After my last post I read this from my daily devotional email
March 31, 2009 Seeing Yourself as God Sees You Sharon Jaynes
Today's Truth "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)
Friend to Friend For many years after I became a Christian, I operated under a false sense of who I really was. I had no idea the change that occurred in me the moment I accepted Christ. I did not see myself as God saw me and had no idea His truth was different from my perception of it. Over my mind was a grid system, like a sieve, of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. When I processed information about my world and about myself, it had to filter through that negative grid system first.
It was not until my thirties that I began to realize that how God saw me and how I saw myself were very different. Like a hungry child, I began to research and write down verses about who I really was in Christ -- my new identity as a child of God. I learned that I was a child of God (John 1:12), chosen and dearly loved (John 15:16), a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), a joint heir with Jesus (Romans 8:14), a saint (Ephesians 1:1), righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24), dearly loved (Colossians 3:12), completely forgiven (1 John 1:9), totally free (John 8:36), uniquely designed (Psalm 139:14). I also learned that Satan held that negative grid system in place.
I came to a crossroads in my spiritual journey. I could continue believing the lies or I could begin believing the truth. Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). I decided to believe the truth. It was difficult and didn't feel comfortable at first. Like the lame man who regained the movement of his legs, or the blind man who received his sight, I had to adjust to my new belief system.
Oh my friend, God has so much planned for us to do and to be, but if we are operating with a false sense of who we really are, we may be paralyzed by feelings of guilt and shame.
On Jesus' first day of public ministry, he walked down to the river and was baptized by his cousin John. As Jesus came out of the water, a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22). God says the same thing to you...and to me.
"You are my child...whom I love...with you I am well pleased."
Joyce Meyer, in her book Beauty from Ashes wrote, "You cannot get beyond your own opinion of yourself-no matter how many good things God may say about you in His Word. Regardless of all the wonderful plans God may have for your life, none of them will come to pass without your cooperation."
We must start believing that we are who God says we are and seeing ourselves through His eyes. That's the truth and it will set us free!
Let's Pray Dear LORD, I have believed the enemy far too long. I have seen myself as not good enough, not smart enough, not spiritual enough. But today, I am going to start replacing those lies with Your truth! I am a child of God -- a new creation -- empowered by the Holy Spirit who dwells in me!
In Jesus' powerful Name, Amen.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
March 31, 2009
Tomorrow is April and this year is flying by. Couple things as I've gotten behind on here. Uncle Roger, Aunt Linda, Kristy, Denny and the girls came for a visit this past weekend and it was an amazing time!! I love spending time with my family!
All last week I posted different scripture verses on my facebook page. Then Sunday the message, every scripture verse that I used correlated with different things that I heard.
The scripture verses I used: Matthew 6:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Phillipians 3:12; Ephesians 3:20 and Psalm 46:10.
Last week in the classes I'm taking we talked about consecrating everything to God. There are things that get in the way of us doing this and we are to identify those things and submit them to the Lord. For me part of that had to do with who I was dating.
So I told him I could no longer see him. To which he asked if we could just continue to get to know one another. So we will continue to get to know one another but we are no longer "seeing" each other. This usually is way more complicated and more of a hassle then anything but I also don't want to turn someone off to God because of how I handle the situation.
It was hard after I submitted everything I kept getting hit with different things. The guy I told I couldn't see anymore put his match profile back. I Found out another guy had blocked me from FB. I guess I don't understand the impact my actions sometimes have until after the fact. I had to give it right back to God. When the current guys mom posted a pic of him and his new girlfriend (I think she was not serious but it didn't go over well with me) I had to give it back to God. When I saw the pic of him and all the girls and the beautiful blonde in the pic wrote on his wall I had to give it back to God. I give this guy up. I refuse to hold onto another guy who may or may not be good or bad for me. I know that God is in control. I will continue to get to know this guy because I think that this can be done and I need to learn how to have healthy friendships where I'm not overwhelmed by the complications of trying to make everything into a potential marriage opportunity.
I was reading in 1 King 18:21 "Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing."
For so long I have chosen my own way. I choose to no longer waiver. At Resurrection our goal is Jesus, to know Him to love Him to serve Him to be more like Him. I know God has me back there for a reason.
As I was driving home from work yesterday God spoke to my heart and said why are you so afraid of what I want to do in your life? Why do you not whole heartedly embrace what I have for you?" This really hit me as it never has before. I want to hold on to my friendships and relationships and I don't want to give them over to God because I'm scared of losing them. And yet if I give them all over to God then He can use me in ways I can't begin to imagine.
All last week I posted different scripture verses on my facebook page. Then Sunday the message, every scripture verse that I used correlated with different things that I heard.
The scripture verses I used: Matthew 6:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Phillipians 3:12; Ephesians 3:20 and Psalm 46:10.
Last week in the classes I'm taking we talked about consecrating everything to God. There are things that get in the way of us doing this and we are to identify those things and submit them to the Lord. For me part of that had to do with who I was dating.
So I told him I could no longer see him. To which he asked if we could just continue to get to know one another. So we will continue to get to know one another but we are no longer "seeing" each other. This usually is way more complicated and more of a hassle then anything but I also don't want to turn someone off to God because of how I handle the situation.
It was hard after I submitted everything I kept getting hit with different things. The guy I told I couldn't see anymore put his match profile back. I Found out another guy had blocked me from FB. I guess I don't understand the impact my actions sometimes have until after the fact. I had to give it right back to God. When the current guys mom posted a pic of him and his new girlfriend (I think she was not serious but it didn't go over well with me) I had to give it back to God. When I saw the pic of him and all the girls and the beautiful blonde in the pic wrote on his wall I had to give it back to God. I give this guy up. I refuse to hold onto another guy who may or may not be good or bad for me. I know that God is in control. I will continue to get to know this guy because I think that this can be done and I need to learn how to have healthy friendships where I'm not overwhelmed by the complications of trying to make everything into a potential marriage opportunity.
I was reading in 1 King 18:21 "Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing."
For so long I have chosen my own way. I choose to no longer waiver. At Resurrection our goal is Jesus, to know Him to love Him to serve Him to be more like Him. I know God has me back there for a reason.
As I was driving home from work yesterday God spoke to my heart and said why are you so afraid of what I want to do in your life? Why do you not whole heartedly embrace what I have for you?" This really hit me as it never has before. I want to hold on to my friendships and relationships and I don't want to give them over to God because I'm scared of losing them. And yet if I give them all over to God then He can use me in ways I can't begin to imagine.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Testing
Philippians 3:12-13 "12)Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,"
I have made the choice to leave things in God's hands. I am choosing not to pick them back up again. I tried to end things with the guy I've been seeing as I feel it is a distraction. He came back with I still want to continue to get to know you, can't we just go out but keep it to public places. I sent the email Tuesday night after my class and we agreed to continue to get to know one another.
Today when I checked match his profile was back up and it has been down for a little over a week now. He's still friends with his ex-girlfriend and she's the one keeping his dog when he goes out of town this weekend. Today he just told me that my roommates friend had added him as a friend on FB. She met him on match but thought he was too weird to date yet just friended him which to me is weird.
Last night at the restaurant BG came in. His company was having a dinner and I hid in the coat closet/office so he would not see me. I almost made it out but went to the back to get my check and instead of being in the room he was sitting at a table in the main dining room.
I got home and my dog had left a huge mess and then a little later pooped on my cream and beige colored rug.
I was supposed to have seen the guy I've been going out with to say goodbye and he texted me to say he didn't feel good and would just have to see me when he got back.
In class Tuesday they talked about how when you leave these things you will run into more distraction. Right now I'm feeling bombarded. The events of last night typically would have resulted in me going out and getting food and eating til I felt better and then throwing up. But instead I called my mom. Then seeing the profile today and then the friend request thing.
I've prayed that if I'm not supposed to continue to see him that God will take him out of my life entirely. I told him when I sent the email that he was too much of a distraction for me and I'm very serious about the process that I'm going through with these classes. He responded that he's not been good to support me and wants to continue to get to know me. When I get that response I'm never sure how to handle it. Something similar happened with the guy I dated from March til September of last year. I tried to break up with him 3 times and each time he convinced me not to, until the last time when I finally said I can't see a future with someone who does not believe the same way I do. With this current guy he does believe the way that I do and he understands what I'm trying to accomplish with these classes. As far as having the match profile back up, I'm reminded that I did essentially break up with him which means that I'm not dating him and he is free to see whoever he wants. He may want to continue to get to know me but he is absolutely free to pursue other relationships.
I've given things to God because I know that I can't hold onto them any longer. I told my friend after class on Tuesday how I feel like my insides are just a tangled knot of a mess covered in black gunk and b/c I keep trying to take things back and not let go I keep making more and more of a tangled knot. I explained about how I keep running into these guys and the choices I've made and the eating choices and how I was hesitant to write anything down or leave it at the front b/c I knew I was going to get hit that much harder than before and that has certainly been the case although we did pray protection over me so I have a feeling it could be way way worse!
There are a lot of things I've been praying against since Tuesday and a lot of things I've been giving thanks for! This is a process, a very important process!
I have made the choice to leave things in God's hands. I am choosing not to pick them back up again. I tried to end things with the guy I've been seeing as I feel it is a distraction. He came back with I still want to continue to get to know you, can't we just go out but keep it to public places. I sent the email Tuesday night after my class and we agreed to continue to get to know one another.
Today when I checked match his profile was back up and it has been down for a little over a week now. He's still friends with his ex-girlfriend and she's the one keeping his dog when he goes out of town this weekend. Today he just told me that my roommates friend had added him as a friend on FB. She met him on match but thought he was too weird to date yet just friended him which to me is weird.
Last night at the restaurant BG came in. His company was having a dinner and I hid in the coat closet/office so he would not see me. I almost made it out but went to the back to get my check and instead of being in the room he was sitting at a table in the main dining room.
I got home and my dog had left a huge mess and then a little later pooped on my cream and beige colored rug.
I was supposed to have seen the guy I've been going out with to say goodbye and he texted me to say he didn't feel good and would just have to see me when he got back.
In class Tuesday they talked about how when you leave these things you will run into more distraction. Right now I'm feeling bombarded. The events of last night typically would have resulted in me going out and getting food and eating til I felt better and then throwing up. But instead I called my mom. Then seeing the profile today and then the friend request thing.
I've prayed that if I'm not supposed to continue to see him that God will take him out of my life entirely. I told him when I sent the email that he was too much of a distraction for me and I'm very serious about the process that I'm going through with these classes. He responded that he's not been good to support me and wants to continue to get to know me. When I get that response I'm never sure how to handle it. Something similar happened with the guy I dated from March til September of last year. I tried to break up with him 3 times and each time he convinced me not to, until the last time when I finally said I can't see a future with someone who does not believe the same way I do. With this current guy he does believe the way that I do and he understands what I'm trying to accomplish with these classes. As far as having the match profile back up, I'm reminded that I did essentially break up with him which means that I'm not dating him and he is free to see whoever he wants. He may want to continue to get to know me but he is absolutely free to pursue other relationships.
I've given things to God because I know that I can't hold onto them any longer. I told my friend after class on Tuesday how I feel like my insides are just a tangled knot of a mess covered in black gunk and b/c I keep trying to take things back and not let go I keep making more and more of a tangled knot. I explained about how I keep running into these guys and the choices I've made and the eating choices and how I was hesitant to write anything down or leave it at the front b/c I knew I was going to get hit that much harder than before and that has certainly been the case although we did pray protection over me so I have a feeling it could be way way worse!
There are a lot of things I've been praying against since Tuesday and a lot of things I've been giving thanks for! This is a process, a very important process!
Email: Pearls
Pearls
The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five.
Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of
glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have
them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the
little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her
little girl's upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll
think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money
to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might
get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17
pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went
to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten
cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at
last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up.
She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only
time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath.
Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he
would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story.
One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from
my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave
me. She's my very favorite."
"That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek
with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you
love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one
I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket
that matches her sleeper."
"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you."
And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with
her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was
trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?" Jenny didn't say anything but
lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was
her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here,
daddy, this is for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy
reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the
other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with
a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the
time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he
could give her the genuine treasure.
So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the
cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.
Isn't God good? Are you holding onto things that God wants you to let go
of. Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships,
habits and activities that you have become so attached to that it seems
impossible to let go? Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other
hand but do believe this one thing .... God will never take away something
without giving you something better in its place.
The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five.
Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of
glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have
them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the
little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her
little girl's upturned face.
"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll
think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money
to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might
get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."
As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17
pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went
to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten
cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at
last she had enough money to buy the necklace.
Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up.
She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only
time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath.
Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.
Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he
would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story.
One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls."
"Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from
my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, daddy? The one you gave
me. She's my very favorite."
"That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek
with a kiss.
About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you
love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls."
"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one
I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket
that matches her sleeper."
"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you."
And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.
A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with
her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was
trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.
"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?" Jenny didn't say anything but
lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was
her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here,
daddy, this is for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy
reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the
other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with
a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the
time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he
could give her the genuine treasure.
So it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the
cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.
Isn't God good? Are you holding onto things that God wants you to let go
of. Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships,
habits and activities that you have become so attached to that it seems
impossible to let go? Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other
hand but do believe this one thing .... God will never take away something
without giving you something better in its place.
Email: Encouragement for Today
March 24, 2009
Scribbled-On Dreams
Marybeth Whalen
"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you have planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." Psalm 40:5 (NIV)
Devotion:
Recently I learned that a book that I had given up on was miraculously going to be published after all. I was amazed at God's power and His timing. I was ecstatic that He opened doors that I thought were shut forever. As I dug out the original notebook I had once designated to hold the papers and notes I would need for this project, I was shocked to find that almost every page in that notebook was scribbled on by my youngest child. Her artwork made every page unusable! I chuckled to myself as I closed the notebook and went in search of another one to use instead.
Later I reflected on my decision to hand over that notebook to my child. What had made me do that? I knew that it was because the project was, in my estimation, worthless, forgotten. The notebook represented something that would never be. It epitomized the death of a dream. Why not let my daughter fill in the pages with her toddler scribbles? I must have reasoned that nothing else would ever fill those pages!
And yet we serve a God who can blow new life into a dead dream. I had forgotten all about the book I once yearned to write. I had moved on in search of a new dream. But God had not forgotten. His plan was different--and longer--than mine. His vision was further reaching. His outcome never consisted of me writing my dream off as worthless and unachievable. Instead He wanted me to trust in Him even when the situation looked hopeless.
Do you have a dream that looks dead from where you are standing? Have you thrown in the towel, chalked your efforts up to experience and moved on? Just don't move so far that God can't bring you back to the dream when He is ready. Don't fill in the pages of your notebook with hopeless scribbles and not give Him room to fill the pages with His Word, words of life and hope and vision. Yes, surrender your dreams--holding onto them lightly and always keeping His plans as your purpose, ready to lay down anything He asks because no dream is more important than Him. But also remember that God loves to bring about the unexpected, throwing us little surprise parties that bring joy to His Father's heart.
My notebook now serves as a reminder--in childlike script--of God's ability to overcome the impossible and open doors that were once slammed shut. I wouldn't trade those scribbled-on pages for anything! Now I look forward to filling the pages of a new notebook with all new dreams. Dreams that were handed back to me when I least expected it.
Dear Lord, please help me to trust You when things don't work out and I have to surrender my dreams. Help me to rest in the fact that You see things from a much bigger vantage point than I ever could. Help me to know that You always have my best interests in mind, even when You close doors I wanted open. And help me Lord to be ever mindful of Your power that is always at work--even when I can't see it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Power Verses:
Psalm 75:1, "We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds." (NIV)
Psalm 136:6, "Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever." (NIV)
Psalm 105:4, "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." (NIV
Scribbled-On Dreams
Marybeth Whalen
"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you have planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." Psalm 40:5 (NIV)
Devotion:
Recently I learned that a book that I had given up on was miraculously going to be published after all. I was amazed at God's power and His timing. I was ecstatic that He opened doors that I thought were shut forever. As I dug out the original notebook I had once designated to hold the papers and notes I would need for this project, I was shocked to find that almost every page in that notebook was scribbled on by my youngest child. Her artwork made every page unusable! I chuckled to myself as I closed the notebook and went in search of another one to use instead.
Later I reflected on my decision to hand over that notebook to my child. What had made me do that? I knew that it was because the project was, in my estimation, worthless, forgotten. The notebook represented something that would never be. It epitomized the death of a dream. Why not let my daughter fill in the pages with her toddler scribbles? I must have reasoned that nothing else would ever fill those pages!
And yet we serve a God who can blow new life into a dead dream. I had forgotten all about the book I once yearned to write. I had moved on in search of a new dream. But God had not forgotten. His plan was different--and longer--than mine. His vision was further reaching. His outcome never consisted of me writing my dream off as worthless and unachievable. Instead He wanted me to trust in Him even when the situation looked hopeless.
Do you have a dream that looks dead from where you are standing? Have you thrown in the towel, chalked your efforts up to experience and moved on? Just don't move so far that God can't bring you back to the dream when He is ready. Don't fill in the pages of your notebook with hopeless scribbles and not give Him room to fill the pages with His Word, words of life and hope and vision. Yes, surrender your dreams--holding onto them lightly and always keeping His plans as your purpose, ready to lay down anything He asks because no dream is more important than Him. But also remember that God loves to bring about the unexpected, throwing us little surprise parties that bring joy to His Father's heart.
My notebook now serves as a reminder--in childlike script--of God's ability to overcome the impossible and open doors that were once slammed shut. I wouldn't trade those scribbled-on pages for anything! Now I look forward to filling the pages of a new notebook with all new dreams. Dreams that were handed back to me when I least expected it.
Dear Lord, please help me to trust You when things don't work out and I have to surrender my dreams. Help me to rest in the fact that You see things from a much bigger vantage point than I ever could. Help me to know that You always have my best interests in mind, even when You close doors I wanted open. And help me Lord to be ever mindful of Your power that is always at work--even when I can't see it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Power Verses:
Psalm 75:1, "We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds." (NIV)
Psalm 136:6, "Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever." (NIV)
Psalm 105:4, "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." (NIV
Monday, March 16, 2009
Facebook for Dummies
I keep saying someone should write this book. There are things that you should and shouldn't say for your status. If you write on someone's wall EVERYONE who goes on their profile can see it. If you post pictures then more people then you realize will probably see them. I love having reconnected with friends and family via this site. I waste in exorbitant amount of time at work b/c of the a-z about me, 37 random things and other various posts that I find to kill time.
On my way to work this morning I had the radio on and was flipping stations trying to stay awake. I come across 96.1 and the girl on the phone is talking about facebook and how she doesn't have it but her boyfriend does and her brother called the other day to make sure everything was ok. She was completely unaware thinking everything was fine but her brother informs her that her boyfriends status has changed to single. Not having facebook she's not even sure what this means. Brother Fred calls the boyfriend and starts talking to him and the guy admits that "yeah I'm using facebook to pick up women and I'm going on about one date a week." well the girl pipes up at this point to tell him that he's a jerk. The guy has just been caught, he's just flat out admitted that he's meeting other women but once he realizes his girlfriend (of a year and half) is on the phone he starts backtracking.
This brings up the fact that if you are dating someone, and you have specifically agreed with this person and it is mutual that you are not seeing anyone else then you should not be trolling to meet other people, anywhere, even facebook!
It made me think of the whole thing that happened with Ballantyne Guy back in February that I wrote about. People are going to find things out. I'm naturally nosy so that means I'm looking at other peoples stuff. I find things out. Because I'm this way it has made me more cautious as to what I do and do not post on facebook.
On my way to work this morning I had the radio on and was flipping stations trying to stay awake. I come across 96.1 and the girl on the phone is talking about facebook and how she doesn't have it but her boyfriend does and her brother called the other day to make sure everything was ok. She was completely unaware thinking everything was fine but her brother informs her that her boyfriends status has changed to single. Not having facebook she's not even sure what this means. Brother Fred calls the boyfriend and starts talking to him and the guy admits that "yeah I'm using facebook to pick up women and I'm going on about one date a week." well the girl pipes up at this point to tell him that he's a jerk. The guy has just been caught, he's just flat out admitted that he's meeting other women but once he realizes his girlfriend (of a year and half) is on the phone he starts backtracking.
This brings up the fact that if you are dating someone, and you have specifically agreed with this person and it is mutual that you are not seeing anyone else then you should not be trolling to meet other people, anywhere, even facebook!
It made me think of the whole thing that happened with Ballantyne Guy back in February that I wrote about. People are going to find things out. I'm naturally nosy so that means I'm looking at other peoples stuff. I find things out. Because I'm this way it has made me more cautious as to what I do and do not post on facebook.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Pressing towards the goal
Philippians 3:7-14
7) But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8) What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10) I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11) and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Pressing on Toward the Goal 12) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13) Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
I have begun a class series called Cleansing Stream. I have definitely been struggling with the idea of giving up my control, my wants, desires, selfishness, etc... I have also begun to train for a 4 mile race that is coming up rather quickly on March 21. As I run I have conversations with the Lord. It has really been impressed upon me that it is not thru my own strength that I am able to run. I've never been a runner, I've never wanted to be a runner and yet as I run I understand that "I can do everything thru Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13. In a very real way as I struggle to finish that last little bit I get that in Him, with Him, thru Him I can do all things. I find it interesting that at the same time I was starting these classes I also took on the running challenge. I believe He's using this as a tool to show me that I can do all things thru Him.
I've also been hit with some pretty significant temptations and I've not done the best job of making good choices. In this area I can certainly see a weak spot that I'm struggling with. I understand the way I'm to think, I understand what the right choice to make is but when it comes down to it I have found myself not wanting to make that stand. Well actually I did but then it came back around again and I made the choice again and the guilt and shame afterwards was overwhelming. I always despised people who I felt were hypocrites and for so long I refused to have anything to do with associating myself with being a Christian b/c I did not want to be a hypocrite. I now am trying to follow the example that Christ set and I am beginning to understand that when He said dying to self, he really meant that and it's NOT an easy thing to do!
7) But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8) What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10) I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11) and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Pressing on Toward the Goal 12) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13) Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
I have begun a class series called Cleansing Stream. I have definitely been struggling with the idea of giving up my control, my wants, desires, selfishness, etc... I have also begun to train for a 4 mile race that is coming up rather quickly on March 21. As I run I have conversations with the Lord. It has really been impressed upon me that it is not thru my own strength that I am able to run. I've never been a runner, I've never wanted to be a runner and yet as I run I understand that "I can do everything thru Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13. In a very real way as I struggle to finish that last little bit I get that in Him, with Him, thru Him I can do all things. I find it interesting that at the same time I was starting these classes I also took on the running challenge. I believe He's using this as a tool to show me that I can do all things thru Him.
I've also been hit with some pretty significant temptations and I've not done the best job of making good choices. In this area I can certainly see a weak spot that I'm struggling with. I understand the way I'm to think, I understand what the right choice to make is but when it comes down to it I have found myself not wanting to make that stand. Well actually I did but then it came back around again and I made the choice again and the guilt and shame afterwards was overwhelming. I always despised people who I felt were hypocrites and for so long I refused to have anything to do with associating myself with being a Christian b/c I did not want to be a hypocrite. I now am trying to follow the example that Christ set and I am beginning to understand that when He said dying to self, he really meant that and it's NOT an easy thing to do!
From my email inbox this morning
I had to share this because for me this morning it hits the mark of something I'm currently struggling with. I am trying to have an open willing heart but I keep getting hit with distractions and doubt. This was such a perfect reminder to me.
March 11, 2009 A Willing Heart Gwen Smith
Today's Truth"So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!'" (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT)
Friend to FriendMy husband Brad went on a mission trip to Guatemala last year. What he saw and experienced changed his life and increased his faith in a dramatic way. He was an eyewitness to the healing power of God. On that trip he prayed harder, believed more, and expected more from God each passing day--and as a result, God used their medical missions team as a conduit for miracles. You and I have that same opportunity every day. We have a chance to be a witness of God's healing love to a world of wounded hearts. Did God need my husband and the other volunteers to heal Guatemalan villagers, treat their physical wounds, and share the hope of Jesus with them? No. Did God move in the lives of the villagers because of their willingness to go in His name? You bet! Hector, the founder of that Guatemalan ministry, recently visited North Carolina, and my family and I went to hear him speak. When I heard him testify of the provision and power of God, my heart was stirred and my faith was boosted. But what moved me most was the story of the lesson he learned about his call after God led him to be a medical missionary. Before he began the medical ministry that he devotes his life to now, Hector's main goal in life was to make lots of money. Back then he didn't even apologize for it. He was a Christian and figured that God could use his money to help others. What happened to change the course of his life? Back in the late eighties, Hector and his wife joined a medical team on a mission to a mountain village. The team was blown away by what God did through them while they were there. On the four-hour drive back to the city, they worshipped and sang praises to God. As he worshipped and drove, Hector heard the Lord speak to his soul. This is what I've made you for. To medically treat My people, to pray for their healing, and to share the hope of Jesus with the hopeless and the lost. Hector felt so overwhelmed that he pulled the truck over and told the team of his call from God to be a missionary doctor. They prayed over him, whooped it up in celebration, and then continued down the mountain with an even greater sense of purpose and excitement. Hector thought that God had called him to be a missionary because of his skills as a doctor. Later, he would think otherwise. A few years into his work, while visiting a remote village, a woman with a large mass on her side came into their makeshift clinic. Her terrible pain was curbed only by her excitement that the medical team had come to help her. One glance at her tumor and Hector had a strong suspicion that it was malignant. Upon examining her further, Hector was convinced that she was terminal. He became very frustrated with God, to the extent that he didn't even want to share the gospel with her because he couldn't do anything to help her physically. Hector sent up a few prayers of frustration, but felt God nudging him to share the gospel with this woman. So he reluctantly shared the good news of Jesus with her; and, to Hector's surprise, she wanted to pray to receive Christ! And as they sat on the floor of that makeshift med-center, this sweet woman trusted Jesus as her Savior. When they finished praying, the woman had a radiant smile and tears in her eyes. He hugged her and she began to cry. "What happened?" Hector asked. "Why are you crying?" "As we were praying," she said, "I felt a warmth that started on my head and spread to the tips of my toes." As she said this, she realized something had changed, and she screamed with delight. "My mass is gone! My pain is gone!" Hector had her lie back down on his examining table. The tumor that had been there just minutes ago was gone. God had intervened. She was healed, both spiritually and physically! In the amazing celebration that followed, God spoke clearly to Hector's heart. God told him that He had all the power needed for the work He had called Hector to, and it had nothing to do with his medical training. God impressed on his heart that He didn't need Hector's skills or his knowledge, He had all of that covered. He just wanted him to go in His name. One of my favorite sayings is, "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called." If you are His, then you are called. Not because of who you are or what you can do, but because God can and will do His work through you. Did God tell Jonah to go to Nineveh because Jonah was a great leader with amazing vision? No! Jonah proved to be quite wimpy. When Jonah finally made it to Nineveh, did God bring a great wave of repentance and restoration because of Jonah's rhetorical gifts? No! God stirred the hearts and changed the lives of hundreds of Ninevites because Jonah finally had the courage to speak God's words. God wants to do something similar through you. He wants you to stop fighting Him on this and be willing to speak for Him so others can know the same healing and hope that you know. He wants to bring beauty up from the ashes of brokenness all around you. Let's PrayHeavenly Father, I'm so humbled that You would call me to anything. You have all the power needed for every job, yet you ask me to join you. Thank you, Lord. Please make my heart willing to say yes to everything you want me to do.
In Jesus' Name, Amen. Now It's Your TurnDo you have a willing heart? What is God calling you to do for Him? Spend a few moments in prayer and ask God to guide you and strengthen you for the task. Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. More From The GirlfriendsHey girlfriend-I'm a woman who has hesitated to say yes to God in the past. It took many months of resistance before I conceded to release my testimony into His hands. I just didn't think anything good could come of it. Boy was I wrong! God doesn't waste a hurt, and He has a big plan for your life. Trust His heart... no matter where He's leading you!
Today's devotion is an excerpt from Gwen Smith's book, Broken into Beautiful. In Broken into Beautiful, Smith invites you to hear the stories of women with shattered dreams, shameful secrets, and damaged souls...and of the loving heavenly Father who makes them beautiful again.
March 11, 2009 A Willing Heart Gwen Smith
Today's Truth"So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, 'Come back to God!'" (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT)
Friend to FriendMy husband Brad went on a mission trip to Guatemala last year. What he saw and experienced changed his life and increased his faith in a dramatic way. He was an eyewitness to the healing power of God. On that trip he prayed harder, believed more, and expected more from God each passing day--and as a result, God used their medical missions team as a conduit for miracles. You and I have that same opportunity every day. We have a chance to be a witness of God's healing love to a world of wounded hearts. Did God need my husband and the other volunteers to heal Guatemalan villagers, treat their physical wounds, and share the hope of Jesus with them? No. Did God move in the lives of the villagers because of their willingness to go in His name? You bet! Hector, the founder of that Guatemalan ministry, recently visited North Carolina, and my family and I went to hear him speak. When I heard him testify of the provision and power of God, my heart was stirred and my faith was boosted. But what moved me most was the story of the lesson he learned about his call after God led him to be a medical missionary. Before he began the medical ministry that he devotes his life to now, Hector's main goal in life was to make lots of money. Back then he didn't even apologize for it. He was a Christian and figured that God could use his money to help others. What happened to change the course of his life? Back in the late eighties, Hector and his wife joined a medical team on a mission to a mountain village. The team was blown away by what God did through them while they were there. On the four-hour drive back to the city, they worshipped and sang praises to God. As he worshipped and drove, Hector heard the Lord speak to his soul. This is what I've made you for. To medically treat My people, to pray for their healing, and to share the hope of Jesus with the hopeless and the lost. Hector felt so overwhelmed that he pulled the truck over and told the team of his call from God to be a missionary doctor. They prayed over him, whooped it up in celebration, and then continued down the mountain with an even greater sense of purpose and excitement. Hector thought that God had called him to be a missionary because of his skills as a doctor. Later, he would think otherwise. A few years into his work, while visiting a remote village, a woman with a large mass on her side came into their makeshift clinic. Her terrible pain was curbed only by her excitement that the medical team had come to help her. One glance at her tumor and Hector had a strong suspicion that it was malignant. Upon examining her further, Hector was convinced that she was terminal. He became very frustrated with God, to the extent that he didn't even want to share the gospel with her because he couldn't do anything to help her physically. Hector sent up a few prayers of frustration, but felt God nudging him to share the gospel with this woman. So he reluctantly shared the good news of Jesus with her; and, to Hector's surprise, she wanted to pray to receive Christ! And as they sat on the floor of that makeshift med-center, this sweet woman trusted Jesus as her Savior. When they finished praying, the woman had a radiant smile and tears in her eyes. He hugged her and she began to cry. "What happened?" Hector asked. "Why are you crying?" "As we were praying," she said, "I felt a warmth that started on my head and spread to the tips of my toes." As she said this, she realized something had changed, and she screamed with delight. "My mass is gone! My pain is gone!" Hector had her lie back down on his examining table. The tumor that had been there just minutes ago was gone. God had intervened. She was healed, both spiritually and physically! In the amazing celebration that followed, God spoke clearly to Hector's heart. God told him that He had all the power needed for the work He had called Hector to, and it had nothing to do with his medical training. God impressed on his heart that He didn't need Hector's skills or his knowledge, He had all of that covered. He just wanted him to go in His name. One of my favorite sayings is, "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called." If you are His, then you are called. Not because of who you are or what you can do, but because God can and will do His work through you. Did God tell Jonah to go to Nineveh because Jonah was a great leader with amazing vision? No! Jonah proved to be quite wimpy. When Jonah finally made it to Nineveh, did God bring a great wave of repentance and restoration because of Jonah's rhetorical gifts? No! God stirred the hearts and changed the lives of hundreds of Ninevites because Jonah finally had the courage to speak God's words. God wants to do something similar through you. He wants you to stop fighting Him on this and be willing to speak for Him so others can know the same healing and hope that you know. He wants to bring beauty up from the ashes of brokenness all around you. Let's PrayHeavenly Father, I'm so humbled that You would call me to anything. You have all the power needed for every job, yet you ask me to join you. Thank you, Lord. Please make my heart willing to say yes to everything you want me to do.
In Jesus' Name, Amen. Now It's Your TurnDo you have a willing heart? What is God calling you to do for Him? Spend a few moments in prayer and ask God to guide you and strengthen you for the task. Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. More From The GirlfriendsHey girlfriend-I'm a woman who has hesitated to say yes to God in the past. It took many months of resistance before I conceded to release my testimony into His hands. I just didn't think anything good could come of it. Boy was I wrong! God doesn't waste a hurt, and He has a big plan for your life. Trust His heart... no matter where He's leading you!
Today's devotion is an excerpt from Gwen Smith's book, Broken into Beautiful. In Broken into Beautiful, Smith invites you to hear the stories of women with shattered dreams, shameful secrets, and damaged souls...and of the loving heavenly Father who makes them beautiful again.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
2 Choices (email forward)
Two ChoicesWhat would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and itsdedicated staff, he offered a question:'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.Where is the natural order of things in my son?'The audience was stilled by the query.The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'Then he told the following story:Shay and I had walked past a park wh ere some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.However, as Sh ay steppedup to theplate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.The game would now be over.The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!Run to first!'Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'Shay reached third base because the opposin g shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!Shay, run to third!'As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
May your day, be a Shay Day.
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate.The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
May your day, be a Shay Day.
Friday, March 6, 2009
2nd Corinthians 12:9
2nd Corinthians 12:9-10 "9) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10) That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I was praying all the way to work today. While I am very thankful to have a job the environment in which I work is very tension filled. I'm giving thanks and praise that the Lord will be opening a new door soon, provided that this is His will for me!
I was praying all the way to work today. While I am very thankful to have a job the environment in which I work is very tension filled. I'm giving thanks and praise that the Lord will be opening a new door soon, provided that this is His will for me!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Email: How do you decide who to marry?
1. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)
-You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10
-No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10
2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
-Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10
3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
-You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
-Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8
5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
-Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)
-On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10
6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
-When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7
-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - - Curt, age 7
-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. - - Howard, age 8
7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
-It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9 (bless you child )
8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
-There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin, age 8 And the #1 Favorite is.......
9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
-Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck. -- Ricky, age 10
-You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10
-No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10
2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
-Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10
3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
-You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
-Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8
5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
-Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)
-On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10
6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
-When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7
-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - - Curt, age 7
-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. - - Howard, age 8
7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
-It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9 (bless you child )
8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
-There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin, age 8 And the #1 Favorite is.......
9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
-Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck. -- Ricky, age 10
Walking in the Spirit
Last night was the 2nd class in the Cleansing Stream class series that I am attending. We heard about being in Alignment. Proper alignment is Spirit, Soul, Body. Often times Christians are not in proper alignment instead they are Soul, Spirit, Body. Our soul is our flesh. Our will, our wants, our hurts, our past bruises and wounds that have not healed and are continually being beaten on by the enemy. When we bring ourselves into alignment our soul is protected by the spirit and our spirit is being protected by the covering of the blood of Jesus. Being in alignment is a choice, a decision, an act of our will that we will follow the spirit.
I've grown up in a background that is very spirit filled. In the church where I grew up I saw speaking in tongues and being "slain" in the spirit, and holy tears and holy laughter and many other things that some would question and say it's not "of God". I always had a caution when it came to any of these things but I would usually not say it was "not of God". I also maintained it was not for me.
As I was listening last night I began to pray asking God why is it so hard for me. I should want to be in your Spirit. I should desire to have your annointing. I should be hungry for you insatiable in my desire to learn more. And yet I had thoughts running through my head last night of why would I want to walk in the Spirit. I like my life just fine as it is. I push those thoughts away. I was made in God's image. I was made to worship him. I have tried to do things my way and the results are devastating.
Part of the message last night was that we choose to walk in the Spirit. We make that choice to submit our body and soul to the spirit. When we experience being born again our body is instantly brought into alignment. This is the "high" you hear about how the new Christian is hearing from God and everything is amazing and bright and indescribable. And yet this is just the begining the seed of life has only just been planted. We are actually supposed to grow and mature and our spirit is to grow and mature so it can pour out of us and touch the world around us.
Maybe because I never had that "born again" experience this is why I'm struggling so hard with wanting to walk in the spirit. All of my life I heard about being in submission to the spirit and listening to the Lord. I have this huge part of me that is just not wanting to let go. I'm praying against that. If I was made to worship and serve the Lord then that is what my life should be about. There is an intense battle within me that is waging. I CHOOSE TO ALLOW THE LORD TO DO THE WORK THAT HE HAS BEGUN. In my reading this morning was the scripture verse about how God is faithful and will complete the work that He has started. God knew me before I was born. He knew the plans that he had for me. He understands my thoughts and ways better than I do myself. He loved me so much He sent His Son to die for me. No greater love has there ever been then the love God has for His people.
So knowing all that WHY is this so difficult for me???
I've grown up in a background that is very spirit filled. In the church where I grew up I saw speaking in tongues and being "slain" in the spirit, and holy tears and holy laughter and many other things that some would question and say it's not "of God". I always had a caution when it came to any of these things but I would usually not say it was "not of God". I also maintained it was not for me.
As I was listening last night I began to pray asking God why is it so hard for me. I should want to be in your Spirit. I should desire to have your annointing. I should be hungry for you insatiable in my desire to learn more. And yet I had thoughts running through my head last night of why would I want to walk in the Spirit. I like my life just fine as it is. I push those thoughts away. I was made in God's image. I was made to worship him. I have tried to do things my way and the results are devastating.
Part of the message last night was that we choose to walk in the Spirit. We make that choice to submit our body and soul to the spirit. When we experience being born again our body is instantly brought into alignment. This is the "high" you hear about how the new Christian is hearing from God and everything is amazing and bright and indescribable. And yet this is just the begining the seed of life has only just been planted. We are actually supposed to grow and mature and our spirit is to grow and mature so it can pour out of us and touch the world around us.
Maybe because I never had that "born again" experience this is why I'm struggling so hard with wanting to walk in the spirit. All of my life I heard about being in submission to the spirit and listening to the Lord. I have this huge part of me that is just not wanting to let go. I'm praying against that. If I was made to worship and serve the Lord then that is what my life should be about. There is an intense battle within me that is waging. I CHOOSE TO ALLOW THE LORD TO DO THE WORK THAT HE HAS BEGUN. In my reading this morning was the scripture verse about how God is faithful and will complete the work that He has started. God knew me before I was born. He knew the plans that he had for me. He understands my thoughts and ways better than I do myself. He loved me so much He sent His Son to die for me. No greater love has there ever been then the love God has for His people.
So knowing all that WHY is this so difficult for me???
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Being True to yourself
Knowing what is right and doing what is right are 2 different things. Making a stand to do what is right is not fun or easy. Letting go of my wants and desires in order to acknowledge that I am not the one in control is downright hard. I always tell my friends to be true to themselves. To me, in order to be true to myself it means being true to the call that God has given me as a Christian. To be in the world but not of the world. To not comform but understand that I have been bought with a price. To obey what He has commanded me. For God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die so that we might have life eternal. No greater love exists then the love of our Heavenly Father. As hard as it may seem right now to walk away and let it go I hold to the promise given to me in Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Turning and running after Him instead of stubbornly persisting in my own way.
Turning and running after Him instead of stubbornly persisting in my own way.
March 3, 2009
Maybe if I get these thoughts out I will be able to get some work done. My brother signed up for Match.com and met an amazing girl. I decided to give Match a second chance and signed up last Tuesday. The next couple days I got winks but nothing really interesting. I got an email from psycho crazy who was the reason I quit the whole thing 3 years ago within 5 hours of signing up. Friday I got an IM from a guy and told him I was at work so he gave me his email. So we emailed then texted then set up lunch for Saturday. We met at 1:30 Saturday and when I looked at my phone as we were leaving it was 4:40. He is good looking. Funny, smart, charming, opened the doors for me (we know this is huge in my book). So Sunday I had all these plans but the weather in Charlotte was so yucky that I made it a lazy movie day and he came over and we watched movies and hung out. Basically he is just an great guy. BUT I see on his facebook where his last girlfriend wrote on his wall Sunday asking how his weekend was. The lasted posted pic of them is 2/9/09. These are red flags to me! I don't like this. It makes me feel overwhelmed. I am trying to take steps back and let it go.
We were supposed to have dinner last night but he had to take his buddy's girlfriend to the airport. This is the type of guy he is, it's snowing and yucky Sunday night and the buddy's girlfriend is stranded at the airport so he goes and picks her up and then takes her back to the airport the next night. He asked for a rain check to which I said of course.
It's never a good idea to move too fast. I'm taking classes on learning how to walk in the spirit and truly truly truly I need to focus on that. As great as I believe this guy to be nothing should be coming in the way of what I need to learn as I go thru this class series.
I was doing my homework the other night and I read the scripture about how God breathed His breath into Adam. That hit me in a different way then it ever had before. How AMAZING is it that the breath that runs thru us is the breath that God originally breathed into Adam... It hit me that way the other night and I just had the greatest sense of awe over it!
We were supposed to have dinner last night but he had to take his buddy's girlfriend to the airport. This is the type of guy he is, it's snowing and yucky Sunday night and the buddy's girlfriend is stranded at the airport so he goes and picks her up and then takes her back to the airport the next night. He asked for a rain check to which I said of course.
It's never a good idea to move too fast. I'm taking classes on learning how to walk in the spirit and truly truly truly I need to focus on that. As great as I believe this guy to be nothing should be coming in the way of what I need to learn as I go thru this class series.
I was doing my homework the other night and I read the scripture about how God breathed His breath into Adam. That hit me in a different way then it ever had before. How AMAZING is it that the breath that runs thru us is the breath that God originally breathed into Adam... It hit me that way the other night and I just had the greatest sense of awe over it!
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