I teach a Children's church class at my church, and we normally go off onto many tangents. The kids are very inquisitive at the age I teach and they are trying to understand the ways of God in their own way and understanding. They ask many interesting questions, and I have quite the job of trying to explain this in a way they will grasp. That isn't always easy!!! I enjoy sharing my knowledge of God, it is just hard bringing some of these concepts down to their level. I try my best and if they don't understand, they are very good about asking more questions :) Yesterday we got into some good stuff though. They were asking about forgiveness and if God would forgive us even if we meant to do something wrong, and if it was an accident. So we really got into holiness in the end. I don't know how we got from the wise and foolish builder to holiness and living a holy life but we did, and they were listening. I really think they took it all in. I really pray that as I try and answer their questions that they will learn and retain all that I teach them and that the Lord speaks to them through the teaching.
It got me thinking though. Being a minister and have been around a little while at least, you don't hear to much preached on holiness. Why is that? I hear it preached here and there, but we hear Christ and salvation through Christ and we hear that God gives us grace but where is our part in the whole thing...? Yes, we have to choose Him, and then tell the world about God and His love, but what about everything in the middle. We all mess up, no one is perfect and yes there is grace when we mess up, but we need to turn from the sin and try our best to stay away from it. I know I am not perfect and I am not condemning anyone. This is just one area that God has laid on my heart and that I know in my life I just need to stay away from things and keep my thoughts on Him. I don't want to sin in my thoughts or actions. I also have a tendency of looking and relying on others before God, which I am working on and trying to keep my mind focused on Him. It is a process and God is still working on me in areas too. Even as ministers God needs to work things out. (side note: Don't think that your pastor/pastors are perfect and have it all together 24/7 because we get hit just as hard if not harder than others. The enemy wants to take us out just as he wants to take every other person living for God out. My husband has a book in the works (which I think he needs to get working on again because its a great book that I think will help many and he is just an amazing writer as well! (shout out to my hubby! Love you HUNNY!!!)) which talks about this, but God is still working on us and we try our best to live a godly life and follow what God is telling us to do.) That is what this life is all about: following after God and obedience to Him! But salvation has more to it than just accepting God, its asking for forgiveness and turning from sin.
I know that sometimes the subject of holiness is taken too far, and that is not good either because that takes away from Gods gift of grace. We need a balance of our Christian walk. We all mess up and we all need God's grace but I see that at times when the whole messages of God isn't communicated fully that we can see grace as an excuse to sin. So Yes, we all need God's love and grace and mercy, but on the other side we all need to know that God does want us to live a holy life. Apart from God we cannot do this because we are imperfect beings, but with Gods help and when we involve God into every area and aspect of our life we can overcome many things and live a more holy life. I think that we need to get the idea that God wants us to take HIM into ALL areas of our lives. We need to live for God every day of the week, not just on Sundays. We need to make God apart of it all, and He will lead us into all truth and help us live a more holy life!!!! God's grace isn't an excuse to sin, it is a gift that is given but we still need to try and live according to God's word. Here is just one verse I wanted to share here.
1 Peter1:14 Be like children who obey. Do not desire to sin like you used to when you did not know any better. 15 Be holy in every part of your life. Be like the Holy One Who chose you. 16 The Holy Writings say, “You must be holy, for I am holy.”
Be blessed today as you go along your day. I pray that as you go through your day, you will take God with you. I pray you will keep in mind that God desires holiness and desires us to turn from sin, but also know that when we do mess up, HE IS THERE TO FORGIVE US AND TAKE US BACK. I desire in my own life to get so close to God, and I pray that is your desire as well. Desire to know Him better today than you did yesterday!!!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
another open post....
So today, I was slapped upside the head and reminded "HEY, I'M GOD!" lol sometimes we need that. We need to be reminded that God has it in His hands. That He will come through for us. We can trust that our worries or concerns and anxieties belong to Him. That we can give them to Him and rest in Him and trust Him fully! God has spoken things to you through times of prayer, maybe through someone, but God has spoken to your heart and you know that God has a plan for your life. Maybe its a big plan and you just don't know if YOU can do it. Well, you know what, you cannot do it by yourself. God has to be in it. You have to put your trust and faith in Him and keep going.
When life looks different and to the natural eye it doesn't look like anything is happening, keep hoping and trusting God. He spoke to you and gave you a purpose. He will complete that in you. There are a few verses that came to mind while I was writing. "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Phil 1:6
This verse was the first that came to mind. God is faithful! and He will complete that which He has ordained and that which He has planned. All He needs is a willing heart and He will work and help you complete that which He has called and planned! He has a plan we need to embrace it and run with God!
The next verse is a verse I added because in God's time He turns things around and makes them beautiful. Those hurts or pains that you once faced can be turned around and made beautiful in God's hands. I was reading 2 Corinthians 1 the other day and it talked about the trials we face God will help us through and also send those people into our lives to help us through and then when we get through God will send people who are going through that same thing, so that we in turn can help them through. The trials we faced yesterday can be turned into something beautiful when we are helping others get through it too! Yes, it might have been something hard, and something that you don't want to share, but God has a way of bringing people into our lives who need help and who need to get through just like we did!
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecc 3:11
I added this last verse here for a specific reason. To show that every life is a specific creation made by God and to cherish the life God gave you. You may not understand why you are here yet, but God has a purpose and plan. He loves you and wants you to know Him in a personal way. He wants you to know that He is God and we sometimes don't know what He is doing in our life, but He gave you that life for a reason. I have always had a hard time with self-esteem. I have known God since I was little and it has only been in the last 5-7 years that I heard that thoughts have a lot to do with our lives and that we should see ourselves how God sees us. Do I still struggle from time to time, yes. I struggled hard with this a few years back. Thinking there was no point to my life, and that I had nothing to offer, and why should I be here. I went through a severe depression which no one really knew about (at least not that I know of). Being in ministry, you think that people expect you to have it all together, and that life is great and God is good. Well, God is always good, but life can get hard. I will be honest and admit that I did have suicidal thoughts. I am glad they never went far, but I didn't see my life as important and I didn't think that anyone would miss me. I was replaceable... those were the thoughts that the enemy placed in my head. I felt worthless. If you let the enemy plant seeds and let the enemy water them by dwelling on the negative, and dwelling on the lies, they will grow. This verse became real after that. God showed me that I was rejecting His creation: me, and my life. He reminded me that I had a purpose and that I have worth. God planted a new seed. I was His creation and I was His masterpiece I needed to start seeing myself as received and not rejected. I needed to start seeing myself as God's created masterpiece and that it was GOOD! God then brought me to the creation story where He said that the creation of life was "very good!" Do not reject your own life. God made you for a purpose and has a specific plan for your life. He wants to use you for His glory. He wants you to be His hands and feet in this world. Don't reject the gift of life that God has given you. You are precious and chances are God wants to do a breakthrough in your life and your one step away from it! Receive the life God gave you with thanksgiving and not with despair. You cannot be replaced and there is a bigger plan for your life than what you see!
"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving", 1 timothy 4:4
I have no idea why I added what I did at the bottom. I just felt like I should share it there. I never know who is reading and if it can help them, but I always pray that what I write on a certain day is led of the Spirit. I pray that through the words I write, God would be speaking through them, and that it sends hope and help to those who need it. I love you and so does God. Be blessed today!!!!
When life looks different and to the natural eye it doesn't look like anything is happening, keep hoping and trusting God. He spoke to you and gave you a purpose. He will complete that in you. There are a few verses that came to mind while I was writing. "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Phil 1:6
This verse was the first that came to mind. God is faithful! and He will complete that which He has ordained and that which He has planned. All He needs is a willing heart and He will work and help you complete that which He has called and planned! He has a plan we need to embrace it and run with God!
The next verse is a verse I added because in God's time He turns things around and makes them beautiful. Those hurts or pains that you once faced can be turned around and made beautiful in God's hands. I was reading 2 Corinthians 1 the other day and it talked about the trials we face God will help us through and also send those people into our lives to help us through and then when we get through God will send people who are going through that same thing, so that we in turn can help them through. The trials we faced yesterday can be turned into something beautiful when we are helping others get through it too! Yes, it might have been something hard, and something that you don't want to share, but God has a way of bringing people into our lives who need help and who need to get through just like we did!
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecc 3:11
This next verse just continues on to say that God will work things out for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. God wants to turn those pains into a gain for the kingdom of God. God wants to show His love to you by working things out in your life and turning around the hard times and making them a victory. Not all things that happen in life are good, but God wants to turn them around and make something good come out of it. If you are saying, "well I'm not called", I am telling you that you are! We are all called for a purpose. We all have a God-given purpose in this life to complete. Whether we choose to accept it, or even see a God given purpose, is up to you, but you have a purpose that God has given for your life! God wants to move and work in you and through you! We all need to choose to be a willing vessel.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28I added this last verse here for a specific reason. To show that every life is a specific creation made by God and to cherish the life God gave you. You may not understand why you are here yet, but God has a purpose and plan. He loves you and wants you to know Him in a personal way. He wants you to know that He is God and we sometimes don't know what He is doing in our life, but He gave you that life for a reason. I have always had a hard time with self-esteem. I have known God since I was little and it has only been in the last 5-7 years that I heard that thoughts have a lot to do with our lives and that we should see ourselves how God sees us. Do I still struggle from time to time, yes. I struggled hard with this a few years back. Thinking there was no point to my life, and that I had nothing to offer, and why should I be here. I went through a severe depression which no one really knew about (at least not that I know of). Being in ministry, you think that people expect you to have it all together, and that life is great and God is good. Well, God is always good, but life can get hard. I will be honest and admit that I did have suicidal thoughts. I am glad they never went far, but I didn't see my life as important and I didn't think that anyone would miss me. I was replaceable... those were the thoughts that the enemy placed in my head. I felt worthless. If you let the enemy plant seeds and let the enemy water them by dwelling on the negative, and dwelling on the lies, they will grow. This verse became real after that. God showed me that I was rejecting His creation: me, and my life. He reminded me that I had a purpose and that I have worth. God planted a new seed. I was His creation and I was His masterpiece I needed to start seeing myself as received and not rejected. I needed to start seeing myself as God's created masterpiece and that it was GOOD! God then brought me to the creation story where He said that the creation of life was "very good!" Do not reject your own life. God made you for a purpose and has a specific plan for your life. He wants to use you for His glory. He wants you to be His hands and feet in this world. Don't reject the gift of life that God has given you. You are precious and chances are God wants to do a breakthrough in your life and your one step away from it! Receive the life God gave you with thanksgiving and not with despair. You cannot be replaced and there is a bigger plan for your life than what you see!
"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving", 1 timothy 4:4
I have no idea why I added what I did at the bottom. I just felt like I should share it there. I never know who is reading and if it can help them, but I always pray that what I write on a certain day is led of the Spirit. I pray that through the words I write, God would be speaking through them, and that it sends hope and help to those who need it. I love you and so does God. Be blessed today!!!!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
hope
Today I wanted to share a few things that I have gotten from others today that were just words or encouragement and just make you think!
"The devil is incapable of an original thought about you. His only ability is to see what God has pronounced over you... and bring the Opposite!"
This was a very thought provoking statement. He knows that God has a plan for your life and the enemy wants to try and stop that! He knows that whatever the call God has for you is powerful, and will turn hearts to God! that is the opposite of what the enemy wants in this world. He works hard when he know that God is calling and changing your heart. Stick close to God and stay in the Word, and fight off the enemy's attacks because what God has for you is so much better than you could ever imagine! Stick it out through those hard times of trials and God will bring you through and do wonderful things that you never thought you could or would be able to do without Him!
"Where your mind goes, your mouth follows. Want to tame your tongue? Start putting truth & joy & LIFE into your mind first!"
What we say has so much power! But first those words are thoughts! We need to start thinking the right things so that our mouths with say the right things. If we are always thinking negatively about life, and about ourselves, our mouths will follow, and then after that, our actions soon after will follow. Keep your thought life pure and your words and actions will follow! God desires Holiness from us, and that starts in the mind and the thoughts that we think. Keep our minds on the things that are "true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8.
God says and thinks good things about us, why cant we do the same???
"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs and aching groans."
Romans 8:26 (MSG)
I found this verse this morning and it was just a verse that helped me through times when I had no clue what to do, what to say, what to pray! I just feel I should add it here and maybe it will help someone...
When life hits us hard, sometimes it just leaves us stunned. Sometimes life hits so hard that we just feel incapable of moving, of speaking, or doing anything but cry, or whatever... God is there through everything that we face. When we get tired and feel like we cant go on, we can lean on Him to get us through. When we don't now what to say, do or even pray, the Spirit is there and does the praying for us! Its an amazing verse because it says that the Spirit will make our wordless sighs, groanings, and cries into prayers!!! How amazing! The spirit is there helping us in every way when we just don't know what to do or how to get through! Be encouraged today if you are going through a hard time! The Spirit of God is there to help you even when you just cant make out words to pray! The Spirit is there making those wordless groanings into prayers on your behalf!
I hope that this has helped or encouraged someone today! I pray that the words that I say (well, type lol) will reach someone and help, encourage and give hope, where hope may be lacking! God loves you and so do I! Be encouraged today!!!!
"The devil is incapable of an original thought about you. His only ability is to see what God has pronounced over you... and bring the Opposite!"
This was a very thought provoking statement. He knows that God has a plan for your life and the enemy wants to try and stop that! He knows that whatever the call God has for you is powerful, and will turn hearts to God! that is the opposite of what the enemy wants in this world. He works hard when he know that God is calling and changing your heart. Stick close to God and stay in the Word, and fight off the enemy's attacks because what God has for you is so much better than you could ever imagine! Stick it out through those hard times of trials and God will bring you through and do wonderful things that you never thought you could or would be able to do without Him!
"Where your mind goes, your mouth follows. Want to tame your tongue? Start putting truth & joy & LIFE into your mind first!"
What we say has so much power! But first those words are thoughts! We need to start thinking the right things so that our mouths with say the right things. If we are always thinking negatively about life, and about ourselves, our mouths will follow, and then after that, our actions soon after will follow. Keep your thought life pure and your words and actions will follow! God desires Holiness from us, and that starts in the mind and the thoughts that we think. Keep our minds on the things that are "true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8.
God says and thinks good things about us, why cant we do the same???
"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs and aching groans."
Romans 8:26 (MSG)
I found this verse this morning and it was just a verse that helped me through times when I had no clue what to do, what to say, what to pray! I just feel I should add it here and maybe it will help someone...
When life hits us hard, sometimes it just leaves us stunned. Sometimes life hits so hard that we just feel incapable of moving, of speaking, or doing anything but cry, or whatever... God is there through everything that we face. When we get tired and feel like we cant go on, we can lean on Him to get us through. When we don't now what to say, do or even pray, the Spirit is there and does the praying for us! Its an amazing verse because it says that the Spirit will make our wordless sighs, groanings, and cries into prayers!!! How amazing! The spirit is there helping us in every way when we just don't know what to do or how to get through! Be encouraged today if you are going through a hard time! The Spirit of God is there to help you even when you just cant make out words to pray! The Spirit is there making those wordless groanings into prayers on your behalf!
I hope that this has helped or encouraged someone today! I pray that the words that I say (well, type lol) will reach someone and help, encourage and give hope, where hope may be lacking! God loves you and so do I! Be encouraged today!!!!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
talents in use
So I went to a meeting tonight. We are going through a book and the workbook for it: "If you want to walk on the water you have to get out of the boat". It is a great book and a great lesson to go through. I did my workbook today and got a lot out of it today. Then today at the meeting I got even more out of it. We were going over the story of the talents. It is a great story to go over and I have really seen things in it this time that I have not before and then things that I realized about myself through this study.
When talking about the gifts and talents that God has given you, do you appreciate and use them? Do you realize that you have these precious gifts that God wants you to use to help win souls into the Kingdom of God? When thinking about these things, I have to say, that I have been one to think that I am talent-less, and have very little to offer. I am not a very eloquent speaker (God has been using me in this area and I have gotten a bit more comfortable, a bit.... lol) but know that God wants to use my voice and what I have to say, I am not a very gifted person in many ways.... I lack.... If someone asks the question "what are your gifts God has given you?" I usually try to hide, because I just don't know how to answer. I just feel like i am mediocre .My husband, now he is talented and gifted in a lot of different areas, and I always ask him, "isn't there something your not good at?" Kind of joking and... well... kind of not. lol So the point I am trying to make is some people are more visibly "gifted" than others, but those who are not gifted in these large areas, have other areas in which they are great at in which might be more behind the scenes but just as important to the kingdom of God. Also at times when you think you are talent-less and have nothing to offer, you have to think 'have I asked God what HE wants to use me in?' Have I sought the face of God and ask Him to reveal where my talents are and how HE wants to use me in all this? Are we measuring what we have to another? We are all talented, but when comparing talents and gifts from God, we can be misled since God has a specific purpose in store for YOU. God gives us what we need for what His plan and purpose is for our lives!
Are you being a good steward of your gifts? This question hit home. I have been trying to step out more in the things that I know of, and God is faithful and uses what I say and touches someone. That is all there is to it. Just be obedient to the things God has set up and the talents He has given you. He will use your willingness!!!! Many times we don't step out and use what God has given because of fear! Fear can stop us in our tracks if we let it! Fear that we will fail or just be wrong is one too and I know I struggle with this one... But with God's help I will keep taking those steps to getting out of the boat of comfort.I know that I am not the only who struggles with this. We all have our comforts that we want to hold on to. But we need to start using these precious gifts that God gave us and be more aware of how Gods wants to use us. We may know some areas that God is trying to use us in, but what about that talent that you put on the burner way back when you were a kid, or maybe your older and gave up on a dream or talent. God wants to bring that back up and use that through you so that others may come to know God. And if you were like me and think you have nothing to offer, and think you are talent-less then start seeking the face of God. He has given us all something to do for Him. He has given us all something that we can do. You are not useless or talent-less !! Seek Him and He will open up your eyes to what He has in store for you.
Why am I saying all this? Well, God really showed me something in this story tonight. While sitting there studying with the rest, God really opened my eyes. The talents are the things that God gave us to use to bring people into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Think about the story and how the first two men went out used what God gave them and multiplied what they had. They used their talents and that multiplication is the people that they won to God through that talent that was given to them. Now think about the last man. He was given talents too, but did he go out and multiply it? No. He didn't use what was given to him and there was nothing to show for His life. God showed me that if we don't use what He gave us there could be many who are missing out on knowing God because we were not obedient to use that gift from Him. This hit hard. I know that God has given me gifts. I need to start seeking Him for what they are and how and when He wants me to use them. I have put aside those things for a while. I felt I had to having my family and trying to raise them. I know that God wants me to use what is given to me because it will draw people to Him! I am very eager to seek God and ask Him what talents I am not seeing in my life or maybe not recognizing as talents. I want to be a light to the lost and help to those in need. I just want to be used by God, but that's not going to happen if I haven't been using those gifts USE THEM! You don't know who you can reach by just being willing, obedient and faithful with what God has given you! If you don't think you are very talented, talk to God, start asking and seeking and I know that He will answer and open your eyes to purpose and things that God wants to use in you!!
When talking about the gifts and talents that God has given you, do you appreciate and use them? Do you realize that you have these precious gifts that God wants you to use to help win souls into the Kingdom of God? When thinking about these things, I have to say, that I have been one to think that I am talent-less, and have very little to offer. I am not a very eloquent speaker (God has been using me in this area and I have gotten a bit more comfortable, a bit.... lol) but know that God wants to use my voice and what I have to say, I am not a very gifted person in many ways.... I lack.... If someone asks the question "what are your gifts God has given you?" I usually try to hide, because I just don't know how to answer. I just feel like i am mediocre .My husband, now he is talented and gifted in a lot of different areas, and I always ask him, "isn't there something your not good at?" Kind of joking and... well... kind of not. lol So the point I am trying to make is some people are more visibly "gifted" than others, but those who are not gifted in these large areas, have other areas in which they are great at in which might be more behind the scenes but just as important to the kingdom of God. Also at times when you think you are talent-less and have nothing to offer, you have to think 'have I asked God what HE wants to use me in?' Have I sought the face of God and ask Him to reveal where my talents are and how HE wants to use me in all this? Are we measuring what we have to another? We are all talented, but when comparing talents and gifts from God, we can be misled since God has a specific purpose in store for YOU. God gives us what we need for what His plan and purpose is for our lives!
Are you being a good steward of your gifts? This question hit home. I have been trying to step out more in the things that I know of, and God is faithful and uses what I say and touches someone. That is all there is to it. Just be obedient to the things God has set up and the talents He has given you. He will use your willingness!!!! Many times we don't step out and use what God has given because of fear! Fear can stop us in our tracks if we let it! Fear that we will fail or just be wrong is one too and I know I struggle with this one... But with God's help I will keep taking those steps to getting out of the boat of comfort.I know that I am not the only who struggles with this. We all have our comforts that we want to hold on to. But we need to start using these precious gifts that God gave us and be more aware of how Gods wants to use us. We may know some areas that God is trying to use us in, but what about that talent that you put on the burner way back when you were a kid, or maybe your older and gave up on a dream or talent. God wants to bring that back up and use that through you so that others may come to know God. And if you were like me and think you have nothing to offer, and think you are talent-less then start seeking the face of God. He has given us all something to do for Him. He has given us all something that we can do. You are not useless or talent-less !! Seek Him and He will open up your eyes to what He has in store for you.
Why am I saying all this? Well, God really showed me something in this story tonight. While sitting there studying with the rest, God really opened my eyes. The talents are the things that God gave us to use to bring people into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Think about the story and how the first two men went out used what God gave them and multiplied what they had. They used their talents and that multiplication is the people that they won to God through that talent that was given to them. Now think about the last man. He was given talents too, but did he go out and multiply it? No. He didn't use what was given to him and there was nothing to show for His life. God showed me that if we don't use what He gave us there could be many who are missing out on knowing God because we were not obedient to use that gift from Him. This hit hard. I know that God has given me gifts. I need to start seeking Him for what they are and how and when He wants me to use them. I have put aside those things for a while. I felt I had to having my family and trying to raise them. I know that God wants me to use what is given to me because it will draw people to Him! I am very eager to seek God and ask Him what talents I am not seeing in my life or maybe not recognizing as talents. I want to be a light to the lost and help to those in need. I just want to be used by God, but that's not going to happen if I haven't been using those gifts USE THEM! You don't know who you can reach by just being willing, obedient and faithful with what God has given you! If you don't think you are very talented, talk to God, start asking and seeking and I know that He will answer and open your eyes to purpose and things that God wants to use in you!!
Monday, May 13, 2013
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
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.
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.
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