Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Forever Broken

Forever Broken

Sometimes because of circumstances we think we are forever broken. It might be in our minds...bodies...or souls. The good news...we aren't. Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross we are never...forever broken. When He went to the cross it was for us. He was beaten and died for all of our brokenness. He took stripes for our minds...stripes for our bodies...stripes for our souls! Then he did the ultimate and died...so that we might live!

Recently I was talking to a friend and they told me that their heart had been broken so much that it felt like it was held together by just a web. Their soul was just broken. We talked a bit about soul holes. I told her that if she would let Him that Jesus can heal those holes in her soul. We all have soul holes at some point in our lives. Some have more than others but no one is immune to them. Life is hard in some way for all of us. But...we all have a choice to let Jesus come in and start healing those holes. 

When we come to the point where we know we just can't deal with the pain anymore we have to make a choice. Either be in pain the rest of your life...always living with memories and hurt...or surrendering and letting Jesus be the One to heal those "holes" and make you "whole"! It takes work on our part to change. He won't just change you. There has to be a surrender of your will to Him. I will be the first to tell you...it is "hard"! You have to want it. I have found that good change doesn't always come easy. The good part is that He will be with you and He will put people in your life that will pray for you and be there for you when you need to talk. You aren't ever really alone.

If you really want your soul holes healed just accept. Accept what Jesus did for you on the cross. Accept the change He wants to help you make in your life by totally surrendering to His will for you. Accept His peace and His comfort. Accept His safety. Accept all He has for you so you can feel His amazing love for you!

Isaiah 53:5-6
New Living Translation (NLT)
 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
      crushed for our sins.
   He was beaten so we could be whole.
      He was whipped so we could be healed.
 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
      We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
   Yet the Lord laid on him
      the sins of us all.

Proverbs 18:10
New Living Translation (NLT)
 10 The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;
      the godly run to him and are safe.

Psalm 34:8
New Living Translation (NLT)
 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
      Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Psalm 50:15

This is the first few lines from the Jesus Calling devotional for today. 

Relax and let Me lead you through this day. I have everything under control: My control. You tend to peer anxiously into the day that is before you, trying to figure out what to do, and when. 

Since last Thursday "getting through" the day has been my top goal. I know it has only been because of the Lord that I am making it through this as well as I am. Many people are praying for me and I believe that is what has made the difference. Back to the devotion...

At 3:30 this morning I was already starting to "peer anxiously" into my day. Then I remembered that I had down loaded the Jesus Calling and Live Loved devotionals yesterday. It's amazing how they were both just what I needed to read today...as was yesterdays devotions. 

God does have everything in our lives under his control...even the hard stuff. Every minute, of all of these days, I am trying to remember that. Whether we are having normal days, or days of abnormal circumstances, He is the one that is orchestrating each moment. We don't need to look ahead and try to figure out how we are going to get through the day before us. We just need to keep talking to Him and asking Him to be with us and hold our hand. Sometimes we might even need to ask Him to just pick us up and carry us through it because it seems to hard for us right then. He will do that. Actually, when we are walking with Him He knows when things are just to hard for us. In those times I don't think we even need to ask Him...He knows what we need, and when, and He just does it! 

Psalm 50:15
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me. 

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Psalm 118:14

I was trying to read me Bible a few minutes ago and was having a little trouble with it. I just asked God to help me with it and turned to Psalm 139. I read that one quite often. Then I thought I needed to read something else so I asked the Lord to just help me to read the right thing for today. I turned a couple of pages and saw Psalm 118:14 very lightly highlighted...yellow highlights tend to fade overtime. This is what it says...

Psalm 118:14 NLT

The Lord is my strength and my song;
      he has given me victory.

After reading that verse this is what He said to me and He told me that I was to share it because it wasn't just for me today. There are others who need to hear this.

No matter what we are going through...what we may be facing...He is our Strength. Something in your life may be completely uncertain right now. Your job~finances~health~whatever it is...The LORD GOD is your strength! HE will fight your battles...HE will give you victory! He takes care of us when we have no one else to help us. He is our Strength~our Deliverer~ our Redeemer~our Physician~our Rock. HE is all we will ever need. You can find victory today when you trust in HIM!
Day four...

This morning I just wanted to tell all of you...Thank you for praying for me. I appreciate all your prayers so much. They have been, and still are, greatly needed! 

I saw something on Facebook this morning that really stuck out to me. I mainly use Facebook to see what my son and nieces and nephews are doing. This morning though this was at the top of the page...


Jesus Daily
JESUS, I GIVE YOU ALL MY PROBLEMS because You are the only one that can fix them! 

That is such a good reminder for me today...and so true. We have to totally rely on Him to take care of us! When going through any kind of problem...HE is here with us. Actually walking right beside us through it. We can't see Him but if we are His child we know He is here. 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

1 Peter 5:7

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

 
Last night I had to make a conscience decision to do that. Just give it up and ask GOD to just calm me down and take all the anxious thoughts and feelings away. All day had been hard because I knew that I was facing another eye surgery if He didn't heal me. While I was sitting at my desk thinking about all of this 1 Peter 5:7 came to mind. If we can do what this verse says it works. I went to sleep and woke up not anxious at all.

Well...I am having surgery today but it's okay. I know that God will be with me and it will turn out alright. The doc told me he is trying to save my eyesight by doing this. I'm all for that but I believe that God is the one who will preserve my eyesight. It may be through the doc...but it will be HIM! God is good and He does take care of us. I told the doc that I would be praying that surgery (stage two this time) works...different doc than before. He told me that was a good thing to be doing.

I am looking at this next 8-10 days as a time to get lots of rest...no choice in that...and in a couple of days catching up on some reading. Probably I will spend much more time talking to God than I normally do and that will be a good thing. The one thing I will miss is going to church. We have a special service this week and I was looking forward to it. I'm hoping they will be putting it on DVD. Not the same but better than nothing.

Sometimes life takes unexpected turns. Who would think that in less than 8 months I would have two eye surgeries? Not me! But...maybe it's a good thing. God uses circumstances in our lives for growth. I'm not saying He caused this to happen because we all know that "life" just happens! I am saying that when "life" does happen that all of those things can be turned into something good. For instance...I know that if not for God last night I wouldn't have gotten any sleep. If not for God I would be veeeery anxious today. If not for God I might not have a good job with insurance to help me pay for this! Most of all...if not for God I wouldn't even be sitting here now writing this.

I like the 23rd Psalm. To me it is a comforting feeling because He is here with us doing all of this.

Psalm 23 (AMP)

A Psalm of David.
 1THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
    2He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.
    3He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.
    4Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
    5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
    6Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Follow His Path

This is another one of those posts where God just wants me to be transparent and real. It used to be so hard to write like this but I have learned it's much less painful to share myself than not. God always helps me and there is much healing in it when I do what He wants. So...here we go!

I was just over at Tracy's blog...My Daily Walk In His Grace. I went back and read one of her first posts and I have to tell you, the Lord really started speaking to me through it. God is using her blog to speak to many everyday. I pray that Tracy doesn't mind me telling where my inspiration came from tonight.

There is something that I feel God is leading me to do and I'm really quite unsure of myself. Yet, at the same time, very excited about it. But the worst thing is, I am feeling that it shouldn't be me because of things I continue to struggle with. Then I start thinking...how do I know for sure it's God talking to me and just not some random thoughts I'm having? Well, both of these things have an answer. Here they are...

As far as the things I still struggle with...

For the most part I have noticed that I only struggle with them when I am reading about and thinking about what I believe God is calling me to do. So, in my way of thinking...that is just the devil trying to knock me down and make me think I have not changed so I will stop before I begin! The devil is nothing but a liar and if he can discourage us in any way...so we don't go about doing what the Lord calls us to...he will. Earlier today when I was mulling this over God just really spoke to my spirit about this. "You just need to be prayed for so you can be delivered...once and for all...so these things won't continue to have a hold on you. That way the devil can't use them against you to get you down and discouraged."

As far as random thoughts go...

In my wildest dreams I would never think about doing this. In fact, in myself I would be content to just sit in a corner somewhere and pray that no one notices me. But, that's not what God has in mind when He saves us. He wants us to go out and win souls for Him. To help others in any way we can and show them the love that He has for them. We are to have His heart...have His thoughts...show His love...be His feet...be His hands...and be His voice. That's a lot for me to even think about. I always thought I was not worthy to do anything.Then one day I heard a preacher say...Don't say you aren't worthy. The Holy Spirit lives inside of you and because of Him and what Jesus did on the cross for you...you are more than worthy. It's not you that you rely on. It's Jesus working through you.

Well, there you have it. God wants all of us to grow in Him and do what He has prepared for us to do. It always involves people in some way. Whatever it is He has for each of us to do...we need to do it!

Proverbs 3:6

Seek his will in all you do,
      and he will show you which path to take.

Proverb 16:9

We can make our plans,
      but the Lord determines our steps.

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him,
         And He shall bring it to pass.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Sandpaper 101

Do you know anything about the way sandpaper is graded? Well...there is commercial and industrial. The lower the number, the coarser the grit. The higher the number, the finer the grit. 40-60 is coarse and used for heavy sanding and stripping...roughing up the surface. 360-600 is superfine...to remove some luster or surface blemishes and scratches. I could go on with whats in between but this is probably enough of...Sandpaper 101.

So...it's Monday. The first day of the week can sometimes be a little much. Up early with little sleep...it's hot and it's not even 5a.m. Then work starts. Phone calls from stores...from customers...solve their problems. Catch up on work left over...start new weeks work...new problems. Everything worked out okay. But...in between all this was the rub...sandpaper rub. 

Started out as medium grit, around 120. Before I went long into my day it was about a 100. Then before lunch I'm pretty sure it hit about 50...stress was kickin' in. Why?? Too many thoughts...untamed thoughts kept going through my mind. I kept listening to music...Christian music...but today to no avail. Lunchtime..yes! Decided to do myself a favor and read my Bible. It helped to a degree. Got me back down to about a 120...smoothing out my surface. Inside though...still about an 80. What to do? Thoughts are still coming...stronger now...play different music...worship music...getting better.

Your mind...thoughts...that's the devils playground. At least for me. If he can get into my thoughts he can ruin my day. It is amazing how they grow. It starts with maybe just a word from someone. That word plants a seed and your mind is off and racing. Racing to the places you know you can't go. Yet...you somehow can't stop it either. You go there...I go there! Then I am totally all consumed with this particular thing. I don't get it sometimes why...out of nowhere...these thoughts come racing in. Wholly consuming my world. It seems the more I think about what I believe God wants me to do...the more my thoughts are on the thing I most hate. 

So my thought now is...prayer. More and more of it. Prayer...talking to God. It is essential to life...my life. It is essential to stay the course...win the battle.


Ephesians 6:11-13

The Message (MSG)
A Fight to the Finish
 10-12And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
13-18Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each others spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Friday, July 8, 2011

I can only imagine

Get Over It

Have you ever noticed how things can be going so good and all of a sudden...without even having time to prepare...it all goes south on you? Seems that's usually how it happens. Up on the mountain one day...down in the valley the next. Sometimes it's a gradual descent. Things are going really well. Seems like the Lord is moving in your life...helping you with places you have been stuck in for a long time...healing you of past hurts...blessing you in ways you never thought He would...you know, just really loving and taking care of you. Jesus does this stuff for us...loves and takes care of us. Why??? Because that's who He is and that's what He does! And...I know that without any doubts! But...life still happens. We live in an imperfect world with imperfect people...including ourselves. Well...that's my story for the last few days...

It's all been going well and then last weekend people came into my life and started irritating me. They were rude and obnoxious and I eventually couldn't take anymore and...as they say in parts of Kentucky...I showed myself. I got into it with them and it wasn't a good thing. Then later this week, someone I casually know put me in the middle of a conflict they have with someone else. I personally wouldn't participate in their issue...take sides...but I still was put through a mess. Not what I do. I am normally a "no conflict" person...don't deal well with it. I talked with God a lot about it last night. Obviously I didn't turn it over to Him because by today all I could do was just get by. I came home and was sitting around just feeling bad. When I get this way I sometimes think about my old life...things I did to feel better...considered what I'm thinking about...and then...

listened to that still small voice inside of me. "Read your Jesus Calling book." I did. This is some of what it says...


When you seek MY face, put aside thoughts of everything else. I am above all, as well as in all; your communion with ME transcends both time and circumstances. Open wide your heart and mind to receive more and more of ME.

That's only a small part of what it says. It was enough. I started thinking about HIM and what's important...JESUS is...my life with HIM is...the responsibilty I have to do what's right because of all HE has done for me is. What HE is saying to me is basically...Get over it! In the big picture, none of that is important. Push it aside and think and dwell on ME. Your life with ME is what's important. How you walk and talk with ME...your journey...is what's important. Open your heart and soul and mind to ME...think on ME. If you go backwards...instead of continuing to move forward...you will only have more pain. Drink ME in...My love for you...My thoughts for you...MY healing for you...MY plans for you...anything and everything that I have to offer you! Look at your life through MY eyes...

1 Corinthians 13:12 (Amplified)

For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].

JESUS really is what my life is about. HE is everything to me. Without HIM my life would be nothing. I praise HIM and thank HIM for keeping me from sliding down that "slippery slope" I have been down before!
HE is Awesome!!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

A Lump Of Clay

Isaiah 64:8 (NLT)

And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
      We are the clay, and you are the potter.
      We all are formed by your hand.

Do you remember as a kid making things out of clay? It always started out as a brick of clay...or a lump. It wasn't formed into anything yet. You would sit and play with it and form it into shapes to look like something. When you were through playing generally you would destroy it...crush it...and it would become just a lump of clay again. Eventually it would be dirty and even get things in it at times. What would you do with it then? For me it would usually get thrown away and if I were lucky I could get some more. I started thinking about this because of a song I have been hearing on the radio everyday...

He Didn't Throw The Clay Away sung by the Lesters written by Gene Reasoner. Here are the lyrics...

Empty and Broken, I came Back to Him
A Vessel Unworthy, so scarred from Sin.
But He did not Despair... He Started over again
And I Bless the Day, He didn't Throw the Clay Away.

Over and Over, He Molds Me and Makes Me,
Into His likeness, He fashions the clay.
A vessel of Honor, I Am today,
All because Jesus Didn't Throw The Clay Away.

He is the Potter... I am the Clay
And Molded in His Image, HE wants me to Stay.
Oh, but when I Stumble...
When I Fall... When My Vessel Breaks,
He just Picks up those Pieces,
He does not Throw the Clay Away.

The words of this song are so true. When we first accept Jesus we are empty and broken and unworthy. He takes us and remakes us...reshapes our life. But sometimes we go our own way. We mess up...do things we shouldn't. Maybe we even walk away for a time. We start thinking we are worth nothing. Just like that old piece of clay we get dirty...get things in us that don't belong. We think we should just be thrown away. But that's not what God thinks. All we have to do is just turn back to Him and He does just what this song says. He starts over again...remaking us...remolding us...He would never throw us away. He just starts as if we are a new lump of clay. He puts us on His potters wheel and starts reshaping our lives. He makes us into something He can use for His good.

Jeremiah 18:1-6 (NLT) says this...

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. Then the Lord gave me this message:  “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.  

Where the verse says. "O Israel,...I insert my name there. "O Chelle. Now read it with your name in it.

In my mind I have deserved, more than once, to be crushed and thrown away. But that's not what He does. He loves me too much for that. The Lord is the Master Potter and He just wants to remake me. That's what I want...to be remolded...for Him to be the Master Potter of my life. I want, and need Him, to crush me into a fresh lump of clay and remake me whenever I need it...whenever I sin and am broken and empty...whenever I might walk away for a time. That is the only way I will be whole again. The only way I can be a vessel He can use.

How about you? Do you want to be a vessel He can use? Let Him crush you and remake you. Remember...He will never throw you away. He will just make you into His image if you will let Him.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Matthew 28:18-20

This morning I have just been sitting here reading some blogs and "soaking in" what is being said.

The Lord is so good to all of us. We have so much to be thankful for. I looked out this morning at the beautiful flowers growing in the backyard and just started taking in all that was there. All the different colors are just amazing! One thing I noticed is how they all go together and blend so well. Just like us as Christians. We are all different...yet the same...and through Him we blend together.

We live in different parts of the world yet...have you noticed that we all have the same types of things happening in our lives. Some good...some bad. The great thing is...we all serve the same great God! Because of Him we all have this amazing connection. Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior! He loves us all the same and cares about everyone of us...individually. He put His love inside of us, healed us and made us whole! He is changing us every day. Not just to help us, but so we can share His love and grace with everyone. Those of us walking with Him...and those that aren't walking with Him yet. He has placed in all of us what we need to share Him and His great love with everyone around us. 

Matthew 28:18-20 (Message)
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Jesus puts an amazing love inside of each of us to reach out to others. Either to encourage them in some way or to help them with a need they have. The biggest need that many have is to come to know Jesus as their Savior. More and more...everyday...He is telling me that we...I...need to reach out to those that don't know Him yet.

I am thankful for His love for me today!!