Lord,
Forgive me for only going to you when I feel out of control. Forgive me for not seeking you daily and thanking you for ALL of the blessings you pour upon me. Help me to seek you even when things are good. Help me to seek you because I love you, not because I feel like I need you. Change my heart to say I need you always, not only I need you when I need you.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
All Wrapped Up
I feel God's arms around me today. Not for any particular reason, just because I know He is there. He continues to remind me how much He loves me.
My love and I received our wedding invitations in the mail last week. I think we have both been on cloud nine since. It is for real, it's official. 66 days! Oh yes, we are counting down! There is a peace about it all. Yes, I do get overwhelmed and a bit worked up when spending more than a consistent hour focused on wedding, but it's what I do. I'm a planner, a know-it-all-ahead-of-time kinda girl. I don't like bad surprises! But once my love brings my thoughts back to why we are getting married and not the day itself, peace swarms over me all over again! I am marrying my best friend, my mate picked by God! How can I be any happier?
That being said, God is showing Himself to me in so many other ways. Through the blessing of a simple house cleaning, sitting at lunch and listening to loved ones, trusting God when a friend loses a car, and then finding it the very next day, unharmed and just down the road. I am starting to learn what it really means to put my whole trust in God. This is a real effort people. You can't just shoot a prayer up and hope for the best. No, you must pray consistently with the knowledge He will answer your prayer. "Have faith!" He tells us time and time again. Faith....putting your entire heart into it! Every ounce of who you are must truly KNOW that God is there, that He is listening, and that He WILL answer your prayer. God is Good! Everything about Him is Good!
But, there are still those times when the enemy tries to hold us down. Problems are thrown in our path that we don't (or sometimes even do) expect and they cause us to lose our faith. We think they are too big of a problem. Maybe it has happened too long so we think it's too late. STOP! God is bigger than it all! GOD IS GOOD!! Send that prayer up and know He will answer! but don't stop there, send it up again, and again, and again until He answers. Do not lose faith. The moment we stop praying to Him is the moment we lose faith.
Remember this today,
GOD IS GOOD!!
*Updated
Here's a big one. In reading this post, God showed Himself to me once again. He says, trust in Me! Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. I must change. I can no longer be a "know-it-all-ahead-of-time" kinda girl! God spoke to me through me! LOL He just blows my mind! :)
My love and I received our wedding invitations in the mail last week. I think we have both been on cloud nine since. It is for real, it's official. 66 days! Oh yes, we are counting down! There is a peace about it all. Yes, I do get overwhelmed and a bit worked up when spending more than a consistent hour focused on wedding, but it's what I do. I'm a planner, a know-it-all-ahead-of-time kinda girl. I don't like bad surprises! But once my love brings my thoughts back to why we are getting married and not the day itself, peace swarms over me all over again! I am marrying my best friend, my mate picked by God! How can I be any happier?
That being said, God is showing Himself to me in so many other ways. Through the blessing of a simple house cleaning, sitting at lunch and listening to loved ones, trusting God when a friend loses a car, and then finding it the very next day, unharmed and just down the road. I am starting to learn what it really means to put my whole trust in God. This is a real effort people. You can't just shoot a prayer up and hope for the best. No, you must pray consistently with the knowledge He will answer your prayer. "Have faith!" He tells us time and time again. Faith....putting your entire heart into it! Every ounce of who you are must truly KNOW that God is there, that He is listening, and that He WILL answer your prayer. God is Good! Everything about Him is Good!
But, there are still those times when the enemy tries to hold us down. Problems are thrown in our path that we don't (or sometimes even do) expect and they cause us to lose our faith. We think they are too big of a problem. Maybe it has happened too long so we think it's too late. STOP! God is bigger than it all! GOD IS GOOD!! Send that prayer up and know He will answer! but don't stop there, send it up again, and again, and again until He answers. Do not lose faith. The moment we stop praying to Him is the moment we lose faith.
Remember this today,
GOD IS GOOD!!
*Updated
Here's a big one. In reading this post, God showed Himself to me once again. He says, trust in Me! Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. I must change. I can no longer be a "know-it-all-ahead-of-time" kinda girl! God spoke to me through me! LOL He just blows my mind! :)
Monday, September 10, 2012
TRUST ME
I got a call today. I let myself lose You for a moment Lord. A moment too long!
I hear you Lord. Your saying, trust in Me. Everything is always right with Me. I trust You Lord. I give it all to You. You are the Great Physician! I love You Abba, Father!
I hear you Lord. Your saying, trust in Me. Everything is always right with Me. I trust You Lord. I give it all to You. You are the Great Physician! I love You Abba, Father!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Family
What do we do when someone in our family is hurting, but there seems to be nothing we can do to make them feel better, or to bring them back to their first love, God? As a wise blogger has said, "The Holy Spirit is the only one who can do this, Period!" Only He can show them the love they need and only if they seek Him out for it.
Much has been stirring within my family, many seem to be hurting and some trying to push their hurt onto others. No one likes to hurt alone. This brought back feelings from my past. Feelings of anger, loneliness, pain, defeat. After praying for these few specifics, God reminded me what He showed me years ago. He is always there, He wants to love on us, He has already carried our burden, we just need to completely hand our pain over to Him.
So in a prayer that some day these loved ones of mine will find themselves here reading this single post, I want to share exactly what God has been telling me for the past few years and what has encouraged me to be filled with joy.
This is an excerpt from Our Daily Bread. July 12, 2012
ABIDE WITH ME
Hebrews 13:1-8
"Let brotherly love continue,
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them -- those who are mistreated -- since you yourselves are in the body also.
Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'
So we may boldly say:
"The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
"One of the highlights of English football (soccer) each year is the final match of the annual FA Cup Final. For more than a hundred years, the day has been marked by excitement, festivity and competition. But what fascinates me is how the game begins. It starts with the singing of the traditional hymn 'Abide With Me.'
At first that struck me as odd. What does that hymn have to do with football? As I thought about it, though, I realized that for the follower of Christ it has everything to do with sports, shopping, working, going to school, or anything else we do. Since there is no corner of our lives that should not be affected by the presence of God, the longing that He would abide with us is actually the most reasonable thing we could desire. Of course, the presence of our heavenly Father is not something we need to plead for -- it is promised to us. In Hebrews 13:5, we read, 'For [God] Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."'
Not only is God's presence the key to our contentment, but it is also the promise that can give us wisdom, peace, comfort, and strength -- no matter where we are or what we are doing. -Bill Crowder
Thank You, Lord, for walking with us every day.
You are our guardian, friend and guide.
May we sense Your loving presence and always know
that You are close by our side. Amen.
Our greatest privilege is to enjoy Christ's presence."
May God bless your day and remind you He is always there, so there is no reason to fear!
Much has been stirring within my family, many seem to be hurting and some trying to push their hurt onto others. No one likes to hurt alone. This brought back feelings from my past. Feelings of anger, loneliness, pain, defeat. After praying for these few specifics, God reminded me what He showed me years ago. He is always there, He wants to love on us, He has already carried our burden, we just need to completely hand our pain over to Him.
So in a prayer that some day these loved ones of mine will find themselves here reading this single post, I want to share exactly what God has been telling me for the past few years and what has encouraged me to be filled with joy.
This is an excerpt from Our Daily Bread. July 12, 2012
ABIDE WITH ME
Hebrews 13:1-8
"Let brotherly love continue,
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them -- those who are mistreated -- since you yourselves are in the body also.
Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'
So we may boldly say:
"The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
"One of the highlights of English football (soccer) each year is the final match of the annual FA Cup Final. For more than a hundred years, the day has been marked by excitement, festivity and competition. But what fascinates me is how the game begins. It starts with the singing of the traditional hymn 'Abide With Me.'
At first that struck me as odd. What does that hymn have to do with football? As I thought about it, though, I realized that for the follower of Christ it has everything to do with sports, shopping, working, going to school, or anything else we do. Since there is no corner of our lives that should not be affected by the presence of God, the longing that He would abide with us is actually the most reasonable thing we could desire. Of course, the presence of our heavenly Father is not something we need to plead for -- it is promised to us. In Hebrews 13:5, we read, 'For [God] Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."'
Not only is God's presence the key to our contentment, but it is also the promise that can give us wisdom, peace, comfort, and strength -- no matter where we are or what we are doing. -Bill Crowder
Thank You, Lord, for walking with us every day.
You are our guardian, friend and guide.
May we sense Your loving presence and always know
that You are close by our side. Amen.
Our greatest privilege is to enjoy Christ's presence."
May God bless your day and remind you He is always there, so there is no reason to fear!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
It's Amazing to me..
It's amazing to me to sit back and see how the Lord works. Not that long ago I couldn't even see or hear the Lord and now I feel closer to Him than I ever have. I am so blessed. Don't get me wrong, I do not have a relationship now with my Heavenly Father because He has blessed me. Oh No! I am blessed because of the relationship I have with my Father. Some people might look at my situation in life and feel sad at where I am. But not me! I am overwhelmingly blessed by God's grace and love and compassion for me.
The wedding is coming up in less than five months and it is starting to feel real. Everything is starting to come together now. Every once in a while I feel overwhelmed, but God reminds me how in control He is and I feel peace again. I am taking a few months off of wedding planning, (I know time is ticking) to get my bills in order. How fair is it for me to be joined to my husband with loads of baggage for him to take care of. I am starting to figure this whole financial thing out. I read in a book somewhere that "You have to live like no one else so you can some day live like no one else." Though I am choosing not to live this to the extreme as he suggests, I am choosing to be wise and live by my needs only so once we get married, we can live a new start.
That being said, I am taking two months off of wedding and spending of any kind to get up on my rent and pay some past bills before even considering putting money toward anything else. The best part is, I can see God blessing me in this decision. Two weeks now and I swore would have enough to the penny to pay my bills and nothing else. I had even forgotten to include my current bills and gas and supplies for work. Well I got to the end of my weeks and not only had God provided to pay my bills, but he provided $75 more to take care of other necessities that had slipped my mind.
I started this next week off thinking a little off. My thought became more that I could spend a little here and there because I know God will provide, but then I realized how unwise that was. God blessed me with more than I needed because I was faithful and smart. Why should He bless me for spending before I have what I need taken care of?
Once I realized this, God blessed my fiance with a larger paycheck than he was expecting. He reassured me that he would be there if I needed help and has taken care of food expenses until our food expenses actually come in next week.
It simply amazes me to see how quickly and wonderfully our Father works. We are so blessed to be called His children.
Thank you Father for teaching me to be patient, to be wise with what you have blessed me, and for engulfing me in your never ending Love!
The wedding is coming up in less than five months and it is starting to feel real. Everything is starting to come together now. Every once in a while I feel overwhelmed, but God reminds me how in control He is and I feel peace again. I am taking a few months off of wedding planning, (I know time is ticking) to get my bills in order. How fair is it for me to be joined to my husband with loads of baggage for him to take care of. I am starting to figure this whole financial thing out. I read in a book somewhere that "You have to live like no one else so you can some day live like no one else." Though I am choosing not to live this to the extreme as he suggests, I am choosing to be wise and live by my needs only so once we get married, we can live a new start.
That being said, I am taking two months off of wedding and spending of any kind to get up on my rent and pay some past bills before even considering putting money toward anything else. The best part is, I can see God blessing me in this decision. Two weeks now and I swore would have enough to the penny to pay my bills and nothing else. I had even forgotten to include my current bills and gas and supplies for work. Well I got to the end of my weeks and not only had God provided to pay my bills, but he provided $75 more to take care of other necessities that had slipped my mind.
I started this next week off thinking a little off. My thought became more that I could spend a little here and there because I know God will provide, but then I realized how unwise that was. God blessed me with more than I needed because I was faithful and smart. Why should He bless me for spending before I have what I need taken care of?
Once I realized this, God blessed my fiance with a larger paycheck than he was expecting. He reassured me that he would be there if I needed help and has taken care of food expenses until our food expenses actually come in next week.
It simply amazes me to see how quickly and wonderfully our Father works. We are so blessed to be called His children.
Thank you Father for teaching me to be patient, to be wise with what you have blessed me, and for engulfing me in your never ending Love!
Monday, June 25, 2012
Crafiness
So as our wedding quickly approaches, I have found myself trying to stay busy so I do not become the bridezilla that oh so disgusts me. I pray constantly that I will not become that way. Though I have had my moments. :-/
In an attempt to stay occupied, I am trying to bring out my inner craftiness. There's not much there but I am working on it thanks to Pinterest.
One of my many jobs is cleaning the school connected to my church. I have the blessing on seeing family daily because both my parents work there, as well as one of my sisters and eight of my neices and nephews go to school there. Part of the benefits of working there isgetting rid of old junk finding hidden treasures. I was about to throw away a useless shelf when it hit me, "light bulb"! I was then on a mission to convert it into a shoe rack to hold my mass of rediculous shoes.
I live in a very, very small studiio apartment so having a pile of shoes by the door is not only clutter to me but makes it feel much smaller.
So I forgot to take a before picture but here is the finished work.
Ohh happy day for organization.
In an attempt to stay occupied, I am trying to bring out my inner craftiness. There's not much there but I am working on it thanks to Pinterest.
One of my many jobs is cleaning the school connected to my church. I have the blessing on seeing family daily because both my parents work there, as well as one of my sisters and eight of my neices and nephews go to school there. Part of the benefits of working there is
I live in a very, very small studiio apartment so having a pile of shoes by the door is not only clutter to me but makes it feel much smaller.
So I forgot to take a before picture but here is the finished work.
(Ignore the cable cord coiled up :] )
The underside of all the shelves I painted a royal blue so I turned some of them around to give it a little color. I need my color.
It lays the way the original shelf layed but I simply painted it. It was originally ment to hold students paperwork but the movable shelves allow me to make the sizes fit to my shoes. :-D Thank you Calvary Chapel Christian School for the donation to our new home! Ohh happy day for organization.
God has been so good to us. Preparations are moving forward and we are learning more of who each other are every day. Our lives are obvious when they are not focused on our Heavenly Father. Recently the question came up as to whether we are even to move forward together. Is this really God's will for our lives or are we moving forward because nothing is stopping us right now. A few days of separation and prayer showers us with blessing and peace that this is in fact, exactly where God wants us.
Of course nothing is exact until the vows are said. He is the only one who truly knows where our lives are to be.
Patience and Love have been tested in my life lately. My mother-in-law is a gem but not who I grew up with so it's hard for me to feel the same for her as her own son.
God, give me strength to show her your love and kindness. Help me to be an example of your grace and love. Help me to show that, having lived in the world for a short time away from You, happiness will never be found unless you are front and center. Oh Lord, that she may turn around and see you running toward her with open arms.
"...I will never leave you nor forsake you"
Hebrews 13:5
Aside from all of the trials and temptations, God is glowing in our lives and leading us closer together and closer to Him.
I had a beautiful talk with a new friend on Sunday who reminded me what we live for. We found out we are very much a like in many ways and are very excited to start spending time together.
I can't believe how much God continues to bless me. New friends, a blessing, marrying my best friend, a blessing, flexible job I love, a blessing... The list goes on, and He will never cease. I have the best Father!
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