Thursday, June 3, 2010

Content In Him

Phillipians 4:13 is probably a scripture that we all recognize right off the bat right? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The scripture that God drew me to today was the one right before this....

Phillipians 4:12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.

The MSG puts it like this in verses 12 and 13: Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

I guess what that is speaking to me today or what God is showing ME is that no matter the circumstances....the trials...the peaceful moments....the highs and the lows....that I can definitely keep my joy and be happy and content because I know the one who created me. I know the one who saved me...the one who walks beside me through every moment whether I feel that I need Him or not He is right there waiting for me to reach out to Him because He knows.............

It is in Christ that I find that contentment that most people long for.  I think sometimes we get caught up in what the world keeps putting in front of us and taunting us with. If we really stop and think....we don't really need those "things" If people only knew that Christ is the only one that can fulfill the longings....the desires. He is the only one that matters when it all comes down to it.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. - John 14:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. - Matthew 5:6

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4

Just a reminder to all of us that Christ is our EVERYTHING we need!  Give all your anxieties over to Him or scripturally it says cast all your cares on Him for he cares for you - 1 Peter 5:7. 



He is just waiting for you to let go......

Let go and let God!!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

I Love You Too!

I was listening to something by Joyce Meyer or Beth Moore (sad that I cannot remember for sure which one said it) yesterday talking about the reason that we love in the first place is because God first loved us.
We love him, because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:19 (KJV) She said something then that really made me think.....why don't we just say.... "I love you too" He loved us first and showers us with his love....... It really made me think about when I see things like a beautiful sunset or some flowers as I am walking and I think to myself and sometimes say aloud Thank you God and actually I could also say.... I love you too. These things are ways that God shows me that He loves me. I don't know if this speaks to anyone else but for me it was one of those things that stuck with me that I won't forget. Sometimes just a couple of sentences can change your course of thought.

Sheila Walsh said this in a devotional that I just read this morning....do you think God is trying to give me a message?  LOL

Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me.Psalm 31:21 NRSV

"If I had to give you my life’s message in one sentence, it would be this: as you are, right now, God loves you; and that will never change.

God loves you not because of who you are or what you have done but because of who he is. Your behavior does not impact the heart and character of God. You might think that on good days, God is proud of you; and in your not-so-attractive moments, he loves you less. But that is applying human logic to the heart of God, and it will always come up short. There is life-changing truth in the message of these three little words:

God loves you.
You!

Not just the woman whose kids learn their Bible verses while yours struggle to remember their names. Not just the woman who has been happily married for many years while you are still waiting for a husband. Not just the woman who is pregnant one more time while you weep with empty arms.

God is crazy about you"              — Sheila Walsh

Something concerning.......why is it that we can be very excited about something and we can tell others and have many agree with us and rejoice with us and then have this one person....out of the blue....say something contrary or something negative about what we are excited about it and it sucks the joy right out of the situation for you. Have you ever had that happen to you? Maybe you received a gift from someone and it is something so special to you and you show it to some others and they like it and they are happy for you and then ONE person says.....you know that looks dumb right? What happens to your whole countenance?
It is like they sucked the air right out of your balloon.

This happened to someone that I know recently and it really made me think ......why? Why can what one person says steal the happiness of that moment? Does it matter who it is that says it to you? Is it HOW it is said? No one can steal your joy unless you allow them to.....right? When we know and are Confident (key) in who we are in Christ and KNOW the truth (key) of His word about us I think it is much harder to steal that person's joy! You almost have to stop and think before you react when someone says something that could drag you down. You need to compare what that person is saying to what God says and then decide how you are going to react. You need to determine whose approval matters. Easier said than done I know. We need to remember that the enemy doesn't want us to be happy right?

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)

I found it interesting how they state it in the Message Bible as well.

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (MSG)

Okay......I will end for today. I have so much in me that I would love to talk about but I just don't quite know how to say it LOL. God is still working on me and praise God He is or I would be lost!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Thinking Back to the Long Weekend

I was just sitting here thinking back over the long weekend and I just had to smile to myself.  You know how when you have such fond memories of what happened and you so badly want to tell everyone how great it was and yet....you know they just wouldn't really "get it?"   They were not there so how could they understand the emotion that is behind it?  They don't necessarily think or feel like you do so they may think of it differently or not as deeply or they may think you are a little strange for being soo excited about something soo simple.  Well....regardless.....here is how my weekend was....for me!

Friday I was supposed to get done with work early so that I could go to the track meet at JM.  Things just didn't work out so I did not get there till after 5:00 but what a blessing.  As I walked up to the ticket window they told me they were in the process of shutting it down so I did not have to pay $7.00 to get in.  Sweet!  I immediately went to the concession stand knowing that my hubby probably needed something to drink since it was a very sunny and hot afternoon.  Beautiful!  I met up with him and we talked as we watched some of the running events.  The weather was just perfect.  Not to hot and not to cool.  Nice breeze. 

I sat while he went to coach some of the kids and I just watched and took it all in.  He had someone come and request that he cheer on a group of girls for their relay.  I watched him run back and forth across the field to cheer them on.  I watched how he encouraged the boys relay team that had a member injured in the last leg of their race.  God has given my husband such a gift to work with kids!  I love just sitting back and watching him in his element! 

Saturday we joined a group of friends and we canoed all afternoon!  It was an adventure!  We took Jared and Brandon with us.  It was an eight mile journey full of some absolutely beautiful weather, rocky areas where we had to get out and pull our canoes through, peaceful water where we just glided along, places to swim and rest, and the struggle to get through the last couple miles while we are all tired.  There were many times that I just sat back as we glided along and just took in the scenary, the sounds of the birds, the coolness of the breeze, and the quality time with family and friends.  God showed me that our canoe trip was just like our life long journey.  We run into issues and we also have times when we can just glide through but we don't just stand still.  We keep moving and things keep changing and we learn and grow through every experience and can expect that something will come along that we will need to help someone through and/or ask for help ourselves.  When we can take the time to see what God is showing us as we move along in the journey it helps us to feel more confident that we are truly not alone.  No matter what happens God is there with us!  He is not just there in the rough times....He is there on the sunny days while we are gliding through and he is showing us the beautiful flowers He sent for us.  He woos us along....we just need to slow down a bit and take a look!

Sunday we had church and as always it was a timely message from Pastor Dan on repentence!  We grilled out in the afternoon and just spent some time as a family before Jared and Brandon went with their dad.  It was a wonderful feeling on Sunday night knowing that I did not have to go to work on Monday.  Priceless!

Monday (Memorial Day) I was actually up before 6 am.  James and I had it set that we were going to enjoy the NCIS marathon on TV and grill and just chill out together.  We spent most of the morning watching these episodes and it was so nice to not do anything but hang out together.  James and I love spending time together and just talking and enjoying each others company.

As the day progressed and we grilled and James had to go to track practice I was reflecting again about how I felt like I was being lazy and I knew there were 15 million things I probably SHOULD be doing and yet I felt a peace about just being.  As I received that peace I sat and read my bible and just took in some Word and it fed me. 

Sometimes when we are so hungry and there just seems to be no amount or type of food that can satisfy us I believe it is the Word that we are truly missing.  We should be in our Word more than anything else that we read!  If we do not have a daily dose it is as if we are dehydrated and it takes extra time in the Word to rehydrate us.  I know that in James 1:22 is says But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  We need to be living the Word and not just reading it like it isn't real!  I think sometimes we get caught up in being "doers" of things in the world that are not necessarily part of our walk and we forget our walk with Christ.  In our walk with Christ we not only need to be "doers of the Word" but we also need to take time to just "be" with Christ.  Take time to just sit at His feet and listen to what His word is telling and teaching us.  If we run run run all the time we are not able to grasp all that He is showing us! 

I guess through my whole weekend I was able not only to reconnect with my husband and not feel like our family was running all over the place but God showed me that throughout the whole weekend He was wooing me to Him.  He showed me the beautiful things that He has made for me and He met me in the times that I took to seek Him more intimately.  He showed me that no matter what we are doing if we stop for a moment to take it all in.....He is there...always.  All we need to do is to seek Him!