“ 8-11"I don't think the way you think.
The way you work isn't the way I work."
God's Decree."For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
and don't go back until they've watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They'll do the work I sent them to do,
they'll complete the assignment I gave them."
-The Message
Man. Yet again. This is so great. God is so awesome.
How many times do we want something to happen and pray and pray and pray about it, and we get so caught up on how we think God is going to so something that we always miss it when he does! We're expecting it to come from ONE direction and it side-swipes up from another! That's how I know God has a great sense of humor... honestly now... HOW MANY TIMES has it ever gone exactly how you were planning for it to?
I just find that so funny. And why is it like that? Because God's thoughts are not my thoughts. His ways are not my ways. I'm kind of REALLY glad about that... If his ways were my ways, he'd be getting tired a lot, maybe even complaining that things weren't happening fast enough, so on so forth.
This really teaches me to sit back and enjoy the ride I'm having with the Lord! Every day, even in the small minimal things, everything is happening for the glory of God and I'm a mere tool he CHOOSES to use to bring his kingdom forth. That's pretty amazing. So I have nothing else TO do but relax and enjoy the ride!
Jesus,
Thank you for being above and beyond my thoughts and my ways. Thank you for being that trust I can always have. Thank you for being that love that I can trust. You are simply amazing. Holy Spirit, please remain with Mekaih today as he's taking his F-CAT at school and he's asked specifically for prayer. Bless his heart, Lord. Holy Spirit, remain with me, today. You know what I need today more than I do. I love you so much.
amen.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Job 26
" 1-4 Job answered:
"Well, you've certainly been a great help to a helpless man!
You came to the rescue just in the nick of time!
What wonderful advice you've given to a mixed-up man!
What amazing insights you've provided!
Where in the world did you learn all this?
How did you become so inspired?
5-14 "All the buried dead are in torment,
and all who've been drowned in the deep, deep sea.
Hell is ripped open before God,
graveyards dug up and exposed.
He spreads the skies over unformed space,
hangs the earth out in empty space.
He pours water into cumulus cloud-bags
and the bags don't burst.
He makes the moon wax and wane,
putting it through its phases.
He draws the horizon out over the ocean,
sets a boundary between light and darkness.
Thunder crashes and rumbles in the skies.
Listen! It's God raising his voice!
By his power he stills sea storms,
by his wisdom he tames sea monsters.
With one breath he clears the sky,
with one finger he crushes the sea serpent.
And this is only the beginning,
a mere whisper of his rule.
Whatever would we do if he really raised his voice!" "
-The Message
This is too cool. I love this. I had to add in the first part of this chapter because I just thought it was so funny. The guy Job was talking to was trying to say to him, "God doesn't even think that the moon and the stars are perfect, how much LESS, then, does he think of mere HUMANS!" and THAT (above) was Job's response. He was quite sarcastic, and I like that. "OH! What WISDOM you have offered me! Thank you!" hahah
But check out what he says, and try to get that visual in your head of what he's saying...
"He spreads the skies over unformed space,
hangs the earth out in empty space.
He pours water into cumulus cloud-bags
and the bags don't burst.
He makes the moon wax and wane,
putting it through its phases."
And it goes on to read even more! That!... Is just TOO cool! I love that! It's a pretty good eye opener to just how BIG my God is... he's a pretty big God... pretty amazing to have done all these things. And it's so difficult for me to speak with non-believers, who don't believe there's any God (not in a disrespectful way, but it's just difficult) because you present to them, "Look at this earth we live on. It is constantly spinning on its axis in the exact degree where it is constantly moving to where we have day and night, and if it where thrown off the axis at the slightest measure, that would all be thrown out of whack. It is in the exact position from the sun that if it were any further from it, we would all freeze to death and if we were any closer to it, we'd burn to death," so on and so forth. These are facts, people! Things proven in the same science that everyone is so quick to agree with and believe in, but yet be hesitant to believe that God is the one constantly working it, holding it in it's place. It's just mind-baffling to me!
God,
You are simply amazing. There's no other word I can think of to describe you in this moment. Amazing. Everything about you is amazing. Thank you for holding the world in your hands. Thank you, that while doing ALL OF THAT, you still hold my LIFE in your hands. You are amazing. Holy Spirit, be with me today. Thank you for showing me a glimpse of your amazement. Stay with me. I'm so happy to be back in your arms. I love you.
amen.
"Well, you've certainly been a great help to a helpless man!
You came to the rescue just in the nick of time!
What wonderful advice you've given to a mixed-up man!
What amazing insights you've provided!
Where in the world did you learn all this?
How did you become so inspired?
5-14 "All the buried dead are in torment,
and all who've been drowned in the deep, deep sea.
Hell is ripped open before God,
graveyards dug up and exposed.
He spreads the skies over unformed space,
hangs the earth out in empty space.
He pours water into cumulus cloud-bags
and the bags don't burst.
He makes the moon wax and wane,
putting it through its phases.
He draws the horizon out over the ocean,
sets a boundary between light and darkness.
Thunder crashes and rumbles in the skies.
Listen! It's God raising his voice!
By his power he stills sea storms,
by his wisdom he tames sea monsters.
With one breath he clears the sky,
with one finger he crushes the sea serpent.
And this is only the beginning,
a mere whisper of his rule.
Whatever would we do if he really raised his voice!" "
-The Message
This is too cool. I love this. I had to add in the first part of this chapter because I just thought it was so funny. The guy Job was talking to was trying to say to him, "God doesn't even think that the moon and the stars are perfect, how much LESS, then, does he think of mere HUMANS!" and THAT (above) was Job's response. He was quite sarcastic, and I like that. "OH! What WISDOM you have offered me! Thank you!" hahah
But check out what he says, and try to get that visual in your head of what he's saying...
"He spreads the skies over unformed space,
hangs the earth out in empty space.
He pours water into cumulus cloud-bags
and the bags don't burst.
He makes the moon wax and wane,
putting it through its phases."
And it goes on to read even more! That!... Is just TOO cool! I love that! It's a pretty good eye opener to just how BIG my God is... he's a pretty big God... pretty amazing to have done all these things. And it's so difficult for me to speak with non-believers, who don't believe there's any God (not in a disrespectful way, but it's just difficult) because you present to them, "Look at this earth we live on. It is constantly spinning on its axis in the exact degree where it is constantly moving to where we have day and night, and if it where thrown off the axis at the slightest measure, that would all be thrown out of whack. It is in the exact position from the sun that if it were any further from it, we would all freeze to death and if we were any closer to it, we'd burn to death," so on and so forth. These are facts, people! Things proven in the same science that everyone is so quick to agree with and believe in, but yet be hesitant to believe that God is the one constantly working it, holding it in it's place. It's just mind-baffling to me!
God,
You are simply amazing. There's no other word I can think of to describe you in this moment. Amazing. Everything about you is amazing. Thank you for holding the world in your hands. Thank you, that while doing ALL OF THAT, you still hold my LIFE in your hands. You are amazing. Holy Spirit, be with me today. Thank you for showing me a glimpse of your amazement. Stay with me. I'm so happy to be back in your arms. I love you.
amen.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
2nd Timothy 2
" 1-7So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!— to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn't get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It's the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.
8-13Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It's what you've heard from me all along. It's what I'm sitting in jail for right now—but God's Word isn't in jail! That's why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory. This is a sure thing:
If we die with him, we'll live with him;
If we stick it out with him, we'll rule with him;
If we turn our backs on him, he'll turn his back on us;
If we give up on him, he does not give up—
for there's no way he can be false to himself.
14-18Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God's people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples, throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile by saying the resurrection is over and done with.
19Meanwhile, God's firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones:
god knows who belongs to him.
spurn evil, all you who name god as god.
20-21In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.
22-26Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands. "
-The Message
2nd Timothy 2 really speaks of having good Godly character. Maybe that's why I enjoy reading it. It lays it out pretty plain and simply what we are to do in order to be living the life we were meant to live. It speaks of becoming the person you should be, it speaks of what you should or should not allow in your life (certain habits, talking, etc). There's just so much. And I love it.
It's just so interesting. I really believe that I have changed so so much since I've gone on The Encounter That Stuck (I say it that way because I had been on three, I think, before I finally went to one that STUCK. I just didn't get it and then I got it.) And that also speaks of ME in the OTHER seat, at the very end of the chapter in 2nd Timothy. "You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands." And isn't that the dead truth! When you think of it, sometimes it's easy to think "Oh! Devil's errands! She's ripping off chicken heads and sacrificing small children to Satan!" But that's not even close to it at all! When I would go out drinking and flirt with guys to get what I wanted... That was me being a tool in the Devil's hands. Through me wanting to do "whatever I wanted", it not only tore ME up inside, but it also made it more possible for whoever I encountered to make wrong decisions and thus sin bred sin bred sin, so on and so forth. So you don't have to be sacrificing chickens to Satan to be running his errands. No. When you simply turn from what you know to be right and do THAT... you are allowing yourself to be his errandboy (or errandgirl). Your own choice. My own choice! Even though I hadn't seen it that way before, it doesn't make it okay.
It's like when you are driving and get pulled over by a cop. "Ma'am, do you know why I pulled you over?" "Actually- no. I honestly don't, sir. What did I do?" "You ran a stop sign back there. I'm going to have to give you a ticket." And you get all frustrated and angry. "But I didn't see the stop sign! That's not fair! It was hidden behind the tree! I didn't see it!" It doesn't change the fact that you're going to get a ticket for breaking the law.
It's the same thing. Just because you don't see how you can be an errandgirl (or errandboy) for the Enemy doesn't mean you're off the hook. Regardless of whether or not you saw it, it doesn't change that you've broken God's law.
Hope that's making sense. Anyway!
Jesus,
I thank you for today. I thank you that you offer kind correction. I recognize that if I don't listen to your kind correction, I know full well you'll send someone my way that will offer the same correction only... not so kind... So I pray and I command my soul to always be open to your correction, so that I may take it and learn from it and grow from it. Holy Spirit, I ask that you remain with me today, and into tonight while I'm at Mardi Gras working. I ask for opportunities to show your love in the simplest of ways. I love you like a fat kid loves cake.
amen.
8-13Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It's what you've heard from me all along. It's what I'm sitting in jail for right now—but God's Word isn't in jail! That's why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory. This is a sure thing:
If we die with him, we'll live with him;
If we stick it out with him, we'll rule with him;
If we turn our backs on him, he'll turn his back on us;
If we give up on him, he does not give up—
for there's no way he can be false to himself.
14-18Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God's people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples, throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile by saying the resurrection is over and done with.
19Meanwhile, God's firm foundation is as firm as ever, these sentences engraved on the stones:
god knows who belongs to him.
spurn evil, all you who name god as god.
20-21In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.
22-26Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands. "
-The Message
2nd Timothy 2 really speaks of having good Godly character. Maybe that's why I enjoy reading it. It lays it out pretty plain and simply what we are to do in order to be living the life we were meant to live. It speaks of becoming the person you should be, it speaks of what you should or should not allow in your life (certain habits, talking, etc). There's just so much. And I love it.
It's just so interesting. I really believe that I have changed so so much since I've gone on The Encounter That Stuck (I say it that way because I had been on three, I think, before I finally went to one that STUCK. I just didn't get it and then I got it.) And that also speaks of ME in the OTHER seat, at the very end of the chapter in 2nd Timothy. "You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands." And isn't that the dead truth! When you think of it, sometimes it's easy to think "Oh! Devil's errands! She's ripping off chicken heads and sacrificing small children to Satan!" But that's not even close to it at all! When I would go out drinking and flirt with guys to get what I wanted... That was me being a tool in the Devil's hands. Through me wanting to do "whatever I wanted", it not only tore ME up inside, but it also made it more possible for whoever I encountered to make wrong decisions and thus sin bred sin bred sin, so on and so forth. So you don't have to be sacrificing chickens to Satan to be running his errands. No. When you simply turn from what you know to be right and do THAT... you are allowing yourself to be his errandboy (or errandgirl). Your own choice. My own choice! Even though I hadn't seen it that way before, it doesn't make it okay.
It's like when you are driving and get pulled over by a cop. "Ma'am, do you know why I pulled you over?" "Actually- no. I honestly don't, sir. What did I do?" "You ran a stop sign back there. I'm going to have to give you a ticket." And you get all frustrated and angry. "But I didn't see the stop sign! That's not fair! It was hidden behind the tree! I didn't see it!" It doesn't change the fact that you're going to get a ticket for breaking the law.
It's the same thing. Just because you don't see how you can be an errandgirl (or errandboy) for the Enemy doesn't mean you're off the hook. Regardless of whether or not you saw it, it doesn't change that you've broken God's law.
Hope that's making sense. Anyway!
Jesus,
I thank you for today. I thank you that you offer kind correction. I recognize that if I don't listen to your kind correction, I know full well you'll send someone my way that will offer the same correction only... not so kind... So I pray and I command my soul to always be open to your correction, so that I may take it and learn from it and grow from it. Holy Spirit, I ask that you remain with me today, and into tonight while I'm at Mardi Gras working. I ask for opportunities to show your love in the simplest of ways. I love you like a fat kid loves cake.
amen.
Friday, February 27, 2009
1st Corinthians 12.25-31
" 25-26The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.
27-31You are Christ's body—that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything. You're familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his "body": apostles prophets teachers miracle workers healers helpers organizers those who pray in tongues.But it's obvious by now, isn't it, that Christ's church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional Part? It's not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker, not all Healer, not all Prayer in Tongues, not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called "important" parts. "
-The Message
I find these verses to be SO true at my church, specifically. At Northwest, it's just a church full of REAL people, not trying to mask that they are dealing with REAL issues, and quick to celebrate when God does a REAL miracle in their lives. But that's not it. The entire church celebrates with them! It's really showing how we really ARE the body of Christ. When one part is hurting, the rest hurts. When one is celebrating, the rest celebrates!
I was asking my sister, however, about where each person's part is if we are all called to be Leaders at NWC. "Wouldn't that make all of us a 'head' as opposed to one being a head, one a foot, one a hand, etc etc?" And she explained it to me in a way that I now understand.
She said, "We are called to be disciples, that's even from Jesus. But he's given us different gifts to make that possible. One has a gift of teaching, one has a gift of helping. The one with a gift of teaching, it might be easier for them to get a cell group and get members than the one who's a helper, but even though the helper may have to work harder for their cell, they still have a gift to give in their walk. They will raise up more helpers, so on and so forth." That made it a little easier for me to understand.
I love how God chooses to bless us. I was talking (again) with Freedom last night just about how God is SO SO BIG... he doesn't NEED our help to get things done here on earth. Make sure you hear that... HE DOESN'T NEED OUR HELP... but he CHOSE us to help. He CHOSE us to take a part in his process. He's invited us into his life. He's decided to bless us. You hear that joke sometimes between people "Oh, thank you for gracing us with your presence..." But it's the truth with God! He seriously graces us with his presence. He blesses us with a glimpse of what he's doing. None of this is for me. If he chose to make me a teacher, a miracle worker, a helper, whatever!- I'm happy with it, not wishing I was something else, because it's not about me. God has seen me, for whatever reason, most effective as that one thing, not something else, and I'm merely a tool in what GOD is doing... It's not about me. That's a huge weight off your shoulders when you think about it. Thank GOD it's not about me... that's a LOT of work to get done in my own strength and quite honestly, I don't think it would even be possible. THAT'S why it's a relief. I don't need to worry about "always trying to make God happy".
I used to be like that, thinking that nothing was ever good enough for God, for people, and all that did was just bring me down, wear me out, until finally I fell away. Thank GOD I've learned the difference between trying to do it on my own, thinking all this weight was supposed to be on my shoulders, and realizing it's God who does it as long as I'm a willing vessel.
Jesus,
I thank you for my giftings you've given me. As much as I may love other people's giftings, I thank you that I'm not those, but instead, the specific ones you have given to me. This is where you find me most effective for YOUR glory, for YOUR kingdom. You truly are beautiful, most creative, and in control of everything, and I thank you for that. Thank you for calling me to be a part of what YOU are doing. I stand with both arms open and shouting a very loud "Use me"! Probably the only time I'll be okay with being used, haha. You are amazing. I love you so so much. Holy Spirit, hang out with me today. I ask for your creativity to inspire me as I finish up this post production for the next Diaries, coming in March. I love you, I love you, I love you.
amen.
27-31You are Christ's body—that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything. You're familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his "body": apostles prophets teachers miracle workers healers helpers organizers those who pray in tongues.But it's obvious by now, isn't it, that Christ's church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional Part? It's not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker, not all Healer, not all Prayer in Tongues, not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called "important" parts. "
-The Message
I find these verses to be SO true at my church, specifically. At Northwest, it's just a church full of REAL people, not trying to mask that they are dealing with REAL issues, and quick to celebrate when God does a REAL miracle in their lives. But that's not it. The entire church celebrates with them! It's really showing how we really ARE the body of Christ. When one part is hurting, the rest hurts. When one is celebrating, the rest celebrates!
I was asking my sister, however, about where each person's part is if we are all called to be Leaders at NWC. "Wouldn't that make all of us a 'head' as opposed to one being a head, one a foot, one a hand, etc etc?" And she explained it to me in a way that I now understand.
She said, "We are called to be disciples, that's even from Jesus. But he's given us different gifts to make that possible. One has a gift of teaching, one has a gift of helping. The one with a gift of teaching, it might be easier for them to get a cell group and get members than the one who's a helper, but even though the helper may have to work harder for their cell, they still have a gift to give in their walk. They will raise up more helpers, so on and so forth." That made it a little easier for me to understand.
I love how God chooses to bless us. I was talking (again) with Freedom last night just about how God is SO SO BIG... he doesn't NEED our help to get things done here on earth. Make sure you hear that... HE DOESN'T NEED OUR HELP... but he CHOSE us to help. He CHOSE us to take a part in his process. He's invited us into his life. He's decided to bless us. You hear that joke sometimes between people "Oh, thank you for gracing us with your presence..." But it's the truth with God! He seriously graces us with his presence. He blesses us with a glimpse of what he's doing. None of this is for me. If he chose to make me a teacher, a miracle worker, a helper, whatever!- I'm happy with it, not wishing I was something else, because it's not about me. God has seen me, for whatever reason, most effective as that one thing, not something else, and I'm merely a tool in what GOD is doing... It's not about me. That's a huge weight off your shoulders when you think about it. Thank GOD it's not about me... that's a LOT of work to get done in my own strength and quite honestly, I don't think it would even be possible. THAT'S why it's a relief. I don't need to worry about "always trying to make God happy".
I used to be like that, thinking that nothing was ever good enough for God, for people, and all that did was just bring me down, wear me out, until finally I fell away. Thank GOD I've learned the difference between trying to do it on my own, thinking all this weight was supposed to be on my shoulders, and realizing it's God who does it as long as I'm a willing vessel.
Jesus,
I thank you for my giftings you've given me. As much as I may love other people's giftings, I thank you that I'm not those, but instead, the specific ones you have given to me. This is where you find me most effective for YOUR glory, for YOUR kingdom. You truly are beautiful, most creative, and in control of everything, and I thank you for that. Thank you for calling me to be a part of what YOU are doing. I stand with both arms open and shouting a very loud "Use me"! Probably the only time I'll be okay with being used, haha. You are amazing. I love you so so much. Holy Spirit, hang out with me today. I ask for your creativity to inspire me as I finish up this post production for the next Diaries, coming in March. I love you, I love you, I love you.
amen.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Jeremiah 29.11-13
"11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
-The New International Version
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. 12"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. 13-14"When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it. "
- The Message
Good MOOORRNNINNGG!!!
I love this passage. This is great. (ALL of it is haha.) This is a promise from God. To us. To me. I had to take it from the International Version AND the Message because I absolutely love how the Message translates it.
This really speaks to me about the situations that you go through that aren't all that comfortable. "Trials" as some call it. But I hate that word. It's become callused to me. Trials trials trials. What a common word. When you go through so much of it, you tend to hate it. But I love this passage because it's God's promise on situations you go through that he IS going to bring you through them. He IS going to give me the future I've been hoping for. THAT is good news... because I have big hopes for my future. BIG hopes for where I'll be in life sometime down the road (even today or tomorrow I'm further along than I was yesterday or last week.) God is good. That's a lot of trust into something you can't physically see, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I've heard this quote a lot in the past weekend and it's really been standing out to me. "If I were perfect and if everything in my life was perfect, I wouldn't have a need for God." That's boring. That's not fun. That's not building a relationship.
Jesus,
I thank you for the "trials" I have to go through. I see them as blessings because it's proof that you love me (more than) enough to entrust me with them so that I may come out victorious and with more character than when I went into them. May I be faithful in the small things you've given me so that you may give me more. I thank you that my future has already been written by your precious hand and it's a matter of me taking my journey in YOU to get there. You are so precious to me. Holy Spirit, I ask that you remain with me today as I have things to get done. I ask that you bless my hands as they work for your kingdom. May I not be worn down with tired eyes and lifeless limbs. I ask for your divine inspiration and creativity, and I thank you that I've been able to keep busy lately doing the things that I love. May I not be taken over with frustrations or get worn out. I love doing the things that I love! I thank you for your blessings in my life! I love you soooo much!
amen.
-The New International Version
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. 12"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. 13-14"When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it. "
- The Message
Good MOOORRNNINNGG!!!
I love this passage. This is great. (ALL of it is haha.) This is a promise from God. To us. To me. I had to take it from the International Version AND the Message because I absolutely love how the Message translates it.
This really speaks to me about the situations that you go through that aren't all that comfortable. "Trials" as some call it. But I hate that word. It's become callused to me. Trials trials trials. What a common word. When you go through so much of it, you tend to hate it. But I love this passage because it's God's promise on situations you go through that he IS going to bring you through them. He IS going to give me the future I've been hoping for. THAT is good news... because I have big hopes for my future. BIG hopes for where I'll be in life sometime down the road (even today or tomorrow I'm further along than I was yesterday or last week.) God is good. That's a lot of trust into something you can't physically see, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I've heard this quote a lot in the past weekend and it's really been standing out to me. "If I were perfect and if everything in my life was perfect, I wouldn't have a need for God." That's boring. That's not fun. That's not building a relationship.
Jesus,
I thank you for the "trials" I have to go through. I see them as blessings because it's proof that you love me (more than) enough to entrust me with them so that I may come out victorious and with more character than when I went into them. May I be faithful in the small things you've given me so that you may give me more. I thank you that my future has already been written by your precious hand and it's a matter of me taking my journey in YOU to get there. You are so precious to me. Holy Spirit, I ask that you remain with me today as I have things to get done. I ask that you bless my hands as they work for your kingdom. May I not be worn down with tired eyes and lifeless limbs. I ask for your divine inspiration and creativity, and I thank you that I've been able to keep busy lately doing the things that I love. May I not be taken over with frustrations or get worn out. I love doing the things that I love! I thank you for your blessings in my life! I love you soooo much!
amen.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Romans 13.9-10
“The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
OH LOOK! ANOTHER LOVE DEVOTION! Haha.
Welcome to the Love Month and get over it. >.< class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">conference that's been going on for free here at the Amway arena. I was a little iffy going into it because the old me has a habit of not really diving into big Christian movement. (That's so dumb, right?) And I always saw Joyce Meyer as "Oh that's great for other women struggling, go get God, ladies! Lord, bless Joyce Meyer and her ministry, but it's not for me." What a load of crap. She has such an anointing on her life and when someone preaches the Word of God, how can it not be for me? I realized it was just my pride, not wanting to take part in something feminine. I don't know why, but I never really liked females to begin with. But God is calling me into a new stage in life where I am to love ALL and embrace my femininity. It's OKAY to be a woman. That's the way God made me so there must be SOME reason- level of influence- heart of compassion- for why he created me to be a woman and not a man.
And I tell you what, I am really starting to get used to loving the things God is doing in my life, even if it's uncomfortable at times. I am seeing just how quickly things begin to change when I open my heart up completely to let the Lord do whatever his will is in me and don't hold him back with my own agenda or comforts.
Well yesterday, Dayari and I were leaving the morning session of Joyce Meyer when we saw that a woman's car had been hit in the parking lot and the other driver had fled the scene before anything could be done about it. We were walking to Dayari's car when she said, "I have a number for a good mechanic, I wonder if I should go give it to them." And I said a blunt and secure "Yeah, let's go." "Will that be weird? I don't know if I should." "It won't be weird, let's just go offer it." So we walked over to the woman who was talking to two other women and we offered her the number and immediately, God began to move. Excuse me- God was ALREADY moving, we just had to do our part.
We ended up talking and ministering to the woman who's car had been hit as well as her friend who had come with her, along with the other two women who were already there, and they made it a point to consistently say that this was no coincidence that we had approached or that they had approached, and long story short, we are supposed to have four new visitors at Northwest Community Church this Sunday.
God is so good! If we move in love as the bible says we should, it's so great how much faster things will get done. We sit and strive and beg God to bring us people to pray for and to minister to and lead but get so bogged down with the people already in our lives who know us and have a hard time receiving from us. Well in essence, forget about them! (I mean still pray for them and pray for opportunities) but start to look outside of your box- outside of your realm of friends. There's still tons of people hungry for (if not God alone) MORE of God and I have the answer to that. Love. Love love love. Love.
Love.
Get it yet? Get over yourself and your comforts. Get over whether or not it would be weird. All you're doing is getting in the way of what God is trying to do- how God is trying to bless you and others around you.
I've really learned a lot this weekend and it's exciting the things that I'm allowing God to take control of in my life. It's freeing to know that I don't have to worry about it any longer. My soul is taking a permanent vacation!
Jesus,
Thank you for constantly being alive and working in my life. I thank you that you are showing me the full meaning of such a powerful tool- love. I thank you that you have equipped me with a heart of compassion- a big big heart! I just proclaim that I am here for you, today, in any way that you choose to use me, I am your vessel. Use me. I want in on what you're doing. Holy Spirit, I ask that you remain with me today. You know what I will face today before I know what I will face today so I ask for the proper tools of your spirit to be able to get through anything through Christ that strengthens me. I love you more than words can express. Shulukt.
amen.
OH LOOK! ANOTHER LOVE DEVOTION! Haha.
Welcome to the Love Month and get over it. >.< class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">conference that's been going on for free here at the Amway arena. I was a little iffy going into it because the old me has a habit of not really diving into big Christian movement. (That's so dumb, right?) And I always saw Joyce Meyer as "Oh that's great for other women struggling, go get God, ladies! Lord, bless Joyce Meyer and her ministry, but it's not for me." What a load of crap. She has such an anointing on her life and when someone preaches the Word of God, how can it not be for me? I realized it was just my pride, not wanting to take part in something feminine. I don't know why, but I never really liked females to begin with. But God is calling me into a new stage in life where I am to love ALL and embrace my femininity. It's OKAY to be a woman. That's the way God made me so there must be SOME reason- level of influence- heart of compassion- for why he created me to be a woman and not a man.
And I tell you what, I am really starting to get used to loving the things God is doing in my life, even if it's uncomfortable at times. I am seeing just how quickly things begin to change when I open my heart up completely to let the Lord do whatever his will is in me and don't hold him back with my own agenda or comforts.
Well yesterday, Dayari and I were leaving the morning session of Joyce Meyer when we saw that a woman's car had been hit in the parking lot and the other driver had fled the scene before anything could be done about it. We were walking to Dayari's car when she said, "I have a number for a good mechanic, I wonder if I should go give it to them." And I said a blunt and secure "Yeah, let's go." "Will that be weird? I don't know if I should." "It won't be weird, let's just go offer it." So we walked over to the woman who was talking to two other women and we offered her the number and immediately, God began to move. Excuse me- God was ALREADY moving, we just had to do our part.
We ended up talking and ministering to the woman who's car had been hit as well as her friend who had come with her, along with the other two women who were already there, and they made it a point to consistently say that this was no coincidence that we had approached or that they had approached, and long story short, we are supposed to have four new visitors at Northwest Community Church this Sunday.
God is so good! If we move in love as the bible says we should, it's so great how much faster things will get done. We sit and strive and beg God to bring us people to pray for and to minister to and lead but get so bogged down with the people already in our lives who know us and have a hard time receiving from us. Well in essence, forget about them! (I mean still pray for them and pray for opportunities) but start to look outside of your box- outside of your realm of friends. There's still tons of people hungry for (if not God alone) MORE of God and I have the answer to that. Love. Love love love. Love.
Love.
Get it yet? Get over yourself and your comforts. Get over whether or not it would be weird. All you're doing is getting in the way of what God is trying to do- how God is trying to bless you and others around you.
I've really learned a lot this weekend and it's exciting the things that I'm allowing God to take control of in my life. It's freeing to know that I don't have to worry about it any longer. My soul is taking a permanent vacation!
Jesus,
Thank you for constantly being alive and working in my life. I thank you that you are showing me the full meaning of such a powerful tool- love. I thank you that you have equipped me with a heart of compassion- a big big heart! I just proclaim that I am here for you, today, in any way that you choose to use me, I am your vessel. Use me. I want in on what you're doing. Holy Spirit, I ask that you remain with me today. You know what I will face today before I know what I will face today so I ask for the proper tools of your spirit to be able to get through anything through Christ that strengthens me. I love you more than words can express. Shulukt.
amen.
Friday, February 20, 2009
1 John 4.15-21
" 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."
I know, I know. All this talk of LOOOVE... Well get over it! haha. It IS the LOVE MONTH after all. So grin and bear it. Maybe there's a reason you're not the happiest right now, take that as a check in your spirit and get right with God, because God is ALL about love.
With that being said, I really like these verses. They are so so true.
He who does not love his brother (or sister) (aka friends, ENEMIES, coworkers, bosses, etc etc) does not love the Lord. EEK! HARSH WORDS, GOD! But he's serious about this. We can't just be selfish and merely love God, or Jesus (in that vertical love). He wants us to also love people the way that HE loves people, without finding fault or blemish, (in that horizontal sort of love) and once you have both vertical and horizontal love, what do you get?
That's right, ladies and gentlemen, A CROSS...
God is love, God is love, God is love. I will continue to repeat it until it completely sinks into my spirit. I am called to love- that's a lifestyle that differs from what the world thinks is "normal or acceptable". According to the world, you don't like someone, that's fine, don't talk to them, leave them be. Whatever. But you know what that does? It leaves the possibility for the Enemy to place thoughts in your head about that person. Thoughts of anger, rage, maybe it's fear, jealousy, contempt, whatever the case. And you'll realize you've ended up in a worse place than where you've intended it to go.
Don't allow yourself to get to that point.
Jesus,
I thank you for today, sniffles, coughs, soar chest and all. I ask that you release your healing on me, in the name of Jesus. I put it in your hands and trust you. I ask for a larger heart to love more, Jesus. I want to always be remembered for my loving heart, not to be confused with someone that becomes a doormat and lets people walk all over, but a true, genuine heart of love, and in that would come discipline, vigor, and righteousness. I thank you for the place you have dragged me, literally took me by the shirt and plucked me out of... The deceptions I was living in, thus hardening my heart to not love. I thank you that I don't need to prove myself to anyone, but your love speaks for itself. Your spirit has given me my testimony and I love the fact that if anyone would have issue, all I need to do it point to you. You are my defender. My life is a living, walking testimony of your grace, your love, your abundance in life. Thank you. I am so in love with you. Holy Spirit, remain with me today as I make it through this sickieness. Fill my heart with your love, my head with your thoughts, my feet with the steps you want me to take, my mouth with your words. I love you so so much.
amen.
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