Changes

Life in this world is full of instability and changes. There is only one constant and it is an amazing constant and His name is God! He is the almighty Lord. It may seem like everything if falling apart and full of so much chaos but in it all God gives us a peace. These last couple of days have felt like a roller coaster and like I am never ever getting off and my head is spinning but when I take the time to calm down and hear God in my heart and life He calms me down and quiets my spirit. God is almighty. My favorite and closest neighbors and my last sister are both moving in the next month and a half. It seems miserable and there have been some definite tears and emotions. But instead of choosing misery and pain I will choose prayer and give it to God and let Him take my deep pain away. Things and people can hurt me but God can and will save me! No matter who comes and goes Jesus came to save me and continues to save me!!

Encourage someone

This week the challenge at my church is to encourage someone. I feel as though you should be encouraging everyone you encounter daily or some how communicating it to them that you care about them. My favorite way is by writing notes to people and expressing my love for them that I have in Christ. I think all christians should be encouraging others daily and helping them be patient on The Lord and abide in Him. Write a card to someone, send a letter, and if you can't directly communicate with them pray for them and tell God how much you love them and He will take care of them. People can feel when you are praying for them and it's very powerful!  I just want all who are reading this to know that if I have met you or not I love you and care for you in Christ but more importantly God loves you! No matter how tired you may be go the extra step to call them and leave a message or go get ice cream with that person who needs your love! Do what Christ would do! He would love others:). 

Amazing people

These last 2 months I have realized what AMAZING people God has given me and blessed me with! He gives us so many oppurtunities to meet new people and just given me the grace to see how great they are. I think it is so important to take those challenges and oppurtunities God gives us and take advantage of them! Love those people and get to know them. See the beauty in how God created them! I challenge myself everyday to just fall in love with those people and write them notes and just do things to show them your love! 

I have sooo many people God has given me recently and I thank God sooo much! 

Even the crazy children at work that make me want to scream or cry and that are super naughty I love. Last week when I didn't see them all week and I missed the craziness and loving them sooo much! I wasn't at my normal site this week and I still went to visit them because God has given me such a deep love for them! Praise to You Lord!

Planting seeds

So often as christians we can get caught up in the thought that we have to be saving people. When that is literally impossible. I watched a weird movie recently where it was just all about the ministry and the pastor wanting to get on TV and he ends up killing his wife. This isn't a true story but still people can get so caught up in what others think they are doing. We can not in our own power save people. We can be a witness to others but the only reason we can even do that is because Gods spirit dwells in us. He lets His light shine through us. 

As we are all called to ministry I think it is important to remember that it is not about how many people are saved on a specific day but how many people we are loving and letting them hear about Gods love! God may not be calling us to be that specific person that will be along the path with somebody as they are being saved we may have just planted the seed 20 years before at church camp by loving them and speaking to them about Jesus. It doesn't have to be an automatic transformation but it does involve us still loving them completely and in Christ and NOT giving up on them! It's so important to remember that God will do all the work. All we have to do is be ready to be used by Him! He will give us the words to say and the love to give. If we go to others trying to throw Jesus in their face and act like we have all this knowledge and are great christians it will turn them off. They don't want to be bombarded they want and need to see the love of God. We have to meet them in their need not in their wants. It's like with kids, they may want us to be their best friends and let them do whatever they want but they need us to discipline them and raise them up in The Lord. Let God do the work and just ask Him to use you in any way!!!

Seeing Gods beauty in nature

God has created everything so beautiful! I love being in nature and truly just feeling Him and seeing His beauty and hearing His glory!! He is so good! It's wonderful to be isolated and see how perfect He originally created everything! There is no flaw in His creation, and that means in us too! 

Praise be to our awesome God!!!

Serving Jesus

We are all called to serve. Jesus was called to serve. He was called to serve when He was exhausted, when He wanted to be alone. He was called to serve what some may think are losers or who we don't want to serve. I am going to put some passages in that relate to how we may feel when serving and it's so important to remember we are serving Jesus not ourselves and not others. 

JESUS HEALS A MAN WITH LEPROSY

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (Matthew 8:1-4 NIV)

JESUS HEALS A PARALYZED MAN 

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:1-8 NIV)

When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. (Mark 5:2-10 NIV)

Jesus feeds five thousand 

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. (Mark 6:30-44 NIV). 

I think this scripture is important because Jesus' best friend and cousin had just been beheaded and He probably wanted to be alone and mourn and just have His own time with God. But people didn't leave Him alone, not because He asked and the wouldn't leave but because He took on the greater calling than how He felt and said God give me the strength to love these people. Probably some of the people who would later turn against Him and want Him dead. 

There is a common theme in these scriptures. That is that no matter what timing, what He felt, who it was or where He was Jesus dropped everything. I think of the times where I say I am too tired can we talk tomorrow. That person might not ever feel the same way again humble yourself and ask God to give you the strength. If He wants you to do it He will make it happen. Jesus had joy in dying for us, He could've soooo easily gotten down from that cross but He stayed there suffering and bearing our sins. What we do is no pain in comparison. 

You have to score at some point

My sisters soccer team lost last night in the state semifinals. Although she let an unfortunate goal in she said something after the game that I think means a lot in soccer and in life in Christ. You have to score, you can't just play defense the whole time and remain neutral. You don't win a game by playing defense the whole time. You aren't truly living in the glory of God if you are always playing defense and just trying to fight Satan or not really enjoying God. You have to actually OVERCOME satan. There is an obstacle there and you have to fight it. Playing defense the whole time wears you out and eventually you can't fight anymore. If you aren't actually trying to win for God and do something great for Him then it becomes exhausting and pretty pointless. Eventually you can't fight anymore and you give into sin. 

Living for God means winning and overcoming sin! When you except Jesus into your life you say God you have control and I don't have to worry anymore. Why? Because God has already won the battle for you. He won! Don't become exhausted by trying to live in this world and with God. Choose Him! I think it's very important to realize that yes satan is constantly attacking us but God is still holding us up. We aren't holding Him up or letting Him down, He is the ONE AND ONLY in this life that can hold us up! 

Win the battle and overcome!

Giving gifts

Giving gifts is one of the 5 love languages. I personally love giving gifts to others especially when it is out of pure love and joy for them and not for a specific reason or me trying to get something out of it. And I love when others think of me and give me gifts but I wouldn't say I need it in my life. Sometimes it can feel awkward opening gifts especially when you don't love it or you just feel awkward because someone thought about you in a special way. 

Giving gifts can be a special way to show someone you really love them. But what I think is so special about it is that you truly think they would love it and you see what their opinion would be when you are buying it. Gifts doesn't have to be a constant thing but I believe when you love somebody and care about them in Christ gifts are a great way to show your love and expand and deepen your relationship. 

But always when buying gifts they should be bought with the right heart. Never feeling like you have to buy a gift even if it is their birthday, but instead caring about them and wanting to celebrate how God made them through a physical gift. Gifts shouldn't be trying to cover up a secret or hide something from somebody when you wronged them. Gifts shouldn't be something that you are manipulating the situation because you actually want the gift more than they would. 

You can show Gods deep love through gifts if you use His gifts appropriately. 

Not forgiving=bitterness=pain

There are studies that show that not forgiving people can literally cause pain in your life. You are holding on to resentment that God calls and COMMANDS us to let go of. He wants us to live in that forgiveness. Truly forgiving someone means moving on in loving them and praying for them and truly wanting the best. It means not bringing up that old pain whenever you feel like it. Forgiving takes time and it is only by the grace of God that we can even have the power to forgive. It is so not easy in any way! If it is something that you can't even bring yourself to talk about or mention that persons name without feeling pain and hurt all over again you truly haven't forgiven or let God rework your heart and life. He wants to use that pain for His glory and for greater purposes. He let that pain happen to you and that may seem harsh but He has a greater plan in that pain!

Truly forgiving someone means you have such a peace that you just trust God and don't get angry or negative anytime someone talks about that person. It means that you don't have to become angry every time you head their name. Wanting them to come to know The Lord if they haven't or to repent and restore their relationship with God. Because if we can't forgive them it is just as much a horrible and life long sin as what they did. That resentment will stay in your heart and lead you to bitterness and not having joy or being able to lead others to Christ. 

I wanted to share more of a personal story that I have become aware of as I have read Choosing Forgiveness. My oldest sister is in a relationship that doesn't honor God, she has lived with us for over a year after graduating college. I have my feelings about everything and its usually not positive. I feel like she is lazy and ungrateful. But reading the book I came to realize that I might actually be mad at her and holding it over that she lives with us and her relationship and not forgiving her. I am not leaving room in the relationship for growth or encouragement because I have so much bitterness. She can very easily put me in a bad mood and I am usually more quick to say something negative than positive. The bitterness I have is not allowing me to be a light in my family or show true love. It doesn't show Christs love when I don't love her appropriately. I am interfering in their relationships with God and saving them. She doesn't know God to start with so the bar is set very low and she probably doesn't think there is very much wrong and she doesn't feel loved by me either. I have been hurting myself in the process and having resentment against her. It isn't fair and it's not okay. I am starting over and going to allow God to work on me and show Christs light in my families lives. 

Challenge: think about whose lives you are hurting by holding on to something and not letting it go. Fix it. Don't let it keep wearing you down and taking you away from God each day. Not forgiving allows more sin to creep in. Take it to The Lord in prayer. 

Fixing our eyes on Jesus:)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1, 2 NIV). 

What we set our eyes on is what our hearts are set on. What our hearts are set on is where we will be in the future. It is a lobby race or marathon that we have to endure through and the only way we can truly do that successfully and Holy is by doing it for God and looking to God. We obviously can't see eye to eye with God and give Him a hug every day, so fixing our eyes on Him is actually a lot of work and concentration. It takes time looking at His word, praying, spending quiet time letting Him speak to us. It takes patience! But if we focus on money our life will be money and we will never truly be happy or be where we want to be. Nothing will ever be enough. 

To run this race it is important to run the race with others who are running it and trying to get to the same goal as us. We must surround ourselves with others with simmalar goals as us. Be around people who are want to fight this fight as much as us! If we have things that take us away from Jesus and truly giving Him glory then we must get rid of those things that cause us to sin. It is better to enter the kingdom of God without our hand if it causes us with sin. For most of us we aren't going to cut off our hands but if we truly can't stop sinning by our hands than we may need to take ourselves out of a lot serious and severe situations. 

We still have a long time left in this race and there will be storms that try and prevent us from doing it as fully as we should but God can clear those storms. We will never run out of water with God and His true and holy word will fill our thirst and hunger. God will cool us in times of anger and help us move or avoid obstacles! He is in it all! 

The best way to run this race is looking to God the whole time. Every time we say I don't know how I am going to get through this He says with Me. He says I am here for you I won't let you down! Even in the hardest times and the most hurtful times He can and WILL heal us and allow us to move on in a new light!

God is faithful

Life in Christ is day by day process where we have to learn something new every single day and just be patient. Nothing happens over night. But God sees our lives in like a video where He sees the beginning and the end and we can only feel the right now. We ask why God would you do this to me I really don't think I can deal with this. But God sees our perseverance and He gives us the exact tools to overcome the hardship and give the glory to Him. The bible tells us we WILL 100% face hardships and be prosecuted. So did Jesus and He died the most Holy death and is now with God forever. God did not lie to Jesus or just let Him suffer. He provides the way. He IS the way! 

If we aren't taking our problems and loneliness to God then we still won't be in it alone. God will helping us and trying to turn our hearts to Him and He will put people in our lives to get through it. No matter if you are the pastor of a huge church or a bible study leader or just a child of God, you still NEED people in your life everyday that will pour into you! You need other sources of love in your life. We are not expected to have all the answers! Not a single person is that is only for God almighty our Lord. We need a constant inflow in our lives of God. Every single day we should be poured into and pouring into others! God is here to save us! Glory to Him! We aren't in this alone, Holy is The Lord almighty! He won't let us suffer. Even in the darkest moments God is there to be praised. He is soooo worthy of our praise and I will praise Him all the day long! All praise to You God almighty!

I'll be there

God is always right there by our side. When someone is angry with us or needs our help or is sad or just in need of love, God is always right there for us! He never ever leaves our side and I never ever want to leave His side. I want to praise His holiness and just become more like Him and His ways. I want to be so quick to forgive people and truly go on loving them and not holding any resentment in my heart. I am reading choosing forgiveness by Nancy Leigh Demoss, a friend recommended it to me, and what I have read so far is truly extraordinary. Not just for big hurtings but just as a guide to walk through life. And the way she speaks. I truly want to be more careful with the words I choose and I just pray in the mornings that God would give me the exact words to say to others and not just to sound humbled or holy but to have the words actually come from a humbled and holy heart! God is with me in every step of this life and I need Him to be. I truly truly need His grace and blessings to get through each day! Each and every day I feel closer to Him and learn something new about Him. There isn't a day where I say to myself wow life would be so much better without God. Because it is only good because of God and what is good is God and from Him!