Experiencing healing is a wonderful feeling. The Lord is still working on my healing process. I've reached a new point that has caused some great amounts of faith, growth and trust. I must choose to take the leap of faith and trust His plan for me and His instructions for the call of obedience.
1 Corinthians 2:9 - But it is written "what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him (and wait for him - Isaiah 64:4)."
The Lord is calling me to things I never thought would happen. But I believe that because of the Holy Spirit living inside me I have the ability to accept and walk in obedience to do what He's called me to do.
Miracle by Sara Groves
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
Quiet our hearts for a little while
Things have been spoken
Shouldn't be said
Rattles around in our hearts and our heads
Let's feel what we cannot feel
Know what we cannot know
Let’s heal where we couldn't heal
Oh, it's a miracle, it's a miracle
Things have been spoken
Shouldn't be said
Rattles around in our hearts and our heads
Let's feel what we cannot feel
Know what we cannot know
Let’s heal where we couldn't heal
Oh, it’s a miracle, love is a miracle
Let's feel what we cannot feel
Know what we cannot know
Let’s heal where we couldn't heal
Oh, it's a miracle
Let's say what we cannot say
Let’s see what we cannot not see
Let’s hear what we could not hear
Oh it’s a mystery, love is a mystery
Oh it's a miracle, it's a miracle
Let's be a miracle
7.04.2012
6.20.2012
Forgiving
I know it's something we all struggle with. Don't tell me you're perfect because you're not, none of us are!!! In God's eyes He sees us as clean and holy and pure, but I am not perfect. I'm trying to grow and do what God asks me to do but it sure isn't easy. A huge struggle for me has been forgiveness. I just can't seem to forgive. There is this dark cloud always hanging over me, sometimes the sun comes out and I have a great jot and then there are moments when it just completely clouds me in, sucking the joy and contentment from my heart. I know it's because I can't forgive. I'm not sure how to do it, and it's a choice I have to choose daily and even moment by moment.
This song by Matthew West is perfect, the chorus especially. I desperately need the Lord to show me how to love this person, how to forgive this person. I need to be set free from it and I don't really know how to reach that point of freedom. My mind can't comprehend how this could be possible for me, as a human, to forgive. Scripture says that God does the impossible and unimaginable, so Lord I need you do this, what seems impossible to me. Please give me the ability to know how and do the forgiving that needs to be done.
FORGIVENESS
Artist: MATTHEW WEST.
Album: Into the Light
This song by Matthew West is perfect, the chorus especially. I desperately need the Lord to show me how to love this person, how to forgive this person. I need to be set free from it and I don't really know how to reach that point of freedom. My mind can't comprehend how this could be possible for me, as a human, to forgive. Scripture says that God does the impossible and unimaginable, so Lord I need you do this, what seems impossible to me. Please give me the ability to know how and do the forgiving that needs to be done.
FORGIVENESS
Artist: MATTHEW WEST.
Album: Into the Light
It’s the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always go to those who don’t deserve
It’s the opposite of how you feel
When they pain they caused is just too real
Takes everything you have to say the word
Forgiveness, forgiveness
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always angers own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying set it free
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Show me how
To love the unlovable
Show me how
To reach the unreachable
Help me now
To do the impossible
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Help me now
To do the impossible
Forgiveness
It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what its power can do
So let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Oh, forgiveness, forgiveness
I want finally set it free
Show me how
To see what Your mercy sees
Help me now
To give what You gave to me
Forgiveness
And the last thing on your mind today
It always go to those who don’t deserve
It’s the opposite of how you feel
When they pain they caused is just too real
Takes everything you have to say the word
Forgiveness, forgiveness
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always angers own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying set it free
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Show me how
To love the unlovable
Show me how
To reach the unreachable
Help me now
To do the impossible
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Help me now
To do the impossible
Forgiveness
It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what its power can do
So let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Oh, forgiveness, forgiveness
I want finally set it free
Show me how
To see what Your mercy sees
Help me now
To give what You gave to me
Forgiveness
6.06.2012
Blessings in Change
Well here is something completely new in my life. You know when the Lord decides to take action in your life and take you in the opposite direction then you thought... well that's happened to me this week.
At work I had planned or decided a few months ago that I wanted to move around into the different age groups and classrooms to get experience with all ages for my future career. I communicated this desire to my boss and she said she would keep her eye open for the right position for me to go next. On Monday of this week she pulled me into her office and offered me a different position. She asked me to stay where I currently am working, with the infants. She felt that I was doing an awesome job and offered me the position of Lead Teacher. Totally unexpected since I was looking at moving out of this room. Now my boss wants me to stay and she sees me as a strong person and capable of holding this room together and improving it in the future.
I didn't think this was the direction the Lord was taking me. But apparently it is! There are some big changes taking place, it's more responsibility for me and it also challenges me to step up my efforts and professionalism. With two new employee's coming in, I have to set a good example of how to do this job yet also adjust myself from the old comfort level to these two new co-workers.
So here I go! Jumping in head first, trying new things, praying for the Lord's guidance in this new adventure. May he be the one that shines! Lord, you are so wonderful and worthy of praise. You have blessed me with this new opportunity to grow in my work place and to better impact my co-workers and families that I'm involved with on a daily basis. Please be the one that goes before me, help me to put myself aside and allow your hands to work through me. May I be able to run to you in those stressful moments and seek out what you would do. And to rejoice and give you the glory in the good moments. Show me how to handle situations and most importantly to trust you more and more! Show me how to embrace these new changes and find patience to let the little things work themselves out. Thank you again for these changes and doing your will not mine! I pray all this in your name, Amen!
At work I had planned or decided a few months ago that I wanted to move around into the different age groups and classrooms to get experience with all ages for my future career. I communicated this desire to my boss and she said she would keep her eye open for the right position for me to go next. On Monday of this week she pulled me into her office and offered me a different position. She asked me to stay where I currently am working, with the infants. She felt that I was doing an awesome job and offered me the position of Lead Teacher. Totally unexpected since I was looking at moving out of this room. Now my boss wants me to stay and she sees me as a strong person and capable of holding this room together and improving it in the future.
I didn't think this was the direction the Lord was taking me. But apparently it is! There are some big changes taking place, it's more responsibility for me and it also challenges me to step up my efforts and professionalism. With two new employee's coming in, I have to set a good example of how to do this job yet also adjust myself from the old comfort level to these two new co-workers.
So here I go! Jumping in head first, trying new things, praying for the Lord's guidance in this new adventure. May he be the one that shines! Lord, you are so wonderful and worthy of praise. You have blessed me with this new opportunity to grow in my work place and to better impact my co-workers and families that I'm involved with on a daily basis. Please be the one that goes before me, help me to put myself aside and allow your hands to work through me. May I be able to run to you in those stressful moments and seek out what you would do. And to rejoice and give you the glory in the good moments. Show me how to handle situations and most importantly to trust you more and more! Show me how to embrace these new changes and find patience to let the little things work themselves out. Thank you again for these changes and doing your will not mine! I pray all this in your name, Amen!
5.13.2012
Obedience: A constant lesson we'll have to learn
I've been reading/doing a study book called 30 Life Principles by Charles F. Stanley. A friend of mine recommended it and WOW has it been a good one! It's been challenging me in so many ways. The first few lessons are about obedience to the Lord. So much of it has been about God's purpose for each of his children and how our plans don't always match up to his plan.
Just the other day I went over lesson 7, here's how it started... The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us. 1 Samuel 30:1-6 - in this passage David has faced some very difficult circumstances in life, his kingdom and family has been destroyed and taken from him. People were turning against him, placing the blame on him. In verse 6 it says "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God".
There will always be new trials to endure, there will always be times that are difficult and cause us distress. But God is ALWAYS good! I've been really struggling this year with trials and it's a daily battle for me to keep focused on the Lord and the many blessings he's given me. It's been hard to be obedient to what he's asking me to do, actions to take in my job, ways I need to treat my co-workers and myself too. He's given me plenty of opportunities to be obedient to him, yet I still have chosen to do it my way.
A pastor at my church has been preaching a lot about obedience and just recently about doubting God. Our obedience to God is so necessary, complete and total obedience. If we choose to only obey God half way then it's still not obedience to him. As Christians we like to only do what we feel like or want to do... how many times have you only cleaned the bathroom partially or halfway cleaned up after yourself to leave the rest for someone else to clean. How about serving at church, you say to your pastor you're going to help in kids ministry, yet everytime they call for your help you say you're busy or out of town. Or helping a friend with a favor they asked, have you ever said "sure I'd love to help" but then never followed through with your promise. Wait... here's a good one, how about the Lord specifically asks you to go sit by that lonely person and invite them to your next BBQ. But you only partially obey by saying hello but you don't sit by them or invite them to your BBQ.
So why do we respond in disobedience so often? Well my answer to that is doubt and fear. Many times we doubt ourselves and we doubt that God is really going to bless us or he has the ability to use us in someone else's life. Fear is huge! For me I'm so afraid I'll say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, be rejected and it ends up being a displeasing thing to the Lord. Here's the reality, the Lord will never ask us to do anything that he doesn't give the strength to do (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). He has given us the Holy Spirit, our Helper (John 14:15-31) for us to call upon for strength, just like David did. He needed to remind himself of the mighty power of the God he served.
Sometimes we need to take a minute or 2 or 30 to remind us who we serve, the mighty, all powerful God over all things. So please don't forget to take time each day to read his word and give yourself a reminder!
Just the other day I went over lesson 7, here's how it started... The dark moments of our life will last only so long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us. 1 Samuel 30:1-6 - in this passage David has faced some very difficult circumstances in life, his kingdom and family has been destroyed and taken from him. People were turning against him, placing the blame on him. In verse 6 it says "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God".
There will always be new trials to endure, there will always be times that are difficult and cause us distress. But God is ALWAYS good! I've been really struggling this year with trials and it's a daily battle for me to keep focused on the Lord and the many blessings he's given me. It's been hard to be obedient to what he's asking me to do, actions to take in my job, ways I need to treat my co-workers and myself too. He's given me plenty of opportunities to be obedient to him, yet I still have chosen to do it my way.
A pastor at my church has been preaching a lot about obedience and just recently about doubting God. Our obedience to God is so necessary, complete and total obedience. If we choose to only obey God half way then it's still not obedience to him. As Christians we like to only do what we feel like or want to do... how many times have you only cleaned the bathroom partially or halfway cleaned up after yourself to leave the rest for someone else to clean. How about serving at church, you say to your pastor you're going to help in kids ministry, yet everytime they call for your help you say you're busy or out of town. Or helping a friend with a favor they asked, have you ever said "sure I'd love to help" but then never followed through with your promise. Wait... here's a good one, how about the Lord specifically asks you to go sit by that lonely person and invite them to your next BBQ. But you only partially obey by saying hello but you don't sit by them or invite them to your BBQ.
So why do we respond in disobedience so often? Well my answer to that is doubt and fear. Many times we doubt ourselves and we doubt that God is really going to bless us or he has the ability to use us in someone else's life. Fear is huge! For me I'm so afraid I'll say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, be rejected and it ends up being a displeasing thing to the Lord. Here's the reality, the Lord will never ask us to do anything that he doesn't give the strength to do (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). He has given us the Holy Spirit, our Helper (John 14:15-31) for us to call upon for strength, just like David did. He needed to remind himself of the mighty power of the God he served.
Sometimes we need to take a minute or 2 or 30 to remind us who we serve, the mighty, all powerful God over all things. So please don't forget to take time each day to read his word and give yourself a reminder!
4.19.2012
Broken Promises
As I'm sitting here at my desk, casually working on my homework my heart is full of brokenness. The feeling of broken promises comes to mind. My heart is so tired of being let down and forgotten. I'm sure everyone can relate to having a promise broken at some point in their life.
It breaks my heart everytime it happens. But lately it's been reminding me of the feeling that our Heavenly Father must feel when we break our promises to him. Even the simple ones like having a daily quiet time with him, how many times do you skip it or say "I'll get to it later", and then never call on him?! Guilty! I've done it. If I feel so much hurt and heartache when a friend breaks a promise or doesn't meet up with me when they said they would, then think about how much greater that heartache and hurt is for our God.
In 2 Corinthians 1:12-22 Paul talks about how the Lord's response is always a definite YES or a definite NO. It's not a maybe. He is clear with his responses. He doesn't break his promises, he holds to his Yes's and his No's. He is our guarantee!
So as for relying on and trusting in the people of this world I would say guard your heart. People are going to break promises and let you down. Show them grace and forgiveness just as Jesus has shown us, over and over again! It's not always easy, but go to him in prayer and ask for his help. I've had to do that, especially lately. So please do your best to keep your promises, keep your word, be faithful to others and most importantly to our Heavenly Father. He desires our faithfulness to Him and to others.
It breaks my heart everytime it happens. But lately it's been reminding me of the feeling that our Heavenly Father must feel when we break our promises to him. Even the simple ones like having a daily quiet time with him, how many times do you skip it or say "I'll get to it later", and then never call on him?! Guilty! I've done it. If I feel so much hurt and heartache when a friend breaks a promise or doesn't meet up with me when they said they would, then think about how much greater that heartache and hurt is for our God.
In 2 Corinthians 1:12-22 Paul talks about how the Lord's response is always a definite YES or a definite NO. It's not a maybe. He is clear with his responses. He doesn't break his promises, he holds to his Yes's and his No's. He is our guarantee!
So as for relying on and trusting in the people of this world I would say guard your heart. People are going to break promises and let you down. Show them grace and forgiveness just as Jesus has shown us, over and over again! It's not always easy, but go to him in prayer and ask for his help. I've had to do that, especially lately. So please do your best to keep your promises, keep your word, be faithful to others and most importantly to our Heavenly Father. He desires our faithfulness to Him and to others.
3.16.2012
One Way
The other night the pastor of the Bible study I attend was giving a sermon on John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
He, meaning Jesus, truely is the ONLY way to Heaven. He has given the world a life full of abundance. There are not many different ways to get into Heaven, it has been made very clear and simple. One way! John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
By simply believing in Jesus Christ we can have eternal life, life with him for all eternity in Heaven. We can't attain that life through works (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5; Galatians 2:16) We can't attain this eternal life one our own, we must accept Jesus as our Savior. There are not multiple ways of getting to Heaven, there is only one simple thing to do, simple admit you're a sinner, believe that Jesus is the one true God, accept his grace and mercy, and commit your life to living by His word.
He, meaning Jesus, truely is the ONLY way to Heaven. He has given the world a life full of abundance. There are not many different ways to get into Heaven, it has been made very clear and simple. One way! John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
By simply believing in Jesus Christ we can have eternal life, life with him for all eternity in Heaven. We can't attain that life through works (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5; Galatians 2:16) We can't attain this eternal life one our own, we must accept Jesus as our Savior. There are not multiple ways of getting to Heaven, there is only one simple thing to do, simple admit you're a sinner, believe that Jesus is the one true God, accept his grace and mercy, and commit your life to living by His word.
3.11.2012
What is Lent?
This one is a bit more scholastic for me... so here it goes!
Usually this time of year Lent is in full swing. When you hear the word Lent what usually comes to your mind? It usually makes me think of Catholics and a time for them to fast from something. Now let me clarify, I didn't grow up Catholic. I don't know a lot about Lent and I've never participated in it. But this year I decided to participate in my own, small way. Along with that I decided to do some research on what it actually means, when it came about, and where it came from.
According to Webster Dictionary the word “lent” means the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter observed by the Roman Catholic, Eastern, and some Protestant churches as a period of penitence and fasting.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia it means “40 days” or “Spring season”.
Lent originated from the Babylonians as a time of celebration for their god, Tammuz. This time of “lent” was a pagan holiday of celebration of the false Messiah, Tammuz. In Ezekiel 8 it talks about what abominations were taking place at the Temple. Tammuz is mentioned in verses 14-15. This pagan holiday was originally celebrated in June, but the Romans wanted to be in “agreement” with the Babylonians so they agreed to move it to the same time as Passover. Because of this move the Passover become known as Easter.
Now that we know where it originally came from what does the “fasting” part really mean and why for 40 days?
Lent was seen as a time for purification and preparation for the Easter season. Most people fasted for about a week, some one or two days, or 40 hours. The 40 days was believed to represent or correspond with the 40 days of fasting that Jesus spent in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2).
It was believed the when fasting it was a time for “fasting from sin and sinful ways.” With fasting and having self-discipline one would receive “control over himself that he needs to purify his heart and renew his life.” But fasting is not what brings us purification and closeness to the Lord. The renewal of our minds by the Holy Spirit is what purifies us (Titus 3:5). And by cleansing our hearts by having faith in the Word of God (Acts 15:8-9). I believe that when we are tempted to participate in something that’s selfish and that God doesn’t agree with then we are to go to Him in prayer, asking for His wisdom and strength to not give into a temptation. We are to have faith in His power to overcome and to do His will.
Lent is not a tradition that come from the Bible and it is not a tradition the we are commanded to follow. It originally came from pagan traditions and the Lord does not approve of pagan traditions. Obviously it has changed over the centuries, many people still participate in their own ways. I think it matters where your heart is, what’s your purpose of participating in Lent? Are you doing it because it’s a tradition or are you doing it because we are called, by God, to abstain from the wicked, selfish and sinful ways of the world (Romans 12:2a)?
Here is the website I got most of the information. I'm sure they do a much better job explaining this subject but I found this very interesting.
http://rcg.org/articles/ttmol.html
Usually this time of year Lent is in full swing. When you hear the word Lent what usually comes to your mind? It usually makes me think of Catholics and a time for them to fast from something. Now let me clarify, I didn't grow up Catholic. I don't know a lot about Lent and I've never participated in it. But this year I decided to participate in my own, small way. Along with that I decided to do some research on what it actually means, when it came about, and where it came from.
According to Webster Dictionary the word “lent” means the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter observed by the Roman Catholic, Eastern, and some Protestant churches as a period of penitence and fasting.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia it means “40 days” or “Spring season”.
Lent originated from the Babylonians as a time of celebration for their god, Tammuz. This time of “lent” was a pagan holiday of celebration of the false Messiah, Tammuz. In Ezekiel 8 it talks about what abominations were taking place at the Temple. Tammuz is mentioned in verses 14-15. This pagan holiday was originally celebrated in June, but the Romans wanted to be in “agreement” with the Babylonians so they agreed to move it to the same time as Passover. Because of this move the Passover become known as Easter.
Now that we know where it originally came from what does the “fasting” part really mean and why for 40 days?
Lent was seen as a time for purification and preparation for the Easter season. Most people fasted for about a week, some one or two days, or 40 hours. The 40 days was believed to represent or correspond with the 40 days of fasting that Jesus spent in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2).
It was believed the when fasting it was a time for “fasting from sin and sinful ways.” With fasting and having self-discipline one would receive “control over himself that he needs to purify his heart and renew his life.” But fasting is not what brings us purification and closeness to the Lord. The renewal of our minds by the Holy Spirit is what purifies us (Titus 3:5). And by cleansing our hearts by having faith in the Word of God (Acts 15:8-9). I believe that when we are tempted to participate in something that’s selfish and that God doesn’t agree with then we are to go to Him in prayer, asking for His wisdom and strength to not give into a temptation. We are to have faith in His power to overcome and to do His will.
Lent is not a tradition that come from the Bible and it is not a tradition the we are commanded to follow. It originally came from pagan traditions and the Lord does not approve of pagan traditions. Obviously it has changed over the centuries, many people still participate in their own ways. I think it matters where your heart is, what’s your purpose of participating in Lent? Are you doing it because it’s a tradition or are you doing it because we are called, by God, to abstain from the wicked, selfish and sinful ways of the world (Romans 12:2a)?
Here is the website I got most of the information. I'm sure they do a much better job explaining this subject but I found this very interesting.
http://rcg.org/articles/ttmol.html
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