So..I graduated! Yippee!! I finally have a career path! Right? Right?
Well..not exactly. I mean, I have unlimited opportunities, in a way. But I had only one plan, we will call it Plan A, in mind upon graduation. I wanted to work in labor and delivery at St. Mary's in Knoxville. I think my plan was perfect. They have 8 hour shifts (every other hospital does 12 hr shifts) so I would actually be able to see my children, and it's right by the kids school. Plus it's where I took my internship so I know everyone, the floor, and procedures there.
So I applied there. Because I thought that was the plan. And, because I'm such a go-getter and figured God might could use some help, I even marched down to the boss's office, handed her a resume, and explained to her how much I really wanted the open position they had. She said call back in a month and she'd probably have something. YES! I knew putting in some extra effort would pay off. And just to be sure, I called her in 3 weeks. Left a message. Called back a week later. Left another message. No response.
Ok...so...Lord, I thought this was the plan. What's plan B?? And please, tell me quick and make it real obvious so I don't miss it. Cause Lord, everyone in the world seems to want to know where I've applied, and where I've interviewed, and if I have a job yet. !!!
Somehow, "Well, I haven't really applied anywhere else because I'm waiting on the Lord to direct my path" doesn't really seem to satisfy the questioners.
But that's just it! He hasn't revealed the next step to me. So I'm waiting. I've had a few random thoughts- "How bout Haiti? Chelsey's going and it sounds like a great ministry...Or Tanzania- they need Christians there...Or Louisiana...I've always wanted to work for Mercy Ministries..."
But maybe, just maybe...God is still waiting for me to settle. To fixate solely on Him. There is no reason for me to fret here..He has the plan B..but it's actually Plan A, and He is waiting for me to cooperate!
So 2 Corinthians 5:9 says, We have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
That's my job right now. Not to search google for different jobs and ministries late into the evening, but to rest in Him, worship Him, acknowledge His greatness and all out perfection. Because God's way is perfect. Mine would never be half as good as His. And how often does He let a person "miss" what He wants them to do??? What are the chances that I'll not walk in the right direction if I'm focused on walking WITH Him? (Worst case scenario, I end up in a whale. But that's for another blog!!)
His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. Well thank goodness, cause I've got plenty of weakness in me that I struggle with every day. That is why, when I am weak, I am strong.
I am glad to have this time with Him. I am glad He cherishes me enough to want my attention. I am humbled by this love that I do not deserve.
He must increase, I must decrease.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Locusts...Ew.
So, I probably should be making dinner. But just read Joel Rosenberg's newest blog and wanted to pass on a few things to ya'll. It may not be a nicely flowing blog, but whatever!
Firstly- if you haven't heard of Joel Rosenberg, google him. He has a blog that I have greatly appreciated as of late. He is currently focusing on the events in Israel, the book of Joel, and the importance of the church and Israel returning to God with all we have before it is too late.
Today he discussed Joel chapter 1. Now Joel is a short, three chapter book which relates a prophecy about the day of the Lord. You probably should just read it, as my description of it may not be that great.
But some points he pulled out of that chapter felt worth mentioning.
Joel 1:5- Awake!
Will we wake up?
Do we see how far we are from the God who made us and loves us and is jealous for our attention?
"Awake drunkards, and weep"
Do we realize how drunk we are? Not neccessarily just on substances like alcohol and drugs, but on the entertainment and things of this world.
Do we realize if we don't quickly turn from our ignorance, God is going to allow devastation until we choose to fall at his feet in worship and repentance or curse Him? Joel 1 describes devastation from locusts, drought, famine and fire.
This is what we are called to do
-Awake! This is a wake up call to repent.
-Consecrate a fast
-Proclaim a solemn assembly
-Gather the elders
-Gather all inhabitants of the land
-Bring everyone into the house of the Lord
-Cry out to the Lord
Cry out for repentance: for the Lord to forgive us, help us, heal us, save us, cleanse us, fill us and teach us.
I myself feel convicted for the amount of time I squander on entertainment...He is longing to draw me close into relationship with Him...and how often to I choose to answer?
Please...search your heart. Don't allow yourself to take offense or ignore the call of God. For the day of the Lord will come, a day of darkness and gloom (Joel 2:2), and we need to be ready.
Firstly- if you haven't heard of Joel Rosenberg, google him. He has a blog that I have greatly appreciated as of late. He is currently focusing on the events in Israel, the book of Joel, and the importance of the church and Israel returning to God with all we have before it is too late.
Today he discussed Joel chapter 1. Now Joel is a short, three chapter book which relates a prophecy about the day of the Lord. You probably should just read it, as my description of it may not be that great.
But some points he pulled out of that chapter felt worth mentioning.
Joel 1:5- Awake!
Will we wake up?
Do we see how far we are from the God who made us and loves us and is jealous for our attention?
"Awake drunkards, and weep"
Do we realize how drunk we are? Not neccessarily just on substances like alcohol and drugs, but on the entertainment and things of this world.
Do we realize if we don't quickly turn from our ignorance, God is going to allow devastation until we choose to fall at his feet in worship and repentance or curse Him? Joel 1 describes devastation from locusts, drought, famine and fire.
This is what we are called to do
-Awake! This is a wake up call to repent.
-Consecrate a fast
-Proclaim a solemn assembly
-Gather the elders
-Gather all inhabitants of the land
-Bring everyone into the house of the Lord
-Cry out to the Lord
Cry out for repentance: for the Lord to forgive us, help us, heal us, save us, cleanse us, fill us and teach us.
I myself feel convicted for the amount of time I squander on entertainment...He is longing to draw me close into relationship with Him...and how often to I choose to answer?
Please...search your heart. Don't allow yourself to take offense or ignore the call of God. For the day of the Lord will come, a day of darkness and gloom (Joel 2:2), and we need to be ready.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The least of these...? These who?
So...it's been awhile. Sorry ya'll...finals and graduation, life, you know. Stuff comes up.
My heart has been unable to settle. I hate choices. I hate waiting. I haven't the slightest idea what the Lord has planned for me...I am thinking there may be a few detours on the way.
That said..last week at church Pastor Dan spoke on Matthew 25:31-46. I've heard this scripture several times in my years in church. I'm going to type it all now, because I believe it is that important for you to know it, as well.
" But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to Me. ' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty and give you something to drink? And When did we see You a stranger, and invite you in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison, and come to You?' The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in; naked and you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.' Then they will also answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of thee, you did not do it to Me.' These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
These are red words in the bible...as in, they came out of Jesus' mouth.
Now, I've always been a "grace girl". As in, once saved, always saved, even if you totally fall away. This verse gets you. Even our pastor said- sometimes I'm not sure what to make of it, but it's pretty clear. Jesus doesn't throw any punches here. Does it mean just taking care of the least of these gets you into heaven? No- you have to confess Jesus is Lord, believe He rose from the dead, and repent of your sins. But empty "Christianity", that is, saying you are a Christian while only serving yourself, is a false belief.
We are called to SERVE. It's not a suggestion. It's not a recommendation. Your eternal future depends on it. A few things to think about though:
1) it's easy to get caught up in a cause and forget about whom you are serving- so it is vital to spend time with Christ and draw from Him. He is the one that gives you the heart to serve, and the energy to do so.
2) Not every need is a call from Him. Mother Teresa had an enormous impact where she was at. But she didn't try to expand her ministry, she didn't try to develop a plan, or be in a million places at once. She kept it simple. We can't help everyone. But if we wait upon Him, there will be guidance into where/what He needs you to do.
3) Be aware of the little things. Leave an extra tip for a tired waitress. Spend some time reading books at the boys and girls club, serve meals at the soup kitchen, help a neighbor cut down a tree. Truly, it doesn't have to be a trip to Africa. Raising children well can be a ministry, and can include showing them how to serve others.
This week, after the sermon, my perspective has been different. The message has been percolating in my brain. I watched the American Idol finale and tried to imagine how much money was spent, not only on the show, the sets, the equipment, the staff, but also each guest that attended and their wardrobe, hair, makeup, airfare, etc. I wondered how many of the 1 billion hungry people that money could feed. I drove to vacation and saw huge glamourous houses with shiny Lexus' and yachts. We are such excessive, entitled people. Does Best Buy really need to have a program where you trade the expensive product you JUST BOUGHT in for the NEWEST and BEST product?! Do we really need more clothes? Really? At this point, I have to be cautious because judgmental spirits sneak in quietly!! I myself spend more than I should. But I'm trying to be more aware of His lead. Aware of how I can share the blessings I've been given. Of opportunities to meet needs of the least of these. To be His hands and feet. I'm certain I can't do it on my own. I am also certain that I can't do it all. I need to be in close contact with Him, drawing from the living water to fill me up so I can flow out to others.
Please do not let yourself make excuses. Our time here is but a breath! Don't think that believing in Christ is the only thing required for a ticket to heaven, for even the demons themselves believe He is. That is the first step, but the Holy Spirit doesn't reside in you for your benefit alone. Allow Him to mold you and fill you, so that you can do His will in the very short time we are here. Your discomfort by denying yourself in the short time we are here will not compare to the joy and amazement of heaven for eternity!
I am with you on this journey; we ALL must throw off everything that hinders us (perhaps even the TV!) and the sin that SO EASILY entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
It takes deliberate thought/motive (THROW off), and grit and determination (perseverance). But when we arrive at our home, how great will it be to hear the Father say to us, come, enter the kingdom that has been prepared for you since the beginning of time!!
And if you need more inspiration, please read my friend Chelsey's blog. She hammers this home.
http://chelsey-temporaryhome.blogspot.com/2011/05/whats-it-like-to-follow.html
My heart has been unable to settle. I hate choices. I hate waiting. I haven't the slightest idea what the Lord has planned for me...I am thinking there may be a few detours on the way.
That said..last week at church Pastor Dan spoke on Matthew 25:31-46. I've heard this scripture several times in my years in church. I'm going to type it all now, because I believe it is that important for you to know it, as well.
" But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to Me. ' Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty and give you something to drink? And When did we see You a stranger, and invite you in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison, and come to You?' The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in; naked and you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.' Then they will also answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of thee, you did not do it to Me.' These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
These are red words in the bible...as in, they came out of Jesus' mouth.
Now, I've always been a "grace girl". As in, once saved, always saved, even if you totally fall away. This verse gets you. Even our pastor said- sometimes I'm not sure what to make of it, but it's pretty clear. Jesus doesn't throw any punches here. Does it mean just taking care of the least of these gets you into heaven? No- you have to confess Jesus is Lord, believe He rose from the dead, and repent of your sins. But empty "Christianity", that is, saying you are a Christian while only serving yourself, is a false belief.
We are called to SERVE. It's not a suggestion. It's not a recommendation. Your eternal future depends on it. A few things to think about though:
1) it's easy to get caught up in a cause and forget about whom you are serving- so it is vital to spend time with Christ and draw from Him. He is the one that gives you the heart to serve, and the energy to do so.
2) Not every need is a call from Him. Mother Teresa had an enormous impact where she was at. But she didn't try to expand her ministry, she didn't try to develop a plan, or be in a million places at once. She kept it simple. We can't help everyone. But if we wait upon Him, there will be guidance into where/what He needs you to do.
3) Be aware of the little things. Leave an extra tip for a tired waitress. Spend some time reading books at the boys and girls club, serve meals at the soup kitchen, help a neighbor cut down a tree. Truly, it doesn't have to be a trip to Africa. Raising children well can be a ministry, and can include showing them how to serve others.
This week, after the sermon, my perspective has been different. The message has been percolating in my brain. I watched the American Idol finale and tried to imagine how much money was spent, not only on the show, the sets, the equipment, the staff, but also each guest that attended and their wardrobe, hair, makeup, airfare, etc. I wondered how many of the 1 billion hungry people that money could feed. I drove to vacation and saw huge glamourous houses with shiny Lexus' and yachts. We are such excessive, entitled people. Does Best Buy really need to have a program where you trade the expensive product you JUST BOUGHT in for the NEWEST and BEST product?! Do we really need more clothes? Really? At this point, I have to be cautious because judgmental spirits sneak in quietly!! I myself spend more than I should. But I'm trying to be more aware of His lead. Aware of how I can share the blessings I've been given. Of opportunities to meet needs of the least of these. To be His hands and feet. I'm certain I can't do it on my own. I am also certain that I can't do it all. I need to be in close contact with Him, drawing from the living water to fill me up so I can flow out to others.
Please do not let yourself make excuses. Our time here is but a breath! Don't think that believing in Christ is the only thing required for a ticket to heaven, for even the demons themselves believe He is. That is the first step, but the Holy Spirit doesn't reside in you for your benefit alone. Allow Him to mold you and fill you, so that you can do His will in the very short time we are here. Your discomfort by denying yourself in the short time we are here will not compare to the joy and amazement of heaven for eternity!
I am with you on this journey; we ALL must throw off everything that hinders us (perhaps even the TV!) and the sin that SO EASILY entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
It takes deliberate thought/motive (THROW off), and grit and determination (perseverance). But when we arrive at our home, how great will it be to hear the Father say to us, come, enter the kingdom that has been prepared for you since the beginning of time!!
And if you need more inspiration, please read my friend Chelsey's blog. She hammers this home.
http://chelsey-temporaryhome.blogspot.com/2011/05/whats-it-like-to-follow.html
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Eyes wide open
I just had the pleasure of watching The Soloist for a school assignment. My heart and mind are full of thoughts and emotions. I will have to let it all percolate in there before I write my paper. However, I feel like jotting a few things in my blog lest I forget.
The hopelessness, the chaos, the depravity on the streets portrayed in the film. It is overwhelmingly sad. I know for sure that Christ will redeem and restore the Earth. But meanwhile..so sad. And yet such opportunity! Because once in awhile, there is something beautiful. Something that helps us remember that there IS hope. God's mercy is shown through volunteers feeding the poor and hungry. A new friend is made. Despite the look on the surface, God's love, the Holy Spirit, is a living current, flowing swiftly through us all as we become His hands and feet.
We don't see because we don't want to see.
I go home to my house, complete my tasks at hand, and start over the next day. I don't have to look far to find those who are in need. But the issues in the film I just watched are rarely on my mind. Shame on me. Lord Jesus let our eyes be wide open and our hearts be full of You, so that we may take opportunities as they come to minister to all. The homeless, the mentally ill, especially children. My heart breaks for children being raised on the streets, that is all they know. Who will show them compassion? Who will show them how to love their neighbor? Church, we are called to clothe the naked and feed the hungry. It goes beyond the offering plate. I say this to myself as much as anyone else.
We have to accept that isolating ourselves from the harsher realities of this world while we wait for Christ's return is simply much less then what we are made for. Don't settle.
That being said, I love the quote "the need is not the call." Pay heed to the Spirit, and I believe with all my heart He will lead you into situations in which you have been gifted to handle.
Lets encourage one another to stop all the excuses and be strong in the Lord, not resting while awaiting Him, but actively pursuing His will. This is His creation after all, and while it may be much less than what it was intended to be, we are charged with it's care. Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord.
The hopelessness, the chaos, the depravity on the streets portrayed in the film. It is overwhelmingly sad. I know for sure that Christ will redeem and restore the Earth. But meanwhile..so sad. And yet such opportunity! Because once in awhile, there is something beautiful. Something that helps us remember that there IS hope. God's mercy is shown through volunteers feeding the poor and hungry. A new friend is made. Despite the look on the surface, God's love, the Holy Spirit, is a living current, flowing swiftly through us all as we become His hands and feet.
We don't see because we don't want to see.
I go home to my house, complete my tasks at hand, and start over the next day. I don't have to look far to find those who are in need. But the issues in the film I just watched are rarely on my mind. Shame on me. Lord Jesus let our eyes be wide open and our hearts be full of You, so that we may take opportunities as they come to minister to all. The homeless, the mentally ill, especially children. My heart breaks for children being raised on the streets, that is all they know. Who will show them compassion? Who will show them how to love their neighbor? Church, we are called to clothe the naked and feed the hungry. It goes beyond the offering plate. I say this to myself as much as anyone else.
We have to accept that isolating ourselves from the harsher realities of this world while we wait for Christ's return is simply much less then what we are made for. Don't settle.
That being said, I love the quote "the need is not the call." Pay heed to the Spirit, and I believe with all my heart He will lead you into situations in which you have been gifted to handle.
Lets encourage one another to stop all the excuses and be strong in the Lord, not resting while awaiting Him, but actively pursuing His will. This is His creation after all, and while it may be much less than what it was intended to be, we are charged with it's care. Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Sovereign King
I have started this blog to share encouragement and wisdom as the Lord sees fit to share with me. The past few months have been busy, and I have been moving about too much to focus on Him clearly.
This morning I have been drawn near to Him, and have some things to share. He is so gracious unto me despite my immaturity at times.
The bible study I did this morning was titled "The Princess learns she can trust her Father". How appropriate!!
He is sovereign. That means He is over all things. First- check His motives- he loves us and wants what is best for us. He PLANS our lives. ("All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" Psalm 139: 13)
So if He loves us we can surely trust Him.
His providence- what He does with his creation
1) He keeps us existing
2) He directs our distinctive properties to act as we do
3) He directs us to fulfill our purposes
So if we seek Him, and walk with Him, "no good thing does He withhold" (Psalm 84:11)
The question is, am I walking with God, or in sinful habits? Am I keeping our relationship fresh?
That question drew me into some self-reflection that gave me understanding of my emotions of late.
Excerpt from my journal:
When I had alone time with God, I felt protected, wiser, healthier in heart and soul. As the days went on, without having that alone time, and without being filled by Him, I became depleted. At the last few days, when I was on "empty", I reverted to old patterns of defeated thinking. I became hopeless and depressed. I had no strength or wisdom to draw on other than my own. I was trying to survive on mere breadcrumbs, ignorant of the feast abundant only an arms reach away.
How often to we indirectly choose that path? I don't think we earn any displeasure of the Lord when we do not seek Him. Maybe we do. But I am certain His love for us is unchanging no matter how distracted we become. We only cheat ourselves out of the joy and peace that comes from walking with Him.
How do we reconcile difficult situations with His sovereignty, when we are walking with Him, serving Him, and yet bad things still happen??
- When I walk through those times WITH Him, consciously turning to Him, I am not overcome with grief. I feel joy and peace. When I plod on alone with my own strength, even though not consciously excluding Him, I feel weak and unable to go on. I should not be surprised I feel that way when I am not drawing near to Him. But I do because frequently, I did not even notice that I wasn't setting aside time for Him!
HE is the comforter, counselor and Prince of peace!!
I read Habakkuk 3:17-19, and rewrote the first part based on my own concerns:
Though I am lonely,
and my heart is broken;
I fear the unknown
and do not know which direction to go.
The demands of this life
clamor for all that I have.
YET I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The sovereign Lord is my strength;
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
He enables me to go on the heights.
We have no answers to the reasons why hard things happen.
But He is sovereign...we have to rest in that.
I hope that this can be used by the Lord in your life to give understanding and comfort.
It did for me.
To God be the glory in ALL things, Amen.
This morning I have been drawn near to Him, and have some things to share. He is so gracious unto me despite my immaturity at times.
The bible study I did this morning was titled "The Princess learns she can trust her Father". How appropriate!!
He is sovereign. That means He is over all things. First- check His motives- he loves us and wants what is best for us. He PLANS our lives. ("All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" Psalm 139: 13)
So if He loves us we can surely trust Him.
His providence- what He does with his creation
1) He keeps us existing
2) He directs our distinctive properties to act as we do
3) He directs us to fulfill our purposes
So if we seek Him, and walk with Him, "no good thing does He withhold" (Psalm 84:11)
The question is, am I walking with God, or in sinful habits? Am I keeping our relationship fresh?
That question drew me into some self-reflection that gave me understanding of my emotions of late.
Excerpt from my journal:
When I had alone time with God, I felt protected, wiser, healthier in heart and soul. As the days went on, without having that alone time, and without being filled by Him, I became depleted. At the last few days, when I was on "empty", I reverted to old patterns of defeated thinking. I became hopeless and depressed. I had no strength or wisdom to draw on other than my own. I was trying to survive on mere breadcrumbs, ignorant of the feast abundant only an arms reach away.
How often to we indirectly choose that path? I don't think we earn any displeasure of the Lord when we do not seek Him. Maybe we do. But I am certain His love for us is unchanging no matter how distracted we become. We only cheat ourselves out of the joy and peace that comes from walking with Him.
How do we reconcile difficult situations with His sovereignty, when we are walking with Him, serving Him, and yet bad things still happen??
- When I walk through those times WITH Him, consciously turning to Him, I am not overcome with grief. I feel joy and peace. When I plod on alone with my own strength, even though not consciously excluding Him, I feel weak and unable to go on. I should not be surprised I feel that way when I am not drawing near to Him. But I do because frequently, I did not even notice that I wasn't setting aside time for Him!
HE is the comforter, counselor and Prince of peace!!
I read Habakkuk 3:17-19, and rewrote the first part based on my own concerns:
Though I am lonely,
and my heart is broken;
I fear the unknown
and do not know which direction to go.
The demands of this life
clamor for all that I have.
YET I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The sovereign Lord is my strength;
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
He enables me to go on the heights.
We have no answers to the reasons why hard things happen.
But He is sovereign...we have to rest in that.
I hope that this can be used by the Lord in your life to give understanding and comfort.
It did for me.
To God be the glory in ALL things, Amen.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
His princess
ok...so this blog has been percolating for a week in my brain. Honestly, I didn't want to share. Because I know it may make some angry, or hurt. But if it helps some...then I will be glad God laid it on my heart.
Recently I have been doing the "Princess Unaware" devotional book. Although it is rare I finish a week of study in an actual week :) the process has been beautiful and fulfilling. I am sad to say that it took me this long to embrace the work of art God created in me. I had a recent event in which I started to get upset and thinking how I am weird and no wonder no one can stand me, etc etc. Then BOOM! It hit me...hey- this is totally an old pattern from the devil. And like putting "old wine into new wineskins" it is not gonna work anymore. I know who I am. I am a daughter of the King, brought near to Him through the blood of Christ. I realized that I have the power to wield the sword (the Bible, God's word). You see, Satan/demons know I don't doubt Christ's identity. However, I have, for whatever reason, consistently and predictably doubted my own. So let me share what His Spirit poured through me into my journal this morning.
I will not be defined by what the world sees as successful/beautiful. I will not be defined by what my relatives or friends see in me. I will not be defined by my grades, or how accepted/good my kids turn out. I AM defined by this: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." God doesn't make mistakes. Ever. "He works all things to the good of those who love him." So even if life choices/environment produced what I see as tainted or tattered, I still haven't strayed from what He intended me to be.
Moreover, striving for the approval of the world is ridiculous. It will get me nowhere. People don't always "get" me. I am easily moved by Christ: his love, tenderness, mercy and thoughtfulness.
I am excited by Christ: His return, plans, creation (flowers!), and His possibilities for me. I am passionate. I am energetic. I feel. I imagine. I am like a child. He MADE me. He LOVES me. He 'GETS' me. May he change what He desires to within me, but may I never attempt to diminish or extinguish what He has created within me!!!
It was a great time of reflection.
The message I felt God laying on my heart was regarding the "touch ups" we give ourselves. Cosmetic surgery, botox, make up, etc. How much money are we spending each year on these things? And for why? In what other ways could those dollars be spent to serve others? I am not trying to condemn, and certainly am promoting good hygiene :), just search yourself.
Imagine God thinking you up, putting you together, slowly, piece by piece in your mother's womb. Smiling as he put the last strand of hair in place, caressed your cheek. You are so incredibly dear to Him. Cherished. Chosen. There is NOTHING about your stature, structure or appearance He would "redo." Look at creation, see the beauty there. And yet, when Christ lives inside you and you accept your role as His princess, his radiance pours out, and nothing is as beautiful. I know it's tough to accept...the opportunities for self-dislike come at us from all sides. Know that I've struggled, and still struggle with you. But the great thing about Jesus is that the more you focus on Him, and what He thinks, you TRULY begin to take less account of what others see. It's yours to claim, sisters. If you have answered the call of Christ and believed in Him, you are a member of His household. Bought at high stakes. You are set apart. You will never fit in this world.
Let's live like the princesses we truly are.
Recently I have been doing the "Princess Unaware" devotional book. Although it is rare I finish a week of study in an actual week :) the process has been beautiful and fulfilling. I am sad to say that it took me this long to embrace the work of art God created in me. I had a recent event in which I started to get upset and thinking how I am weird and no wonder no one can stand me, etc etc. Then BOOM! It hit me...hey- this is totally an old pattern from the devil. And like putting "old wine into new wineskins" it is not gonna work anymore. I know who I am. I am a daughter of the King, brought near to Him through the blood of Christ. I realized that I have the power to wield the sword (the Bible, God's word). You see, Satan/demons know I don't doubt Christ's identity. However, I have, for whatever reason, consistently and predictably doubted my own. So let me share what His Spirit poured through me into my journal this morning.
I will not be defined by what the world sees as successful/beautiful. I will not be defined by what my relatives or friends see in me. I will not be defined by my grades, or how accepted/good my kids turn out. I AM defined by this: "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." God doesn't make mistakes. Ever. "He works all things to the good of those who love him." So even if life choices/environment produced what I see as tainted or tattered, I still haven't strayed from what He intended me to be.
Moreover, striving for the approval of the world is ridiculous. It will get me nowhere. People don't always "get" me. I am easily moved by Christ: his love, tenderness, mercy and thoughtfulness.
I am excited by Christ: His return, plans, creation (flowers!), and His possibilities for me. I am passionate. I am energetic. I feel. I imagine. I am like a child. He MADE me. He LOVES me. He 'GETS' me. May he change what He desires to within me, but may I never attempt to diminish or extinguish what He has created within me!!!
It was a great time of reflection.
The message I felt God laying on my heart was regarding the "touch ups" we give ourselves. Cosmetic surgery, botox, make up, etc. How much money are we spending each year on these things? And for why? In what other ways could those dollars be spent to serve others? I am not trying to condemn, and certainly am promoting good hygiene :), just search yourself.
Imagine God thinking you up, putting you together, slowly, piece by piece in your mother's womb. Smiling as he put the last strand of hair in place, caressed your cheek. You are so incredibly dear to Him. Cherished. Chosen. There is NOTHING about your stature, structure or appearance He would "redo." Look at creation, see the beauty there. And yet, when Christ lives inside you and you accept your role as His princess, his radiance pours out, and nothing is as beautiful. I know it's tough to accept...the opportunities for self-dislike come at us from all sides. Know that I've struggled, and still struggle with you. But the great thing about Jesus is that the more you focus on Him, and what He thinks, you TRULY begin to take less account of what others see. It's yours to claim, sisters. If you have answered the call of Christ and believed in Him, you are a member of His household. Bought at high stakes. You are set apart. You will never fit in this world.
Let's live like the princesses we truly are.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Waiting...
Wow it's been awhile since I've had any time to dig into my spirit and see what God's doing there! Well..at least since I've been able to share anything with you all.
I was in traffic this morning, being bombarded by several questions: "what am I going to do after graduation? where will I work? is that what I really want to do? where should I live? what do I do with all these creative artistic ideas I'm having? should I try to find a home now or wait until later? what if prices go up?"
Ironically these were a lot of things I was thinking at 18 years old. Sad that things haven't changed in the last ten years! So much for growth and maturity!
A song came on my pandora radio- "Hungry". I love that song! If you can, google it and listen to it and see what the Lord says to you :) The part when it said "so I wait for you, so I wait for you"...kinda hit me upside the head.
The best thing we can possibly do is what the song says- fall on our knees and wait for Him.
"those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength" Isaiah 40:31
This is what popped in my head but truly there are many bible verses about waiting on the Lord. Clearly this is a vital concept to our relationship with Him.
I find in my crazy life not only do I strive for control of everything, but I am constantly hurrying and scurrying. He's in no hurry. He has everything under control. I need to remember to be quiet and wait before Him. This is where my soul finds rest, my crazy life becomes do-able, where I am able to be "centered".
Without waiting before the Lord, nothing will be at peace. I do not have this all together yet. The last two mornings I have awoken after four hours of sleep, so obviously my quiet time has not been so much. But why stress over so many things that are in His hands? This is an area in which I am constantly struggling to remember.
Rest. Wait. Know.
He's right there waiting on YOU to wait on Him and His guidance.
I was in traffic this morning, being bombarded by several questions: "what am I going to do after graduation? where will I work? is that what I really want to do? where should I live? what do I do with all these creative artistic ideas I'm having? should I try to find a home now or wait until later? what if prices go up?"
Ironically these were a lot of things I was thinking at 18 years old. Sad that things haven't changed in the last ten years! So much for growth and maturity!
A song came on my pandora radio- "Hungry". I love that song! If you can, google it and listen to it and see what the Lord says to you :) The part when it said "so I wait for you, so I wait for you"...kinda hit me upside the head.
The best thing we can possibly do is what the song says- fall on our knees and wait for Him.
"those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength" Isaiah 40:31
This is what popped in my head but truly there are many bible verses about waiting on the Lord. Clearly this is a vital concept to our relationship with Him.
I find in my crazy life not only do I strive for control of everything, but I am constantly hurrying and scurrying. He's in no hurry. He has everything under control. I need to remember to be quiet and wait before Him. This is where my soul finds rest, my crazy life becomes do-able, where I am able to be "centered".
Without waiting before the Lord, nothing will be at peace. I do not have this all together yet. The last two mornings I have awoken after four hours of sleep, so obviously my quiet time has not been so much. But why stress over so many things that are in His hands? This is an area in which I am constantly struggling to remember.
Rest. Wait. Know.
He's right there waiting on YOU to wait on Him and His guidance.
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