too big for us to conquer? These promises are ours. Period. God does not forsake his promises. He keeps them. He wants things to be done “on earth as it is in Heaven.” Is there sickness in heaven? How about poverty? None of those things are there. God doesn’t just want us to sit back and take what the devil gives. If we see sickness, we need to believe that GOD is our healer. That's HIS promise. He wants us to know who we are, children of God, and stand up and fight for the promises He’s given to us. He always has our best in mind, and if we trust Him and believe in Him we will win victory after victory. It might not come easy, we might actually have to stand up and fight, renewing our mind with GOD's truth, not what we hear all around us, but the battle for the promised land has already been won! We just need to step up and fight, trusting that when we hope in the Lord, we will never be put to shame. Change the way you view yourself. Know that sickness, sin, strife, and the ways of this world are NOT God's best for you, and that His promises are waiting there for you to take hold of!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
It'll Be Done According to Your Faith
Today when I was jogging on the treadmill God really impressed something very powerful in me. When I’m on the treadmill one of my favorite things to do is to keep my note cards with scripture verses in front of me so I can flip through them while I’m running. This always encourages me and reminds me of the truth of God’s word…even when I’m struggling through and can’t breathe!
While I was flipping through the verses, so many of them stood out to me, reminding me that what I do, and the measure in which I do it is very important in the results I see in my life. This seems quite obvious, but it really stood out to me today. For example, Luke 6:38 “give and it will be given to you…for with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Also, in the gospels Jesus says many times, “it will be done according to your faith.” Jesus says, talking to the woman with the issue of blood, “your faith has healed you.” In another instance he is speaking with a blind man and asks him “do you believe that I am able to do this?” and he replies “yes” so Jesus says to him “then be healed.” One of my very favorite scriptures, Ephesians 3:20, says this “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory…” God can do more than we ask…according to the power at work within us. It will be given to you, but we must give first. You are healed, but it was your FAITH that healed you….your faith in God that he actually does keep his promises. We live life in abundance, to the full, till it overflows (John 10:10 amp), but we won’t live anywhere close to that if we don’t believe that this is the truth of God’s word. If we don't believe that it's God's desire to abundantly bless us in EVERY area of our life, then we won't see it. It will be done according to your faith. Sometimes I feel like I simply can’t believe these things that God says so clearly in the Bible. I mean, look around us! So much pain and sickness, so much debt, so many hardships…how in the world am I going to live life in abundance with all this debt that we have? Is it true that God wants us to be well, when all I see around me is sickness? Yes, He does! His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. There's no sickness or even poverty there! God said it, and it’s the truth. Look to Him and what He says, not to circumstances. It’s so important to get these truths way down deep in our hearts and minds. The devil comes immediately to steal away any forward progress we might make towards God’s very best for us. He doesn’t want us to believe that God does what He promises. Anytime I move forward and start believing that what God says is true and making headway, the devil is right there to say “no, don’t you remember when…?” Or he’ll say to me “just look around you. You’re in debt and you’ll never get out. You really don’t have what it takes to fulfill that dream of yours. Not you…” That’s when I have a choice. I can resist the devil and believe God, who gave me these dreams, or I can start dwelling on what I’m hearing from past failures, etc. It’s my choice. Will I move in the faith that moves mountains, like Jesus said, or will I shrink back and be defeated by the enemy? What God says is absolutely true. His promises never fail. With this in mind, I will give to be a blessing, knowing that He will bless me in return because that is His promise. I will believe, knowing that it shall be done according to my faith…and I will read the Word of God so it gets down deep in my inmost being and my faith grows (Ro 10:17), so I can believe even more in the greatness of my amazing God.
God’s favor surrounds me everywhere that I go. His favor is a promise in the word (Ps.5:12) and I receive it! I’m blessed wherever I go and whatever I do, as long as I’m following and obeying Him. I’m never, ever alone. God is always there for me. He will never leave or forsake me. He is all I could ever need or want, and he loves to pour out his abundance on his children…it’s just a fact, and TODAY I choose to believe it!
While I was flipping through the verses, so many of them stood out to me, reminding me that what I do, and the measure in which I do it is very important in the results I see in my life. This seems quite obvious, but it really stood out to me today. For example, Luke 6:38 “give and it will be given to you…for with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Also, in the gospels Jesus says many times, “it will be done according to your faith.” Jesus says, talking to the woman with the issue of blood, “your faith has healed you.” In another instance he is speaking with a blind man and asks him “do you believe that I am able to do this?” and he replies “yes” so Jesus says to him “then be healed.” One of my very favorite scriptures, Ephesians 3:20, says this “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory…” God can do more than we ask…according to the power at work within us. It will be given to you, but we must give first. You are healed, but it was your FAITH that healed you….your faith in God that he actually does keep his promises. We live life in abundance, to the full, till it overflows (John 10:10 amp), but we won’t live anywhere close to that if we don’t believe that this is the truth of God’s word. If we don't believe that it's God's desire to abundantly bless us in EVERY area of our life, then we won't see it. It will be done according to your faith. Sometimes I feel like I simply can’t believe these things that God says so clearly in the Bible. I mean, look around us! So much pain and sickness, so much debt, so many hardships…how in the world am I going to live life in abundance with all this debt that we have? Is it true that God wants us to be well, when all I see around me is sickness? Yes, He does! His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. There's no sickness or even poverty there! God said it, and it’s the truth. Look to Him and what He says, not to circumstances. It’s so important to get these truths way down deep in our hearts and minds. The devil comes immediately to steal away any forward progress we might make towards God’s very best for us. He doesn’t want us to believe that God does what He promises. Anytime I move forward and start believing that what God says is true and making headway, the devil is right there to say “no, don’t you remember when…?” Or he’ll say to me “just look around you. You’re in debt and you’ll never get out. You really don’t have what it takes to fulfill that dream of yours. Not you…” That’s when I have a choice. I can resist the devil and believe God, who gave me these dreams, or I can start dwelling on what I’m hearing from past failures, etc. It’s my choice. Will I move in the faith that moves mountains, like Jesus said, or will I shrink back and be defeated by the enemy? What God says is absolutely true. His promises never fail. With this in mind, I will give to be a blessing, knowing that He will bless me in return because that is His promise. I will believe, knowing that it shall be done according to my faith…and I will read the Word of God so it gets down deep in my inmost being and my faith grows (Ro 10:17), so I can believe even more in the greatness of my amazing God.
God’s favor surrounds me everywhere that I go. His favor is a promise in the word (Ps.5:12) and I receive it! I’m blessed wherever I go and whatever I do, as long as I’m following and obeying Him. I’m never, ever alone. God is always there for me. He will never leave or forsake me. He is all I could ever need or want, and he loves to pour out his abundance on his children…it’s just a fact, and TODAY I choose to believe it!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
God Wants Us to be Friends!
Friendships…. Sitting here writing this brings me into such deep thoughts about the many, many friendships and various types of relationships I’ve had over the years of my life. I always thought of myself as this amazing friend to people, and I do think I’m a good friend, but so many times it’s come at a price before…a price that the other person never really knew they had to pay. I always felt a special drawing towards someone I wanted to be friends with, so I would, and still do, pursue and initiate a relationship with that person. I would write them notes, go out of my way for them and try to hang out with them as much as I possibly could. I would basically win this person over just by being overly nice to them. We’d become friends and have great times together, but the problem was that I would have certain expectations of them. Just last year God brought it to my heart that these friendships were yes, given to me by Him, but I seemed to manipulate them the way that I wanted them to go. I won that person over with all of my “giving” but what I really wanted in return was the feelings and generosity to be reciprocated. Because of a void in my life, I deeply yearned for their affection and approval. I cared more about what that person thought of me and being appreciated by them rather than being fully satisfied with what my Father thought of me. I cared more about pleasing that friend than I did about pleasing God. If they were coming over to my house, I’d make sure I had it looking the best I could for them, because I cared too much about what they thought of me. After all, I should be on top of everything, right? I guess my point is this: I need to be in a relationship/friendship like Jesus is in a relationship with me. Jesus is the ultimate friend. He loved me so much that He laid down HIS life for me…and expected nothing in return. That’s what true friendship is. It’s giving of yourself to be a blessing and an encouragement to the other person. It’s laying down your life for the other. When you lay down your life, you give away all rights to it. You die to yourself and what you want, and, like scripture says, “you consider others better than yourself.” I seemed to get that only halfway right because I was trying to bless the other person, however many times I cared more about receiving a blessing in return.
The enemy attempts at all costs to ruin relationships. Insecurity, even now, tries to creep into my heart when a friend doesn’t do something the way that I might. In my mind I constantly am hearing “that person doesn’t really want to be around you, that’s why they NEVER call…” or I’ll think to myself “they must not really like hanging out because they never seem to initiate or try to get together with me…I’m always the one asking!” All of these types of thoughts are straight from the devil because they are all focused on ME, and what’s in it for me. These are not outward focused, uplifting thoughts at all, but they always try to creep in and ruin a good relationship. All I know is that when I start thinking this way I start to feel depressed and hurt I start to feel angry at the other person, even when they didn’t do anything to me! I have to constantly remind myself that this person is a gift from God and they don’t owe me anything. It’s imperative to fight these thoughts from the enemy with the truth of God’s word. I need to focus on being the absolute best friend that I can be and trust God to take care of the rest. One of my favorite scriptures is Luke 6:38—“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” All I know is the more I give in every area of my life, including my friendships, the more will be measured back to me! How exciting is that! Trusting God is so important. He is your ultimate best friend, and He is the only one we can really expect things from. He is always faithful and will never let you down…ever.
Friendship to me is nothing at all to be taken lightly. I believe that God places some people in our lives to be “good friends,” but there are others that are meant to be intimate friends…friends that we have covenant relationship with. Friends we lay down our lives for and encourage as much as possible. Friends we need to be there for when they call and need prayer at 2 in the morning. Friends who will tell you when you’re not living out God’s best for you, and won’t be afraid to hurt your feelings sometimes. These types of friends are truly gifts from God and are very few and far between, although they are definitely out there. I believe that God has this type of friendship for everyone…some probably just miss it for various reasons. Many times we are afraid of being vulnerable around others. We fear that if the person gets to know the “real me” they won’t really like me. This fear keeps us from experiencing great relationships… especially in the world we live in today. We are all so busy and focused on careers and just making ends meet that we don’t make the time to be with others and really get to know one another. We are so busy updating our facebook status, checking email, watching a thousand different channels or rushing the kids to soccer practice that we simply leave the friends out. Even the relationships in our immediate families are taking a hit with all the things we have going on these days. Where sitting around a dinner table every night was a main part of the day not too many years ago, now dinner is eaten many days of the week on the way home from somewhere else.
Basically, my point is this…God wants us to be friends…and not just friends, but intimate friends who genuinely love each other and are committed to one another. God wants us to be like Jesus and lay down our lives for each other…God wants us to give freely of ourselves, not expecting anything in return, and not being afraid of being rejected. That’s exactly what Jesus did, and still does…every single moment of every single day…Don’t be afraid to give part of your heart to someone that God gives to you…remember, “give and it WILL be given to you!” Most importantly, God wants you to be this type of intimate friend with Him first!
The enemy attempts at all costs to ruin relationships. Insecurity, even now, tries to creep into my heart when a friend doesn’t do something the way that I might. In my mind I constantly am hearing “that person doesn’t really want to be around you, that’s why they NEVER call…” or I’ll think to myself “they must not really like hanging out because they never seem to initiate or try to get together with me…I’m always the one asking!” All of these types of thoughts are straight from the devil because they are all focused on ME, and what’s in it for me. These are not outward focused, uplifting thoughts at all, but they always try to creep in and ruin a good relationship. All I know is that when I start thinking this way I start to feel depressed and hurt I start to feel angry at the other person, even when they didn’t do anything to me! I have to constantly remind myself that this person is a gift from God and they don’t owe me anything. It’s imperative to fight these thoughts from the enemy with the truth of God’s word. I need to focus on being the absolute best friend that I can be and trust God to take care of the rest. One of my favorite scriptures is Luke 6:38—“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” All I know is the more I give in every area of my life, including my friendships, the more will be measured back to me! How exciting is that! Trusting God is so important. He is your ultimate best friend, and He is the only one we can really expect things from. He is always faithful and will never let you down…ever.
Friendship to me is nothing at all to be taken lightly. I believe that God places some people in our lives to be “good friends,” but there are others that are meant to be intimate friends…friends that we have covenant relationship with. Friends we lay down our lives for and encourage as much as possible. Friends we need to be there for when they call and need prayer at 2 in the morning. Friends who will tell you when you’re not living out God’s best for you, and won’t be afraid to hurt your feelings sometimes. These types of friends are truly gifts from God and are very few and far between, although they are definitely out there. I believe that God has this type of friendship for everyone…some probably just miss it for various reasons. Many times we are afraid of being vulnerable around others. We fear that if the person gets to know the “real me” they won’t really like me. This fear keeps us from experiencing great relationships… especially in the world we live in today. We are all so busy and focused on careers and just making ends meet that we don’t make the time to be with others and really get to know one another. We are so busy updating our facebook status, checking email, watching a thousand different channels or rushing the kids to soccer practice that we simply leave the friends out. Even the relationships in our immediate families are taking a hit with all the things we have going on these days. Where sitting around a dinner table every night was a main part of the day not too many years ago, now dinner is eaten many days of the week on the way home from somewhere else.
Basically, my point is this…God wants us to be friends…and not just friends, but intimate friends who genuinely love each other and are committed to one another. God wants us to be like Jesus and lay down our lives for each other…God wants us to give freely of ourselves, not expecting anything in return, and not being afraid of being rejected. That’s exactly what Jesus did, and still does…every single moment of every single day…Don’t be afraid to give part of your heart to someone that God gives to you…remember, “give and it WILL be given to you!” Most importantly, God wants you to be this type of intimate friend with Him first!
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