Sunday, May 4, 2014

His Voice


I got a phone call from my husband the other day.  I needed that.  He was  away for a few days at a conference in Kansas City.  We don't like being  apart but sometimes it can't be helped.   When he is away I try to keep busy doing my own thing and not dwelling on the fact that he's not here.  It's when I stop and think about it that all of a sudden the ache of missing him comes.  His phone call just happened to come at one of those moments.  Sometimes you just need to hear their voice and everything within you feels better.  Funny how they don’t even need to physically be here but you can feel them if you close your eyes.   It made me think about how it's that way (or should be) with God.   As you become more intimate with him and allow him to be your all in all you can feel that comfort…..security….. even relief….when you hear his voice and you can have a peace no matter what is going on around you.
The word talks about how the sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name.  He knows them and they follow him.

3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 "A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." - John 10:3-5 NASB
 



"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;"  - John 10:27 NASB
 
Reading that and remembering times when I have felt God and heard from him in different ways gives me such hope and peace.  When things get crazy at work or the bills are extra tight...or I am feeling alone and not quite myself I know that I can call out to him and he hears me.  He knows me by name and I listen for his comforting voice.....that "knowing" that he is right there with me no matter how I am feeling or what has happened.  Maybe it's a song on the radio or a scripture or quote I read.  When you spend time with God you know when he is speaking to you.
 
I feel these same things with my husband. 
 
What is the difference? 
 
God is perfect.  He knew me before I was even formed in my mother's womb.  He knows the number of hairs on my head and only God can fulfill my deepest desires.....because he put them there for a purpose. 
 
13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.     - Psalm 139:13-16 NASB
 
My husband James is a wonderful Godly man, my best friend, lover, and confidant!  God brought James and I together and he is one of the best gifts that God has ever given me; yet I would be wrong to expect James to be able to do what only God can do.  God uses James to comfort me and to pray for me....to heal me and speak to me all the time but this is not to take the place of my time with God.....just the two of us. 
 
I have to be intentional about spending time with God.  We all should be.  It's not a relationship that just maintains itself.  To know God I have to read his word and spend time in prayer with him.

 I am also intentional about my relationship with James.  It's all about keeping things in balance.  Just like in any relationship you can feel when you need to spend a little more time or when you are missing the other person.  We can feel that with God.  He draws and woos us to himself.  The more you read his word and spend time in prayer and rest in him.....you learn to hear his voice and start even listening for it.  Then when you hear it.....you can feel the comfort that you are longing for. 

His presence to me can feel like the warmth of the sun on your skin or being wrapped in that favorite blanket you had (or have).  The peace that passes all understanding.  You feel his presence all around you and it strengthens you and gives you energy to go on.  God is the only one that can give you exactly what you need when you need it.  God is the ultimate hero.  Let him be yours!
 
Have you stopped and taken the time to listen for his voice today?  

Can you feel him with you? 

If not.....seek him....spend time with him and build that relationship so you can rest in him!  It will change your life!!

Blessings!

-Gina
 
 
 
  

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Finding God's Purpose for Me

Have you ever been in the place where you wanted to know what your purpose is?  You wanted to have a vision for your life like many of the goal-driven people but when asked "where do you see yourself five years from now" you draw a blank?  Others around you are quick to answer and may even have many goals and that makes you feel even worse.  That was me. 

For years I have been struggling to unlock the purpose God has for me.  I know that He has a purpose for every person that is in Him but when was He going to show me mine?  I am 43 years old.....time is flying by.  Watching my husband attain the things that God led him to accomplish intensified the need to know my purpose.  When my husband would ask me what I wanted to do with my gifts I would use the excuse that I didn't really think about it because we couldn't afford for me to go back to school or that when the kids are older I will explore it. 

Purpose: 

1.       The reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
2.       An intended or desired result; end; aim; goal
3.       Determination; resoluteness.

I know there are many women that feel the way that I was feeling. 

This can be for many different reasons.  Here are few:

- you were not raised to have goals or a vision or even dream
- you had a dream once and it didn't happen and now you are in a different place
- you married someone whose dream is the central focus at the moment
- you married someone that doesn't think you should be able to dream let alone attain the dream
- you wouldn't even know where to begin because you are busy taking care of others
- not financially able to follow your dream

  Those are just a few examples and I am certain there are many more.
 
Have you ever noticed that kids many times don't tend to have a problem dreaming about what they will do someday.  They dream of being a superhero or becoming a doctor or a policeman. Maybe the goal is just to help people in someway.  Some kids act it out in their play and may even have a costume that they wear to add to the fun of it.  They are creative and they are ready and willing to share what they want to do. 

So what happens when they get older?  Some kids keep that passion and they strive to attain their goals and dreams.  For several kids things change and they have no idea what they want to do anymore.  Maybe their parents told them they were not smart enough to be a doctor or they can't run fast enough to be a policeman.   In other cases it could have been kids at school that made fun of them or comments from teachers etc.  It's at this point the child is forced to make a choice.  They can either take the discouragement as a challenge and strive to overcome it or the child gives up not only their dream but possibly dreaming as a whole.   Each person has their own story.  In most cases it involves some type of rejection.

I'm still not quite sure exactly what happened in my case but when I was in high school I wanted to be a counselor.  I didn't have the financial backing to go to college for years and years so I went to technical college to be a legal secretary.  I graduated and got a job and it all worked out.  After that I was more interested in getting married and having children so that became my focus.  Over the next 12 years I changed careers, got married, had two beautiful boys and then went through a divorce.  As a single mom it was tough to even think of what my purpose was other than making sure I was raising my boys right.

At one point as a single mother I felt that my purpose would need to be directly related to what I did
for a living since I didn't have time for other things.  This is not true.   Many times it can be something that we do on the side until we can do it full time if that is what we are called to do.   I think where I got stuck was thinking that once I attained a part of my post divorce dream (marrying my wonderful husband) that I would be satisfied with that.  Wrong.  I was fine for a while but then I started feeling restless. 

Our goals, visions, and dreams grow with us.  As we move through our lives the things around us change forcing us to change to survive.  If we don't we get stuck and it can be a struggle to step out.
 
At this point we still don't have extra money laying around but I have learned that if God wants to do something He will make it happen and my kids are older and working jobs of there own so what is my excuse now? 

With the new year God challenged me to fast Facebook.  To be honest I didn't hesitate.  God had been continuously drawing me into this place for quite some time so I felt prepared.  Before I could even get out of bed that morning God was telling me what to write in my last post.  Clicking ENTER .....I felt a sense of freedom and adventure like I was starting a journey.

In the days and weeks after that I spent time in prayer waiting to see if what God was trying to show me would become clear now that I had more time and less distractions.  I wasn't exactly sure what God was going to show me or where he was going to lead me but I was excited.  He started showing me different things in my every day life like ways that He uses me to talk to people, to encourage them etc.    I have thought about all of this many times and had plenty of encouragement from my husband to explore what I felt led to do.  My problem was I just didn't feel confident in what that was.  I had some ideas but that is what they continued to be.... ideas. 

Over the course of the month the pieces that God was showing me started to come together and become clear.

My purpose is to MOVE people emotionally. 

When the words finally came out of my mouth it was almost a relief.  It was during a conversation in the car traveling to my hometown.  As we discussed this new revelation we pealed away different layers and pulled out the pieces that started to complete the picture of what God was showing me.  It took me some time to be excited because it was a bit overwhelming but as I spent more time with God listening and talking to my husband I started to step out and voice some ideas of how to use my purpose for God's glory. 

Sooo what's stopping you?  What is your excuse? 

When are you going to unwrap the gift (purpose) that He already placed in your heart? 


Do you feel the restlessness? 


The longing for something more? 



He put it there to draw you to Him.



If you draw near to God He will draw near to you - James 4:8


He's just waiting for you to ask.             

Seek Him.           

Step out.                

Take a chance.

                                               
What are you waiting for?

____________________________________


I would love to hear your story!  Feel free to comment or email me!

Blessings!!

-Gina 




Sunday, January 12, 2014

The Fog is Clearing


I'm already seeing things more clearly.  It's amazing how things can change so quickly when you make a decision to be obedient to what God is asking you to do.  I realize that not everything is going to seem like positive change.  Some of the things may hurt but it's needed. 

Sometimes things need to happen so that God can move you into the place that He needs you to be so that you can fulfill your purpose and calling.

"Our callings remain a hope until we allow the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened and choose to accept them."  - Beth Moore, Believing God. 

God wants more than for us to just believe IN Him.....He wants us to Believe Him!  Right now that is one of the goals I am working on.  Do I believe IN Him....absolutely....wholeheartedly!  Do I Believe Him?  I would like to think the majority of the time but I really need to work on that.  He has my best interest at heart.  He knows me better than anyone and He created me so what is causing my hesitation?

FEAR

Doesn't it normally come down to fear?  We think we can get the job done better and faster so we step in and take over but in all honesty if we want it done right we should rely on God's direction.

Here is a list I am working on memorizing also from Beth Moore's book Believing God.  Such awesome reminders that we should have on the tip of our tongues whenever we run into issues:

1 - God is who He says He is. 
2-  God can do what He says He can do. 
3-  I am who God says I am.
4-  I can do all things through Christ. 
5-  God's Word is alive and active in me.

First steps.......making some progress. 


-Gina

Friday, January 3, 2014

So Let It Begin...

So let it begin.  Let it be new.  Let me be used for your sake giving glory to Your name. 

Okay Lord, show me what I need to do.  I want You more than anything!  Obedience is better than sacrifice and so I laid down what you asked me to and I am ready to start my journey with You.  Show me what is next and though I know I won't be perfect I will follow You.  I am looking forward to what You will be showing me going forward!  Thank you Lord!