For the last 4 years I have not looked forward to Valentine's Day. It's just another reminder that I've lost my husband and back in the world of dating and singleness. Don't get me wrong I'm comfortable in my singleness, however when the rest of the country is celebrating their love it's a little overwhelming being reminded you don't have someone to celebrate with! However, my family and wonderful friends always make sure I know that I'm loved on this day!
This brings me to my title, yes I know, we all enjoy getting Valentine's from our significant other, but does the chocolate and flowers really prove they love you? Do you need it to believe they love you? I would hope not, because this day comes but only once a year.
God's love however is with us each and every day and it's not the kind of love that is dependent upon if we are being obedient. His love is unconditional, no matter what we do He will always love us. However, if we aren't showing Him the same kind of unconditional love by obeying Him are we showing how much we love Him?
God clearly gives us the definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13,"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
If we really follow His word for what Love means, we would never need a day to "show" our love because we would be showing it everyday! Christ showed the ultimate jester of love by dying on the cross for each and every one of us (John 3:16). I hope everyone has had a wonderfully blessed Valentine's Day!!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Silent Treatment
Have you ever made someone upset, whether you realized it or not and instead of them telling you they were upset they just didn't speak to you? Maybe they did tell you they were upset and still didn't speak to you. They gave you the silent treatment and expected you to read their mind and know what you did or what they needed. I was thinking about this today and I have to admit I despise the silent treatment. I would rather someone scream and yell at me, getting it all out of their system so then we could discuss it, than to just keep silent and say nothing at all. The silent treatment is like saying, you don't deserve to know what you did wrong nor do you deserve the right to defend your actions. I'm just going to ignore you and hope you figure it out! I'm not speaking about a silence when we know the best way to handle a situation and to keep peace is to remain silent. I'm speaking about the defiant, I'll just teach you a lesson silence.
I tried to relate this to how we/I can sometimes treat the Lord. By not spending time with Him each day in prayer how He must feel like He is getting the "silent treatment." Even if our intentions aren't to treat Him this way, if we are not putting into our relationship with Him what we would like to get out of it, I wonder if he is offended or disappointed. Our silence is our lack of spending time in prayer before the Lord. His word in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing." That would mean God doesn't want the silent treatment. When we aren't getting our way and He didn't answer a prayer the way we thought it should be answered, we are still to continue to pray. He knows best and His will is best! Without praying continuously we are in essence giving God the silent treatment.
I tried to relate this to how we/I can sometimes treat the Lord. By not spending time with Him each day in prayer how He must feel like He is getting the "silent treatment." Even if our intentions aren't to treat Him this way, if we are not putting into our relationship with Him what we would like to get out of it, I wonder if he is offended or disappointed. Our silence is our lack of spending time in prayer before the Lord. His word in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing." That would mean God doesn't want the silent treatment. When we aren't getting our way and He didn't answer a prayer the way we thought it should be answered, we are still to continue to pray. He knows best and His will is best! Without praying continuously we are in essence giving God the silent treatment.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Words can turn a bad day into a good one!
You ever had one of those days when things just aren't going well. Seems like everything you touch is definitely not turning to gold but to dust right before your eyes! The outfit you put on makes you feel fat and ugly or the shoes hurt your feet,but there's not time to change, it's like nothing goes your way. Those are the days I either want to go to bed early just to get it over with or start over to try and get it right the second time around.
I've found that those are the days God will bring the most random people around to say a kind word. On one particular day I remember walking to work and absolutely hating what I was wearing, funny thing, I had worn the outfit before and not felt that way so it just must have been the mood I had put myself in. Whilst minding my own business, out of the blue a person I rarely see in the morning walked up and stopped me. In a very cheerful voice said, "you look really nice today!" Needless to say I had to let go of my feelings about the outfit after that comment.
As you may know by now if you have been reading my blog and paying attention, I am single and have NO prospects insight. Every once in a while it might bother me but for the most part it doesn't, I know God has it all under control. However, sometimes people will make me feel bad about it, almost pity me for being single. Their words are not encouraging ones and can tend to make me feel bad about not being married. No, I'm not overjoyed by spending the holidays alone or not having someone to hang out with, but I'm also not one to let it bring me down.......it brings me down when people point it out and tell me how horrible it must be or how they just don't understand why I don't have a husband yet. Again, while thinking about this someone was talking to me and out of the clear blue sky said, "you're going to make a great wife to someone." I hope I do and it wasn't the fact that I want to be a wife, but the fact that this person recognized that I will be a good wife and not to worry about being single for now....enjoy my "singleness" while I'm in it.
All of that to say this, encouraging words can be said at anytime as well as discouraging words without us thinking about it. I don't want to be the one bringing someone down. Life gives us enough of those moments on it's own without any help. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Are you edifying your friends and family and even those you don't know. You never know when your encouraging word might turn someone's bad day into a GREAT day!
I've found that those are the days God will bring the most random people around to say a kind word. On one particular day I remember walking to work and absolutely hating what I was wearing, funny thing, I had worn the outfit before and not felt that way so it just must have been the mood I had put myself in. Whilst minding my own business, out of the blue a person I rarely see in the morning walked up and stopped me. In a very cheerful voice said, "you look really nice today!" Needless to say I had to let go of my feelings about the outfit after that comment.
As you may know by now if you have been reading my blog and paying attention, I am single and have NO prospects insight. Every once in a while it might bother me but for the most part it doesn't, I know God has it all under control. However, sometimes people will make me feel bad about it, almost pity me for being single. Their words are not encouraging ones and can tend to make me feel bad about not being married. No, I'm not overjoyed by spending the holidays alone or not having someone to hang out with, but I'm also not one to let it bring me down.......it brings me down when people point it out and tell me how horrible it must be or how they just don't understand why I don't have a husband yet. Again, while thinking about this someone was talking to me and out of the clear blue sky said, "you're going to make a great wife to someone." I hope I do and it wasn't the fact that I want to be a wife, but the fact that this person recognized that I will be a good wife and not to worry about being single for now....enjoy my "singleness" while I'm in it.
All of that to say this, encouraging words can be said at anytime as well as discouraging words without us thinking about it. I don't want to be the one bringing someone down. Life gives us enough of those moments on it's own without any help. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Are you edifying your friends and family and even those you don't know. You never know when your encouraging word might turn someone's bad day into a GREAT day!
Monday, January 17, 2011
"Let me tell you something!"
A few weeks ago I was out shopping at Kroger with my friend Jenny. While we were wandering around the deli department minding our own business, we noticed this man all of a sudden making a b-line straight towards us. You all know what I'm talking about when someone gets in your personal space, well he did! Not only did he get into our personal space, but he proceeded to say very matter of factly, "Let me tell you something, you girls are Pentecostal!" I very calmly said, "No sir, we are just Christians." He almost seemed offended as he said, "Well I grew up Pentecostal and you look like your Pentecostal", then he proceeded to walk away.
Over the last few weeks I've been thinking about that incident. Now don't get me wrong, I was not offended by being labeled Pentecostal. However, I don't want to be labeled by any denomination.......I'm a CHRISTian, I want to be labeled as a follower of CHRIST not a follower of a denomination. I found Christ in a non-denominational church that taught me to trust and live by God's word alone and not man's. I liked the fact that I could say I'm not a part of a denomination, I'm part of the family of Christ, living by His truth and not the opinion of man. I have found that man's truth tends to waver with the times, yet God is never changing. If I'm going to continue my walk, I must stick to following Christ and His examples and not those of man. We all have had someone in our lives who has at some point and time during their Christian walk let us down, that's why we are human, if we are looking to them to lead the way then we could be disappointed, distracted and even become disgruntled with Christianity in and of itself.
If we are all following the Philippians 2:2 scripture, "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind", we would all be defined by our Christianity and not the label given to us by the name written on the church building. Whether I attend a Bible Methodist, Bible Missionary, Pentecostal, Baptist or so on and so on church wouldn't matter, I'm following God's word and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and lead me through His truth and word. As Christians we would have a more powerful presence in our country and around the world if we were in one accord. Imagine the amount of souls we could lead to the Kingdom of God! Something to think about, are you being led by Christ to live as an example of Christ or are you being led by the church you attend and the people you're spending time with?
Over the last few weeks I've been thinking about that incident. Now don't get me wrong, I was not offended by being labeled Pentecostal. However, I don't want to be labeled by any denomination.......I'm a CHRISTian, I want to be labeled as a follower of CHRIST not a follower of a denomination. I found Christ in a non-denominational church that taught me to trust and live by God's word alone and not man's. I liked the fact that I could say I'm not a part of a denomination, I'm part of the family of Christ, living by His truth and not the opinion of man. I have found that man's truth tends to waver with the times, yet God is never changing. If I'm going to continue my walk, I must stick to following Christ and His examples and not those of man. We all have had someone in our lives who has at some point and time during their Christian walk let us down, that's why we are human, if we are looking to them to lead the way then we could be disappointed, distracted and even become disgruntled with Christianity in and of itself.
If we are all following the Philippians 2:2 scripture, "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind", we would all be defined by our Christianity and not the label given to us by the name written on the church building. Whether I attend a Bible Methodist, Bible Missionary, Pentecostal, Baptist or so on and so on church wouldn't matter, I'm following God's word and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and lead me through His truth and word. As Christians we would have a more powerful presence in our country and around the world if we were in one accord. Imagine the amount of souls we could lead to the Kingdom of God! Something to think about, are you being led by Christ to live as an example of Christ or are you being led by the church you attend and the people you're spending time with?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Fine Tuning the Art of Doing Nothing
If you're anything like I am it's very difficult for me to just sit and do nothing. I get this anxious feeling like there has to be something I could be doing. So inevitably, I usually go find something, it doesn't always mean I get off the couch however. My part-time employment is an online school so I'll open my computer and check on emails, or I'll pull out my phone and check emails or Facebook or text someone. There's always a room to be cleaned, lesson plans to be prepared or laundry to do. Either way my mind is always racing to get something accomplished. I am a person with lists and I get joy out of marking through the items that need to be taken care of.
Unfortunately, after a little reflection on my part I realized I'm the same way with God. I assign Him a task or in "spiritual terms" a prayer request. As the prayers get answered or what I feel is an answer, I mark them off or a least put a date next to them, so I know it's one less thing I need to pray about. It feels great to see a friend whom I've been praying for get pregnant or a family member or friend get saved. Those are the things I love marking off my list. However, what about those things I've been praying about for years? The things that I'm just not "seeing" anything happen with because really isn't that what it's all about, us "seeing" God work in our lives? Well those things I tend to try to move along myself, in my timing and it's funny that I haven't learned that in those instances it never works out the way I thought it would or should, I get ahead of God.
I've come to realize that God, Well He doesn't really "need" my help with my prayer request. His word says in John 16:23, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." The verse doesn't tell me that I would have to manipulate or do anything to receive it, get this, "ONLY ASK". So what's one to do who likes to check off a list and push things along in their own timing, because I, in all honesty lack patience in God's timing? I'll tell you, I'm beginning to learn the art of doing nothing!!! That's right, NOTHING, once it's been prayed about, I'm not going to rehash the same prayer day in and day out, God hears me the first time around and His word says specifically that all I have to do is ask, not beg, just ask. What a wonderful amount of pressure that removes from me, being a control freak and all. Now it's just a matter of asking and believing that what He wants for me is best and He'll give me what's best and being grateful for whatever He gives me!
I was reading, The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer the other evening and while trying to make some decisions on what God wanted from me regarding relationships and my time, I came to this passage: "We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord out of fear for their safety; this is especially true when those treasures are loved relatives and friends. But we need have no such fears. Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed." What profound words, it was if God literally hit me over the head with what actions I was suppose to take.
Has God been hitting you over the head as well? Have you been trying to answer your own prayers by a lot of doing? If so I challenge you to leave them at the foot of Jesus, let Him take care of them for you and a burden will soon be lifted! It's difficult enough to take care of the responsibilities we have to manage, why take on additional responsibilities that God wants to manage for us!
Unfortunately, after a little reflection on my part I realized I'm the same way with God. I assign Him a task or in "spiritual terms" a prayer request. As the prayers get answered or what I feel is an answer, I mark them off or a least put a date next to them, so I know it's one less thing I need to pray about. It feels great to see a friend whom I've been praying for get pregnant or a family member or friend get saved. Those are the things I love marking off my list. However, what about those things I've been praying about for years? The things that I'm just not "seeing" anything happen with because really isn't that what it's all about, us "seeing" God work in our lives? Well those things I tend to try to move along myself, in my timing and it's funny that I haven't learned that in those instances it never works out the way I thought it would or should, I get ahead of God.
I've come to realize that God, Well He doesn't really "need" my help with my prayer request. His word says in John 16:23, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." The verse doesn't tell me that I would have to manipulate or do anything to receive it, get this, "ONLY ASK". So what's one to do who likes to check off a list and push things along in their own timing, because I, in all honesty lack patience in God's timing? I'll tell you, I'm beginning to learn the art of doing nothing!!! That's right, NOTHING, once it's been prayed about, I'm not going to rehash the same prayer day in and day out, God hears me the first time around and His word says specifically that all I have to do is ask, not beg, just ask. What a wonderful amount of pressure that removes from me, being a control freak and all. Now it's just a matter of asking and believing that what He wants for me is best and He'll give me what's best and being grateful for whatever He gives me!
I was reading, The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer the other evening and while trying to make some decisions on what God wanted from me regarding relationships and my time, I came to this passage: "We are often hindered from giving up our treasures to the Lord out of fear for their safety; this is especially true when those treasures are loved relatives and friends. But we need have no such fears. Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed." What profound words, it was if God literally hit me over the head with what actions I was suppose to take.
Has God been hitting you over the head as well? Have you been trying to answer your own prayers by a lot of doing? If so I challenge you to leave them at the foot of Jesus, let Him take care of them for you and a burden will soon be lifted! It's difficult enough to take care of the responsibilities we have to manage, why take on additional responsibilities that God wants to manage for us!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Year New Start!
With the new year comes a new chance to start fresh, to look at things in a new light and to make it the best year yet! Prior to the clock striking midnight, I had a lot of anxiety regarding what was going to happen with my life this year. Granted I'm not guaranteed tomorrow! It's funny how we can plan and plan and what we think will happen never does or if it does, not the way we planned. I can look at the past year and pick it apart, being disappointed in life decisions I made that did not work out. I would however, rather look at those decisions that led me to new experiences and stepping outside my own worldview and small box I can sometimes find myself stuck in.
I'm not much on resolutions because let's face it.....I'm really bad at sticking to them. It's not that I don't have good intentions it's that life gets in the way and I tend to not make them a priority. I would love to lose twenty pounds by the time my daughter gets married, it will just be a matter of me eating healthier and exercising more. How often have you started off doing well and then not made it a priority after some time.
My first church service of the year started off with John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." The thought that God Almighty, creator of the universe chose me to bear fruit for His kingdom kind of made me stand up and take notice. Only by my abiding in Him can I bear fruit for Him. It is really difficult to abide in Him when I have made other things priority in my life. So a fresh start it is, not resolutions but additional grace and strength from God. God has shown me the things I have allowed to take over my life and mind and I have laid them on the altar for Him as of today. Only with His help will I be able to "move on" past the distractions. If He wills it He'll do it!
If there are things from the past year keeping you from a closer relationship with the Lord, then there can not be a better time to take that step and laying them aside. With a New Year brings new vision and new hope and in Him all things are made new!
I'm not much on resolutions because let's face it.....I'm really bad at sticking to them. It's not that I don't have good intentions it's that life gets in the way and I tend to not make them a priority. I would love to lose twenty pounds by the time my daughter gets married, it will just be a matter of me eating healthier and exercising more. How often have you started off doing well and then not made it a priority after some time.
My first church service of the year started off with John 15:16, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." The thought that God Almighty, creator of the universe chose me to bear fruit for His kingdom kind of made me stand up and take notice. Only by my abiding in Him can I bear fruit for Him. It is really difficult to abide in Him when I have made other things priority in my life. So a fresh start it is, not resolutions but additional grace and strength from God. God has shown me the things I have allowed to take over my life and mind and I have laid them on the altar for Him as of today. Only with His help will I be able to "move on" past the distractions. If He wills it He'll do it!
If there are things from the past year keeping you from a closer relationship with the Lord, then there can not be a better time to take that step and laying them aside. With a New Year brings new vision and new hope and in Him all things are made new!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Christmas Joy!
I have to admit when I think of the Christmas season the very first thing that comes to mind is not, Oh what an amazing thing to celebrate the birth of Christ. Unfortunately, it's wow I have a lot of gifts to buy and a little money to buy them with. I know it's bad that I would even admit that. Once the season starts getting into full swing I do take the time to think of why it is we celebrate Christmas.
The gifts, family time, snow, cold weather, trees, candy canes and all the programs and plays and music is enough to overwhelm someone at Christmas time. I heard recently that this is the time of the year when most suicides occur. People are sad that family doesn't come around or they don't have the money to give gifts. If we could only find our Christmas joy in what is the real purpose for Christmas. Christ coming from His home in heaven to a lowly stable to live and then die for you and me.
It seems that the latest gadget or toy is what we have reduced our Christmas joy too. I saw a news story about Atheist trying to stop people from displaying nativity scenes in public, I wonder why? How is it that a story that some people find far fetched and unbelievable has stuck around for over 2000 years. If they really believe it's just "a story", then what does it matter that people are celebrating the "story". I don't see anyone trying to ban Santa Clause or Rudolph.
It appears that in the more recent years Satan is working harder to "steal" our joy of Christmas. He's given us all the "fun" things to do that we have really forgotten the joy we should get out of the season. If you're more worried about not getting the gift you asked for or not finding that perfect gift for someone else, take a step back, spend some time with the Lord and ask Him to give you your real Christmas joy back. The material things will become less of a burden and whether you get the gift you want or give the one you wanted to give it won't matter in the least.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and New Year full of Blessings!!!!
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