Have you ever said: I really feel like I just need to step out in faith and see what God does? This is one of those sayings where you tend to get the sidelined responses like "Well, good for you" and "You'll have to wait and see" or the classic deer in headlights look when you can tell the person is really dying to tell you that you're momentarily insane.
If there is one thing I have learned over the years and especially this past week, the one thing God wants from you is the same things people desire from you as well; commitment.
He wants you to go on and make the stand. Go on and make your plans. Go on and commit. Especially during this season, when it is the time for commitment to action!
I grew up in a strong spirit-filled household where if we wanted to do something and I mean anything outside of the regular day to day needs and especially if it cost money, then we would have to pray about it before we act on it. Or we would have to wait for God to provide the money. Being brought up in this manner really strengthened my dependence on God and I would not trade that lesson for all the tea in England. On the flip side of that coin, I was also afraid to do anything on my own. Even things that I know are fully acceptable and encouraged in the eyes of God. I think, eventually, while that mindset is perfect for those who are new in their faith, as we mature in Christ and our responsibilities become greater, our freedom to act also becomes greater.
So, step out in faith and watch as the Lord honors you for it. Or in my case, sign up for that class I cannot afford and watch as God brings in the funds.
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Bitterness
Bitterness is an acid, that destroys its own container.
Don't let things that have happened to you or are happening to you eat away at you from the inside. Let it Go. Whoever wronged you doesn't think on it. Life has moved on for them.
It's time for life to move on for you too.
Don't let things that have happened to you or are happening to you eat away at you from the inside. Let it Go. Whoever wronged you doesn't think on it. Life has moved on for them.
It's time for life to move on for you too.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Time to Turn Around for 2015
I'm listening to Cindy Jacobs (great motivational speaker btw) and the word for 2015. It is the "turn around year." Even though we are only in February, I already have started seeing God at work and peoples lives changed. Real breakthrough is happening. People are overcoming struggles that have plagued them for years. There really is a shift that is happening and I am excited to see what all He has planned for us.
Anyways, she said something that is sticking with me. "Out of the heart's abundance, the mouth speaks." Basically, this is saying that what you believe is what comes out of your mouth. If you are a positive, optimistic thinker then positivity and encouragement comes out of your mouth. If you are a negative, pessimistic thinker (guilty!) then negativity and criticism comes out of your mouth. I am really stirred by this because sometimes even when I am not trying to, I end up putting someone down and I can see I have hurt them by my words... I need to start changing my thinking. I need to turn my pessimistic thoughts into optimistic thoughts. That will be my turn around.
Naturally, I think much of this will come from what I let in. As in music, tv, and movies. There really is so much junk in our media today. But I am stubborn and so this will be my goal for the year.
Lord,
God you see my heart. You see what I mean to say versus what I end up saying. Lord, deal with me on this. Send the Fire to reshape Your vessel. Help me as I take control of my thoughts and CHOOSE to think on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy = think about such things." Phil 4: 8
My Ruach HaKodesh guide me in my thoughts. Strengthen my spirit so that I am able to more fully hear the small voice. Be with me as I struggle to overcome and shift my paradigms. Let me turn around so that I can be used by Him more.
Amen.
Anyways, she said something that is sticking with me. "Out of the heart's abundance, the mouth speaks." Basically, this is saying that what you believe is what comes out of your mouth. If you are a positive, optimistic thinker then positivity and encouragement comes out of your mouth. If you are a negative, pessimistic thinker (guilty!) then negativity and criticism comes out of your mouth. I am really stirred by this because sometimes even when I am not trying to, I end up putting someone down and I can see I have hurt them by my words... I need to start changing my thinking. I need to turn my pessimistic thoughts into optimistic thoughts. That will be my turn around.
Naturally, I think much of this will come from what I let in. As in music, tv, and movies. There really is so much junk in our media today. But I am stubborn and so this will be my goal for the year.
Lord,
God you see my heart. You see what I mean to say versus what I end up saying. Lord, deal with me on this. Send the Fire to reshape Your vessel. Help me as I take control of my thoughts and CHOOSE to think on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy = think about such things." Phil 4: 8
My Ruach HaKodesh guide me in my thoughts. Strengthen my spirit so that I am able to more fully hear the small voice. Be with me as I struggle to overcome and shift my paradigms. Let me turn around so that I can be used by Him more.
Amen.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Oh, wow!
"Jesus didn't give His life to start a social club; His church was meant to be an army."
-Ron Luce of Battle Cry for a Generation
-Ron Luce of Battle Cry for a Generation
Answered Prayers... When I need encouraging.
I prayed for You to keep me in this house and to find a way
to rent this back to us…and You have.
I prayed that You would send in the funds and keep me
afloat…and You have.
I prayed that You would heal mom…and You have.
I prayed that You would help me to continue to work….and You
have.
My God, how You answer my prayers…and You have.
From April 14, 2013
One of my favorite prayers... from 2009
A Beautiful Prayer
Lori Copeland
"I give You all my doubts and insecurities.
I willingly place every facet of my life in Your hands,
Father - I surrender all.
I respectfully remind you
that there will be more times when I'll want to take it all back
than times I will walk solely in faith, but I pray that Your grace will not allow me
to remain in the darkness
for long."
~This is a go-to prayer for me. I feel like it really summarizes my thoughts. I know I will mess up. I know I will get mad at You and turn from You. But please, don't lose me. Don't let me get lost. Bring me back to You.~
Lesson 1: Thirsty? Find the Living Water.
Despite all my struggles, I would continue to journal. At the very least, writing down my thoughts and struggles helped me feel better and at the other end of that spectrum, it has been interesting over the years to look back on what I was praying for.
My walk with the Lord has not been perfect. If you remember how I said the Lord didn't speak to me, that thought caused me to be thrown into years of the same season. The season I called...the desert.
The desert season has been my absolute worst time during my entire life of having faith in Christ. It was dry. It was arrid. It was itchy. I was not comfortable in my skin. I constantly felt drained. I was not a full vessel. Faith became a source of depression. I always felt like despite the fact that I was loved by God and was good enough for Him, I was not GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM! That I was missing that key element that would push me out of the desert. My mission was not complete. How could it be? If it was then I would move on from this season, the angels would be allowed to come and minister to me. But no, instead I was stuck wandering the desert, grabbing onto whatever I could to help me survive the heat, the thirst, and my hunger for more.
Combine that with my tendency for distraction, and I was a mess. "Strong Christian" was how I came across to people but that, as you can see, is not how I saw things.
Part of a entry from December 26, 2009: "I truly do not fathom why I want to push you away and pull you closer at the same time."
That really sums up that whole "season" of my life.
Eventually, it ended. I cannot say how or why. I only have the memories of that time to fuel me from never going back there. Never living without God while living for Him. A contradicting thought in every sense of the word. But it has strengthened my faith and made me stronger than someone who never struggles. I'm a survivor.
My walk with the Lord has not been perfect. If you remember how I said the Lord didn't speak to me, that thought caused me to be thrown into years of the same season. The season I called...the desert.
The desert season has been my absolute worst time during my entire life of having faith in Christ. It was dry. It was arrid. It was itchy. I was not comfortable in my skin. I constantly felt drained. I was not a full vessel. Faith became a source of depression. I always felt like despite the fact that I was loved by God and was good enough for Him, I was not GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM! That I was missing that key element that would push me out of the desert. My mission was not complete. How could it be? If it was then I would move on from this season, the angels would be allowed to come and minister to me. But no, instead I was stuck wandering the desert, grabbing onto whatever I could to help me survive the heat, the thirst, and my hunger for more.
Combine that with my tendency for distraction, and I was a mess. "Strong Christian" was how I came across to people but that, as you can see, is not how I saw things.
Part of a entry from December 26, 2009: "I truly do not fathom why I want to push you away and pull you closer at the same time."
That really sums up that whole "season" of my life.
Eventually, it ended. I cannot say how or why. I only have the memories of that time to fuel me from never going back there. Never living without God while living for Him. A contradicting thought in every sense of the word. But it has strengthened my faith and made me stronger than someone who never struggles. I'm a survivor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)