Candid

Sometimes ...
Ugh I hate feeling overwhelmed and attacked and can't do anything. I pray and seek an answer and I just feel heavy. Sometimes the things that God want you to accomplish or get through are not easy and sometimes on the way there satan tries to pull on you in the ways that he know are effective. Even when things are going great the enemy wants to try and negate that and drag us down. So I am being open and real about this right now. Sometimes we just go through something and we just have to get through it and keep pushing onward and upward to the call God has for us. It's not an easy road but it is rewarding. We see all that's ahead and all that's behind... Learned a lot. But God is faithful and will see me through it all. I am ready for more from God and wait till that day.,, it's coming. Pray for me if you think about it. I know it's just the enemy who doesn't want what is to come but will get through!
"Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Philippians 4

overcome!!!!

So I will probably write two posts today. I want to write again about the name of God I was reading about today,but I will do that in a bit.
I wanted to write about something that we all as Christians have to deal with. We are here on Earth and we are fighting not against other people (although that is what it seems like at times) but against an enemy who would love to kill and destroy! The word says that he is like a lion searching who he can destroy. Satan will try and kill us and bring us down anyway that he can. I think that if you can do more damage to satan's cause, then you will be attacked more. I feel that way because we were facing many things and were so close to giving up that satan must have been having a party! But then GOD! stepped in and flipped it all around all for His glory. I have to say that God has done an amazing work in our lives. We are so happy with where God has brought us. From time to time, I have to say, that satan does try and invade and tries to say things that I know are not true. Is it hard to not listen? It can be. But as the word says:

1 Corinthians 10:13

The Message (MSG)

¹³ No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

Everyone have faced many trials and many hard attacks, and many have been through the exact same thing you have been through. The history of mankind is full of temptations and people either falling into it, or rising above it. No man (other than Jesus Christ) is perfect. No man can get through life sinless, but it is what we learn from what we go through and how we get up after we fall that matters. We can either stay down, go lower, or with God's help rise above, learn and go forward helping others around us. This verse above also says that God will be faithful and wont let us down. He will help us through the temptation and we wont be tempted past what we can handle. The things is: we need to make a choice not to give it! It says we wont be pushed past the limit we can handle, but then why do people fall? because we all have a choice! We can choose to keep pushing through or we can choose to give into the temptation. God will still be there loving us no matter what we do, but there still might be consequences for the actions that we do choose. God will forgive us, He will bring us back into communion with Him, but there will be consequences. If we choose to jump out of a moving vehicle, God will be with us, but there is a great chance we will get hurt, right? Well, its the same with other choices. If we choose to fall into drug, God will forgive us, but we might have health issues that come from doing drugs. The thing is when we do fall, we also have to be willing to ask forgiveness. We can slip up and not ask forgiveness and just say, "I'm human, it happens", but then that can lead to a more falls into sin and bigger falls... if we think that the things that we slip into are just small little things, we can start explaining away bigger and bigger things that happen. When we start thinking that holiness isn't something that we need to be because we are "just human", we start to get sucked into satan's plan to bring us down. The little becomes bigger, until we are trapped. So we do have to try and live a holy life so that we don't get sucked into that whirlpool effect of sin. Thoughts and our minds play a huge roll in our lives and in this battle. We can either allow our thoughts to be turned to " whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  Philippians 4:8.

We need to choose and make a conscience choice to think about what God wants us to think about. It isn't always easy but we must make this choice. It is easier to overcome temptation if our thoughts are lined up with God's word, and His thoughts for our lives. It is a great study to search the Bible for what God says about our thoughts. I might get into more of that another time, but get into it yourself! You will find so much about what the word says about this subject. I think the one sermon in college I remember the most was the one about our mind being a battlefield, and over time I found this to be true! We must keep our thoughts and hearts holy and pure before God so that we wont fall into temptation.
How do we keep our minds on what is good and holy? Well, by filling it with GOOD! Or by filling it with the WORD OF GOD! and keeping the word there! Our daily devotionals, and our daily prayer time is key to this! It isn't just something that we should do because our pastors say to, but because it is our daily bread for our daily spiritual upkeep! Just like we need food to live and keep going physically, the word of God is our spiritual food for our daily life to keep spiritually strong!
I thank the Lord for all that He is, and has been doing. God is good, and I know He has great plans for my life. I know that the enemy would love to try and bring me down in any way possible, and I know that i have to keep my life and thoughts holy for God! Keep praying and keep reading the word, for it is life and health!!! I will leave you with this verse:

Romans 12:2 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The story turned around for His glory!

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you're just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you're going to make it, no doubt about it. We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation—I don't want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God's deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part. Now that the worst is over, we're pleased we can report that we've come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world—and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. But it wasn't by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised. Don't try to read between the lines or look for hidden meanings in this letter. We're writing plain, unembellished truth, hoping that you'll now see the whole picture as well as you've seen some of the details. We want you to be as proud of us as we are of you when we stand together before our Master Jesus. (2 Corinthians 1:3-14 MSG)

As I was reading this portion it all stood out to me as "I've been there!" Honestly there is no new thing. Someone has been through what you went through!!! And while it might not have been God plan for you to go through that real hard event in your life, He can bring the people into your life who have "been there" and help get you through! And then after that God brings people along side you who are going through the same things you just went through so that what you learned you can share! I know that we have seem some hard times. It felt at time (like what was said in portion above) that we were not going to make it, there were times where I saw the worst and didn't think it was even possible to make it out alive (literally) but God picked us up and took our hands and brought us safely to the other side. He sent an amazing man an woman of God who were there and went through it to help us and encourage us through the storm! It wasn't easy but we made it and all glory to God because it wasn't us! It was nothing we did but everything He choose to do!
The things we went through totally made us trust in God. We were stripped of everything and had to rely on God to get us through! After going through all we did we know that God will and can bring us through everything! And we know that God will bring people in our lives who are going through the same things we did. God wants to use our story to help and love people into the kingdom of God! I see how God is going to turn it all around and make it into something good! As my pastor says, "not all things that happen in our lives is good, but God can turn it around and make it good for His glory!!!! I am ready to be used in a new way. I know that we have a special gift and story to share! God I am ready to be used by you!!!!

Yahweh

I decided to restudy the names of God. I had to study them for Bible college, and sometimes you just learn in for the class and it doesn't go deeper. I have grown in my relationship with God and I have this strong desire to really learn and take to heart the names of God. There is something about really taking to heart the names of God because they all have amazing meanings and they all can cut deep to the heart and penetrate in a different way! The original Hebrew names of God really had deep meaning and were so precious that they couldn't even say some! That is the kind of awe and amazement that I have been feeling towards what God is doing! It has been amazing how God has been working and moving and we are ready for all He has! I want a deeper relationship with God and I want to know Him even more and on a deep and personal level! So i might add in a bit of what I find here as well. It is amazing what you find and how deep you can get with God just through study and learning and by going back to the roots!
The word Yahweh or YHWH is an awesome term and one that they did not say because they did not want to be blasphemous to the name of God. I find that amazing.... why? Well, we are so casual with the term or name that we have given. We say 'god' so informal, and we say it in ways that we shouldn't. Today it is nothing for people to use the word in a way that isn't giving praise, but is more taking it in vain. "OMG" is used by everyone even by those who don't believe. It is just a common term in the world today. I have never used it this way and if I did I felt horrible. I really have tried to use it in relation to my God whom  I love. I love that they didn't even want to say it if it might be in a way that they shouldn't. They pronounce it Yahweh which might not even be how they would, but was a way they could say His name. I love this too because God is holy, and I know that we have full access to God now, but we serve a holy God and should be treated with respect and honor. There should be words we use and names we use that express our love and adoration and respect and honor. Instead of using this term usually said 'Adonai' instead which means My lord. Yahweh means He is or I am. Its an amazing thing to think on and dwell on. "HE IS". Or when God spoke about Him self "I am ". I am that I am.... What an amazing statement. He is. God is.... He is the un-created creator. He was and is and is to come, He has no beginning, He has no end. He has always been.... He is.... Yahweh...Exodus 6:2-3 is such an interesting portion. God showed himself as the almighty God, but it not yet as YHWH.   " And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them." Had to add that in I found this scripture and understood it in a totally new way. I love when God shows you new things in the Bible. No matter how many times you have read the Bible, and no matter how much you think you know the word, God will always show you new things.
I want a closer, deeper and more real relationship with God. I desire more of Him and more understanding of Him. I don't just want the knowledge I want the understanding as well. I want that closeness with Him. I desire those sweet moments with God where HE just shows up in a real way. I encourage you to dig in the Word and learn something new about God today. Let Him be your guide and teacher! Ask Him what He wants to show you!!! Yahweh. He is!

^{Genesis 3:14} God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”^[a] And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” ¹⁵ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord,^[b] the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

blessed life of faith!

Sharing today about how good God is. I am in awe of how God is working and moving. God has been just taking my breath away and leaving me speechless. It is hard to express in words everything that I am feeling and everything that God has been doing and speaking! 

We know that God has called us and it is amazing how God is just putting everything in place. I am blown away at the things that have been happening, and I continually praise Him for just choosing to use me. It has always been my desire to be used by God. I have always loved God and God has taught me so many things through out the years. There was a song that came out a while back that I will put the link to at the bottom, but it speaks about desire, and says "My desire to be  used by You!" Its a beautiful song, and has been my prayer. What ever my life has in store, I just want to be obedient to God and His call, what ever He has in store for me, I will be obedient. 

Lately God has been speaking in amazing ways. I am in awe of all that He has done, and even just some concerns that have come up, He has calmed all fear  or worry. God is just amazing! I know that what ever He has in store for us He will make it come to pass and we will walk in the path that He is and has set up for us! 

We will continue to rest in Him and His will as He unfolds it. There is no other place that I would rather be than in the center of His will! I am standing in faith and relying on God and that is an amazing thing. I am still just blow away by Him and what He is doing. I will share more as I feel led to, but I am just taken back by the mighty God and what He is doing. "He who began a good work is faithful to complete it!" Praise God for all He is doing. It has nothing to do with me but all to do with Him. He has a plan for all of our lives, seek Him and you will find Him and His will. It is amazing to live this life of faith. I titled my blog "Blessed beyond imagination" and it is so true. If we choose to follow Him and all He has for our lives we will find that we are blessed. We might not have tons of money, we might not have everything the world has to offer, but we have so much more than that. We have the love of our heavenly Father, a hope, and a calling, and that is far more than the world would have to ever offer! We live a 'blessed life of faith' and it is an amazing life following after God fully!!!!

Deuteronomy 3:24 "O Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works you do?

http://youtu.be/W777s4HuHOI

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/W777s4HuHOI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

A new thing.

Isaiah 43:19. "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."
I love this verse and honestly it usually is brought back to my mind around the time God is doing something new! It is always exciting to see what God is doing and how He desires to use us! I am so excited that God has been doing great an wonderful things in our lives and in the ministry that He has for us.
This new thing that God is doing right now is leading us to a new place in ministry. A new season of serving God! My hubby has been asked numerous times to preach at other churches and other countries. Right now God is opening the doors so that we can do that and it's really exciting! Ryan will be heading to Venezuela to preach at a country wide youth camp and also doing a workshop for college age students who want to step into ministry. Then he is heading to Colombia to be at a pastors conference with our pastor and his wife. We know this is just the beginning of doors being opened and reaching the world with the saving knowledge and love of Christ!! And also raising up leaders who will also reach the world for God! God is so amazing! I look forward to updating everyone as we move into this area. We will just be obedient to God and His calling on our lives! God is amazing and He chooses to use the willing. Open your heart and say yes to what God has for you. You won't regret it. Be blessed