Oh boy has this week been full!!! I just wanted to share a little bit of what's been on my heart and what new things the Lord has placed in my path.
1. Romans 6:4-5 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in a newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
This verse I have heard every Wednesday from my girls in AWANA. Each one of them is working on memorizing it. So as I sit and listen to them recite it to me, it hits me. I LOVE this verse! Why? Well... let me explain. By the symbolic act of baptism I am showing that I've accepted His gift of a new life. I no longer live the life of darkness and meaninglessness. I can be raised for the dead, from a life full of nothing, death, darkness. Delivered into a life of fullness, joy, light and a clean slate. Wow! That me, a sinner, would be given a second chance.
2. I was presented with a new opportunity to be involved with ministry. I'm going to lead a small group of young girls through a study. This isn't something I would normally do, I don't really like teenagers and I don't like speaking in front of people, so why have I chosen to take on this new task. Well, I'm ready to take a leap of faith. So here I go... diving into something completely unknown. I'm very excited, yet at the same time I'm terrified. I'll have to be vulnerable and bold. I didn't think the Lord would ever take me down this road, and of course he did. I will be praying the He uses me, that His words are heard, not mine. May His Holy Spirit be the one who leads these girls.
3. On a side note... I love the Shellnut girls! My mentor's girls who are 10 and 15. They always make me smile and the oldest is always great about giving me hugs, she just brightens my day. She will be apart of my small group mentioned above and I'm SO excited to have her on board.
4. Now the boring topic of school. I'm overwhelmed this semester with a HUGE research project. I can't wait until I'm past this semester. Then next semester I'm trying to decide between taking two or three classes to finally finish this degree. But with my schedule picking up I'm not sure how I'm going to fit it all in.
5. And finally a prayer to bring all this to a close.
Dear Heavenly Father, I'm so amazed by the many blessings you give. Thank you for speaking to my heart and making things clear and giving me a second chance to be used by you in your kingdom. Thank you for your word and the truth that you give. Will you please be all over this new ministry opportunity? Will you please be preparing the hearts of each girl that will join? We are going to need you, need your wisdom, strength and direction. None of this is possible without you. Will you be preparing my heart as well, give me the ability to guide these girls to you? As my schedule picks up, will you give me the strength to give it my all? Help me to manage my time wisely, and take those moments of rest as well. And one last thing Lord, will you help me finish this project? Help me to focus, stick to it and do my very very best. Thank you for my mentor and her amazing family, what a blessing she has been in my life. Help me to have faith, to trust you moment by moment. In the end it's worth it all, all this will bring you glory in the end. I pray these things in your Holy name, Amen!
11.09.2011
11.03.2011
The End and the Beginning (again)
In a previous post I wrote about finishing a journal notebook and closing a chapter in my life. Well once again I have filled a notebook completely full of prayers, thoughts, and life experiences. This notebook wasn't as long as the last one, it only took me seven months instead of three years to get through. But that's not the point.
I mentioned earlier that I was so excited to see where the Lord would take me in this new chapter... oh boy... did He take me to some great places. On vacations, new friendships, growth in my job, bigger projects with school, and the most exciting thing... a completely new relationship. This relationship was completely unexpected and totally all God!!
So here I am... starting a new notebook to fill with all new prayers, thoughts, and life experiences, and starting a new chapter in life. A chapter that I've so very excited about, can't wait to see what the Lord does next. Wow... He sure can surprise us! Here I go, jumping in with all I have, letting the Lord have control, trusting Him!
I mentioned earlier that I was so excited to see where the Lord would take me in this new chapter... oh boy... did He take me to some great places. On vacations, new friendships, growth in my job, bigger projects with school, and the most exciting thing... a completely new relationship. This relationship was completely unexpected and totally all God!!
So here I am... starting a new notebook to fill with all new prayers, thoughts, and life experiences, and starting a new chapter in life. A chapter that I've so very excited about, can't wait to see what the Lord does next. Wow... He sure can surprise us! Here I go, jumping in with all I have, letting the Lord have control, trusting Him!
10.22.2011
His Faithfulness
The other day the Lord laid on my heart a few key passages. First in 1 John 1:5-10, in this passage it speaks about walking in darkness and walking in the light. "... God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." We can't say we have fellowship with Him and live in darkness or sin. Since God is light and there is no darkness then the two can't be present together.
I will admit I've had those times in my life when I've chosen to live in darkness, and lie to myself and others as I try to "be" in fellowship. I began to feed myself with a lie of being invincible to sinning. My mind would believe the lies of the enemy, telling me all that I was doing was okay! Verse 8 says this "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
But then the amazing part comes,
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (vs. 9)
Oh... how He sees me as clean. I am free, despite the sin I had chosen to live in, He found me... yes He found me! He chose to save me, bless me and cleanse me. He is faithful when I choose to be unfaithful.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's...He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities." Psalm 103:1-5,10
So amazing that the Lord sees me this way, He chooses to bless me! That He sees me as worthy, gives me a crown. He sees that I am dust, fragile, and in need of care, He shows compassion toward me. I am human, I know not what I do. My mind does what it knows is wrong, the flesh takes over. But if I ask the Lord gives, He gives direction to choose truth, to resist the flesh.
I will admit I've had those times in my life when I've chosen to live in darkness, and lie to myself and others as I try to "be" in fellowship. I began to feed myself with a lie of being invincible to sinning. My mind would believe the lies of the enemy, telling me all that I was doing was okay! Verse 8 says this "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
But then the amazing part comes,
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (vs. 9)
Oh... how He sees me as clean. I am free, despite the sin I had chosen to live in, He found me... yes He found me! He chose to save me, bless me and cleanse me. He is faithful when I choose to be unfaithful.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's...He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities." Psalm 103:1-5,10
So amazing that the Lord sees me this way, He chooses to bless me! That He sees me as worthy, gives me a crown. He sees that I am dust, fragile, and in need of care, He shows compassion toward me. I am human, I know not what I do. My mind does what it knows is wrong, the flesh takes over. But if I ask the Lord gives, He gives direction to choose truth, to resist the flesh.
10.14.2011
Our God
I'm having a great day of praising the Lord. He has given me great JOY and I want to share it with you. This song just really speaks to me today! I have victory in Christ, He brings JOY to my heart! His ways are unfathomable, beyond my comprehension but His way is perfect and true!
10.08.2011
Seek His Will, Have Patience and Trust!
Pray continually - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Meditate on His Word - Joshua 1:8
With all your heart - Jeremiah 29:13
Seek first His Kingdom - Matthew 6:33
Draw near - Hebrews 11:6
His will be done - Matthew 6:10; 26:39
Have Patience. What does that mean?
Be steadfast - 1 Corinthians 15:58
Keep faith - Colossians 1:23
Walk in it - Psalm 26:3
Neverending - Lamentations 3:22-25
Courage - Psalm 27:14
How about Trust?
When you're afraid - Psalm 56:3
In the Lord - Proverbs 3:5
Blessed is he - Jeremiah 17:7
Delights in him - Psalm 22:8
Are not forsaken - Psalm 8:10
9.28.2011
Full Brain & Early Morning
So it's super early in the morning and I have decided to take advantage of this disadvantage created by my body refusing to go back to sleep. I have a seven page paper due on Friday and for the most part I've just been brainstorming. What a more perfect time to start typing it now, in the early hours of the morning (by the way you'll NEVER find me up this early). Let me tell you the real reason why I'm awake so early.
My mind has been full, I mean crammed packed with "stuff". Besides the fact I feel myself getting this sickness that everyone seems to have at work, my brain is keeping me awake. The Lord has placed something in my life that I've been pondering a lot of the past month. One of those moments where I say "Am I really ready for this Lord?" Being a woman, I analyze everything over and over and over. My mind runs in circles thinking of every possible result of this particular situation.
I've been praying a lot about this particular situation. Telling the Lord that I don't want to make the wrong choice. That control factor is killing me, when it's completely out of my hands it drives me crazy. Even when I know that when the control is in the Lord's hands it's ALWAYS what's best. If things were in my control they would be a disaster. I know from scripture that His ways are best, He knows exactly what I need and when I need it.
So now I just wait. I've asked the Lord repeatedly for patience and peace in this time. There is nothing else for me to do but wait on the Lord to reveal His plan to me. That's not an easy thing to do. Thankfully I have other tasks to be completed and keep my mind off of this matter, but obviously sleeping is a bigger issue here. By the end of the day you'll probably find me passed out on my keyboard at about eight o'clock attempting to finish my seven page paper.
My mind has been full, I mean crammed packed with "stuff". Besides the fact I feel myself getting this sickness that everyone seems to have at work, my brain is keeping me awake. The Lord has placed something in my life that I've been pondering a lot of the past month. One of those moments where I say "Am I really ready for this Lord?" Being a woman, I analyze everything over and over and over. My mind runs in circles thinking of every possible result of this particular situation.
I've been praying a lot about this particular situation. Telling the Lord that I don't want to make the wrong choice. That control factor is killing me, when it's completely out of my hands it drives me crazy. Even when I know that when the control is in the Lord's hands it's ALWAYS what's best. If things were in my control they would be a disaster. I know from scripture that His ways are best, He knows exactly what I need and when I need it.
So now I just wait. I've asked the Lord repeatedly for patience and peace in this time. There is nothing else for me to do but wait on the Lord to reveal His plan to me. That's not an easy thing to do. Thankfully I have other tasks to be completed and keep my mind off of this matter, but obviously sleeping is a bigger issue here. By the end of the day you'll probably find me passed out on my keyboard at about eight o'clock attempting to finish my seven page paper.
9.12.2011
Truth in the Word
LOVE
"Having purified your souls by your OBEDIENCE to the TRUTH for a sincere brotherly love, LOVE one another earnestly from a PURE heart..." 1 Peter 1:22
"Little children, let us NOT love in word or talk but in DEED and in TRUTH." 1 John 3:18
"There is NO fear in love, but PERFECT love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment; whoever fears has not been perfected in LOVE. We LOVE because he first LOVED us." 1 John 18-19
VICTORY
"Death is swallowed up in victory."
"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
"No, in all things we are more than CONQUERORS through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
"Let no sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions... But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching which you were committed, and, having been SET FREE from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." Romans 6:12,17-18
"Having purified your souls by your OBEDIENCE to the TRUTH for a sincere brotherly love, LOVE one another earnestly from a PURE heart..." 1 Peter 1:22
"Little children, let us NOT love in word or talk but in DEED and in TRUTH." 1 John 3:18
"There is NO fear in love, but PERFECT love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment; whoever fears has not been perfected in LOVE. We LOVE because he first LOVED us." 1 John 18-19
VICTORY
"Death is swallowed up in victory."
"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
"No, in all things we are more than CONQUERORS through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39
"Let no sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions... But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching which you were committed, and, having been SET FREE from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." Romans 6:12,17-18
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