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!!

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!

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!

Children and Their Bag of Gifts

Have you ever watched your kids and saw that their actions remind you of someone?  Maybe it is your husband or your mom or maybe their brother or sister?  When you have a child you have a preconceived idea of what you would like your child to be like...right?  Oh admit it....you at least entertained the thought for a bit :)  Maybe you want them to play football like you did...or maybe you want them to be a doctor, etc.

As you watch them grow and you start to see their personalities come out do you always see what you thought you would see?  Maybe....maybe not.  All children are born with giftings.  For visualization's sake, think of it as a bag of tools that come with them.  We did not pack that bag or decide what the bag would contain.  God made these decisions right?  (For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. - Psalm 139:13)  God has a plan for each child and though parents have much influence over their child, I know that there are certain things you just can't make your child like or dislike etc. 

Here is an example: I love music.  I was in the band and the choir in high school.  I am on the praise and worship team , the dance team, and in any choir or production that we have at church.  My kids, on the other hand, do not necessarily desire to be in these things.  I can "talk them into it" sometimes but the desire is not even close to the desire God has given me for these things.  Does this mean my kids are defective or that I love them any less?  Absolutely NOT!  Does it mean that it won't change as they get older?  No....as they grow their personality can change with maturity etc.  At one point though, I had to come to the realization that my kids are not going to have my same personality (especially since they are boys).

Though my boys are not going to have MY personality, I have to say that when I see glimpses of ME in the things that they say, things they do, or the way they act......it warms my heart.  That is....when they are positive things I have done.  I realize that the male adults in their life have a greater influence on them so when I see one of my traits I feel extra special.  For example, I received an email from my son Brandon's teacher recently.  Here is what she said:

Another student was complaining about having so much late work to get done before the reward on Thursday. Brandon sat with him and encouraged him to get it done. He gave him numerous reasons why he should get it done and how he would be able to get it done if he tried. I appreciate his support for his classmates and encouraging them to be successful.  

This email had me smiling from ear to ear!  This is a glimpse of ME in Brandon.  This shows me that he watches what I do and listens to what I say, even if there is an eye roll at the time :)  I made sure to talk with Brandon that night and praise him for doing a great job etc.

This morning God had me thinking again about the influences others have in our childrens lives whether it be parents or friends etc.  This caused me to think about those that are still single and thinking about getting married.  They need to look at the person they are thinking about marrying and envision their life down the road several years.  They need to think about the fact that when they have children the boys will most likely follow the personality and traits of the father and the girls will follow the mother.  For some of you this is a great thing!  Wonderful!   For others....maybe it doesn't seem quite so bright. 

For those that already have kids.....no matter the situation.....it is NOT too late to make sure that your kids have the proper influences.  First of all.....Pray.  Pray that God would be the primary influence and guide the path of your child.  Second........ look at ourselves  If we are not walking with Christ and/or have bad habits or personality traits that we do not want our kids to have then we need to make some changes.  I know that many people believe that people can't change but I am here to tell you that change can happen if you allow God to make the change!  We cannot sit back and expect that others are going to be a big enough influence to keep our children from picking up bad habits.  Third......be watchful and aware of who your children spend time with, what they watch on TV, what they listen to, etc.  Everything that they are exposed to affects them in some way.  Can you ALWAYS be there to protect them from bad influences?  NO.....but you can train them up to walk with Christ and to know how to deal with these situations properly.

To this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow His steps.  - 1 Peter 2:21

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.     -John 13:14,15

Am I an expert in any of this?  Absolutely not!  God is continuously showing me areas that I need to work on or change.  I will never be perfect as Christ is the only one that lived a perfect life without sin and HE is the example that I am trying my best to follow.  I pray that as I follow Christ that my kids will see this influence from Christ and continue to follow him for the rest of their lives. 

I could never ask for a better influence than that!!

Do you set a good Godly example for your kids?  Or for that matter....do you set a good example for others around you?  What traits do you see coming through your kids?

Huge Accomplishment for My Hubby!

This week brings my family….well mainly my husband (James) and I…..on the brink of the final miles of a journey that he (we) have been on for the length of our relationship so far.  (About 5 or 6 years).

It is stressful and exciting at the same time. We can see the destination point. We are at the top of the mountain and now just need to dodge a few pot holes and drop-offs on our way to get there while going about 90 miles an hour  :)  Now don't get me wrong....OBVIOUSLY James is the hard worker here with multi-page papers, late nights, cramming for tests etc but I have tried to be his cheerleader and help encourage him along.

James is going to be graduating from college!! This is such a huge accomplishment for him! He has gone to college full time for much of this journey as well as worked full time, led the teen ministry at our church, coached teams, was a referee, and most important of all a 24/7 husband and dad etc. God only knows how he made it through without skidding off the deep end and I praise God for keeping him safe through all the stress and procrastination.

This journey, to be honest, has sometimes seemed like we were on a scavenger hunt. There are so many things that he is interested in and so many things that he is good at that the final say had to be very CLEAR from God on which path to take and the key also was WHEN.  I learned very quickly that James is a very ambitious man and he has goals and dreams. He doesn’t just dream them in his head….he speaks them out and talks through them.   I used to mistake some of this as him actually doing all the things he was saying ….all at the same time……and I thought to myself….”there is just no way”….”I am going to lose my mind!” Then God showed me that this is the way He made my husband and that NO he is not going to do all of these things RIGHT NOW but in God’s timing and that I should trust Him!

I am soooo thankful that I listened to God! Though this journey has not always been easy to watch James go through, it has been such a pleasure to be able to watch him grow and change as God moves in his life. Had I stayed fearful and overwhelmed I would have missed all that God has done throughout these years! Not only has God worked in James’ life but He has worked in my life as well. As each obstacle came up not only did my husband have to learn to navigate accordingly and fall down and get back up….I did as well. When you are “one” with someone you struggle when they struggle and hurt when they hurt and cheer when they cheer! You learn and grow in knowing how to support and encourage them the way that God would have you. There are so many times when God would use me to speak into my husband’s life at a crucial time when he was struggling and I praise God that He did! 

I just want to say that I am so very proud of James!  He has really worked hard and persevered through the rough times relying on God and learning what it takes to move into an even deeper relationship with Christ.  He has fasted and prayed throughout and God has always been there to pull him through and teach him a lesson or two when needed.  I have such a respect for James and the gifts that he has.  I am so very blessed to have been given such a wonderful Godly man.  I can't even begin to express how much I love and respect him.  (stay tuned for our anniversary blog and you can say "oh puke" then LOL) 

Even as I wrote this the enemy tried to step in and cause issues and James and I prayed and asked God to step in and take over and He did and we give him all the glory and praise!!  Father we thank you for walking with us every step of the way.  We could not have made it without you!!

(I will be having a Graduation reception for James at Foster Arend Park.  The date is still TBD)

My Identity is in Christ

Now being a good Christian I don't ever wish that I could have certain things right?  I don't look at something that someone else has and wish that I could have it too right?  Or....maybe wish that circumstances were different and that I could have a bigger selection of different outfits so that it wouldn't seem like I am wearing the same things every week or the same shoes all the time etc.  I don't do any of that right?  WRONG!

I do have to admit that I am human and I have days here and there where I do struggle with wanting certain material things.  On the other days these things really don't matter so much to me.  Just because I do not have the new style of jewelry or shoes or clothes that seem to be "hot" right now does not mean that I don't look good or that I should be looked down upon.  Just because the car I drive does not and IS NOT new doesn't mean that I am not okay.

Just recently I went through a bout of this struggle.  I went to a purse party with my girlfriends (you know who you are) and I was very excited!  There were tons of purses and wallets and sunglasses galore!  Being that my husband and I had just spent some extra money within a few days before that on a new (new to us) car, I was hesitant to spend very much money.  My husband told me that I should go ahead and get something if I wanted to so I had a $ amount in mind.  When I looked at the price of the purses and wallets I was a bit deflated because I just didn't feel good spending that kind of money on a purse for me when I knew that I had other things I should probably use that money for at this particular time so I did not buy anything. 

Did this hinder me having a good time?  Not at all.  I was still able to use this time to fellowship with the girls and help them to find what they wanted and what looked good and razz them a bit etc. 

On the drive home I started to remember the last party that I went to with these girls was a jewelry party and I didn't buy anything there either.  I started to think about how they are able to compare their new jewelry and now they will all have new purses to talk about and I won't.  At that point, I called my mom and asked her what is wrong with me.  Why can't I just buy some things for myself and NOT feel like I am doing something wrong.  My husband is forever telling me to buy some things for myself and I just don't do it very often.  I ended up teasing my mom and telling her that I am ruined because of how I was raised to always make sure that there was money for everyone else and to put myself last.  It is true that my parents very rarely bought anything for themselves while I was growing up and I think as a parent I have started to model that.  I am going to work on treating myself once in a while (in moderation of course) and give myself a break on feeling bad about it.  Lord help me :)

As I went through this struggle with how I would like to be able to dress and what I would like to be able to feel free to do as far as getting my hair done and my nails and having a nice car etc.  This song came to mind and I started playing it over and over.  God uses music many many times to speak to me.  Each time I have had an opportunity since then I have played this song to remind myself. 

The song is "Identity" by Lecrae and part of what God was showing me is exactly what the chorus says:

I'm not the shoes I wear, I'm not the clothes I buy
I'm am not the house I live in, I'm not the car I drive
I'm not the job I work, You can't define my worth
By nothing on God's green earth, my identity is found in Christ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74a32jFEDP4 click to hear the music and see the lyrics.  It really makes you think!

Material things are not important.  We should all be thankful that we have cars and clothes etc.  The more important thing is who we are in Christ and how He sees us.  It doesn't matter what other people think. 

We are to set our minds on the things above and not on things on the earth (Col. 3:2). God will supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).

So WHY do I admit this and put this out there for people to read?  Because for ONE it helps me to admit that I struggle rather than just push it to the back burner and not deal with it and TWO there just might be someone out there that God will use this message to reach. 

We ALL have things that we struggle with.........the question is do we admit it and ask God to help us to deal with it...........

One True Friend

When I was younger I used to dream of having a friend that I would do everything with. We would go to the pool together, have sleep overs, talk on the phone, tell each other about the boys that we like, and be able to grow up together and count on one another. This friend would want to spend time with me as much as I wanted to spend time with them and we would be like two peas in a pod.

Insert reality……I did have friends here and there. We did things together but I always felt like I had to chase them to spend time with them. Maybe it is that whole female thing where I want to be pursued LOL I don’t know. Anyway….I never felt like I ever had a best friend. I tried to be a good friend to many people and did get along with all different clicks and groups. I was the Dear Abby person that people could talk to about boyfriend/girlfriend issues etc. This is a gift that God has given me and He uses me in this way still 20 + years later!

A few years ago when the movie “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” came out I asked my husband to go to the movie with me. Little did I know how deeply this movie would affect me. I loved the movie but the emotions that God brought forth in me didn’t feel so good. God used this movie to help me start to deal with this longing that I have in having a good female friend that I can count on. I could not even talk when we left the theatre. When we arrived at the restaurant my husband asked me what was wrong and I asked him if I could have 10 min. I didn’t want him to say anything because I couldn’t talk. I just had him hold me in the parking lot of Applebee’s while I cried and cried and cried for 10 minutes straight. Talk about a release. I had held all these emotions in for so long and God had brought them to the forefront so that I could start to deal with them. My husband was very supportive and I felt safe and so very loved! He has been my very best friend since I met him and I poured out my heart to him about the situation. I felt a little better after that.

It has been a few years since that night and every once in a while I still feel that longing. God showed me after that night that He wants me to have that longing for Him! I need to put that focus and time toward my relationship with Him. Sure it is nice to have friends and I do have a good group of friends that I love dearly and we spend time together when we can. Families and activities prevent us from getting together very often but I see them at church twice a week etc. I don’t get to talk to them as often as I would like but I try to be content with that. I trust God and when there are times that I need to spend time with one or many of them….God provides the opportunity and place for that to happen. In the other moments that maybe my husband is busy and I would really like a female perspective….I do reach out once in a while.

Do I have one that I talk to on the phone every day? No. Do we do many of the things on my dream list? Not necessarily but we do pray for each other and have a girls night out now and then. I know that if I really need them….I can call and they will be there. God is still working in this area……He is fixing this place in my heart that feels like I am missing something on some days. When I feel that longing…..He steps right into that place and reminds me that He is my all in all! He is the one that is smitten with me. He is ALWAYS with me whenever I need a friend or feel insecure about a situation or maybe I need some advise. I don’t even have to pick up the phone……He is there and I am never alone. He speaks to me in ways that reach me so deeply that no one else could ever touch!

There is a song by Nicole Nordeman that I heard years ago that made me cry as God reminded me just WHO He is. It is called “I AM.” Here is a couple verses……I bawled like a baby at the concert when I heard this for the first time. God spoke to this longing that night in a way that deeply touched me.

Pencil marks on a wall
I wasn't always this tall,
You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed,
You watched my team win,
You watched my team lose,
You watched when my bicycle went down again,


CHORUS:
And When I was weak unable to speak,
still I could call You by name,
and I said “Elbow healer, Superhero,
come if You can,” and You said “I am”


Only 16, life is so mean, what kind of curfew is at ten PM
You saw my mistakes, You watched my heart break
Heard when I swore I’d never love again

CHORUS:
When I was weak, unable to speak,
still I could call You by name,
and I said “Heart-ache Healer, Secret-keeper,
be my Best Friend” and You said “I am”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXCXEb1Qupg (listen to the song)

Do you ever feel that longing and you don't quite know what you are longing for?  In those moments....try reaching out to God.  He is drawing you to Him.  He is the missing piece....the love that you have always wanted....the friend you can always trust.  He is our everything!  Try Him.....He is the best friend you could ever have!