My busyness and all consuming "To Do List" have turned into Kryptonite! I was speaking to someone earlier this evening about the schedule I have over the next few months, college courses to complete, my daughters wedding the same week as the last week of the school year, leaving for a mission trip for a month to the Ukraine a week later and to top it all off I have to move out of my apartment by mid June. Which will technically be nearly impossible since I'll be in the Ukraine at that time and I'm not sure when exactly I can go find a new place to live! So among the reminders to take out the garbage, I also need to apartment hunt.
The thought of it all just makes me want to throw my hands in the air and say forget it, but feeling like my life is ordained by God and I'm doing what He wants me to be doing, all I can do is ask Him for grace and strength. I've found at the end of each day I can find many blessings throughout the busy day I've had. Even when things happen and my schedule gets thrown off God still shows me what He's accomplished that day in my life.
Last week my niece had to go to the hospital for pneumonia and issues with her kidneys. I was concerned for her health and for my sister and brother in-law, how they were handling the situation. After them being told that the diagnosis would be life long treatments for my niece, I asked my sister how she was doing, she said, "I'm doing fine, the Lord loves her more than we do and He'll take care of her and can even heal her." What a wonderful outlook on a not so great situation and it made me think about how God loves us more than we even love ourselves and He will take care of us if we will just let Him.
My prayer this evening was, "Lord, help me to do your will and draw closer to you.....whatever that might take." If it means leaning on Him for strength to get through my daily tasks then so be it, but also help me to recognize the daily blessings He's given me, even amongst the busyness of life!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Bucket list
I was talking to a friend the other day and he said he didn't have a "bucket list", had never really given any thought to what he would want to do before he died. Is it just me or is that odd, don't worry I'm not talking about him behind his back, I told him I thought it was strange. The older I get the more I think about all of the amazing experiences I've all ready been allowed to have. God has blessed me beyond belief and allowed me to travel the world and do things I never thought I would or could do.
However, when I think of the things I still would like to do or accomplish the list is still pretty long. Some I have to admit might be a bit frivolous and others not so much, either way it's my list. The Lord says in John 10:10,I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I believe He wants us to enjoy life and enjoy it in Him. When we put Him first in our life He then gives us our hearts desires according to Psalm 37:4. That means those things that we want and are pleasing to Him.
One of the things on my bucket list is to go back to Israel to visit. My first trip there was truly a spiritual journey and an experience with the Lord, you can feel His presence in the land. To walk the places Christ walked made the Bible real to me. God has perfect timing and if it be His will and pleasing to Him I'll get to go back.
There are some things I would like to do that some might think would be a little dangerous, like take a hot air balloon ride or drive a Nascar around a track at a high rate of speed. He may allow me to do those as well, but I always remember the scripture my aunt quotes when I tell her I want to do something not so safe or maybe a little crazy. Matthew 4:7,Jesus said unto him, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. It makes me laugh every time she says it, but I remember it even when stepping onto a roller coaster and think to myself, "Hmmm.....am I tempting the Lord right now?"
Have you thought about what you want to do before you leave this world? Is the dash between your date of birth and date of death going to be filled with a lot of experiences or just a few? I'm not saying you have to come up with some crazy list, unless of course you want to, but have a dream. Give some thought about that list and what experiences God wants you to have, give your list to Him and let Him help you fill it out and complete it. You never know the adventure you can have when God is in control!
However, when I think of the things I still would like to do or accomplish the list is still pretty long. Some I have to admit might be a bit frivolous and others not so much, either way it's my list. The Lord says in John 10:10,I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I believe He wants us to enjoy life and enjoy it in Him. When we put Him first in our life He then gives us our hearts desires according to Psalm 37:4. That means those things that we want and are pleasing to Him.
One of the things on my bucket list is to go back to Israel to visit. My first trip there was truly a spiritual journey and an experience with the Lord, you can feel His presence in the land. To walk the places Christ walked made the Bible real to me. God has perfect timing and if it be His will and pleasing to Him I'll get to go back.
There are some things I would like to do that some might think would be a little dangerous, like take a hot air balloon ride or drive a Nascar around a track at a high rate of speed. He may allow me to do those as well, but I always remember the scripture my aunt quotes when I tell her I want to do something not so safe or maybe a little crazy. Matthew 4:7,Jesus said unto him, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. It makes me laugh every time she says it, but I remember it even when stepping onto a roller coaster and think to myself, "Hmmm.....am I tempting the Lord right now?"
Have you thought about what you want to do before you leave this world? Is the dash between your date of birth and date of death going to be filled with a lot of experiences or just a few? I'm not saying you have to come up with some crazy list, unless of course you want to, but have a dream. Give some thought about that list and what experiences God wants you to have, give your list to Him and let Him help you fill it out and complete it. You never know the adventure you can have when God is in control!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Friends for all reasons!
It's been a few weeks since I've been able to blog and had a lot of topics running through my head, unfortunately they come in the middle of the night when I'm just too lazy to get up and write them down, so I'm playing catch up:)
Change is difficult and unexpected change is even harder, but do you ever notice that during those times certain people are around to help you through it. I have been thinking about all the people who have came in and out of my life over the last six years. Some due to hard feelings but most because they were there for God's purpose at that time and now life has seemed to move them or me on. It doesn't mean I don't think about them and wonder how they are doing and with Facebook I can always check in on them. However, there are those people who you just seem to drift away from whom at one point and time that were an integral part of your life. You spent time with them, you shared with them, maybe worshipped with them and cried with them.
I don't always understand why people come in to my life for a short period of time and then leave, but I do know that God has always brought people I needed for a specific reason. When I moved to the job I'm at now, I didn't really care for it the first few months. I was away from my family and friends from back home and I really didn't feel like I fit in. Low and behold, someone on the campus who had been here for years just saw her best friend get married and move ten hours away. She was devastated at the loss. While she was praying for God to send her another friend, I was praying that He would send me someone. Within just a few short months we ended up becoming best of friends.
The people in our life are not randomly placed there, down the road you'll be able to look back and see their purpose in yours and your purpose in their life. Sometimes, our purpose is to be an example of a good friend and to help them. Sometimes, it might be for them to help us through a difficult time or situation. Sometimes, they never leave and sometimes they're only around for a short time. Whatever the reason, there's always a reason. Unfortunately, some people stick around longer than God would like us to allow them to, and others leave sooner than we wish they would, but nothing is by accident and in everything a lesson can be learned. Even those times when it hurts seeing them go or choosing to let them go, knowing God is in control helps get through the pain.
Thank God for those people in your life, even those whom your unsure why they're there. If there are those around who consistently bring you down and are negative, pray and ask God to help the situation or help you or them to move on. For those who are encouraging and positive, thank Him for them each day (they are usually few and far between)!
Change is difficult and unexpected change is even harder, but do you ever notice that during those times certain people are around to help you through it. I have been thinking about all the people who have came in and out of my life over the last six years. Some due to hard feelings but most because they were there for God's purpose at that time and now life has seemed to move them or me on. It doesn't mean I don't think about them and wonder how they are doing and with Facebook I can always check in on them. However, there are those people who you just seem to drift away from whom at one point and time that were an integral part of your life. You spent time with them, you shared with them, maybe worshipped with them and cried with them.
I don't always understand why people come in to my life for a short period of time and then leave, but I do know that God has always brought people I needed for a specific reason. When I moved to the job I'm at now, I didn't really care for it the first few months. I was away from my family and friends from back home and I really didn't feel like I fit in. Low and behold, someone on the campus who had been here for years just saw her best friend get married and move ten hours away. She was devastated at the loss. While she was praying for God to send her another friend, I was praying that He would send me someone. Within just a few short months we ended up becoming best of friends.
The people in our life are not randomly placed there, down the road you'll be able to look back and see their purpose in yours and your purpose in their life. Sometimes, our purpose is to be an example of a good friend and to help them. Sometimes, it might be for them to help us through a difficult time or situation. Sometimes, they never leave and sometimes they're only around for a short time. Whatever the reason, there's always a reason. Unfortunately, some people stick around longer than God would like us to allow them to, and others leave sooner than we wish they would, but nothing is by accident and in everything a lesson can be learned. Even those times when it hurts seeing them go or choosing to let them go, knowing God is in control helps get through the pain.
Thank God for those people in your life, even those whom your unsure why they're there. If there are those around who consistently bring you down and are negative, pray and ask God to help the situation or help you or them to move on. For those who are encouraging and positive, thank Him for them each day (they are usually few and far between)!
What gifts??
Someone once asked me if I could sing? My reply, "Everyone can sing, just some sound a whole lot better than others." Making a joyful noise unto the Lord does not necessarily mean it's going to be a joyful noise to us on Earth! All joking aside, I do sing, but I also am aware that it's not a true "gift" the Lord has given me. I like to sing and enjoy singing in the church choir, but by far I'm not even close to excelling at it. That's not the point though, I do it because I love the Lord and it's a way for me to worship Him. If it hurts the ears of the people around me, well my apologies.
When thinking about our gifts the Lord has given us, unfortunately, most people equate it to some type of musical talent and so if you don't have musical ability you might feel you don't have any true gifts. Well I'm hear to say that's absolutely not true. God blesses us all with gifts and talents. 1 Corinthians 12:1-10 speaks about the gifts God gives us: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues
God blesses us each with spiritual gifts, sometimes it's difficult for us to figure out what ours are. If your unsure what you think yours is ask a close Christian friend who knows you well. There are also other gifts or maybe better explained, "skills" that we all have as well. For example, I'm a very organized person, one of those, there's a place for everything and everything in its place type of people. This can drive some people crazy, but for me my organizational skills helps me to get more accomplished throughout my day. I like to be able to know at the end of the day everything I had planned on completing was completed.
We need to learn to use our spiritual gifts along with our talents and skills to further God's kingdom. Maybe your church doesn't have anyone to write to people who have missed a few Sundays and you enjoy writing letters and sending cards. Maybe they need help in the nursery and you just love babies, or they need someone to help with a children's choir and you enjoy being around children and singing. Sometimes there aren't things within your church, but you can go outside the church and use what you have that way. Either by mentoring a child, visiting a nursing home or shut ins, or writing a blog to tell others about your experience with the Lord:)
God will open doors for you to use your gifts, talents and skills if you'll just pray and ask Him for guidance. He has made us all uniquely individual so we can all do something. Don't be like the man in Jesus' parable in Matthew who hid his talent out of fear, step out in faith and use those things God has blessed you with!
When thinking about our gifts the Lord has given us, unfortunately, most people equate it to some type of musical talent and so if you don't have musical ability you might feel you don't have any true gifts. Well I'm hear to say that's absolutely not true. God blesses us all with gifts and talents. 1 Corinthians 12:1-10 speaks about the gifts God gives us: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues
God blesses us each with spiritual gifts, sometimes it's difficult for us to figure out what ours are. If your unsure what you think yours is ask a close Christian friend who knows you well. There are also other gifts or maybe better explained, "skills" that we all have as well. For example, I'm a very organized person, one of those, there's a place for everything and everything in its place type of people. This can drive some people crazy, but for me my organizational skills helps me to get more accomplished throughout my day. I like to be able to know at the end of the day everything I had planned on completing was completed.
We need to learn to use our spiritual gifts along with our talents and skills to further God's kingdom. Maybe your church doesn't have anyone to write to people who have missed a few Sundays and you enjoy writing letters and sending cards. Maybe they need help in the nursery and you just love babies, or they need someone to help with a children's choir and you enjoy being around children and singing. Sometimes there aren't things within your church, but you can go outside the church and use what you have that way. Either by mentoring a child, visiting a nursing home or shut ins, or writing a blog to tell others about your experience with the Lord:)
God will open doors for you to use your gifts, talents and skills if you'll just pray and ask Him for guidance. He has made us all uniquely individual so we can all do something. Don't be like the man in Jesus' parable in Matthew who hid his talent out of fear, step out in faith and use those things God has blessed you with!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Need a pick me up!
I've been trying to teach my students about character and being Christ-like, then it hit me, how am I supposed to teach them to be Christ-like when most everything in our society goes completely against what Christ taught. We've been doing a Health lesson on dieting and self-esteem. I was explaining to them them we should not judge someone based on the way they look, however they should be judged on their character. How do they treat others, what is their attitude like, do they display the "do unto others as you would have done to you", characteristic? I sometimes wonder if my blind student has it better when it comes to determining who people really are. He has to fully rely upon their characteristics and their attitudes. He can't look at someone and make a judgment about who they are based on their looks. When I asked him during class what he thought about the class based on just knowing them from their actions, he jokingly said, "You're all ugly" which in turn made us all laugh!
After I showed them this video clip, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U we discussed how Hollywood and the media set us up to fail when it comes to looking the way the world thinks we should look. I asked them this, "How many of you have met someone who was really attractive, yet once you got to know them they weren't as attractive as you once thought they were?" The whole class had met someone like this, when asked what changed their minds they said, "they didn't have a good personality or they weren't very nice." They discussed how they didn't realize that the media had changed the way the actors/actresses looked and they just assumed that's what they always looked like. I was surprised by their lack of reality.
The scripture speaks in Proverbs 23:7, "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." The way we look at ourselves will determine how we feel about ourselves and affect our relationships with others and Christ. Unfortunately, by the time we become adults our self-image and self-esteem has been so destroyed by things that happened to us in childhood, it takes a lot of time to reverse the damage.
Paul said he rejoiced in his infirmities, he had to rely on God to help him with whatever issue he had. If you're dealing with self-esteem or self-worth issues remember you're not the only one, even Moses dealt with it, he asked for God to use his brother to speak for him. Just remember you have one you can take it to, the One whose image you were created in!
As a side note, I've been reading a great book regarding this topic and more if you're looking for more insight check out "Healing For Damage Emotions" by David A. Seamands.
After I showed them this video clip, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U we discussed how Hollywood and the media set us up to fail when it comes to looking the way the world thinks we should look. I asked them this, "How many of you have met someone who was really attractive, yet once you got to know them they weren't as attractive as you once thought they were?" The whole class had met someone like this, when asked what changed their minds they said, "they didn't have a good personality or they weren't very nice." They discussed how they didn't realize that the media had changed the way the actors/actresses looked and they just assumed that's what they always looked like. I was surprised by their lack of reality.
The scripture speaks in Proverbs 23:7, "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." The way we look at ourselves will determine how we feel about ourselves and affect our relationships with others and Christ. Unfortunately, by the time we become adults our self-image and self-esteem has been so destroyed by things that happened to us in childhood, it takes a lot of time to reverse the damage.
Paul said he rejoiced in his infirmities, he had to rely on God to help him with whatever issue he had. If you're dealing with self-esteem or self-worth issues remember you're not the only one, even Moses dealt with it, he asked for God to use his brother to speak for him. Just remember you have one you can take it to, the One whose image you were created in!
As a side note, I've been reading a great book regarding this topic and more if you're looking for more insight check out "Healing For Damage Emotions" by David A. Seamands.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The true meaning of Love is NOT flowers and chocolates!
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!!!
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!!!
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.
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