I had an interesting week. The devil can be really mean and I let him lie me into a really bad place. I am learning that I have to hit my face before God at the first HINT of despair. The enemy whispers so quietly and subtlety. I have picked up some ways of applying God's truth to my life through it.
1. Keep my face in the WORD. This really isn't a NEW idea. I just got a greater revelation of the total necessity for survival. I can forget who HE is and Whose I am so quickly. Without drinking of the well of truth daily...the voice of the accuser is harder to distinguish.
2. Prayer needs to be a running dialogue. I realize suddenly that I haven't talked to Him for a few days, or even hours and it makes going to Him so much harder. He showed me this by using another thing that I am stubborn about. I really don't like to drink water, so I don't. I will go days and days and never drink a drop of water. I drink coffee, tea, pop, milk...but not water. Those other things don't really hydrate the body. All of a sudden I find myself suffering. Sore muscles, headaches, even irritable. When if I had been drinking plenty of water every day I NEVER would have got to that point. The same way with prayer....when I don't do it all seems OK then WHAM I am miserable and its way harder to get back right.
3. I need people! I need people. That's all. When I choose to not go around the godly people He has given me for encouragement, fellowship, laughter the devils voice is the only one I am hearing.
This week....all of the above. I wasn't in the WORD and I wasn't really talking with God. I missed church last Sunday then called off of work Monday and Tuesday. I was alone most of the day, and the gloom and depression came with a vengeance. I started believe the lies....the lie that my husband doesn't love me, the lie that i really haven't changed, the lie that I could lose everything that God has given me because I don't deserve it. The lie that I have to turn to the world to find the answers. I was completely devastated. BUT GOD.....He is so loving, and so faithful. He shone His light on my darkness. He put people in my path, He spoon fed me His truth, and His Word.
AND THEN.....He took that entire experience to teach me and train me. To make the things that I already knew known deeper in me. There is NOTHING that He can't do, NOTHING that can't be overcome with Him.
Praise God! Praise His Name!!
Father God, I praise You for Your faithfulness. You are so good to me, so patient and full of mercy. I repent of my unbelief. Please continue to help my unbelief. I pray for anyone reading this that they would be encouraged to press deeper, deeper, deeper into You. You never disappoint, You only have good for us. I love You and want You more, more, more, more!!!!!
In the name of the One who is faithful and true...Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen
Praying for God's blessing on all who visit!!!!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
such a great cloud of witnesses
I was thinking just now about the great commission. ""Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" Matthew 28:19. I used to think that "the great commission" was to get people saved. I know know that is not all of it. Jesus certainly wants us to lead people to Him, and to bear witness of His glory. He wants us also to help others grow into maturity in Him.
God gave me an awesome picture of that tonight. I have recently been having many struggles. In talking with my pastor we determined that it would be good for me to have a mentor, a woman more mature in the faith to help me. I meet with her for the first time tomorrow. I am really looking forward to it. I think that as followers of Jesus we all need people to challenge, teach, and keep us accountable. I trust that God has chosen the perfect person to do that for me. On the flip side, God as also put a darling young lady that loves the Lord in my path and He has led me to mentor her. It has already been a huge blessing and I am also challenged in this as well. Her young fresh insight has blessed me so much, and I have really had to press in to have the Word to give her. I remembered what Paul said " Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" 1 Corinthians 11:1. The picture He gave me was of a long line of believers from every age facing the throne of God....like a single file line. I could sense that what that was, was discipleship. Every Jesus follower was following another more mature believer on their way to Him....they kept getting closer and closer, and He was the goal but they had to follow the more mature believer in order to have maturity in Him and ultimately intense relationship and intimacy.
The ones we imitate cannot be our faith, but they help, challenge, rebuke, teach, train, pray for, and encourage us to Christ. In this process BOTH are built up in Him. I love how things work in Gods Kingdom.
Daddy God, Wow you are so good. I am so grateful that You choose to work through people. I pray for each one reading it that You would put people in their life to help lead them to You, and in turn put people in their life for them to lead to You. I pray for the one who has never experienced Your intense love that they would have a revelation of how good You are and how much You desire a relationship with them. I pray for the one that is following You that don't feel they have anything to offer to others on Your behalf that You would teach them who they are in You...guide them by Your Spirit. I pray for the one that doesn't think they need anybody else that You would break down the walls around them that would keep others out. Increase Your Kingdom for Your glory. I love You! In the precious name of Jesus that we follow!!!!
God gave me an awesome picture of that tonight. I have recently been having many struggles. In talking with my pastor we determined that it would be good for me to have a mentor, a woman more mature in the faith to help me. I meet with her for the first time tomorrow. I am really looking forward to it. I think that as followers of Jesus we all need people to challenge, teach, and keep us accountable. I trust that God has chosen the perfect person to do that for me. On the flip side, God as also put a darling young lady that loves the Lord in my path and He has led me to mentor her. It has already been a huge blessing and I am also challenged in this as well. Her young fresh insight has blessed me so much, and I have really had to press in to have the Word to give her. I remembered what Paul said " Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ" 1 Corinthians 11:1. The picture He gave me was of a long line of believers from every age facing the throne of God....like a single file line. I could sense that what that was, was discipleship. Every Jesus follower was following another more mature believer on their way to Him....they kept getting closer and closer, and He was the goal but they had to follow the more mature believer in order to have maturity in Him and ultimately intense relationship and intimacy.
The ones we imitate cannot be our faith, but they help, challenge, rebuke, teach, train, pray for, and encourage us to Christ. In this process BOTH are built up in Him. I love how things work in Gods Kingdom.
Daddy God, Wow you are so good. I am so grateful that You choose to work through people. I pray for each one reading it that You would put people in their life to help lead them to You, and in turn put people in their life for them to lead to You. I pray for the one who has never experienced Your intense love that they would have a revelation of how good You are and how much You desire a relationship with them. I pray for the one that is following You that don't feel they have anything to offer to others on Your behalf that You would teach them who they are in You...guide them by Your Spirit. I pray for the one that doesn't think they need anybody else that You would break down the walls around them that would keep others out. Increase Your Kingdom for Your glory. I love You! In the precious name of Jesus that we follow!!!!
Friday, February 4, 2011
think about this
I was on my way to visit with a friend her baby who is 2 months old. I was thinking about how much he has changed since his birth. Newborns are the most precious thing. There is NOTHING like a new born baby. I was thinking about even though its sad that part is gone he really is more fun now. I also thought that really as he gets older it will get more fun as he starts to interact, and do new cute stuff.
Next I thought about when someone is born again. I LOVE spending time with brand new Christians....they are a blast!!! Everything is so exciting. When I was a brand new Christian, it was AMAZING!!!! So thrilling!!!! it is sad that as people grow in their walk with God, it is rare for it to get MORE exciting. Its my experience that usually the more "mature" the believer, the less exciting they present Jesus. Not always, but often.
Father God....light the fire and fan it daily. Help me to NEVER grow cold, or especially lukewarm. Held me to be hot after you. help me to burn so bright that when people look at me they want You!
In the thrilling name of Jesus!!!
Next I thought about when someone is born again. I LOVE spending time with brand new Christians....they are a blast!!! Everything is so exciting. When I was a brand new Christian, it was AMAZING!!!! So thrilling!!!! it is sad that as people grow in their walk with God, it is rare for it to get MORE exciting. Its my experience that usually the more "mature" the believer, the less exciting they present Jesus. Not always, but often.
Father God....light the fire and fan it daily. Help me to NEVER grow cold, or especially lukewarm. Held me to be hot after you. help me to burn so bright that when people look at me they want You!
In the thrilling name of Jesus!!!
The dance.....
God has pursued me relentlessly. Before I even knew He was pursuing me, He was. Not pursuit like a predator, but wooing like a lover. I allowed Him to catch me. He dealt with me tenderly. He purged my heart with tears, and counted every one. He laid His hand upon me and whispered to me. "I love you" and "You are lovely to me" and "I forgive you, it is finished" and "you are my princess". He laid His word into my heart. Drawing me, always drawing me.
I know that He is good. I know that He is love. I know that He is true. I know that He is faithful.
There are places that I have yet to give to Him fully. Places in my heart that seem too raw, too scary to offer on His altar. He is continuing to woo me, the lover of my soul, the lover of the raw and scary things I am trying to hide from Him. Things from way back, hurts I choose to ignore rather than surrender. Why do I fear? I honestly don't know. Why do I dig in my heels as He draws me? It makes no logical sense.
He has brought me to a place where I know I need to go to Him in faith, believing that He will in fact deal beautifully and tenderly with me once again.
I will.
Father God, I ask your forgiveness for doubting Your perfect plan for me...for my good. Help me to let You walk with me, to let You walk me through this yuck. I know that when You do it will be gone, dealt with for eternity. Deal tenderly with Your daughter, but not so gently that I can pull away from your tugging. Sometimes I need Your sternness. I appreciate it, even though it is hard. I trust You.
In the name of the lover of my soul, Jesus
I know that He is good. I know that He is love. I know that He is true. I know that He is faithful.
There are places that I have yet to give to Him fully. Places in my heart that seem too raw, too scary to offer on His altar. He is continuing to woo me, the lover of my soul, the lover of the raw and scary things I am trying to hide from Him. Things from way back, hurts I choose to ignore rather than surrender. Why do I fear? I honestly don't know. Why do I dig in my heels as He draws me? It makes no logical sense.
He has brought me to a place where I know I need to go to Him in faith, believing that He will in fact deal beautifully and tenderly with me once again.
I will.
Father God, I ask your forgiveness for doubting Your perfect plan for me...for my good. Help me to let You walk with me, to let You walk me through this yuck. I know that when You do it will be gone, dealt with for eternity. Deal tenderly with Your daughter, but not so gently that I can pull away from your tugging. Sometimes I need Your sternness. I appreciate it, even though it is hard. I trust You.
In the name of the lover of my soul, Jesus
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Many needs...really big God!
This morning I got a text message, was catching up on Facebook and checking my e-mail and in a very short time I collected several huge prayer needs. I was really dragging my feet about going before the Lord. I am sitting here trying to figure out why. I was feeling overwhelmed. There was a huge house fire here in town, a friend who's 31 year old husband in on life support, another friend trying to make a life altering decision, and yet another friend trying to find their way back to God. For a short amount of time the I forgot how big our God really is. I was looking at all of these things like the world does. Then I remembered: "But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world." (1 John 4:4) Yes!!! That made it easy to go to prayer. No matter how big any situation looks, He is bigger. No matter how out of control you feel, He is in control. No matter what the world says, God says my ways are higher. I don't know how He will answer these prayers, but I know He will answer. Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big your God is. He is so good!!!
I have not spent time in the Word for the last couple of days, and I am certainly feeling the lack. Tomorrow my intention is to get caught back up on my Bible study. I love God's Holy Word! One of these day's I will figure out why, when things get crazy, that is the first thing that gets dropped. Again....thank God for grace!!!
Father God I pray for those reading today that you will show, in whatever they are facing, that you are in control. I pray for faith to rise up and for them to begin to believe You for that thing that they have been praying for, or afraid to even pray about. I pray for You to confirm things previously spoke. I pray that as they open Your Word that You would speak right to their heart. I pray for the one that doesn't know You intimately that You would draw them deeper into You. I pray for the one that doesn't know You at all that You would give them an understanding of who you are and how much you love them. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. I thank you that You have each of those things that are so close and important to us in Your control. I love You and praise You. In the powerful name of Jesus!!!
I have not spent time in the Word for the last couple of days, and I am certainly feeling the lack. Tomorrow my intention is to get caught back up on my Bible study. I love God's Holy Word! One of these day's I will figure out why, when things get crazy, that is the first thing that gets dropped. Again....thank God for grace!!!
Father God I pray for those reading today that you will show, in whatever they are facing, that you are in control. I pray for faith to rise up and for them to begin to believe You for that thing that they have been praying for, or afraid to even pray about. I pray for You to confirm things previously spoke. I pray that as they open Your Word that You would speak right to their heart. I pray for the one that doesn't know You intimately that You would draw them deeper into You. I pray for the one that doesn't know You at all that You would give them an understanding of who you are and how much you love them. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. I thank you that You have each of those things that are so close and important to us in Your control. I love You and praise You. In the powerful name of Jesus!!!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Starting excited without praying....
I love Peter.
He was so impulsive and just jumped into stuff. Certainly not a bad trait, in fact it can be a beautiful thing. Peter is the only person in history, besides Jesus, that walked on water. He denied Jesus, yes...but where were the rest of them? Denying Him with their absence. He preached the first sermon, on practically day one of Christianity, and 3,000 people were saved! He was impulsive, and his mouth got him into trouble but it was his absolute passion and love for Jesus that caused that.
I am like Peter sometimes. I get SO excited about my Lord that sometimes I get ahead of Him. Sometimes I think I have heard from Him, when really it was my desire to please Him that causes me to think something is of Him....but it is just me. Failure is hard. Admitting you are wrong is harder. Doing it in "public" is AWFUL!!!! I am learning though that failure can certainly be my friend. God teaches us so much when we fail....sometimes way more than when we succeed. Just like God to do that!!!
1 Corinthians 1:27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.
I learned a HUGE lesson this week about jumping right into something at first thought (even if I am sure it is God). He will always provide confirmation as we seek Him further on a matter. This week I had thought God has told me to go on a fast for 40 days. I was totally sure that is what I was supposed to do. I heard it, and did it without consulting further with the Holy Spirit. I fasted for 5 days. They were amazing days. This blog was birthed from those days. The small amount of food was very very hard on my body and the level of pain that I had was HUGE. I ate last night, a healthy meal and felt so much better very quickly. Today I prayed about it and didn't have a clear answer. I am going to take a step back, work on eating healthier, and ask God to lead me into what He wants. His grace is so wonderful.
Father God, I thank You that You are patient with us. I thank You for Your Kingdom and the wonderful way You do things. I pray for everyone who reads this that they would embrace failure and let You do the work in it that You are always willing to do. Lord, pour Your grace out on them and help them to know that even in the messes we make, You will still be glorified. You are so good!!! We give You so much praise. In The Name the Son You gave us, Jesus....Amen
He was so impulsive and just jumped into stuff. Certainly not a bad trait, in fact it can be a beautiful thing. Peter is the only person in history, besides Jesus, that walked on water. He denied Jesus, yes...but where were the rest of them? Denying Him with their absence. He preached the first sermon, on practically day one of Christianity, and 3,000 people were saved! He was impulsive, and his mouth got him into trouble but it was his absolute passion and love for Jesus that caused that.
I am like Peter sometimes. I get SO excited about my Lord that sometimes I get ahead of Him. Sometimes I think I have heard from Him, when really it was my desire to please Him that causes me to think something is of Him....but it is just me. Failure is hard. Admitting you are wrong is harder. Doing it in "public" is AWFUL!!!! I am learning though that failure can certainly be my friend. God teaches us so much when we fail....sometimes way more than when we succeed. Just like God to do that!!!
1 Corinthians 1:27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.
I learned a HUGE lesson this week about jumping right into something at first thought (even if I am sure it is God). He will always provide confirmation as we seek Him further on a matter. This week I had thought God has told me to go on a fast for 40 days. I was totally sure that is what I was supposed to do. I heard it, and did it without consulting further with the Holy Spirit. I fasted for 5 days. They were amazing days. This blog was birthed from those days. The small amount of food was very very hard on my body and the level of pain that I had was HUGE. I ate last night, a healthy meal and felt so much better very quickly. Today I prayed about it and didn't have a clear answer. I am going to take a step back, work on eating healthier, and ask God to lead me into what He wants. His grace is so wonderful.
Father God, I thank You that You are patient with us. I thank You for Your Kingdom and the wonderful way You do things. I pray for everyone who reads this that they would embrace failure and let You do the work in it that You are always willing to do. Lord, pour Your grace out on them and help them to know that even in the messes we make, You will still be glorified. You are so good!!! We give You so much praise. In The Name the Son You gave us, Jesus....Amen
The truth about truth
A precious and wise woman said to me "I have found that when I don't "feel" excited about God's promises, speaking them and/or writing them over my life can still be powerful. something about the truth just cuts through the lies we believe about our circumstances."
So....
*God loves me and my family more than I could ever imagine
*God has my best interest at heart
*God cares about my character enough to let me struggle but it will be for His glory
*God DOES heal
*God is way bigger than anything I have faced, am now facing, or will ever face
*God wants to bless us
*God is good
*God gives good gifts to His kids, and only good gifts
*Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world
*I am more than a conqueror
*I am beautiful
*I am a saint
*I am being refined
*I am heaven bound, and this world is not my home
*I have crucified my flesh with it's affections and lusts
*I am sure that all things will work together for the good for me
*I know God is perfecting me
Just to name a few....Praise God for His promises!!!
So....
*God loves me and my family more than I could ever imagine
*God has my best interest at heart
*God cares about my character enough to let me struggle but it will be for His glory
*God DOES heal
*God is way bigger than anything I have faced, am now facing, or will ever face
*God wants to bless us
*God is good
*God gives good gifts to His kids, and only good gifts
*Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world
*I am more than a conqueror
*I am beautiful
*I am a saint
*I am being refined
*I am heaven bound, and this world is not my home
*I have crucified my flesh with it's affections and lusts
*I am sure that all things will work together for the good for me
*I know God is perfecting me
Just to name a few....Praise God for His promises!!!
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory
Father God, I need you! In Jesus name....Amen
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