The word obedience has come up a few times for me this week. God not only calls us to love and believe, but also to obey. The scriptures tell us "do not quench the spirit". If we choose not to obey then that is quenching the spirit, sad but true. I wish sometimes God could change me to be more like Jesus at warp speed. However, I know that my life at times needs some pruning, and some changes take time.
Anything that is not of God in me I need to get rid of. Whether it is a bad attitude, cursing, etc. Not that perfection is obtainable by any means, but God has called us to be different. Let's face it,we are either authentic or we are not, that is the bottom line. God has set each christian apart for a reason and how we treat others matters to God.
One lesson I learned not too long ago was in the power of forgiveness. I cannot choose not to forgive. That is against Gods word. I cannot pick and choose what I like and want to apply from his word. I must obey what it says. He tells me to forgive, therefore I must obey and guess what? When I choose forgiveness I find freedom. God knows this. He should be the ultimate opinion we are seeking in our daily lives.
What is God telling you to do in obedience to him? Let me know I would love to hear your stories of obedience to God too. Believe, love, obey.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Words are powerful
Wow, well today yet again I learned a hard lesson in using my words wisely. Sometimes I just do not think we can even grasp the thought of how our actions can effect others. Why, oh why do I always have to learn the hard way? James 1:19 says "Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."
Very wise words. God has been working out something in me for a while in this area. Probably what I need to ask myself before I say something is:
Will this glorify God?
And what good will come of this?
I am such a work in progress it is pathetic. I need to realize that God never gives up on me and he is merciful and compassionate and forgiving with me, that I also need to be that way with others.
Today I am reminded also that instead of focusing on what I don't have and having a pity party I need to focus on how God blesses my life all the time. What Satan means for harm God can use for good. Praise Jesus for all that he is doing in my life and for the true friends I do have, for my husband and children and his word to call me out and set my feet back on his straight path.
Very wise words. God has been working out something in me for a while in this area. Probably what I need to ask myself before I say something is:
Will this glorify God?
And what good will come of this?
I am such a work in progress it is pathetic. I need to realize that God never gives up on me and he is merciful and compassionate and forgiving with me, that I also need to be that way with others.
Today I am reminded also that instead of focusing on what I don't have and having a pity party I need to focus on how God blesses my life all the time. What Satan means for harm God can use for good. Praise Jesus for all that he is doing in my life and for the true friends I do have, for my husband and children and his word to call me out and set my feet back on his straight path.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Be Still
Lately the scripture that God continues to bring to mind is Psalm 46:10, Be still and know that I am God. I am dealing with a fractured foot right now and have to stay off it for 6 weeks. Do you know how hard that is?
Sometimes just being still can be the hardest thing in the world to do. It is evident that this is what I need to do right now. God is bigger than any circumstance we encounter, and he always knows what is best for his children.
Praise God for who he is today!
Sometimes just being still can be the hardest thing in the world to do. It is evident that this is what I need to do right now. God is bigger than any circumstance we encounter, and he always knows what is best for his children.
Praise God for who he is today!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Grace
Isn't grace a beautiful word? I didn't earn it. I don't deserve it and yet it is mine if I will just simply accept it. What an awesome, beautiful God we have. I cannot tell you how much of my time has been spent feeling like I had to earn Gods love. Scripture tells me different. Think about GRACE and what words come to mind for you. Here are mine:
Gods ultimate love
Reaching down to us
Always there
Compassionate and merciful
Everything you need found in your savior
Share with me your thoughts. Grace is a huge thought to wrap your brain around.
What a beautiful word. It truly is amazing (grace).
Gods ultimate love
Reaching down to us
Always there
Compassionate and merciful
Everything you need found in your savior
Share with me your thoughts. Grace is a huge thought to wrap your brain around.
What a beautiful word. It truly is amazing (grace).
Friday, January 16, 2009
An audience of one
Oh how we strive and run after the approval of people
So desperate to fit in
At what cost? At what cost I ask you?
I have vascilated from being a lone star most of my life and
extremely independent to trying to be popular with the wrong types of people
Do we not realize who we are in Christ?
Is he not enough?
He is enough. I assure you. Jesus has filled my heart when I was hurting inside.
He has been my best friend in times of need. He is my comforter and provider and
friend.
We all have a God sized hole that nobody and nothing else will ever fill. And at
the end of our lives the only opinion that is going to matter about you is from an
audience of one.
Think about it.
So desperate to fit in
At what cost? At what cost I ask you?
I have vascilated from being a lone star most of my life and
extremely independent to trying to be popular with the wrong types of people
Do we not realize who we are in Christ?
Is he not enough?
He is enough. I assure you. Jesus has filled my heart when I was hurting inside.
He has been my best friend in times of need. He is my comforter and provider and
friend.
We all have a God sized hole that nobody and nothing else will ever fill. And at
the end of our lives the only opinion that is going to matter about you is from an
audience of one.
Think about it.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Selling out
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you." (Romans 12:2 TLB)
So many times in life we sell out just so we can fit in. What are we afraid of? I mean really? I use to be so concerned about image management and looking good to others, but I am starting to realize that the people I truly want in my life are just going to have to accept me for who I am. I mean isn't it exhausting trying to please everyone or jump through hoops just to fit in. A friend of mine told me she would like to wear an as is sticker. I thought that was pretty good and quite funny.
Whether it is imitating the latest fashions or trying to "keep up with the Jones" God has a much better plan for you and for me. I refuse to sell out. God created me to be a new creation and changed. I have been spending a lot of time in prayer with God lately and let me tell you it has been awesome! He has been revealing a lot to me.
One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 26:3. The day I got baptized this wonderful older lady from church walked up to me and spoke it too me. It was way cool, because that has always been one of my favorites.
You will keep him in perfect peace,him whose mind is steadfast,because he trusts in you. That is how we stay in peace. For myself when I am running around like crazy trying to please too many people and out of the will of God that is when caous ensues, however when my eyes are on Jesus and I am focused on what he wants for me for this day I am at peace.
Again,this goes back to the phrase God put on my heart recently Choose wisely.
So many times in life we sell out just so we can fit in. What are we afraid of? I mean really? I use to be so concerned about image management and looking good to others, but I am starting to realize that the people I truly want in my life are just going to have to accept me for who I am. I mean isn't it exhausting trying to please everyone or jump through hoops just to fit in. A friend of mine told me she would like to wear an as is sticker. I thought that was pretty good and quite funny.
Whether it is imitating the latest fashions or trying to "keep up with the Jones" God has a much better plan for you and for me. I refuse to sell out. God created me to be a new creation and changed. I have been spending a lot of time in prayer with God lately and let me tell you it has been awesome! He has been revealing a lot to me.
One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 26:3. The day I got baptized this wonderful older lady from church walked up to me and spoke it too me. It was way cool, because that has always been one of my favorites.
You will keep him in perfect peace,him whose mind is steadfast,because he trusts in you. That is how we stay in peace. For myself when I am running around like crazy trying to please too many people and out of the will of God that is when caous ensues, however when my eyes are on Jesus and I am focused on what he wants for me for this day I am at peace.
Again,this goes back to the phrase God put on my heart recently Choose wisely.
Monday, January 5, 2009
God is in control
Hey everyone,
Just wanted to let you know sometimes I have bloggers remorse, kind of like buyers remorse because I worry about revealing too much and being judged for it. So if you see that I deleted a blog that was previously posted that is why.
Before I was a christian I had a rebellious, do not care what you think about me attitude. Now I so worry at times about being judged that I am afraid to reveal certain things about my life. Hopefully God will bring me to the place where I am comfortable in my own skin and do not worry so much about others opinions. I am really trying hard to quit being such a people pleaser in life and focus my attention on being a God pleaser.
I am in recovery for codependency right now. Most of my life I have played the role of rescuer and peace maker at the cost of my own sanity at times. I was the oldest child and care taker of my younger brother and sister. Most of my life I have sought out people to rescue, because that is all I really knew how to do. Sometimes you have to question that if you are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole maybe that relationship is not a healthy one for you.
God is revealing to me lately that it does not make me a bad christian if I do not want to hang around certain people. I do get to choose how I spend my time and with whom. Some people are just not healthy for you.
Other than a couple of beers and a glass of champagne I have been alcohol free for almost 13 years. About every three years on my birthday I will have one drink just to prove to myself it does not have mastery over me anymore. This is my choice because I saw how destructive alcoholism can be to a family. I also had an uncle with not only a drinking problem, but a huge substance abuse problem, and he eventually committed suicide.
For today I am second. God is first. Check out the Iamsecond.com website sometime. It is awesome!
It is a constant struggle to turn my will over to God and not try and take control again. When I truly "accept the things I cannot change or people I cannot change" that is when peace ensues. I have no control over what my husband or friends do. I have no control over the choices that they make. I only can choose for myself which path that I will take.
We can choose how we will respond as well.
Meditate on this prayer today:
God grant me the serentiy to
Accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference
God is good and he cares about your life. Love to you all.
Just wanted to let you know sometimes I have bloggers remorse, kind of like buyers remorse because I worry about revealing too much and being judged for it. So if you see that I deleted a blog that was previously posted that is why.
Before I was a christian I had a rebellious, do not care what you think about me attitude. Now I so worry at times about being judged that I am afraid to reveal certain things about my life. Hopefully God will bring me to the place where I am comfortable in my own skin and do not worry so much about others opinions. I am really trying hard to quit being such a people pleaser in life and focus my attention on being a God pleaser.
I am in recovery for codependency right now. Most of my life I have played the role of rescuer and peace maker at the cost of my own sanity at times. I was the oldest child and care taker of my younger brother and sister. Most of my life I have sought out people to rescue, because that is all I really knew how to do. Sometimes you have to question that if you are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole maybe that relationship is not a healthy one for you.
God is revealing to me lately that it does not make me a bad christian if I do not want to hang around certain people. I do get to choose how I spend my time and with whom. Some people are just not healthy for you.
Other than a couple of beers and a glass of champagne I have been alcohol free for almost 13 years. About every three years on my birthday I will have one drink just to prove to myself it does not have mastery over me anymore. This is my choice because I saw how destructive alcoholism can be to a family. I also had an uncle with not only a drinking problem, but a huge substance abuse problem, and he eventually committed suicide.
For today I am second. God is first. Check out the Iamsecond.com website sometime. It is awesome!
It is a constant struggle to turn my will over to God and not try and take control again. When I truly "accept the things I cannot change or people I cannot change" that is when peace ensues. I have no control over what my husband or friends do. I have no control over the choices that they make. I only can choose for myself which path that I will take.
We can choose how we will respond as well.
Meditate on this prayer today:
God grant me the serentiy to
Accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference
God is good and he cares about your life. Love to you all.
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