My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
~ Psalms 73:26
I want to live what this verse says. That even though all may fail, even my body (which it sometimes seems like I am falling apart), And that even though my spirit may grow weak, God will always be the strength of my heart. This year is fading fast! A new year is racing towards us. What lessons will we carry with us? What things do we need to forgive and forget? Last year might not have been your best year, your health might have taken a hit, your spirit might have been weak, but God is and will always remain the strength of your heart!! Remember he is always there, no matter what! No matter what circumstances greeted you last year, no matter what happened in your life, God is and can be your strength! I want this verse to always remind me that HE has taken me through a lot! HE has been my source of strength when it seemed like I had none! I would be a mess right now if God didn't hold me and take me through! I don't know where I would be if I didn't allow HIM to be my strength, my comfort, my shield, my help!!! The new year is about to begin, what do you want to do in a brand new year? What goals might you have or had that you did not accomplish this year. A brand new year is upon us, and it offers so much! It offers a new beginning, it offers hope, and it offers a new chance to let God be the strength of your heart! Remember HIM this year! He is there and loves you! Let him refresh you and strengthen you for the journey!!! Life, it can be a heck of a journey! But enjoy the ride and make the best of it, you only get one life to live! Live this life to the fullest! with no regrets! maybe some lessons along the way, but try what you want to accomplish in this life, you may fail, you may not, but at least you wont regret not trying at all! God is there to be your source and strength, rely on Him, and lean on HIM!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Perseverance
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-4
Ahh.... life. Life is full of ups and downs. Mountains and vallies. At times you can feel on the top of the world, and the next crushed on the rocks... It is how you get through these ups and downs that matter. Perseverance! What a word! I think this has been my word for the past few years. It is the same for this year which is drawing to a close! There has been a lot that has happened. There has been doubts, fears, happiness, faith, sadness and hope. I guess its been an emotional year lol. There are things that were good, like the birth of my final child. She was named for a reason: Life of faith. That is what we were and have been all about. Sometimes though it felt that we forgot that life of faith and at times for me it has been a time of fear, which as we know is the opposite of faith. I remember why we named her what we did and think, I need to get back to that life of faith! She is a reminder of hope! Hope still alive somewhere deep inside. Much has happened that has shook us to the core of who we are. The thing is, we cant let that fear keep us in bondage. We need to break free and let that spark of faith blaze into a fire again! I think that is what we are doing. We are persevering and refocusing on the things that God had for us at one point, and getting back to what the real reason of life is: to serve God and lead people to Him through love!! The above verses have been a good reminder of persevering and getting through and not becoming weary with doing good. The second verse above says be strong!! Do not give up! It is just a reminder to push forward!! and that all your hard work will be rewarded, and is noticed. Do not get weary with doing good, just keep going forward, keep loving people, keep focused on what matters and get through! Sometimes we get tired, and don't know how we will be able to keep going, sometimes we just want to give up, but we need to keep climbing that mountain because the view will be amazing when get to the top! Looking back at what we went through, looking back on all the things that could have kept us back but we kept pushing through with perseverance and we look forward to an amazing view of life from the top!
Sometimes it seems like the world is looking at Christians and just waiting for them to mess up. The world sometimes doesn't think that Christians do or should maybe go through things. We are human too! It says in the third verse that suffering produces perseverance. We all suffer in life, no matter who you are! Everyone faces trials and pains, and suffering. It is the curse of being a human! But what does that suffering do to you? does it crush you? or does it cause you to push forward? That is the difference! When we persevere through things it creates character, and then character produces hope! Every life here on this earth is filled with ups and downs, it is how you deal with the things that come your way that makes the difference. Will you let it produce perseverance and character and hope? or will you let it defeat you? Believe me some days are easier than others with persevering, but it is verses like this that remind me to carry on! Get through! There is a plan for you! It is verses like this that remind me that God loves me and cares enough to remind me when I need it most! My life isn't perfect, heck, no one's is! but i choose to push through! I choose to persevere so that godly character can be produced, so that hope can be restored!!!
Don't give up!! Push through!! There is a reward at the end! There is a great harvest if we keep pushing through!! Persevering isn't easy but God rewards those who are faithful! Those who take what comes at them and uses it as a learning tool rather than a curse. Nothing can ruin your life, unless you let it! Don't let the trials that come ruin you, let it build perseverance, character and hope!!
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-4
Ahh.... life. Life is full of ups and downs. Mountains and vallies. At times you can feel on the top of the world, and the next crushed on the rocks... It is how you get through these ups and downs that matter. Perseverance! What a word! I think this has been my word for the past few years. It is the same for this year which is drawing to a close! There has been a lot that has happened. There has been doubts, fears, happiness, faith, sadness and hope. I guess its been an emotional year lol. There are things that were good, like the birth of my final child. She was named for a reason: Life of faith. That is what we were and have been all about. Sometimes though it felt that we forgot that life of faith and at times for me it has been a time of fear, which as we know is the opposite of faith. I remember why we named her what we did and think, I need to get back to that life of faith! She is a reminder of hope! Hope still alive somewhere deep inside. Much has happened that has shook us to the core of who we are. The thing is, we cant let that fear keep us in bondage. We need to break free and let that spark of faith blaze into a fire again! I think that is what we are doing. We are persevering and refocusing on the things that God had for us at one point, and getting back to what the real reason of life is: to serve God and lead people to Him through love!! The above verses have been a good reminder of persevering and getting through and not becoming weary with doing good. The second verse above says be strong!! Do not give up! It is just a reminder to push forward!! and that all your hard work will be rewarded, and is noticed. Do not get weary with doing good, just keep going forward, keep loving people, keep focused on what matters and get through! Sometimes we get tired, and don't know how we will be able to keep going, sometimes we just want to give up, but we need to keep climbing that mountain because the view will be amazing when get to the top! Looking back at what we went through, looking back on all the things that could have kept us back but we kept pushing through with perseverance and we look forward to an amazing view of life from the top!
Sometimes it seems like the world is looking at Christians and just waiting for them to mess up. The world sometimes doesn't think that Christians do or should maybe go through things. We are human too! It says in the third verse that suffering produces perseverance. We all suffer in life, no matter who you are! Everyone faces trials and pains, and suffering. It is the curse of being a human! But what does that suffering do to you? does it crush you? or does it cause you to push forward? That is the difference! When we persevere through things it creates character, and then character produces hope! Every life here on this earth is filled with ups and downs, it is how you deal with the things that come your way that makes the difference. Will you let it produce perseverance and character and hope? or will you let it defeat you? Believe me some days are easier than others with persevering, but it is verses like this that remind me to carry on! Get through! There is a plan for you! It is verses like this that remind me that God loves me and cares enough to remind me when I need it most! My life isn't perfect, heck, no one's is! but i choose to push through! I choose to persevere so that godly character can be produced, so that hope can be restored!!!
Don't give up!! Push through!! There is a reward at the end! There is a great harvest if we keep pushing through!! Persevering isn't easy but God rewards those who are faithful! Those who take what comes at them and uses it as a learning tool rather than a curse. Nothing can ruin your life, unless you let it! Don't let the trials that come ruin you, let it build perseverance, character and hope!!
Monday, December 26, 2011
who says.
I have gone through a lot over my life, one being self esteem issues! I have battled that my entire life, but I love this song! It has a great message! We are all beautiful because you are the only YOU! You are beautiful because GOD created you in HIS image! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!! You are the perfect you. No one else can be you! You have something to offer this world! God created you for a purpose!! Find it and walk in it! Be blessed today and everyday!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzE1mX4Px0I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzE1mX4Px0I
good bye 2011, hello 2012!
Ahhh, where does the time go? This is a popular saying in my house! I have a lot of children and when you have a lot of children life seems to rush by. As I look back on this past year there is a lot I don't remember because it rushed by so quickly. There is a lot I do though. There are things that stick out, some in a good way, and some ... eh... not as good. I guess for me as I look back, its been a year of learning. It seems like I have learned a lot this year. I think that I can almost say that I have grown the most this year than any other year. There is only one year I can say that competes with this saying, but its close. I have definetly learned a lot I have grown as a person, and I think that I have grown in other areas too. I think I am finally learning about myself and honestly feel that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I have had a few year that honestly I just wanted to forget, but this isn't one of them. Maybe I am crazy but I don't want to forget this year even through the storms that have come this year, I have learned valuable lessons, and grown in different ways that I don't know i would have if I didn't have this year! Some things I wouldn't want to go through again, but grateful for the lessons through the tough times. I have also met people and I am loving the new friendships that I have made this year.
I am very excited for next year! I want to learn, I want to discover, and I want to grow even more. I want all that God has for me and my family in 2012! I want to learn a new thing and start something new. I want to take time for me so that I can be the best mom and wife I can be. I want to do what I need to do to be fit and healthy and not give up. I want God to show me what He has in store and what He wants me and my family to do. My husband and I both have a heart for people who are in need, people who are hurting and people who need love. I pray that God would point us to what He wants us to do so that we can plan and start going with that. I want to continue with learning how to be the best mom and wife I can be! I like to make people happy, that is one thing I learned this year, which I kinda already knew, but never saw it as a good thing. I think that is one thing that I can say I have learned that it can be a good thing. I want to use that to help people who are in need, I want to make them happy. I want to reach out and touch people with God's love and just seeing a smile on some one's face knowing that they are a bit happier than they were would be the best reward to me. I want to use the things that I thought were a weakness in my life, and finally see them as a strength and use them for God's glory!
As I look back on 2011, it wasn't an easy year... but it was a year of learning and now I am ready for a year of discovery in all areas of my life! God has great things for me, and my family! I know that God put my husband and I together for a reason, we both love to help people, now for the discovering how! I love you Hun more than you will ever know. I want to make you happy all the days of your life. God has given you many talents and gifts! He will use them all for His glory! I am excited to be the one holding your hand walking with you through life. We have been through a lot together and I know that God has made us stronger and stronger through it all! Great things will happen and I know God will use everything that we have learned to help others! I love you so much, my love!
I am very excited for next year! I want to learn, I want to discover, and I want to grow even more. I want all that God has for me and my family in 2012! I want to learn a new thing and start something new. I want to take time for me so that I can be the best mom and wife I can be. I want to do what I need to do to be fit and healthy and not give up. I want God to show me what He has in store and what He wants me and my family to do. My husband and I both have a heart for people who are in need, people who are hurting and people who need love. I pray that God would point us to what He wants us to do so that we can plan and start going with that. I want to continue with learning how to be the best mom and wife I can be! I like to make people happy, that is one thing I learned this year, which I kinda already knew, but never saw it as a good thing. I think that is one thing that I can say I have learned that it can be a good thing. I want to use that to help people who are in need, I want to make them happy. I want to reach out and touch people with God's love and just seeing a smile on some one's face knowing that they are a bit happier than they were would be the best reward to me. I want to use the things that I thought were a weakness in my life, and finally see them as a strength and use them for God's glory!
As I look back on 2011, it wasn't an easy year... but it was a year of learning and now I am ready for a year of discovery in all areas of my life! God has great things for me, and my family! I know that God put my husband and I together for a reason, we both love to help people, now for the discovering how! I love you Hun more than you will ever know. I want to make you happy all the days of your life. God has given you many talents and gifts! He will use them all for His glory! I am excited to be the one holding your hand walking with you through life. We have been through a lot together and I know that God has made us stronger and stronger through it all! Great things will happen and I know God will use everything that we have learned to help others! I love you so much, my love!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas
As I look upon the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus' birth! I think about do I show Christ's love? I try to. I try to have the attributes of Christ alive in my life. I strive to have His characteristics, but do I truly show that love? I have been faced with the question of how can I do more for those who need things out in the world, so that I can show them Christ and His love in some way! Different things come to mind. But I guess that is where my heart is. Looking past my situation to someone who needs love, who needs basic needs met, and who need to see the love of God alive in some way! My husband and I are looking for a good worthy cause to help. We both have a heart to give and to help. I guess that is why God knew we would fit together so well. We both have had our hearts break at the pictures of the disastrous storms that swept through. I pray for them. It happened right before Christmas and I pray that there are many out there who will help this Christmas. There is many who need a lot!!! What can I do? what can you do??
Friday, December 23, 2011
Lately.....
Lately:
~ I have been trying to look past myself
~ My heart has been hurting for those in need
~My heart has been hurting for those who lost everything
~I have been trying to figure things out
~I have been trying to discover why I have been feeling the way I do
~I have been wondering how God will put everything together
~I have been thinking about purpose
~I have been thinking of what can I do?
~I have been enjoying getting to know new people
~I have been feeling restless and want to do something
~I want to help, but need to find where God would have me
I see pieces of a picture and need the rest of the pieces to finish the beautiful picture!
~ I have been trying to look past myself
~ My heart has been hurting for those in need
~My heart has been hurting for those who lost everything
~I have been trying to figure things out
~I have been trying to discover why I have been feeling the way I do
~I have been wondering how God will put everything together
~I have been thinking about purpose
~I have been thinking of what can I do?
~I have been enjoying getting to know new people
~I have been feeling restless and want to do something
~I want to help, but need to find where God would have me
I see pieces of a picture and need the rest of the pieces to finish the beautiful picture!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.
I was looking for inspiration for the day. I found the above verses and it was just that! I love when God shows you something great in His word that lifts you up and lets you know you are not alone, and He is watching your back. That He will give us words of wisdom along life's journey as we need it.
The first line shouts out. We're not giving up! How could we?! I have felt like giving up in my life. In many different ways. I was in a low place at one point and honestly wanted to give up on everything... but HOW COULD WE!!! God has given us so much in life, He has done so much for us, He has showed us His love so much! What we see in this world isn't what defines us! It is God!!! God defines us and we have to remember that what is in this life isn't what we are living for! Yes we have to live in this world, but we don't live for this world!!! We live so that we can share God's love with others so that they can come to the saving knowledge of Christ!! Yes, as it says above, it may look like our "world" is falling apart, It might look like our life is falling to pieces, but God is healing on the inside, God is creating new life on the inside. We may have messed up but God is bringing us through and He is teaching us through it all, and He is creating new life in us. And He does this through His awesome gift of GRACE!!! He doesn't need us, but He wants us!!! And He is willing to forgive us over and over again because He shines His grace and love upon us. His love is so amazing that He is willing to look past our faults and failures to see the good in us! We may mess up daily but daily He pours His grace upon us! The times that we are going through right now are nothing in the whole scheme of what God is and wants to do through us! We need to learn to forgive ourselves and forgive others so that we can move on to what God has for us. To move on to His plan for us in life. we all have a purpose, a God given purpose and He wants us all to rise above our own short comings to see what HE sees in us!!! He sees potential and He sees purpose!!! What we see on this earth will one day fade away, but what we do for the kingdom of God and what we do to help advance the kingdom of God will last forever. Again I find myself coming to the same place: what can I do? how can I help spread God's love? Christmas is here and I am convicted more than ever to spread God's love and focus on others. I want in some way to show God's love all over. I know that me and my husband both are feeling the same way. I want to teach my kids that there is more to life that what we see here on earth, but that we live for a purpose: to spread the love of God!!! I want them to know that there is more to Christmas than getting stuff from a guy named Santa... I want to do something in life to make an impact on peoples lives in a positive way that they see the love and want what I have!!
I was looking for inspiration for the day. I found the above verses and it was just that! I love when God shows you something great in His word that lifts you up and lets you know you are not alone, and He is watching your back. That He will give us words of wisdom along life's journey as we need it.
The first line shouts out. We're not giving up! How could we?! I have felt like giving up in my life. In many different ways. I was in a low place at one point and honestly wanted to give up on everything... but HOW COULD WE!!! God has given us so much in life, He has done so much for us, He has showed us His love so much! What we see in this world isn't what defines us! It is God!!! God defines us and we have to remember that what is in this life isn't what we are living for! Yes we have to live in this world, but we don't live for this world!!! We live so that we can share God's love with others so that they can come to the saving knowledge of Christ!! Yes, as it says above, it may look like our "world" is falling apart, It might look like our life is falling to pieces, but God is healing on the inside, God is creating new life on the inside. We may have messed up but God is bringing us through and He is teaching us through it all, and He is creating new life in us. And He does this through His awesome gift of GRACE!!! He doesn't need us, but He wants us!!! And He is willing to forgive us over and over again because He shines His grace and love upon us. His love is so amazing that He is willing to look past our faults and failures to see the good in us! We may mess up daily but daily He pours His grace upon us! The times that we are going through right now are nothing in the whole scheme of what God is and wants to do through us! We need to learn to forgive ourselves and forgive others so that we can move on to what God has for us. To move on to His plan for us in life. we all have a purpose, a God given purpose and He wants us all to rise above our own short comings to see what HE sees in us!!! He sees potential and He sees purpose!!! What we see on this earth will one day fade away, but what we do for the kingdom of God and what we do to help advance the kingdom of God will last forever. Again I find myself coming to the same place: what can I do? how can I help spread God's love? Christmas is here and I am convicted more than ever to spread God's love and focus on others. I want in some way to show God's love all over. I know that me and my husband both are feeling the same way. I want to teach my kids that there is more to life that what we see here on earth, but that we live for a purpose: to spread the love of God!!! I want them to know that there is more to Christmas than getting stuff from a guy named Santa... I want to do something in life to make an impact on peoples lives in a positive way that they see the love and want what I have!!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
doing more.....
I think that anyone can say that when they turn on the news they expect to see the bad things that happen in life. We expect to see the devastation in some area because of a bad storm. We expect to see anything that is negative going on in the world. That is what the news shows. There isn't much positive when we see the news. Every now and then you see something good that someone does, but most of it is about negative things. Lately we have been seeing horrible storms sweeping through many areas of the world. I think that many of us are used to seeing the bad things and that we get desensitized by all the bad we see and it just becomes another storm or another shooting, or whatever else.... I know I go through this. I don't want to be desensitized but it happens it seems. But thinking about this and looking at a couple pics of that actual devastation has got me thinking. What are we doing to make a negative and bad story on the news a good ending?? Are we just watching and saying "oh poor people" or are we taking that information and trying to bring hope to people who are going through things of this nature. It gets me thinking about what can we as people or as a church do for the people facing devastating times. What are we called to do for those around us facing issues in life. How are we supposed to do more? I want to be a person who sees something bad, and instead of just saying "poor people" be a person who tries to help. We are supposed to help those who have no food, help those who have no shelter, help those who have no clothes. Are we doing ANYTHING for ANYONE? I have been thinking about my own life, and that's just it.. i have been thinking of my own issues and we are supposed to be looking out at what others are going through. Yes, things come up in every one's life, but I have my basic needs met. We are supposed to be God's hands and feet in this world around us. Are we doing that? How can we be God's hands and feet to this world? People are around us and are in NEED! How can we help meet basic needs of those around us? So I guess I am just trying to look past myself and my situation in life, and know what God has called us all to do... Be HIS hands and HIS feet to people in need! What can you do??
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
rise!!
I heard this song and it lifted me right up. The one thing it reminded me of is that we will rise through the ashes! We will get through!! Greater is He who is in me!!! God is greater than me, God is greater than the situations I may be in, God is greater than my feelings, God is greater than all! I will hold on to that truth!!! No matter what we face God is there. He can and will lift us up out of it if we ask and if we let Him! We have to lay it all down to Him and let Him be God and take control! Enjoy the song!
"Rise"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2ti1BikZrA
"Rise"
[Chorus]
Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He Who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise
Sometimes my heart is on the ground
And hope is nowhere to be found
Love is a figment I once knew
And yet I hold on to what I know is true
[Chorus]
Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He Who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise
Well I keep on coming to this place
That I don't know quite how to face
So I lay down my life in hopes to die
That somehow I might rise
[Chorus]
Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He Who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise
Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He Who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise
Sometimes my heart is on the ground
And hope is nowhere to be found
Love is a figment I once knew
And yet I hold on to what I know is true
[Chorus]
Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He Who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise
Well I keep on coming to this place
That I don't know quite how to face
So I lay down my life in hopes to die
That somehow I might rise
[Chorus]
Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He Who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2ti1BikZrA
1 Corinthians 7
"The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality—the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Marriage is not a place to "stand up for your rights." Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out. "
"And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life."
So I was looking through 1 Corinthians and found some things that stood out and I thought was good. I know that the first quoted portion is talking about the sex life in a marriage, but I feel it can be play into the whole marriage as well. And it actually says at the end "whether in bed or out." So i know that this is something that contains to all areas of marriage! I think that as humans, we are naturally selfish. We want what we want, and a lot of times try and focus on ourselves to the point of failing to see what someone else may need from us. We do this in so many situations. We see this when walking down the street and see someone with nothing, but we don't help because we have a tighter week. Or we see this in friendships, where one person is giving all and calling the other and the one isn't doing what they should do as a friend. Relationships, of any kind, are a two way street. This is the case for marriage too!
The first part that I quoted says that the marriage bed is a place of mutuality!! It is a place for two to come together as one, and think not of their own needs but of the needs of the other person. In life when married, you need to satisfy each other. Marriage is a partnership, it isnt a "what can I get out of this deal" type thing. It is a place where there is mutual love, mutual respect, and mutual bond. You cannot come to a marriage thinking only about yourself and how the other person is going to help only you. You need to come to a marriage and think "how can we add to each other's life", "How can we help each other", "what does my partner need from me". This is the word of God speaking, and I love this next portion. It says that marriage is not a place to stand up for your own rights. We see this in life today. Everyone has something to say and stand up for. That can be good, because there is a lot of good that is being neglected in this world, but a marriage is not a place to stand up for your own rights.You need to think of the other person as well, and how things will affect them. you are joined together as one unit. They are apart of you, and thinking how something will affect them is like looking out for your own body in a way! When you look out for the other person, and the other person sees that, it spurs them on to take care and look out for you! Which is a mutual and reciprocal love and respect and you know that you always have someone who will look out for you and your interests. But if you only seek to look out for yourself with out thinking about your spouse, it will spur them on to look out for themselves and this is a way to get disconnected from the person who you promised your life to!
Marriage is a CHOICE and decision to serve the other person. This goes both ways. Yes as man and woman we need to serve each other in different ways but it is always about serving. It says in the Bible to become the greatest you have to become the least: a servant to all. So this principle goes to serving others out in the world as well, but in the marriage it is key! You need to serve each other, but a big part of this is knowing HOW to and what to do. Know what the other one likes, what they want, and how to give that to them. But when you make the effort to do that, the other will do the same in response to it! Marriage is a place to be together and to love each other through it all. I have learned a lot lately, and have gained valuable wisdom. This has been one. I know that as a human we can all struggle with this, but I saw a little while ago that as a wife, I need to serve my husband, and try and be there for him through it all, and try to serve him and please him how ever I can. I hope that it is being seen as that. I don't ask, but I pray that I always think of my husband first, because I know that in doing so I will please God.
The next portion i liked as well. so i added it here, it speaks on marriage too, its from the same chapter just farther down. I think that everyone at some point in time in life wants to run. Not necessarily run from their spouse but from a situation that has come up. it is easier to run than to deal with things at times. But we need to remember that we can get through and that there is a reason that you are with your spouse! It say to not wish that you were someplace else or with someone else. I think this is a good statement because I am sure that a lot has said this over time. It is kinda like the saying "the grass is greener on the other side." but a lot of times... its not! There is a reason you are with your spouse, there is a reason you fell in love with your spouse, and sometimes you need to go back to the basics and remember WHY!! They do have a lot of good characteristics and things to offer to you, you just need to focus on the good things, and stop looking at why they bug you. lol. Little annoyances seems bigger than what they actually are at times.... This person is good because...... you fell in love with this person because..... (you fill in the blank!) Look past the annoyances, look past the petty arguments, look past to the things they are not good at, and look at what is good about that person, and what drew them to you in the beginning!! "live and obey and love and believe right there!" Live with that other person, love that other person through it all, and believe that there is a reason you two are together. and it says obey. Gods words are true! obey God in the way you love, obey God why you love, and obey God by not giving up. (yes there maybe other circumstances that surround your situation but i am just being more general right now....) also BE THERE! If you want it to work! BE THERE! Try! Be seen! God defines us! We need to take His words to heart and keep going sometimes. We need to do our part in a marriage and show a mutual love and respect to the one we are with, by doing so we are showing God's love and obedience to His word!! I liked this portion and I know that everyone can learn from this portion of scripture, since it can go past a marriage relationship to friendship or how we see others and treat others. We need to show an unselfish kind of love to all! I hope that this helps someone. I know that it has helped me. I know I can sometimes think about myself at times, but I know that when i start thinking like that, i need to snap out of it, and ask What can I do to stop thinking of my needs and start thinking about the needs of others!
Friday, December 16, 2011
happiness.
What is happiness to you? I want to ask the question because happiness looks different to everyone! What makes you smile? what make you laugh? what makes you feel good? what makes you HAPPY?
If you ask this question to me... I might have to think about it. I think I have a few answers to this one too. I think when I truly feel God and His presence, that makes me happy. I think that when I make others happy, or I know that the people around me are happy, that makes me happy! When I see my kids laughing and playing nicely together, that makes me happy! When I am cuddling with my husband and he is holding me tight, that makes me happy. When he is tickling me, and goofing around with me (even though i may say stop bc i am VERY ticklish) that makes me happy. When I am able to do something for someone else and know that they are happy and content, and I can bring a smile to someone else's face.... that makes me happy! I know that in my life, I don't take much time for me. I try and give out as much as I can. I want to be the one to make people happy. I want to be the one to see a smile on their face. It has always been important to me to see others happy. I didn't care if i had to bite my tongue and not say a word. I just want people to be happy! I never want to be the cause of someone's unhappiness. Have I made people upset? sure. I am human too. but I feel bad when or if I ever have or did that! People say that I am a people pleaser. I cant argue with that one. I am. I want to please people and see them happy. I dont do anything extreme but I like people to be happy, and not upset and especially not upset with me, when i could have changed that or done something different so that they would be happy and not upset! is this wrong? who knows? In the Bible it talks about how to treat people, and how to even treat enemies. It says to treat them well. I dont think it is wrong for me to want people to be happy and content in life. If others around me are there is a better chance that I will be too! And maybe, just maybe I can and will bring joy to someone. Maybe, just maybe I will brighten up someone's day. Maybe, just maybe they will see Christ's love and turn to HIM in the end....
If you ask this question to me... I might have to think about it. I think I have a few answers to this one too. I think when I truly feel God and His presence, that makes me happy. I think that when I make others happy, or I know that the people around me are happy, that makes me happy! When I see my kids laughing and playing nicely together, that makes me happy! When I am cuddling with my husband and he is holding me tight, that makes me happy. When he is tickling me, and goofing around with me (even though i may say stop bc i am VERY ticklish) that makes me happy. When I am able to do something for someone else and know that they are happy and content, and I can bring a smile to someone else's face.... that makes me happy! I know that in my life, I don't take much time for me. I try and give out as much as I can. I want to be the one to make people happy. I want to be the one to see a smile on their face. It has always been important to me to see others happy. I didn't care if i had to bite my tongue and not say a word. I just want people to be happy! I never want to be the cause of someone's unhappiness. Have I made people upset? sure. I am human too. but I feel bad when or if I ever have or did that! People say that I am a people pleaser. I cant argue with that one. I am. I want to please people and see them happy. I dont do anything extreme but I like people to be happy, and not upset and especially not upset with me, when i could have changed that or done something different so that they would be happy and not upset! is this wrong? who knows? In the Bible it talks about how to treat people, and how to even treat enemies. It says to treat them well. I dont think it is wrong for me to want people to be happy and content in life. If others around me are there is a better chance that I will be too! And maybe, just maybe I can and will bring joy to someone. Maybe, just maybe I will brighten up someone's day. Maybe, just maybe they will see Christ's love and turn to HIM in the end....
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Does God give us trials?
I think this is a good question for this day and age. I think that many think that trials and bad things come from God so that He can test us and see if our faith is there. I beg to differ... I have such a different thought from that. I have heard all my life growing up, God is putting me through this or making this or that happen for a reason. God put me in the hospital to witness to someone... and so on. I have a hard time believing this because we, as Christians say that we serve a loving God and that just the thought of God doing something bad to us just to see if we can stay strong goes against that love that I know that he is. It is a contradiction to think that the God of love will do something bad to me so that I can learn something. Honestly I was thinking about it and God doesn't need to do bad things to us to learn something because we are human and constantly mess up and constantly need to learn from our mistakes! lol So why do I say this? I do not deny that trials happen and come to all. That is a given. We live in a world that is fallen. Sin is something that everyone does and experiences. It is how we handle those trials that do come. Why is it that many feel that they have to blame God for everything. People say that about many things in life. They say that about sickness, they say that about natural disasters etc. The fact of the matter is, it isn't because anything that God does or did, it is about what we do and did. Humans let sin enter by that first disobedience. So why do we blame God for everything bad that happens? Well, if we looked at the story of Adam and eve we see that they blamed too. So it is trying to cover up what we do in this life to make ourselves look better. i think that if we just start taking responsibility for ourselves and stop blaming God for everything bad that happens we would be much better off. So I was reading James and there are verses there that people use to support their view of God giving us trials. Now let me clarify: do i think that God allows us to go through things... YES. Its like the story of Job. God didn't do the bad things to Job, it was satan, but God allowed it to happen. So if you go to James 1:2 and start reading there...
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
So it says consider it joy that when you face trials... Meaning trails will come. That is inevitable. Everyone faces things in their life that they would rather not go through. and it says trials of many kinds. so it wont just be one thing and your done, it might be many things that come up and try to bring you down. Again if you look at job, he went through MANY things! We do too. Will these trial test your faith? YES. I know for experience that when you go through something hard it takes all that you have sometimes to get through. it tests you in ever way, especially in your faith! But it brings perseverance! You have to keep going to get through: perseverance! it then says to let perseverance finish so that you can be more mature and complete not lacking! When you persevere to the end and not give up half way through it creates different characteristics that you need to become a better person. When you get through that trial you are usually stronger and have more wisdom than if you give up and say "I'm done!" It then goes on to talk about if you lack wisdom and to ask! God wants to give us the wisdom to get through the trials of life! He doesn't want us to face things all alone just to see if we can handle it and have to faith in Him to get through. He wants to be there for us when we are going through something! But it also says that when you ask you actually have to believe that God will help and that God will answer! It says if you don't, you are nothing more than a wave that is tossed by the wind. They should not expect if they don't think that God can or will. We don't want to be double minded and unstable in all we do! We want to be stronger and know that we serve a God that wants to help us and expect Him to when we ask. He loves us, why should we even ask if we don't think that He can or will help us.....
It then goes to say to be humble. Especially the rich because riches fade and things happen in life which could take away our riches or our high positions and if we are not humble and don't know what to do when a trial comes along, or when we lose it all and are not humble we don't bounce back as well and we do blame things on God instead of learning what went wrong and fixing the issue.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.
Blessed is the one who perseveres in trial. That person stood the test and God will reward those who humbly perseveres and gets through the trials of life! I love verse 13 because it talks about us as being human and God as being GOD and GOOD! It says no one should say that God is tempting me! God cannot tempt or be tempted by evil. HE is GOD, HE is GOOD! God doesn't give us BAD things because HE is GOOD!!!! HE IS LOVING!!! That would be against HIS nature to GIVE us something BAD!!! It says that we are ALL tempted when dragged away with our own evil desires. We are human and are far from perfect. We sin and sin lives in this fallen world. It is up to US to stand against the temptations of this fallen world and the enemy who is out there raging against us! When that evil desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and if we let it grow out of control without asking God to forgive us and to stand against it, it can lead to death. We have to learn to recognize this pattern and stand against it and learn from past mistakes. We need to ask God to help us stand strong so that it wont be a repeat offense of sin! We need to "ask for wisdom" because He will freely give us wisdom to stand against the temptations of life. Temptations can lead to trials! We have to learn to see this! It then says DON'T BE DECEIVED! and that Every GOOD and PERFECT gift is from above! coming down to us from the father! HE IS GOOD. HE LOVES US! we need to accept that gift, accept His help, and push through the storm to the end so that we can gain godly wisdom and perseverance. Don't be deceived, God love you! and wants what is best for you. He will help you get through!
This portion goes on to say, don't just hear the word but ACT on the word and what it says!
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
The word give us freedom!! We need to continue in the word. We need to KNOW the word so that we can have that freedom, so that we don't forget what it says and so that God can bless us by knowing and acting on His word. Its not a matter of don't be tempted, since we live in this imperfect world, we are imperfect, and have an enemy that we need to stand against, we will be tempted. It all comes down to how we handle it. Will we let the temptations of life grab ahold of us or will we stand and let God give us wisdom on how to get through the temptations and trials of life! God doesn't Give us the temptations but HE wants to help us through them, give us wisdom to persevere to the end and see the reward at the end! God doesn't want us to blame him for the bad things that happen to us. It says here so plainly that we shouldn't blame Him because He is good and perfect, but it also says to ask and come believing and not doubting! He wants to be our source and our help! He wants us to know that He loves us and is there when we need Him! Things happen to everyone, but don't think that it is from God's hands that it happened. We need to know that we cause enough issues for ourselves, God doesn't need to throw things into the mix just to see if we are strong enough or have enough faith. But when trials come we need to persevere and get through to the end so that we can gain good characteristics to help us on this journey of life!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Isaiah 58:10-11
I was reading and praying and asking God to reveal something to me today in His word, and I came upon Isaiah 58:10-11. I read it and it kinda just stood out. So I started to think about it. I then read the entire chapter and I just saw things in there that have come up lately. It talks about people living right but that they feel that their prayers are not being heard and that God isn't answering them. I guess that is how I have been feeling at times. I feel that I cry out to God and ask Him to answer and I hear nothing... So that part really made me keep reading. If others were and are like this, then what did they do?or what does this section go on to say and how to change that? So I read more.... It talks about fasting then. I started to think I don't really fast to take time out to pray. When i "fast" or not eat it's usually because I am too busy to. I also feel that missing one meal wont hurt and will actually help me lose weight. But when I read it goes on to say that you fast for the wrong reason, you fast for your own personal gain. I guess that I can identify with that because I feel that if i don't eat that is one pound i will hopefully lose and not gain and then when I do see that scale lower I feel better about not eating that meal. So my "fasting", so to say, is for my own personal gain and not to gain wisdom from God or to pray for someone or something in my life, or to get closer to Him. When was the last time you actually fasted and actually took time out to pray and petition God for something in your life? For me, its been a WHILE. It goes on to say what God wants to see from a "fast day". 58:6-9
"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
From the first paragraph we see a real change. God wants us to fast to see real change in our lives. The second thing i see about fasting which I never really thought of before was that it seems like it should inspire us to be better and do better things. Not for our own personal gain but for the benefit of those around us. it says God is interested in seeing us feed the hungry, help provide and share with those who do not have homes, provide to the people who have no clothes, AND one that kinda shocked by seeing here is being available to your own families. I think: why is that with helping those you see in need? But helping people who need and being available to your family is all something that is important to God. I guess God doesn't want you to neglect your own family while you are doing the things in ministry. God created the family and He wants it to thrive and if you are too busy with doing other things for other people you will end up neglecting your family. But if you make sure to be available to your own family while you are doing these good things for the people in need you will succeed I guess.... Family is huge to God. I think that is why satan is out there to come against the family. that is why you see so many struggle to keep their families together. You see this in the world and in the church. I kept reading and found next the benefits of doing this.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'
It says do this and the lights will turn on. To me that means you wont feel like you are living in darkness anymore. I know that sometimes I just feel down and like I am in darkness, like the joy has left. To me I see a renewed joy. It says that your lives will be turned around. Maybe your feeling low or down, but it says that if you do these things your life will turn around from dark and gloomy to bright and joyous. "the God of glory will secure your passage". This shows me that God will protect you on this journey you call life. He will get you through those hard time that will and do come up. Then when you pray it says He will answer! You wont feel like your hitting a glass ceiling when you pray! It says you will call out for help and He will say "Here I am"!!!
It then goes on to say what things you should not do and what some things you should and the outcome. This part kinda opened my eyes....
2"If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.
So it basically start by saying be fair in what you do, stop blaming others for things, and stop talking about others and what they have done. I think that this gets all people. Everyone has done these things and sometimes its hard not to as humans. But i think that if we really try and keep ourselves in check in these areas God will show us great things! I know that I have done these things. Some more than others I think. I have blamed, and have not really talked about people's "sins" but dwelt on them in my own head too much. I need to give up some of those thoughts and turn them over to God and I really feel and know that He will bless me for doing that. I have been doing really well with that and know that He sees the areas I have been working on in my own life. These next things are things we should be doing and as Christians and being part of a church body should be doing on our own and with the church I think. It says to be generous to the hungry. and start giving yourselves to the "down and outs". These two things I know I could do better and I know more churches could as well. Sometimes we give to the hungry but are we really being generous with our giving to them? and do we give ourselves or any time to those who are down and oppressed and need to rise up out of the area that they are in? I have to say that it has been a while since i did... but if we do these things the reward is incredible. I look at these verses right above from my own life view and from the church view. I feel that if we do this on a personal level the next verses will happen but I also see that if the church starts really reaching out that God will bless that church body as well. Lets take a look at those verses. It first says your lives will glow. You will be the light of God, you will be God's hands and feet and make people happy and they will see what you did and they will see the love of God that is inside you. Next it says your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. The life that you once felt darkness and maybe depression will begin to be light and bathed in sunlight. I also see this as people seeing the difference in you and that before you started helping people you didn't shine, you didn't make an impact so people didn't see you for what God sees in you. But you will begin to shine for God and make an impact by loving on people and people will notice. I see this from a church point of view as well. I see that if a church starts to really reach out and help those in need they will be noticed. God will make them shine and people will be drawn because they are showing TRUE love and TRUE Christianity! It says if you do these things that God will always direct you and show you were to go. You will not feel he is gone from you, you will see His hand and His direction in your church or in your personal life! Even though you might have felt empty in the past, He will give you a full life, a purposeful life, a life with meaning! It next says "firm muscles and strong bones". God will give us strength for when we need it! We will have that strength in place for when the hard times come we can get through! your water wont run dry! You wont be thirsty... I guess that tells me that God will provide.
"You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again."These verses speak to me in a few different ways. It tells me that the things that you had to deal with in the past and that you had to get through, you will help others with and help them rebuild their lives or maybe even ministries. You will help build people up, you will help build up people who are going through what you went through and you will be known as one who can fix anything. You will be known to restore and rebuild and renovate. You will be known to help make the community livable again. These verses speak to me in such a huge way. I cannot even describe what I feel and the HOPE that I feel when I read these verses. I am not going to go into to much more because I just don't like to talk about a few things, but what i see here for me in two different way is hope! and i also see purpose here. which is two things that i have been needing in a great way!
If you watch your step on the Sabbath
and don't use my holy day for personal advantage,
If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy,
God's holy day as a celebration,
If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,'
making money, running here and there—
Then you'll be free to enjoy God!
Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all.
I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob."
Yes! God says so!
The last section here talks of respecting and honoring the Sabbath and using as a day of joy, and joy in God. And a HOLY CELEBRATION! It says if you do this then you will be free to enjoy God!! I need and want to be free to enjoy God! He will make you ride high and sore above it all! This is a portion of scripture that I can put into practice in many ways (so can you) in my life and through ministry. It is a portion that give me vision, purpose and a hope! I hope you see the same thing! enjoy the LONG read. lol
"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
From the first paragraph we see a real change. God wants us to fast to see real change in our lives. The second thing i see about fasting which I never really thought of before was that it seems like it should inspire us to be better and do better things. Not for our own personal gain but for the benefit of those around us. it says God is interested in seeing us feed the hungry, help provide and share with those who do not have homes, provide to the people who have no clothes, AND one that kinda shocked by seeing here is being available to your own families. I think: why is that with helping those you see in need? But helping people who need and being available to your family is all something that is important to God. I guess God doesn't want you to neglect your own family while you are doing the things in ministry. God created the family and He wants it to thrive and if you are too busy with doing other things for other people you will end up neglecting your family. But if you make sure to be available to your own family while you are doing these good things for the people in need you will succeed I guess.... Family is huge to God. I think that is why satan is out there to come against the family. that is why you see so many struggle to keep their families together. You see this in the world and in the church. I kept reading and found next the benefits of doing this.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'
It says do this and the lights will turn on. To me that means you wont feel like you are living in darkness anymore. I know that sometimes I just feel down and like I am in darkness, like the joy has left. To me I see a renewed joy. It says that your lives will be turned around. Maybe your feeling low or down, but it says that if you do these things your life will turn around from dark and gloomy to bright and joyous. "the God of glory will secure your passage". This shows me that God will protect you on this journey you call life. He will get you through those hard time that will and do come up. Then when you pray it says He will answer! You wont feel like your hitting a glass ceiling when you pray! It says you will call out for help and He will say "Here I am"!!!
It then goes on to say what things you should not do and what some things you should and the outcome. This part kinda opened my eyes....
2"If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again.
So it basically start by saying be fair in what you do, stop blaming others for things, and stop talking about others and what they have done. I think that this gets all people. Everyone has done these things and sometimes its hard not to as humans. But i think that if we really try and keep ourselves in check in these areas God will show us great things! I know that I have done these things. Some more than others I think. I have blamed, and have not really talked about people's "sins" but dwelt on them in my own head too much. I need to give up some of those thoughts and turn them over to God and I really feel and know that He will bless me for doing that. I have been doing really well with that and know that He sees the areas I have been working on in my own life. These next things are things we should be doing and as Christians and being part of a church body should be doing on our own and with the church I think. It says to be generous to the hungry. and start giving yourselves to the "down and outs". These two things I know I could do better and I know more churches could as well. Sometimes we give to the hungry but are we really being generous with our giving to them? and do we give ourselves or any time to those who are down and oppressed and need to rise up out of the area that they are in? I have to say that it has been a while since i did... but if we do these things the reward is incredible. I look at these verses right above from my own life view and from the church view. I feel that if we do this on a personal level the next verses will happen but I also see that if the church starts really reaching out that God will bless that church body as well. Lets take a look at those verses. It first says your lives will glow. You will be the light of God, you will be God's hands and feet and make people happy and they will see what you did and they will see the love of God that is inside you. Next it says your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. The life that you once felt darkness and maybe depression will begin to be light and bathed in sunlight. I also see this as people seeing the difference in you and that before you started helping people you didn't shine, you didn't make an impact so people didn't see you for what God sees in you. But you will begin to shine for God and make an impact by loving on people and people will notice. I see this from a church point of view as well. I see that if a church starts to really reach out and help those in need they will be noticed. God will make them shine and people will be drawn because they are showing TRUE love and TRUE Christianity! It says if you do these things that God will always direct you and show you were to go. You will not feel he is gone from you, you will see His hand and His direction in your church or in your personal life! Even though you might have felt empty in the past, He will give you a full life, a purposeful life, a life with meaning! It next says "firm muscles and strong bones". God will give us strength for when we need it! We will have that strength in place for when the hard times come we can get through! your water wont run dry! You wont be thirsty... I guess that tells me that God will provide.
"You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again."These verses speak to me in a few different ways. It tells me that the things that you had to deal with in the past and that you had to get through, you will help others with and help them rebuild their lives or maybe even ministries. You will help build people up, you will help build up people who are going through what you went through and you will be known as one who can fix anything. You will be known to restore and rebuild and renovate. You will be known to help make the community livable again. These verses speak to me in such a huge way. I cannot even describe what I feel and the HOPE that I feel when I read these verses. I am not going to go into to much more because I just don't like to talk about a few things, but what i see here for me in two different way is hope! and i also see purpose here. which is two things that i have been needing in a great way!
If you watch your step on the Sabbath
and don't use my holy day for personal advantage,
If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy,
God's holy day as a celebration,
If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,'
making money, running here and there—
Then you'll be free to enjoy God!
Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all.
I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob."
Yes! God says so!
The last section here talks of respecting and honoring the Sabbath and using as a day of joy, and joy in God. And a HOLY CELEBRATION! It says if you do this then you will be free to enjoy God!! I need and want to be free to enjoy God! He will make you ride high and sore above it all! This is a portion of scripture that I can put into practice in many ways (so can you) in my life and through ministry. It is a portion that give me vision, purpose and a hope! I hope you see the same thing! enjoy the LONG read. lol
Friday, December 9, 2011
strength!
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
~ Isaiah 40:29,
Strength. Its a funny thing! Life requires you to have a lot of it at times. Sometimes you seem to be floating through and then your hit with something huge! If you don't have strength it is hard to get through at times! Even with some sort of strength it is hard to get through sometimes. I feel at times, I am not strong enough. Things happen that hit like a brick wall and if you are without strength that wall will seem impassable! I have struggled at times with keeping my relationship with God alive and strong. I have to admit that I am not as disciplined as I would like to be when it comes to reading and praying. I know that I could do better in that area. I know that we serve a God who is perfect and who has grace unending! His love is amazing. No matter how much we mess up HE is always there. Lately my strength has been challenged. I have learned that I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH! At times it is hard and i know that on my own I would have given up. If it were not for the words in the Bible that God gives me when I am weak or down I would have given up! It is only the verses in the Bible that give me strength at times. I am so grateful that I have that to get me through! He alone gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless! He is able to help us when we need it most! There is a song that runs through my head called "strong enough". It has been a song that I can relate to and a song that brings me hope when I am down. I may not be strong enough but HE IS!
Strong enough by Matthew West
You must, You must think I’m strong
To give me what I’m going through
Well forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own
I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For the both of us
Well maybe, maybe that’s the point
To reach the point of giving up
‘Cause when I’m finally, finally at rock bottom
That’s when I start looking up
And reaching out
I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
Courtesy of lyricshall.com
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
‘Cause I’m broken
Down to nothing
But I’m still holding on to the one thing
You are God
And You are strong when I am weak
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be strong enough
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be
Strong enough, strong enough
Oh yeah
I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough, strong enough
To give me what I’m going through
Well forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own
I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For the both of us
Well maybe, maybe that’s the point
To reach the point of giving up
‘Cause when I’m finally, finally at rock bottom
That’s when I start looking up
And reaching out
I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
Courtesy of lyricshall.com
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough
‘Cause I’m broken
Down to nothing
But I’m still holding on to the one thing
You are God
And You are strong when I am weak
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be strong enough
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be
Strong enough, strong enough
Oh yeah
I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up, I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t You cover me?
Lord, right now I’m asking You to be
Strong enough, strong enough, strong enough
I think that we all need to realize that we are not strong enough. and at times, its hard to get through. That is when we need to realize that we need to stop doing it on our own and look to God! The words "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!" ring through my head! Christ is strong enough, I just have to reach out and accept His help and let Him take the burden at times! I don't have to be strong enough, because I have a God who is stronger than any issue that comes up in life! I just have to reach out to HIM for help!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FYDcvY2lfI&feature=colike
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sometimes, the things that convict you and the things that God wants you to do are the hardest things that you really don't want to do, but in the end they give you a peace and a joy that no one can truly understand. Sometimes our humanness fights against the characteristics that God wants to instill in us!
life
Whether your male or female, young or old, you have to admit life is one big adventure. You never know what is going to happen or what is going to affect your life. Choices we make and choices that others make affect us. They affect how we see life, how we change, how we strive to be greater or even why some give up. Choices. They make up our everyday life. They can affect us negatively or they can inspire us to be great, to do greater things! The adventure in the idea of choices is that we sometimes cant see how a choice will affect us till we are there and in the situation. Honestly some choices are not going to affect us in a HUGE way, but some will affect us more than we know. Some will affect how others see us, or how they take us. The questions is do we think about our choices and that it can affect us, and when we are going through things are we going to choose to let is make us better or break us? I have always tried to live a positive life. I like to be upbeat and love people. Sometimes it is easier than other times. Lately I have been letting myself be taken away with things which I don't like how that affects me either. I don't want to be a push over, but I want to live my life in a way of thankfulness, a way of looking at the positive rather than the negative, and with a loving and forgiving heart. Sometimes that is easier said than done, and I have been failing at times, but I am going to strive to get better at this again. I know that the choices I make affect me, and that the thoughts and attitude I have affect me and sometimes others. It also can affect the kingdom of God and I don't want to be a negative picture of God. I want my light to shine brightly for HIM! Yes, life is tough and is filled with ups and downs, but it is how we rise above and be the better person and be that light that God wants us to be. Will I still struggle from time to time, YES. I am human, but it is how we change when we are recognizing what we are in and then fixing at that point that matters. Get up, dust yourself off, and rise above the situation with God's help. Let HIM in and let HIM take control of the situation. It is hard to give it to Him at times because sometimes we just want to hold onto the hurt and the pain and wallow in it. But that will do us NO good in the end. We need to let it go and let GOD! This has been something that I need to remember but has been hard giving it away to Him. But God says
Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
God wants us to have rest for our souls! He wants us to take His burden for it is light! He will take our heavy hearts, He will take our worry, our concerns and give us His peace and His rest!
Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
God wants us to have rest for our souls! He wants us to take His burden for it is light! He will take our heavy hearts, He will take our worry, our concerns and give us His peace and His rest!
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