Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Jump In With Both Feet

You know there has to be more; you're just not sure how to get there. One thing is certain; you just don't want to stay where you are at.

Charles Swindoll

I read another quote tonight in the paper that said...

If you're not growing you're dead.

They were talking about a college football team but, that can apply to our Christian walk as well. We need to always be learning more about the Lord. Doing more for Him. We need to talk to Him...read the Word...share with others about Him...go to church...do everything we can to become closer to Him! It is essential for our journey to continue to grow in Him. The Army has a motto...Be all you can be! I think as Christians we should have a motto also. Mine is going to be...Learn all I can learn, grow all I can grow, do all I can do, live my life to the fullest...for HIM!

I'm sure it won't always be an easy thing to live this motto. Not only will I fail at times because I'm human but I'm sure the devil will put his two-cents worth in often. But you see...what I just said really makes the point of this post. If I can do what that motto says...really live the Christian life like I should...the devils attacks won't knock me down as hard as they would if I wasn't doing everything I can to grow. I will be better prepared to deal with him.

It's all up to me how much I grow and how fast I grow. God has really been speaking to me about this lately. Not only speaking but working in my life. Taking me through some things that happened in my past and giving me healing. Letting me know that it's okay to live...really live! I don't have to be stuck in my past because of things that took place. With the Lords help I have been able to put some things behind me. I am ready to move on with life...and grow in Him!! Praise God!!!

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

The Swindoll quote at the beginning is so right on for me at this point in my life. I know there is more...and I want more so badly...and I am learning how to get there. I just have to let go and let God do what He needs to do in all areas of my life. It's a process and He is already begun it within me. I am excited and a little nervous about it all at the same time. But, the last couple of days I have come to the conclusion that I just need to jump in with both feet. Stop sitting when I should be standing and going forward!

One thing He told me was that I didn't need to hide anymore. Yes...I have a past. The thing is...it's past. I am a new creation and people need to know what He has done for me and in me and what He is doing now. I have already begun to come out of hiding. I have shared the link to my blog with people that know me. That is a stretch for me. I am just learning to trust God in one more area of my life by doing this.

2 Corinthians 5:17
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

If you see yourself in this...and you need to get up and go forward...jump in with both feet! He won't let us drown!!





The Inheritance is a great video. It really speaks to my heart every time I watch it. Hope you enjoy it!

The Inheritance for Men and Women

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

John Starnes - Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Help Me Lord Each Moment

In Your presence Lord
is where I want to be
I want to live my life
connected Lord to Thee
Only by Your side
is where I want to stand
Help me Lord each moment
to hold onto Your hand

With every breath I take
I humbly now do pray
That You will come and guide me
along the narrow way
You're always right there waiting
even when I leave Your side
Help me Lord each moment
to let You be my guide

Lord let my life reflect
the love You've shown to me
When You were nailed and pierced
and died upon that tree
Help me to overflow
with Your love anew each day
Help me Lord each moment
to love all that come my way


In Your presence Lord
forever I will stand
You're the Rock of my salvation
my Comforter and my Friend
I lay everything I have
at Your feet just now
Help me Lord each moment
to You I humbly bow







Rest In Him

It's Monday night at 11:30. I get up to go to work in five hours and I can't sleep. So I was laying there thinking about different things. One thing was who the most important person in my life is. That is such an easy question to answer. Jesus Christ is the most important person ever in my life!! He has done so much for me. He forgave me of my sins and gave me a new outlook on life.

I will be real for a moment. For some reason I had to get up to share this with you. It must be that someone else is having trouble sleeping tonight. I was just getting ready to do this but had to tell you first. When I can't sleep or things are really bothering me...I pick up my Bible...lay it on my chest...wrap my arms around it...and talk to God. I just ask Him to give me peace and help me to rest in Him. It is amazing how He calms my soul and helps me. Before too long I go to sleep. Why? Why does doing that one simple thing work? I think because I am finally just putting all my trust in HIM! I have to trust Him to help me sleep peacefully. He is amazing! Whenever I do this I sleep well and am rested...even when it's a short night. When I don't place my trust in Him...it's a restless night.

So...if your having problems sleeping...try it. What do you have to lose?

Maybe your just having problems. Things aren't going well for you. Do you need a Savior? Have you asked Jesus to come into your life? If you have asked Him but things still aren't going well...have you totally surrendered to Him? Have you let Him help you with the hard stuff? The depression...the addictions...the loneliness...anything else you might struggle with? I have had all these problems. Actually, I still struggle with them sometimes. I have found out though that I don't have to let these things win. GOD is bigger than any of these things. I'm not...I don't have what it takes, on my own, to get past these things when they come up. But, I know what to do now to get help to get past them.  It's only Jesus that can help you. Only He can give you peace. Surrender to Him and rest!!

I use this verse a lot. It's a good reminder.


Philippians 4:7

The Message (MSG)
 6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

GOD Therapy

Psalm 46:10a

Be still and know that I am God...

Sometimes we just have to do that. Be still...in the presence of God...and just know that no matter what kind of news you got this week God is still God! It's sometimes a hard thing to do to just...Be still. But in reality there are things that we can't do anything about. Circumstances that we can't change. Oh...we might want to more than anything, but...we can't! I have been told so many times that...God is sovereign...God is faithful...God takes care of His own...all true statements. But sometimes it's still hard to...Be still.

Philippians 4:7

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.


This verse goes so well with Psalm 46:10. After you just sit and Be still in His presence, peace...will finally come. The circumstance is still there, nothing has changed...But GOD has come in and brought peace to your troubled soul. We need those But GOD moments sometimes in our lives. I think He is always willing to give them to us, we just have to be ready to receive them from Him.



2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

What happens to us many times when we are going through unsure times in our lives...when hard things are happening? A spirit of fear...apprehension...uneasiness...comes over us. We have to remember that fear is not of God. We have to let Him take control of the situation. Through His love He restores peace to our soul and our minds...if we allow Him too.

Tonight I was talking to the Lord and just asking Him to give me some scriptures to read to help quell the uneasiness inside of me. I just really needed His peace and calm assurance to overtake my thoughts and feelings. God is so good! He gave me scriptures and something to write about. He knows that for me writing helps. He talks...I listen! God therapy for my soul. Sometimes we have holes in our souls from past pain and hurts. At times we get new holes in our souls from current pain and hurts. The good thing is...God will apply His healing touch to those holes. We just have to let Him!

So, whatever it is that you may be going through today just...

Be still and sit in His presence and let His peace come in and overtake all the stuff that you can't do anything about! Let go of the fear and let Him apply His healing touch to all the holes!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

One Thing

One thing I desire from God...that He would give me clarity about what I am supposed to be doing for Him in the next part of my journey with Him.

One thing I want to experience...the Lord in my life in a deeper, all consuming way.

One thing I want to change...how I respond when trials and temptations first hit.

One thing I need to let go...fear of failing.

One promise I need to claim...He never changes or leaves us. We are the ones that move away from Him! Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

A friend of mine gave me a note with the One thing written on it. She told me it was a challenge to her from a friend so she in turn was challenging me with them. These have taken a little bit of thinking! I didn't want to just come up with answers. I wanted my answers to be truthful and have meaning...they are and do. They are written in green.

The next step is to work towards achieving those things. As I succeed I will post about them.

Monday, June 20, 2011

1 John 5:14

forgiven...pardoned...released...made complete...feel safe...made whole...comforted...healing...being remade and restored...revived...awakened my soul...breathed new life into...strengthened...joyful

This list could just go on and on. I can't even begin to tell you all that Jesus has done for me. The last couple of months He seems to be working in my life in ways I really never thought was possible. Changing me and making me into the person that He wants me to be. Actually...not only who He wants me to be but someone I have always wanted to be! Pretty sure I have said this in a post before, but...if you don't really mean what you ask for in prayer...Don't pray it! If it's what the Lord also wants for you He will start answering those prayers when you least expect it. At least...that's how it works for me. The upside of the down side...which is having to surrender your will to His...is that whatever He has you do will be more than okay! So really, there is no downside. I am learning to not let fear control my life. When you know God is in it...let it happen! Don't stop it for fear of the unknown...even when you don't understand why.


Psalm 91:2

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
         My God, in Him I will trust.”
        


Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

1 John 5:14

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Who Am I

Who am I...
I am a person just like you...

I am a person full of negativity
I am a person full of pain
I am a person full of hurts
I am a person that's been let down
I am a person that's been lied to
I am a person that's been abused
I am a person that's known heartache
I am a person that's known fear
I am a person that's known loneliness
I am a person that's known grief

Who am I
I am a person just like you...

That once was a lost soul
That once had a soul full of unhealed holes
That once had many problems and no one to turn to for help
That once knew only depression and fear
That once thought God never wanted anything to do with me
That once thought I could never truly feel anything good
That once didn't want to be close to anyone
That once truly believed I would spend eternity in Hell
That once wanted to take my own life
That once had nothing to live for

Who am I
I am a person just like you but...

Because of Jesus Christ

I am a lost soul
that has been forgiven
I am a soul full of holes
that are being patched up and healed
I am someone with problems
and God to turn to about them
I am someone who still knows fear at times
but God helps me with it
I am someone that knows
God loves me
I am someone who
wants to be close to people
I am someone who
feels more than I want to at times
I am someone who
truly believes I will spend eternity in Heaven
I am someone who
has everything to live for

Why?...
Because of Jesus Christ

I am a blood bought child of the living God
I am forgiven 100 percent
I am cleansed
I am free
I am loved by the One and Only...I AM

You can be someone who "once was" too or...
You can be someone who knows you are loved...

Why?...
Because of Jesus Christ

THE ONE who died to do everything for you
that He did for me...and more

Get to know HIM

Something Good

Sunday morning. Usually I'm in church right now but today I had to stay home. In my past life I could think of all kinds of reasons not to go...occasionally I still can...but that's not the case today. Today I wanted to go but was unable to because on Friday I messed my back up so much that by Saturday morning I couldn't even stand up without help. Today however...I'm happy to say...I can.  But God always shows me that there is "something good" that can come out of everything if I will just look for it...and accept it...when it comes. Yesterday I had one of those moments...

I was alone and found myself on the floor and not able to get up. Baaad times! But...God came through! I called out to Him to please help me because I couldn't do it on my own. After a couple of minutes the pain lessened and I was able to get up. That was "something good!" I still really couldn't stand or walk but I thank God that since that moment it has been getting better and never returned to that intensity. So this morning when I woke up at 4 a.m. I decided it was time to suck it up and not feel sorry for myself because I had to stay home. I listened to some music and then read my Bible. Nothing I read really inspired me or jumped off the page at me. However, it did do "something good" for me. I started feeling peace...something I've lacked for a couple of days! Then I turned my music up and a couple of praise songs that we sing at church came on. It was good...more peace. It was all good...I talked to God. Not about me or my situation but for lots of other issues I know of. The funniest thing happened...real peace...falling asleep peace without pills! When I woke up it had only been about 15 minutes but I knew the Lord had been with me. I was rested. The peace I could feel was unbelievable and...No intense pain! Thank you Lord!! It's not completely normal yet but I know it will be. Someone I know always tells me..."GOD is faithful!"...and I have come to believe, and know, that HE is!

So I guess what I'm trying to say in all of this is...

No matter what you are going through, if you have the Lord, He will always bring "something good" out of it. Just look for it...HIM...in everything. Then when it happens, accept whatever it is knowing if it's "something good", it came from HIM!!

Father God thank You for all that You do for us. Thank You for all You have brought us through. Thank You for all the times You heal us. Thank You for all the times when You are with us and we don't even realize it was You that helped us. Thank You for saving us. Thank You for giving us everyday that we have to serve You. Thank You for giving us the opportunity to tell people about You and what You do for us. Above all...Thank You for loving us so much that You gave Your One and Only Son to die on the cross for us. To save us from our sins and set us free!! To give us eternal life with You!!
Amen

John 3:16
Amplified Bible (AMP)


For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

I Surrender All

Luke 14:33

New Living Translation (NLT)
33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

I Surrender All...what a song! This song was written in 1896 by Judson W. Van DeVenter. Here are the lyrics...


  1. All to Jesus I surrender;
    All to Him I freely give;
    I will ever love and trust Him,
    In His presence daily live.
    • Refrain:
      I surrender all,
      I surrender all;
      All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
      I surrender all.
  2. All to Jesus I surrender;
    Humbly at His feet I bow,
    Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
    Take me, Jesus, take me now.
  3. All to Jesus I surrender;
    Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
    Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
    Truly know that Thou art mine.
  4. All to Jesus I surrender;
    Lord, I give myself to Thee;
    Fill me with Thy love and power;
    Let Thy blessing fall on me.
  5. All to Jesus I surrender;
    Now I feel the sacred flame.
    Oh, the joy of full salvation!
    Glory, glory, to His Name!

I listened to this song last night for the first time in a very long time. You may know it and you may not. It doesn't get sung in too many church's today but it is a great song. To me it's really like a prayer. It is what I feel in my heart. I want nothing more than to totally surrender to Him! Jesus is my Savior and I can't thank Him enough for that.

I don't know what the author was thinking about when he penned down verse two but it has special meaning for me.

I was in the world for most all of my life. Surrendering can still be hard for me at times. But...there is nothing that is in the world that I want a part of anymore. None of my old habits or addictions. To humbly bow at His feet is enough. Worldly pleasures are meaningless and in the end cause you more grief than they are worth. I want to be completely His...now and forever. Total surrender...for Jesus to take over my life completely!

I Surrender All !!!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Listen

John 10:27 (NLT)

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Proverbs 1:33 (NKJ)

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” 

At work this morning I was listening to the radio when right in the middle of the song I heard a voice say..."Just Pray...Just pray." Literally, an audible voice on the radio!! Then that voice I know to be Gods..."you could pray now." I thought..."Yes, I could." And I did. I don't know why He wanted me to pray right then. I didn't know for whom or what I should pray. So....I just prayed for everyone I could think of at that moment as their names came into my mind, I just prayed!

Then two different days this week I went to a bookstore and bought a book each time. That in itself isn't out of the ordinary. I buy many books. However, there are some that I know I am supposed to buy! Both of these fit that scenario.

The first one is, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp. For weeks I have been reading all kinds of good things about it. I have picked it up many times...read parts of it...and struggled to "not" buy it every time. When that happens I know I'm supposed to read it. Monday I finally bought it but never started it until today. The battle inside of me has been great! I have known I'm supposed to read it but I have been listening to the liar...satan. He knew what he was doing. This book is really good! It seems that every page has something on it that speaks to me. Things that I need to hear! Get it...read it. You will be glad you did!

Today I went to the bookstore, picked up Rob Bells book Love Wins, and read some out of four or five different chapters. I don't agree with him but I wanted to read it just to see for myself what he had to say. Immediately I knew it wasn't for me to read. So, I looked at a few books but nothing really said...buy me! Then, I looked up on the last top shelf of the fiction section and there was the book. It was in the wrong section, it is non fiction. Thirsting For God by Gary Thomas. Again it was apparent to me, this was the book to get. Having decided it was time to really start listening...it now sits on my desk! Can't wait to start it...after One Thousand Gifts of course!

God really is amazing and awesome! He has so much patience with us! If I were in charge my fate would have already been sealed...and it wouldn't have been good! This journey of mine has been up and down a lot. But, thank You Jesus...His Love does win!

I am thankful and...A Reformed Rebel Learning To Walk With The Lord!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

The Truth

I hope I can write this in a way that makes sense.

Last night I slept about two hours. It was a very long short night. I believe that God was just trying to get my attention and since I wouldn't give it to Him any other way He kept me awake. The problem is...I'm stubborn. Even when sleep won't come I don't give up easily. I continued to replay way to many events of my life...past and present...over and over in my head until I just couldn't think about them anymore. Then I slept for about two hours before I had to go to work.

Then something happened today that I am just now making sense of. Someone I don't know very well started talking to me about church. They know where I go because they have been there a couple of times. They also attend the Mormon services. Actually they go there more often then anywhere else. In our conversation what they kept repeating to me was..."I am searching for the truth." We would say a couple of things and again they would say..."I am searching for the truth." What I kept repeating to them was that the truth wasn't in the book of Mormon. It was written by Joseph Smith and he was not the truth. The truth could only be found by reading the Bible. The Bible held the only real truth. Work is really not a good place to have these conversations. You have to be careful what you say. I realize now, that conversation wasn't just for her...the Lord was speaking to me as well.

When things go wrong in my life I tend to start pulling away from everything I know to be good. All the things that would help me I do less and less. You guessed it...Bible reading is one of those things. But...from the time I got up this morning the Lord was speaking to me through different things. I looked at a blog...My daily walk in His grace! Tracy is a great writer and her blogs speak to me often. In this one she talks about Proverbs 14:14...how we are content when close to God but discontent when you slide away from God and His word. She then asks, "Have you spent time with the Lord in His word?" That spoke volumes to me! NO...I have been neglecting that and I know what happens when I do. The slippery slide down begins for me!! Then a little later I picked up my Bible and turned to Ephesians 4 and read verses 17-24...New Living Translation...

Living as Children of Light


17
With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
 20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Verses 20-24 really hit me. Notice in verse 21 it says...the truth that comes from Him. There is that word again! Then I thought of this scripture...

John 14:6

New Living Translation (NLT)
 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.


I need to remember that Jesus is the truth in my life. The only truth I can count on. Because of Him I have life...without Him I may not even be sitting here tonight. All day He was speaking to me telling me that He is the Truth...the Only Truth! I am so thankful that He cares enough for me to keep speaking until I hear!



Here is one last verse that I read tonight that I would like to share with you.


Psalm 27:8

New Living Translation (NLT)

 8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
      And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”


I want to always be sensitive enough to know when the Lord wants to talk with me!

Sleepless Nights

Tonight, like most nights lately, is a night of little sleep. It seems that either there is so much noise and chaos I can't sleep...or...so many thoughts running around in my head I can't sleep. The sleeping pill has been taken...the music is playing softly...and I keep talking to God...yet still...Wide Awake! The thoughts I keep having are about what a screw up I have been in my life and how I am still a screw up. These thoughts...which satan is giving me...are accurate. However, I know this one thing. I have been forgiven for my past screw ups...and even my current ones...because I have asked the Lord to forgive me. As I was lying in bed thinking on all of this I decided to get up and write. A scripture comes to mind that has been quoted to me many...many...times. (And I am thankful for that!)


Philippians 4:8 (King James Version)


 8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Another thing I have been told goes something like this..."You can't dwell on past mistakes and you can't dwell on current mistakes." I know this. Thinking of that I remembered part of another verse..."this one thing I do." Google is great to help you find the complete verse...

Philippians 3:13-14 (New Living Translation)

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Because of all of this I can see my deep need for HIM! Put the past behind and leave the devil in the dust! Turn my eyes upon Jesus and think of Him only!