This blog is a random collection of my thoughts and ideas I experience as I journey through this crazy little thing called life. I hope my posts give you a little inspiration for your own personal journey and a little extra strength to make it through it.
Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave your own thoughts and comments!
I woke up around 6:00 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. My alarm wasn't set until 7:30AM, so I decided to go for a run instead of tossing and turning for the next hour and a half. I turned on some worship music and was looking forward to a peaceful few miles on the road. I am here to tell you that God spoke to me more in that 45 minutes of quiet time than the entire past week put together. As I finished my run, I thought to myself, "Why don't I feel God's presence like that every single day?" Then that little voice whispered..."Because you don't get still."
Wow.
I will admit that being still is not something I have mastered nor is it at the top of my list of things to do. Sometimes I feel like I have too much to get done to stop and spend time with God. I mean, the house doesn't clean itself..laundry doesn't fold on it's own..I have a huge paper due tomorrow..and I have no clue what I'm going to feed the kids for dinner. Sound familiar?
As I am writing this, I look over and see my phone recharging by my desk. This may seem like a silly comparison, but we recharge our iPods, phones, and computers, right? Why shouldn't we lie down and let Him recharge us?
God is desperately longing to be closer to us. And the awesome thing is...He is never too busy. Sometimes we get too caught up in the life and things around us that we drown out God from our daily lives and don't even realize it.
Psalm 37:7 says, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him."
When you don't know where to go, let Him give you direction. When you need a friend, know that He is right beside you. We shouldn't let our busy schedules distract us from spending quality time with Him.
With finals and the Holiday season quickly approaching, I challenge you to quiet your spirit and be still. Lie down and listen to worship music. Turn off your phone and computer for twenty short minutes and soak up the presence of God. I came across this quote and it is so true: "If the devil can't make us bad, his next trick is to make us busy."
I had what you would call a "divine intervention" this morning. As many of you probably know, I am in the early weeks of training for a marathon that is taking place this February. Well as I was training this morning, the devil was really riding my back hard. He kept saying things like, "You won't be able to do this" and "You are crazy to think you will be able to run over 26 miles!"
Isn't that just typical of the devil?! I'm telling you...you set a goal for yourself, and he tries his very best to diminish every single ounce of confidence that you have!
Well, when doubt really began to sink in my head this morning as the devil was whispering negative thoughts in my ear, God spoke just a little bit louder! And that's when my girl, Mandisa came on my iPod. The lyrics went something like this:
"If You could send a burning bush to Moses
Lead Your people home through a parted sea
Give a boy the strength to defeat Goliath
I know You will always take care of me.
With You on my side, I am victorious.
With You on my side, I've got nothing to fear.
So I can walk through this valley with confidence
Knowing You will deliver me."
So after letting these lyrics sink in, I am asking these questions: When are we going to get out of God's way so He can do something great through us? When are we going to grab ahold of who Christ is in us? How long are we going to continue to put ourselves down and say that we can't when God says that we certainly CAN?!
Scripture says that His power works best in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). Scripture also says that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Phil. 4:13). Get that?? All things. Not some things. Not on some days. All things...All days...through HIS strength!
So, instead of letting the devil try to break us down, embrace our weakness and know that He is strong where we are weak. When we draw our strength and confidence from Him, we will be ready and able to face any giant that tries to kill our confidence. I don't know about you, but I get a lot of satisfaction from proving the devil wrong!
The second part of that song goes like this:
"If You could raise the dead bones of Lazarus
If You could feed five-thousand with a couple fish and a loaf of bread
And in the middle of a stormy night You can walk on water
I know nothing is out of Your hands!"
I imagine that when I began to doubt, God viewed that as a slap in the face. He is the Creator of all, and I doubted Him?? Wow! Psalm 27:1 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid? The Lords protects me from danger--so why should I tremble?"
God will never give us more than we can handle. If He brings us to it, He'll bring us through it! Our God is not a God of doubt! The only way to conquer your insecurities is to allow God to become all we need to feel secure. So step out on your personal battlefield of life...whatever it may be...and know that your God is with you and that He is your confidence and your power!
"Sometimes our God disables us to enable us. We can do more in His strength than we could ever do on our own!"
As I sat behind my desk at work this morning, God laid something very heavily on my heart. Have you ever compared yourself to someone and felt you could never measure up to them? I've really been struggling with this lately. It quickly becomes frustrating trying to model someone else's life in Christ. My good intentions to be like my other Christian friends simply left me feeling inadequate. And like a light bulb, it went off in my head this morning--God designed each one of us differently!
Deuteronomy 14:2 says, You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure." Let's define what it means to be "set apart." The dictionary defines it this way: to keep something for a specific use or purpose. So look back at the Scripture above. God has set us apart for a chosen position.
I may not be at a point in my life where I am able to travel the world for mission work like my parents or lead a youth group like some of my friends (although I pray that God will one day open the door for me to do so), but I am now more confident than ever that it is not what we do that sets us apart--it is how much we allow the Holy Spirit to live through us that truly sets us apart.
We can also define set apart as living differently than the world lives so God's character can be seen through you. This does not mean to try and form into a "Christian clone" lacking originality. Think about this: Paul was set apart to be a prophet, David (a shepherd boy) was set apart to be a king, fisherman Peter was set apart to be a disciple, and Mary was set apart to give birth to the Son of God. These individuals never tried to be set apart with their own strengths. They simply answered God's call when He called them.
I have challenged myself (and I challenge you as well) to begin desiring to be set apart for God's purpose more than wanting to conform into a man-made mold.
Psalm 4:3 says, "The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to Him." It is time that we become more concerned about our witness and personal walk with God. In His timing, He will help us finish the work that we were sent here to do.
I want to leave you with this verse: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world."-Jeremiah 1:5
It is not our perfection that sets us apart...It is His perfection that stands out in our lives!
I love this song by Francesca Battistelli: "Free to Be Me." Take a listen, and let these be things that will set you apart and set you on the path of your God-given purpose!
I've always been what you would call a "planner." I have been told that I display a few OCD tendencies when trying to get things accomplished. For example, I believe that everything should be completed a specific way and by a certain time. Well...you want to make God laugh?? Simply tell Him YOUR plans! This is the understatement of a lesson that I learned the past few days. I've just been going along with MY plans...had a great Summer, about to begin another semester of school, working my regular job, caught up in the fairytale of a relationship...pretty smooth sailing, right??
Boom...CURVEBALL...and my plans take a 180 turn pretty quickly. Life can sometimes be messy. It can be full of pain and disappointments along the way. Things don't always turn out right or exactly how we plan, and it can hurt...a lot.
So what do we do when life throws us a curveball? Do we sit and cry over what could have/should have been? Do we get angry? I am a firm believer that God does not close one door, unless He is patiently waiting to open an even BETTER door for us! So instead of moping around, take a step away from your disappointments (whatever they may be) and take a step closer to the good that God is working in your life. I don't know about you, but I would rather rejoice in what IS and WILL BE than wallow in what isn't. Think about that for a moment.
In the middle of my little whirlwind, I am desperately clinging to this verse: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."-Romans 8:28
One of my favorite songs right now is Steady My Heart by Kari Jobe. The lyrics are so powerful! Meditate on these words: "But You're here, You're real. I know I can trust You. Even when it hurts, even when it's hard, even when it all just falls apart...I will run to You, 'cause I know that You are Lover of my soul, Healer of my scars. You steady my heart! I'm not gonna worry. I know that You've got me right inside the palm of Your hands."
Pretty awesome, right??
Disappointments only sting as long as we let them. Take all of your pain, your hurt, and your sorrows and pray this prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your mercies and patience in this journey of imperfect progress. Forgive me for allowing disappointments to capture my heart so easily. Adjust my perspective and help me to see the things You have brought to life in me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now run to God with everything you have, and let Him steady your heart!
I can't believe it's been over 2 months since my last post. I guess that makes me the worst blogger ever! In my own defense, it has been a crazy busy summer. I finally settled into my new house and got it feeling like "home." I went on a few exciting weekend get-a-ways, including a wonderful trip to Dallas with the girls for AdvoCare's summer conference.
I even added a new addition to the family--a precious YorkiePoo named Molly!
Summer 2012 was a great one, no doubt. But it was also a very stressful one! Working 40 hours a week while pursuing a Master's degree is anything but easy. I was always tired, and stress constantly swirled in my mind. It's as if my mind was bullied by thoughts of doubt, and the devil constantly whispering in my ear that I just couldn't do it all.
Needless to say, I finished the summer with a 4.0 and learned one valuable lesson. Stress can be handled in many different ways. You can eat a quart of Ben & Jerry's. You can go on a shopping spree and swipe your credit card all day long. But what I learned over the past couple months is that Jesus can bring a true sense of calm confidence when I bring HIM my stress! We can approach Him 24/7 with absolutely anything and everything. God doesn't put a sign on His door that says, "Closed. Come back later."
Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
I have fully decided and committed to not let stress rule my life, and I encourage you to take this challenge with me. Whether it is stress caused from relationships, money, school, career, etc., we should focus on Him alone and not allow the twists and turns of life deter you from finding true peace in Christ.
God does not promise that life will be easy, but He does promise to never leave you nor forsake you. I pray that you will approach God's throne with whatever your stresses may be. I assure you that you will find peace and confidence, and He will surely bring you through it!
I always enjoy learning how to do new things. Over the past few days, I have been debating over what new hobby I am ready to take up. I've thought about taking a cake decorating class, a pottery class, or even scrapbooking. All of these things involve taking something from scratch and making a brand new creation--something beautiful, wonderful, and useful.
You know...our relationship with Christ is oh so very similar to these crafty hobbies! We are His clay and He is our Master Potter! We should desire to be molded and shaped by God--to be used by Him. He is so ready to turn us into a vessel of honor!
Let's take a look at cake decorating. We add beautiful colors and designs, putting our special touches on it to make it unique. Even when it doesn't turn out like we want it to on the outside...it can still be used. I mean...cake icing tastes yummy regardless of the design, right?
Well, God is ready to add His special touches to each and every one of you! He's ready to add His love, His hope, His blessings...and when He gets done, He is ready to pour you out to quench a thirsty world!
Even on the days when you feel broken and empty (just like the cake that didn't turn out like you wanted), God can still use you--just as long as you are firmly held in His grasp. He chose each of you because you have seen your own brokenness and have given every shattered piece to Him.
Let God mold you. Let Him fill you up. Let Him hold you. Let Him pour out His blessings through you.
I am unsure at this point which project I am going to pursue...but I am determined that in the end, I will have created something beautiful and useful. When God is done with each of us, we will be His beautiful creation as well. We will be able to fully experience the overflowing joys of being His vessel of honor!
"If anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work."-2 Timothy 2:21
Okay, so with the semester ending and Summer school not starting until the first week of June, I found myself at a need for a good read. I saw the movie The Hunger Games back when it first came out, but I hadn't got around to reading the series just yet. I picked up the first book on Monday, finished it in 2 days, and have already purchased and began the second book! There's just something exciting about reading a good adventure book packed with action!
I am such a nerd sometimes due to the fact that I try to relate to each of the characters as much as possible--sometimes even pretending that I am the character right in the middle of the story.
In this case, it was Katniss Everdeen that I felt particularly attached to. I worried as she went to battle. I felt sympathy as she experienced hunger and lonliness. And I silently cheered her on all the way to victory.
Isn't our own life crazy similar to that of The Hunger Games? I mean, not in the same sense that we are stranded alone in the woods left to "fight to the death." But it is similar in the same fact that we are in constant battle with the world and as Christians, we are all striving to receive our eternal reward.
What does God say about being alone? "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of age."-Matthew 28:20
Just like Katniss felt overwhelmingly lonely, we often feel the exact same way. But the awesome thing is...God is with us wherever we are. He is the friend who walks in when the world walks out.
What does God say about life's battles? "For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."-Deuteronomy 20:4
Unlike The Hunger Games, our fight is not against flesh and blood, but it is against evil forces.
When you find yourself in the midst of a war, do not be afraid. Call on Him in prayer and allow Him to deliver you.
We don't need a spear, a bow and arrow, or a sling-shot to fight our battles here on earth. We have the Lord Jesus Christ as our shield of protection, and He is always victorious! Sometimes He will lead you to shelter for safety and restoration. Other times He may ask you to join Him on the front line in the heat of the battle.
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."-Psalm 32:7
My challenge for you today: Keep your eye on the prize! And like I always say--the war is fought and WON on your knees!
I was a bridesmaid in a good friend's wedding this past weekend. I had almost forgotten all of the hard work, dedication, and effort that goes into preparing for a wedding! Needless to say, I was reminded. The hair, make-up, the dress, decorations, etc.--all very time consuming, yet all so very worth it!
I will freely admit that I spend a few days daydreaming about my own wedding day--hoping that everything is absolutely perfect in every single way.
So of course all of my thinking and daydreaming just led me to more thinking and daydreaming...
We are God's beautiful bride! No wedding celebration on earth can compare to the celebration we will one day share with Him on that amazing day in heaven!
Every bride prepares for her earthly wedding by doing all she can to be her absolute best. The bridesmaids, friends, and family members of the bride work so hard to make everything perfect before she walks down the aisle to meet her bridegroom.
The Lord abolve is our heavenly Bridegroom, and He has already made all of the wedding preparations for us. How great?!
Our life may sometimes seem anything but perfect, but it is so awesome that on that glorious day, He will present each one of us as being spotless and blamesless! I love that!
He simply asks that we let our hearts be His. He wants us to let His mercy and love be the sweet music that fills the sanctuary.
I get so excited thinking about being clothed in the beautiful gown of God's glory on that special day!
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready."-Revelation 19:7
Well, it’s official—I received the keys to my new house yesterday evening! It has been such an exciting time, but it is truly amazing at the amount of “stuff” you can accumulate over the years!
I am using the move as an opportunity to clear up and clean out a lot of my belongings. It’s been so much fun going through all of the memories though—Old pictures…cards…letters…and such. Some of these memories are still very much a part of my life, yet some have simply been left in the past. It’s sad sometimes how people can come in and out of your life so quickly. Sometimes it makes sense and other times, it just hurts.
I got to thinking…I think God does a little “Spring-cleaning” as well. In order for us to truly walk the path that God has for us, God has to get rid of some of that “stuff” we crowd into our lives. This doesn’t just apply to people either. Think of the dreams and goals you had for your life a year ago. Are they the same goals you have today? Sometimes life works out a little differently than we imagined.
Just like it may be a little difficult to throw away some of those special keepsakes when we clean, it may also be hard to let go of the things and people that WE feel are important in our lives.
I have come to realize that God has a time and a plan for everything! He may be ready to clear out things in your life before you are ready to. There may be certain relationships, priorities, activities, etc. that God is telling you to let go of at this very moment, and you are doing your very best to hang on for dear life. Maybe if we get rid of the “old,” it will allow us to fill that extra space with something or someone to help us grow closer to God!
Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…”
I challenge you today to ask God to help you as you enter the next season of your life. Ask Him to guide you to know what to hang on to and what to let go of. I assure you that He won’t ask you to get rid of something that He won’t replace with something even BETTER!
So…you could say that this week has been a bit of a reality check for me. To catch you up on my life, I have been house hunting over the past few weeks. I decided since I was becoming a “big girl,” it was time to find a place of my own. I did not know that it would be so mentally and physically exhausting! Over the past week, I worked 8-5pm followed by at least 2 hours of touring possible houses. On top of that, finals are rapidly approaching. I have been trying to put the finishing touches on all of my research papers and projects while finding the time to study for my final exams. I will admit that one evening this week I even had a little “pity party” for myself and cried.
About halfway through this week, I realized that I hadn’t been spending time in God’s word or praying like I know I should. I was under so much stress, and didn’t even stop and ask Him for the help I needed. I was relying strictly on myself to get me through these stressful situations and trying to give myself all of the credit when I marked something off of my to-do list.
When I wasn’t getting much accomplished, God spoke directly to me. I’ll admit that it hit me like a ton of bricks. He said, “Let me have your day.” I am one of those girls that have an agenda set up for the entire week before the week even begins. What I learned the hard way this week is that God wants us to give back to Him all of our scheduled plans for today and tomorrow. He is beyond ready to intervene with something special!
This whole time I was trying to rely on my strength. I was doing things my own way and on my own time. Isaiah 48:17 says, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”
God knows what is best for you and me! How awesome…and comforting! He can make a way when there is no way, and His hand is at work in everything around us! His plan is perfect…and He deserves all of the credit!
Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Needless to say, when I put my faith and trusted in Him, He came through in more ways than I could have ever done by myself! For one, He led me straight to the absolute perfect house for me! I am beyond excited to be moving in this Monday!
He is always there and ready to help. He is patiently waiting to give each of us the true desires of our hearts when we call out to Him.
My challenge for you today: Give Him your agenda! I assure you that He will turn it from ordinary to extraordinary! And when He does…give the credit where credit is due!
My boyfriend has 2 nieces (ages 5 and 9). It is so cute, because each time I see them and ask who their boyfriend is, I get a different answer. I look back to my own elementary years, and it was not uncommon to swap so called "boyfriends" every single week! Ohhh when life was that simple...
Now that I am a college graduate, a current graduate student, and presently in a stable 2-year relationship, I have come to the conclusion: LOVE IS NOT A GAME--it is a gift!
Ladies, I ask you to do this...reflect on your current relationships. Who are you allowing to take part in your private world? Now ask yourself this question...Do they draw you closer to God, or do they weaken your faith and pull you away from Him?
God considers your heart to be priceless. He gave His life so that you can be free! God has so many wonderful and amazing plans for your life. When you get involved with those who do not sincerely care for your heart and constantly play those "relational games," you miss out on what God has in store for you.
I've been there. We all have, and it's never easy. We find ourselves in a relationship that we know deep down is simply no good for us. It's hard, and it hurts. But God is patiently waiting to give you the true desires of your precious heart if you will be willing to let go of it all.
I ask you to take note of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. It says, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
I challenge each of you today to let go of those who harm you, and hold on to your Heavenly Father instead. He will surely open your eyes to see what a real and lasting relationship is meant to be!
Oh what's the big deal about PRAYER? I mean...the Bible tell us to pray--but we don't. Who has time for that these days? Isn't it optional? Prayer has to be outdated. I'd rather leave praying up to my preacher. I've been getting along pretty well without it. So in that case, prayer must be a "last-minute emergency" type thing. Right???
WRONG!
What happened to saying our prayers every night? What happened to blessing each meal before we ate? How did we so easily get away from the realization of the power of prayer?
Prayer isn't a requirement or a job; it is a privilege! God gives each of us the ability to call on Him! John 14:14 says, "You may ask anything in My name, and I will do it!"
God tell us that if we have the faith of just a tiny mustard seed, then we have the power to move mountains! All we have to do is call on Him by faith, and know that He will answer.
God knows each and every little thing going on in your life today. He is already highly aware of your every thought, your every choice, and your every move. He knows what makes you sad, happy, angry, anxious, and tired. He is patiently waiting for you to turn to Him, and tell Him all about it. He's ready to help you through it!
I heard a song on the way to work this morning and the lyrics went something like this: "Stand tall and remember what He said, I won't give you more than you can take. I might let you bend, but I won't let you break. I will never let you go!"
Prayer is our path to the exciting adventure of building a wonderful relationship with our Savior. God's ear is truly Divine. Talk to Him. Trust Him. Have faith in Him.
One of my favorite quotes says, "When life gets too hard to stand...KNEEL!" It is no doubt that the spiritual battle is fought-and won-on our knees!
A few weeks ago, I went to visit a friend of mine who had recently had her firstborn child. As I sat there holding that sweet little baby, I thought to myself..."I would protect her with my life." I made sure that my arms were strong as I held her. I made certain that my feet were steady, and my eyes were ever so watchful.
As I tend to do, I started thinking a little deeper. I started thinking about my heart and how it is just as delicate as that tiny baby.
God has placed something so very precious inside each and every one of you. Just as you would a newborn baby, God wants you to guard, protect, and watch over your heart with all of your might and with all of your strength. It is your heart...your very life!
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life!"-Proverbs 4:23
Think of this world and all of it's worldly pleasures just like a kidnapper. It wants so badly to steal and destroy your heart. We often look at the sin of the world and think, "It's not that bad!" It may not seem harmful at the time, but it can no doubt separate you from the Lord Jesus Christ.
A newborn child is helpless without love and care. Our heart is just the same. It will surely suffer if it is taken away from Him.
I cannot express how important it is to guard your heart and cling to Him...in all that you do!
I constantly find myself praying, "Lord, show me my purpose. Show me where You want me to be and exactly what You want me to do." How many of you are with me in that you say, "Lord, just give me some sort of sign!"
God's "signs" are all around us. Many of them are found right in front of us--in the written word of God. We just have to look. When we are willing, God is patiently waiting to strategically place us somewhere to be a blessing for Him. He has a special plan and a special purpose for each and every one of us. He is just waiting for us to say, "Here I am, Lord. I am ready and willing to be obedient to You!"
Maybe God has already revealed His plan to you, and you don't understand why...or even it's purpose. You may find yourself saying, "God, that's not important enough. No one will even see me doing that for You." What we have to keep in mind is that we do not work for other people...we work for Him! No plan of His is too small. It is not our job to question...but to simply say, "yes sir," and be obedient.
1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "Be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."
Maybe God has revealed His plan to you, and you are not sure where to begin. One thing I have learned is that God provides clear directions! We just have to be willing to listen and committed to obedience. When God told Noah to build an ark, He gave him specific instructions. He provided the exact dimensions and exactly how to construct it. God faithfully guided Moses when leading His people out of Egypt. He was with Abraham every step of the way and provided him with the lamb for sacrifice. So don't you think that He is with you throughout your own journey? The Bible is our book of instructions. It has been proven & tested through and through.
It's like that old hymn titled Trust and Obey. The chorus says, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."
Let's make a commitment today to go where God sends us without question...trusting and knowing that He has prepared the way!
Have you ever just had one of those days where you literally wake up in a bad mood? Well, this past Saturday was one of those days for me! I do not know what the deal was, but it was as if I was trying to pick a fight about every little thing. My boyfriend and I got into an arguement, and I started bringing up negative things from the past to throw in his face.
After I had settled down and apologized for my actions, I got to thinking...What if God did that to me? What if every time He got in one of those moods, He brought up things of the past to throw back in my face? Wow! These thoughts came like a slap in the face to me.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!"
Isn't it so amazing that when we come to Him, we are no longer a slave to sin?! We are no longer under Satan's power! We are no longer even our own, because He bought us with His life! Jesus paid for each and every one of our sins--past, present, and future.
The Bible says that "we have ALL sinned and fall short of the glory of God," but when we form that relationship with Him...the past is erased, and a new life begins! He will not bring up the past again, because it is gone in His eyes. God loves us no matter what we have done or said. He is patiently waiting for us to surrender to Him so that He can give us His wonderful gift of grace!
He cannot wait to take you to the next level of your faith! He simply asks you to set a higher standard for yourself. He asks you to let go of the old habits that are holding you back from becoming the new you. Let Him lead you away from your former life and receive the power that can truly transform your life! Our God is absolutely incredible!
The lyrics to the song in this video are so powerful: "My chains are gone. I've been set free. My God, my Savior has randsomed me. And like a flood, His mercy rains. Unending love, amazing grace." Think about that...you have been set free!
Unfortunately, it happens each and every day--someone we love...someone we trust...hurts us. Maybe your best friend told a sacred secret you had shared with them...your boyfriend betrayed your trust...your parents let you down...
A lot of times the pain we feel from being hurt like this can be ever so crippling and cause anger to build up inside of us.
These feelings of bitterness and unforgiveness can become much like being in prison. We become trapped and filled with resentment towards a certain person. It is almost like we become hostages to the pain of the past, and we refuse to let it go. This bitterness can ruin our lives. I've seen it ruin friendships, relationships, and slowly take away every piece of happiness that someone has. When we sit back and think about it...is it really worth it?
I will admit that freely forgiving someone for hurting us is one of the most difficult things to do. Let's be honest here: it is human nature to seek revenge after those who do wrong to us. "I'll get her back! She doesn't know what she has coming!"...Sound familiar?
Matthew 6:14-15 says, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Forgiveness is one of the most powerful spiritual weapons that God has given to us. It is mentioned numerous times from Genesis to Revelation. When we learn to simply let go of revenge and to embrace forgiveness, the freedom that we will experience is absolutely remarkable!
I will be the first to admit that I am the world's worst when it comes to directions! (I'm sure my friends & family would all agree with that statement.) I am beyond thankful that little invention called the Global Positioning System--better known as the GPS!
You know what I like most about it?? Even if I accidentally make a wrong turn, it always finds a way to guide me back to the right path. I take a wrong exit, and that little robot voice comes on saying,"Re-calculate. Re-calculate."
A bit of a personal story--This past weekend I went to the Women of Faith conference in Shreveport, LA. As usual, I programmed the address into my GPS and hit the road. As I started getting into Shreveport, it began taking me down unfamiliar roads that were located out in the middle of literally nowhere! I started questioning whether or not my GPS knew where it was taking me! Just as I officially began to panic, I made the final turn and there it was--I had reached my destination! My GPS knew all along exactly where I was supposed to go.
You know...we may take the "wrong exit" in life sometimes. Or we may find ourselves in unfamiliar territory just as I did this past weekend. We may come to a fork in the road and not know whether to turn right or left. We look to the left and see the "easy road." It looks like many other people have chosen this road, so we think that it must be the way to go! It's bumps have been made smooth by the large crowds. It seems safe, because so many people have ventured around it's curves. What we don't see, however, is this popular road ultimately leads to destruction.
God has provided each one of us with our personal navigational system for life--the Bible. When we accidentally take a wrong turn, God's voice is softly saying, "Re-calculate. Re-calculate." Simply cry out to Him when you are lost, and He will lead you back to the road that leads to life again.
Deuteronomy 11:22 says, "Be careful to obey all the commands I give you; show love to the Lord your God by walking in His ways and clinging to Him."
God's directions are always accurate, and His maps never need an update! He is patiently waiting to get each of us on the right road today!
Oh how I love old Disney movies! The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin...you name it! Walt Disney had a way of capturing the hearts of both young and old, and he always found ways to sneak little words of wisdom into his creations.
One of my favorite sayings comes from Disney's Bambi: "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all."
Oh how this famous saying can easily be applied to each and every one of us, including myself. It seems like we are daily tempted with the opportunity to gossip and talk about others.
James 3:5 says, "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."
Think to yourself for a moment...Have you ever had someone talk about you behind your back? How did it make you feel? Or maybe you were on the other side of the fence...You and a group of your friends were sitting around discussing how Sarah's shoes didn't match or how Billy had a bad hair day. Many of us have been on both sides.
Our tongue has the power of both life and death.
James 3:10 says, "Out of the same mouth come praising and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."
So I have another challenge for you (and me, of course). Oh how I love a challenge! :) For the next week (or longer), when you are tempted to give in to gossip, stop and pray. Let God take control of your conversations. If we have concerns about others, talk to God about them. I promise you that He is waiting and willing to listen. He will gladly give you the words of wisdom to build up others and glorify Him, instead of being involved with useless conversation.
"Do not let any wholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."-Ephesians 4:29
It's quite simple, my friends...THINK before you SPEAK!
I was watching a TV show the other day on ABC Family, and I found myself to be quite surprised at the material that was on this "family" show. I kept thinking, "They allow this on this channel??!" You know...this seems to be the case more and more frequently this day in time.
One of my favorite verses in Philippians says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
At the beginning of the New Year, I made a personal commitment to only listen to Christian music. Whether I'm in my car, getting ready for work, running, etc...Christian music would be playing for the next month. Needless to say, it is February 23rd, and I am still sticking to my challenge. My boyfriend laughs and says that my "30-day challenge" has turned into a "lifetime commitment." One thing I have learned is that we become exactly what we listen to, watch, and read.
God openly wants us to have our heart and mind fixed on Him. But the truth is, He wants more than that. He wants us to guard our mind against anything that destroys our dedication to Him. The music, movies, and magazines that we expose ourselves to either draw us closer to Him, or they cloud our minds with the things of this world. It's that simple!
It's just like the lyrics to that song we all learned in Sunday School as a young child: "Oh be careful little eyes what you see. Oh be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above is looking down with love, oh be careful little eyes what you see..."
Philippians 4:7 says, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
God promised us an abundant life if we fix our mind on what is true, pure, and right. So we are left with a simple choice today: We can live a life of influence for others to follow; or we can join the way of the world. Which will you choose??
You ever feel like you're going through something in life that no one could possibly understand? You feel as if the weight of the world is sitting on your chest, and there's no one to lift it off...
God says to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
I'm telling you, there is nothing like reading the book of James to completely remove you of your pride and make you realize just how much you are not in control!
Right now, I am in my 1st semester of grad school, and midterms are rapidly approaching. It seems like every professor wants a paper, a project, and an exam all due at the same time. (It's as if they plan it that way!) It can quickly become overwhelming on top of my 2 jobs.
What is it in your life? Is it financial struggles? The loss of a loved one? A broken marriage? Or is it simply a feeling of emptiness that leaves you desperately searching for "something more?"
God tells us to not only "consider it pure joy" when we face trials but to also never doubt if He is with us in the middle of whatever circumstance we may find ourselves in. The next verse in James says, "Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
God does not put us in a fire to sit back and watch us burn out. He is with us in the middle of life's hottest flames, wanting and willing to walk right by our side through every trial.
Mandisa is one of my favorite contemporary Christian artists, and I love the lyrics to her song, Stronger: "When the waves are taking you under, hold on just a little bit longer. He knows that this is gonna make you stronger!"
Give God the weight of your circumstances, and go to Him in prayer. He will take you directly to the cross where He will transform your trials into triumph!
Lately as I sit down to write...nothing comes. It seems like I just end up staring at a blank sheet of paper. It's quite frustrating!
Well, the other day I was filling up my car with gas and all of a sudden it hit me! It's like God spoke to my heart right in that parking lot. He said, "Just as you have to refuel your car to be able to go, you also have to refuel yourself with My word to be able to share." Ummm...WOW!
So I started thinking, and I realized what little time I have been spending reading my Bible lately. I even tried to justify myself at first by saying, "God, I go to church every Sunday and I listen to worship music almost all of the time." But the truth is, spending quality time in the word of God is necessary to fully refuel ourselves. The Bible says that "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
The more time we spend with Him, the more we will long for more of Him. Listen to the lyrics of the song in this video:
"And I, I'm desperate for You. And I, I'm lost without You."--How amazing would it be for each of us to be so desperate to receive God's word?! So I leave a simple thought with you today...is your tank on empty? I challenge you, as well as myself, to make a conscious effort to spend time daily refueling ourselves with the power of God's word!
"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." -2 Timothy 3:16-17
I watched the movie Courageous for the first time a couple weeks ago, and for those of you who haven't seen it...it's a must see movie for sure! It was so inspiring to see such men of courage striving to serve the Lord.
We often hear the word courage. What does it really mean? Webster defines courage as "the ability to do something that frightens you; strength in the face of pain or grief." I can't help but think of The Wizard of Oz and the cowardly lion who wished for the courage to be able to stand up to anything he came up against in the forest.
As Christians, God often tests our faith which requires us to have courage--and sometimes lots of it. Maybe He is calling you to do something right now, and instead of putting your trust in Him you are second guessing His judgement. Maybe it is something as simple as changing your major. Maybe God's calling you to move to a different location or even to join the mission field. Change is always a little scary, and it is almost never easy.
Deuteronomy 31:16 says, "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you."
When doubt may arise, remember that God is strong enough to handly any situation, and He wants what is best for you. He stayed by Noah as the ark was being built; He rescued Daniel from the lion's den; He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego during their test of faith; and He will protect you just the same.
I challenge you from this point forward to no longer second guess what God is calling you to do. Take courage and walk in His strength, not your own. For every test of faith that arises, face it head-on--"armed with the sword of the Spirit, the belt of truth, the armor of righteousness, and the shield of faith!"
Stay strong in prayer and watch you COURAGE become CONTAGEOUS!
LOVE--it's that 4 letter word that makes us girls feel all "mushy" inside. We spend years dreaming about the very moment our prince charming will sweep us off our feet and we'll live happily ever after!
Now let me tell you, I have had my fair share of relationships. I've had the good, the bad, and the one's I'd rather pretend never existed. I'm certain you can all relate. I am blessed to be able to say that I have HAPPILY been dating my very best friend for the past 2 years, and he treats me daily like a fairytale princess.
Ahhh...the fairytale...We read about it, sing about it, create thousands of movies about it, and even designate an entire day that is dedicated strictly to LOVE. Incase you didn't know, I consider myself to be a hopeless romantic. I could watch Disney's Cinderella over and over again, and it should come as no surprise that Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love Valentine's Day candy, especially the little heart shaped sweetarts. It's fun to dig through a bag and read all the cute little saying on them. My favorite saying is the one that reads, "You are MINE!"
"You are mine"...makes me think of the verse in Ephesians that says, "For we are God's masterpiece, He created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the things He planned for us long ago." Wow! We are God's masterpiece; we are His! No boyfriend of ours could ever love us like our Heavenly Father does. He is the Lover of our soul, and He wants to meet our every need.
Ephesians 3:19 says, "May you experience thelove of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
It's hard for me to wrap my mind around someone who loved us so much that He stretched out His arms and died for us. We are His creation, and He will FOREVER be commited to us. He won't lie or cheat, and He will NEVER let us down!
Now this is one amazing love story! Happy Valentine's Day!
Do you remember when you were just a child & you wanted something? It didn't matter where you were or who you were with. You wanted it & you wanted it right then!
I must admit that I have been acting a little childish lately. I am 22 years old & a current grad student, yet I can hardly stand the fact that I'm not married or that I don't have a steady career. Don't judge! I know I can't be the only woman who gets a little anxious from time to time, so I'm hoping you can relate.
After consistantly praying for patience & understanding, God has recently opened my eyes to realize that His timing is perfect! How awesome is that?!
As anxious & eager women, we tend to want to run ahead of God before His plans are complete. I have realized that relying on my own strength will only let me down & the dreams that God has planned for me are far greater than anything I can dream on my own. This brings me great peace knowing that God knows & wants what is truly best for me and my life!
Isaiah 40:31 says, "but those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run & not grow weary, they will walk & not faint."
It is often difficult for me to remain patient, especially because I feel a desperate need to always plan ahead. But relying on the promise that I will run farther & soar higher with God's timing...I think I will choose to wait. What about you??
As some of you may know, I have recently picked up running as a new hobby. Call me crazy, but I am filled with such peace when I run, & it has become something very special in my life. I began training about 4 months prior to my 1st half-marathon, & I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment when I crossed the finish line.
As I got to thinking, I realized that our daily life as a Christian is a lot like running a marathon. One of my favorite Bible verses comes from Hebrews 12:1-2. It says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders & the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer & perfector of faith."
Look at the first part of this scripture: "Let us throw off everything that hinders." When shopping for my race outfit, I was certain it had to be perfect. It needed to be lightweight & just the right material so I wouldn't be slowed down. In our life, we sometimes carry certain weights & burdens that slow us down as we run our Christian race. If we seek God's face, His grace will lighten our step & allow us to run at our full potential.
The next part says to "run with perseverance." To persevere means to endure. Training to run the 13.1 miles of rolling hills wasn't easy. It involved hard work, dedication, & determination. I often faced setbacks such as a swollen ankle, a sore knee, & fatigue. We also face setbacks in life's race. We may come up against an obstacle that causes us to stumble & fall, but we must trust that God will be there to pick us up again.
The last part of the scripture says, "let us fix our eyes on Jesus." There were quite a few times during my race where it would have been easy for me to give up. Through perseverance, I kept my eyes on the prize--the finish line. The prize of our life's race is not a trophy or a medal. It is not the satisfaction of hearing an applause or receiving recognition. The prize of our life's race is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our eyes must be fixed on Him for the entire length of our race--from beginning to end.
1 Corinthians 9:24 says, "Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win."
The Christian race is long & difficult. It will often bring many trials & tests. But if we make it our daily goal to run with God as our "pace partner," He will surely lead us to the finish line...even if He has to carry us there.
Tonight is the annual Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet pageant. As I am preparing to sit in the audience as a former Miss Lady of the Bracelet, I am reminiscing on all of the wonderful memories I made during my reigning year. Pageantry was once a very important part of my life. As I now look back, I can recall the countless hours spent seeking to perfect my outward appearance. The hair...the make-up...the wardrobe...all important factors when preparing for a pageant. I am certain that the competing contestants tonight have dedicated the same amount of time to be able to show off their best physical self as well.
Wouldn't it be awesome if we spent that much time perfecting our inward appearance? How much time do we spend daily grooming ourselves compared to the amount of time spent in the word of God? Galations 1:10 tells us, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of God."
Now do not get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy reading about and experimenting with the latest fashion trends, hairstyles, and make-up tricks. As women, when we doll ourselves up on the outside, more importantly, we should turn to the One who specializes in internal makeovers. The Bible tells us in Proverbs, "Charm can be deceiving and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the Lord deserves to be praised."
As women of God, our tongue should bring Him praise, our wardrobe reveal His Spirit, our feet follow the path that He has planned for us, and our heart filled with humility and compassion. For when we seek to clothe ourselves in His light and truth, our beauty will truly radiate for we will be a reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am at such a transition point in my life! I have recently graduated from Northwestern State University, am in the first few weeks of my graduate study, and have just began a new job. God is daily showering me with blessings and new opportunities! I feel as if I should share my thoughts and experiences along the way as I embark on this new and exciting (yet sometimes overwhelming) chapter of my life!
