"You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand
Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood"
God has been speaking... scolding... rebuking... loving... and I've been stubborn throughout it.
Fighting depression, anger, feelings of failure, jealousy, pity.
Over the last week God has been reminding me over and over to trust Him... His plans are perfect concerning me... Even though planning and claiming are good, to not get lost in the now by being consumed by the future. God used Lauren Daigle's song to pull be back from irrational thinking and jolt my faith.
My finances are taken care of
My health can be reclaimed through Him
My children are not an untouchable daydream
My future is good!
Ultimately... don't loose focus on God and HIS plan... God reminds me...Isaiah 55:8-9 Amplified Bible (AMP) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts higher than your thoughts."
Friday, May 13, 2016
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Does the Jesus that comes out of your mouth also flow out of your spirit?
I did have a startling thought last night while I worshiped. My seat was right next to my Supervisor (and friend) and all of a sudden I thought "I wonder if she is encouraged and not at all surprised by my worship or is she thinking I'm two-faced?"
Let me be clear... I do not preach one thing and live the exact opposite. But I also am aware that because she sees me every day she gets a front row seat to all sides of me. My reactions when I'm stressed, annoyed by people, in a bad mood, when I get caught up in gossip and mouthing about others. Does she see me as a Christian who still battles the flesh or does she see me as a hypocrite? What about everyone else who knows me? What do they see? Coworkers, friends, family....
Then I started to think how to combat that and fix the things I've already established. How do I reverse any of the "un-christian" things I've said or done? God said this... You can't, but you can pick up from now and make the next choice/word/action/thought good. Yes... that's exactly what I can do! What I will do! Be intentional & deliberate about what flows out of me and quick to repent when I need to.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Encouragement or Scapegoat?
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
It was mentioned the other night at church that there wasn't many people in attendance. We thought there would be more... I heard someone in the congregation say "Where two or three". It instantly struck my spirit....
I am in no way trying to diminish this statement... it is very true that it doesn't matter how little or large the gathering is... God is always there!
BUT... how many times do we use this part of scripture to just settle for what the current count is? The current state of the church?
I feel like it's gone from a statement of encouragement and comfort to a statement settling or a scapegoat.
Even though God loves to have just you and Him time... He longs for more people to express more love and worship. He wants us to grow His Kingdom. He wants us to go out and win souls and disciple and teach them to do the same.
Yes... God is always there even if it's just you... but He doesn't want it to stay that way.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
It was mentioned the other night at church that there wasn't many people in attendance. We thought there would be more... I heard someone in the congregation say "Where two or three". It instantly struck my spirit....
I am in no way trying to diminish this statement... it is very true that it doesn't matter how little or large the gathering is... God is always there!
BUT... how many times do we use this part of scripture to just settle for what the current count is? The current state of the church?
I feel like it's gone from a statement of encouragement and comfort to a statement settling or a scapegoat.
Even though God loves to have just you and Him time... He longs for more people to express more love and worship. He wants us to grow His Kingdom. He wants us to go out and win souls and disciple and teach them to do the same.
Yes... God is always there even if it's just you... but He doesn't want it to stay that way.
What You See, Is What You Get
I heard a preacher say this phrase while preaching about Elijah & Elisha... "What you see, it what you get".
My brain took off with this and God really brought something out...
Proverbs 29:18 says "Where there is no vision, the people perish..."
It's the same concept of sowing and reaping... What you believe for, what you pour yourself into, where your faith is pointed... that is what you will attain.
What do you see???
Your marriage headed for divorce or restoration?
Your death or your healing?
Bankruptcy or financial overflow?
Destruction or victory?
Your family in hell or heaven?
Closed church doors or making room for more?
Failure or success?
The Bible says in Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." YOU determine your destiny & your destination. God will lay out the path... God will open the doors... God will give you the blueprint... BUT what do you do with it? Do you step out? Do you follow what God is showing you? Do you take the stand to believe and do the work?
What do you see? What is your vision?
My brain took off with this and God really brought something out...
Proverbs 29:18 says "Where there is no vision, the people perish..."
It's the same concept of sowing and reaping... What you believe for, what you pour yourself into, where your faith is pointed... that is what you will attain.
What do you see???
Your marriage headed for divorce or restoration?
Your death or your healing?
Bankruptcy or financial overflow?
Destruction or victory?
Your family in hell or heaven?
Closed church doors or making room for more?
Failure or success?
The Bible says in Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." YOU determine your destiny & your destination. God will lay out the path... God will open the doors... God will give you the blueprint... BUT what do you do with it? Do you step out? Do you follow what God is showing you? Do you take the stand to believe and do the work?
What do you see? What is your vision?
Monday, July 20, 2015
It's An Unfair Fight
.....for the enemy!
"The Devil's been really fighting {insert name here}"
I HATE HATE HATE that phrase!
When you think about it... For the born-again Christian who is serving God it's no different than me getting into a fist fight with my 1 year old godson and saying "Man, he has really been beating me up! I need help fending him off!".
That sounds absurd!
Now, if I just sat there and let him slap me around... yeah it would start to hurt, but even then not badly. But it's because I LET him. The minute I take control I easily overpower him because I am stronger than he is.
It's the same thing in the Christian/Spiritual realm. Satan only beats up on us because WE allow it to happen. We can easily and in an instant take control and he has no more power over us.
The only person who truly had to battle Satan was Jesus, and because He did we don't have to.
So... stop letting him!
"The Devil's been really fighting {insert name here}"
I HATE HATE HATE that phrase!
When you think about it... For the born-again Christian who is serving God it's no different than me getting into a fist fight with my 1 year old godson and saying "Man, he has really been beating me up! I need help fending him off!".
That sounds absurd!
Now, if I just sat there and let him slap me around... yeah it would start to hurt, but even then not badly. But it's because I LET him. The minute I take control I easily overpower him because I am stronger than he is.
It's the same thing in the Christian/Spiritual realm. Satan only beats up on us because WE allow it to happen. We can easily and in an instant take control and he has no more power over us.
The only person who truly had to battle Satan was Jesus, and because He did we don't have to.
So... stop letting him!
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Praying For Your {future} Spouse
I got tagged in a Facebook post this morning by my best friend saying we should start praying over our husband's every day and attached was a link to this page. It is a great template to follow to pray specifically over your husband. And I'm excited to do it! Then I got to wondering if there was one for husbands to use... I found one here!
A little later I saw a post on another friend's page about his "singleness" and I commented on it. He later on texted both my husband and I and I tried to encourage him in the waiting. That also got me thinking... This is also a great template for those who are waiting for God to send their spouse their way.
My husband and I are a perfect example of "in God's time". I had just ended a going-nowhere relationship with the desire to focus on God and He was a bachelor for many years with no intention of remarrying. God brought us together at the perfect time and we've literally had a Heaven on Earth marriage.
I want to encourage you to take an active role in praying for your spouse. You have the greatest influence and know better than anyone what their needs and desires are.
Singles - While you are praying for your future spouse, ask God how you can work in this current season. What can He use you to do right now that may not be possible once you are married. Each season of life comes with it's own responsibilities and priorities. Learn what you can do now and then as life changes, seek God for a new work to do.
A little later I saw a post on another friend's page about his "singleness" and I commented on it. He later on texted both my husband and I and I tried to encourage him in the waiting. That also got me thinking... This is also a great template for those who are waiting for God to send their spouse their way.
My husband and I are a perfect example of "in God's time". I had just ended a going-nowhere relationship with the desire to focus on God and He was a bachelor for many years with no intention of remarrying. God brought us together at the perfect time and we've literally had a Heaven on Earth marriage.
I want to encourage you to take an active role in praying for your spouse. You have the greatest influence and know better than anyone what their needs and desires are.
Singles - While you are praying for your future spouse, ask God how you can work in this current season. What can He use you to do right now that may not be possible once you are married. Each season of life comes with it's own responsibilities and priorities. Learn what you can do now and then as life changes, seek God for a new work to do.
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