Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Being Bold
I called, You answered me;, You made me bold and stouthearted!
Psalm 138:3
I have been a Christian nearly my entire life. I was born into a Godly Christian home and I was saved when I was 5 years old. I grew up with wonderful Godly parents who did their best to not only teach me right from wrong, but they also taught me WHY things were right/wrong.
When I became an adult, I seriously thought I had it all together...HA! Was I ever WRONG!!! I knew alot, but I also realized that I had been sheltered somewhat to "real" problems.
I have so many people that I care about who are struggling with things right now. I have friends who are facing a marriage breaking up. I have friends who are facing true financial hardships. I have friends who are facing life threatening illness. I have friends who are so deeply hurt from past failures that they seem trapped by satan's lies of unforgiveness.
As a younger person, I wouldn't have known firsthand how to help them. I would've been there for them, listened to them, encouraged them. But, in my "older, wiser" years, I have learned that the ONLY GUARANTEED WAY to help them is to BOLD PRAY FOR THEM! Now, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that being there for them, listening to them, and encouraging them does no good. I am simply saying that God is teaching me everyday that I HAVE NO CONTROL over the things that are happening around me. But, I can rest so calmly and safely in the sweet precious truth that MY GOD HAS IT ALL UNDER CONTROL!!! So, I know that I can BOLDLY bring my heart's desires, hurts, longings, and cares to Him and He will gladly take them and use them to bring Glory to Himself!
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for not only allowing me, but encouraging me to BOLDLY come to You with my life's burdens. You know the number of hairs on my head (although as fast as they fall out, I don't know how You keep up!). You see the tiniest bird that falls from the sky. You care so much! Thank You! Give me the passion and strength to help others with their burdens by bringing them to You too!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Is it worth it?
I got this from a girl in our youth group that goes to a local high school:
"A couple days ago a young boy named Caleb from Grifton attempted suicide because of the kids at school picking on him... I don't know him but I do know he's in a coma and they don't think he'll make it, can you guys please pray for him, his family and friends and please pray for the people that drove him to do this...they need Gods help along with Caleb."
My heart felt so much weight when I read this...
I just don't understand why? Why do we feel the need to degrade and humiliate others? What do we get out of it? What makes us act this way?
Growing up, I wasn't overly popular or pretty. I was normal...I had great friends and was pretty much a fit with any of the "clicks" in my class. I was smart enough to fit with the "BRAINS", dorky and crazy enough to fit with the "NERDS", bubbly and athletic enough to fit with the "JOCKS". So, I didn't deal too much with being picked on or feeling like I was an outcast. I guess I was lucky. There were others in my class who weren't so lucky...
I remember this boy in our class named Tony. He was a mentally challenged kid who had this huge crush on a popular girl in the class. She was a cheerleader, dated a jock, had looks, brains, was funny, sweet, etc. She had it all! One day, the guys were teasing Tony about asking her out and that she would definitely say yes because she secretly had a big crush on him...and so on. Well, the girl, Vicki, heard about this. She was so mad!!! But, she wasn't mad about the lying of her having a crush on him. She was angry at the guys for teasing Tony and making him believe something that would eventually embarrass and humiliate him. She BLASTED these boys (one of which was her boyfriend!). She stood up to these guys and stood in the gap for Tony.
I have never forgotten what she did. She probably doesn't even remember it. It probably didn't make that big of an impact on her...it did on me! I remember her as being sure enough of herself to stand up for someone else even at the cost of her looking silly.
Kids, ask yourself this question "Is your fear of not being cool so big that you are willing to let someone else get hurt (or worse)?"
Every single one of us has felt left out, lonely, on the outside, forgotten, alone - at one time of another in their life.
Every single one of us has wished, wanted, waited - for someone to step up for us and just let us know that we are not alone.
Every single one of us are a precious, cherished, loved - creation of God and needs to be treated as such.
So come on kids, stop being a weak minded person who let's peer pressure sway you to be someone that you're not. STEP UP AND STAND UP FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES!
"A couple days ago a young boy named Caleb from Grifton attempted suicide because of the kids at school picking on him... I don't know him but I do know he's in a coma and they don't think he'll make it, can you guys please pray for him, his family and friends and please pray for the people that drove him to do this...they need Gods help along with Caleb."
My heart felt so much weight when I read this...
I just don't understand why? Why do we feel the need to degrade and humiliate others? What do we get out of it? What makes us act this way?
Growing up, I wasn't overly popular or pretty. I was normal...I had great friends and was pretty much a fit with any of the "clicks" in my class. I was smart enough to fit with the "BRAINS", dorky and crazy enough to fit with the "NERDS", bubbly and athletic enough to fit with the "JOCKS". So, I didn't deal too much with being picked on or feeling like I was an outcast. I guess I was lucky. There were others in my class who weren't so lucky...
I remember this boy in our class named Tony. He was a mentally challenged kid who had this huge crush on a popular girl in the class. She was a cheerleader, dated a jock, had looks, brains, was funny, sweet, etc. She had it all! One day, the guys were teasing Tony about asking her out and that she would definitely say yes because she secretly had a big crush on him...and so on. Well, the girl, Vicki, heard about this. She was so mad!!! But, she wasn't mad about the lying of her having a crush on him. She was angry at the guys for teasing Tony and making him believe something that would eventually embarrass and humiliate him. She BLASTED these boys (one of which was her boyfriend!). She stood up to these guys and stood in the gap for Tony.
I have never forgotten what she did. She probably doesn't even remember it. It probably didn't make that big of an impact on her...it did on me! I remember her as being sure enough of herself to stand up for someone else even at the cost of her looking silly.
Kids, ask yourself this question "Is your fear of not being cool so big that you are willing to let someone else get hurt (or worse)?"
Every single one of us has felt left out, lonely, on the outside, forgotten, alone - at one time of another in their life.
Every single one of us has wished, wanted, waited - for someone to step up for us and just let us know that we are not alone.
Every single one of us are a precious, cherished, loved - creation of God and needs to be treated as such.
So come on kids, stop being a weak minded person who let's peer pressure sway you to be someone that you're not. STEP UP AND STAND UP FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES!
Monday, October 24, 2011
When God speaks
God has been speaking to me...
I struggle with several things that I have begun to realize I will ALWAYS struggle with! That, in and of itself, is a WIN! I don't like it, but hey, who said everything was going to be roses in life!
However, a couple of things happened this past week really took me by surprise, touched my heart, and made me hear God speaking to me!
In our small group last Thursday, we went around the room and each person had to choose someone and tell them what we appreciated about them. A friend chose me and then she began to explain why...She appreciated that I was so open and upfront with my struggles, my flaws, and my mistakes. WHAT?!?!?
First off, I thought my flaws were pretty obvious! I'm so 'in your face' most of the time so I always assumed that EVERYONE just knew what my flaws were!
Secondly, I only share with my small group because I feel safe there. I know that they will not judge me or think less of me because of my mistakes.
Lastly, I didn't even realize that this person struggles with some of the same things that I struggle with. She is a private person and it's just not her nature to expose shortcomings to others. So by my sharing, I inadvertantly ministered to her on a quiet level (LOL...me, quiet?!? Only by God's grace!)
Then, a couple days ago, I got a facebook message from an old youth. She said that she missed me and everything I stood for. She said she liked that I wasnt afraid to let my personality show...
This youth has alot of the same struggles and "flaws" that I have, so she admired that I was able to be the real me. WOW!
So, God has been speaking to me in BOLD ways about the fact that He created me in a wonderful and beautiful way! I just can't figure out why it has taken me this long to allow God to talk to me so freely!
Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
I struggle with several things that I have begun to realize I will ALWAYS struggle with! That, in and of itself, is a WIN! I don't like it, but hey, who said everything was going to be roses in life!
However, a couple of things happened this past week really took me by surprise, touched my heart, and made me hear God speaking to me!
In our small group last Thursday, we went around the room and each person had to choose someone and tell them what we appreciated about them. A friend chose me and then she began to explain why...She appreciated that I was so open and upfront with my struggles, my flaws, and my mistakes. WHAT?!?!?
First off, I thought my flaws were pretty obvious! I'm so 'in your face' most of the time so I always assumed that EVERYONE just knew what my flaws were!
Secondly, I only share with my small group because I feel safe there. I know that they will not judge me or think less of me because of my mistakes.
Lastly, I didn't even realize that this person struggles with some of the same things that I struggle with. She is a private person and it's just not her nature to expose shortcomings to others. So by my sharing, I inadvertantly ministered to her on a quiet level (LOL...me, quiet?!? Only by God's grace!)
Then, a couple days ago, I got a facebook message from an old youth. She said that she missed me and everything I stood for. She said she liked that I wasnt afraid to let my personality show...
This youth has alot of the same struggles and "flaws" that I have, so she admired that I was able to be the real me. WOW!
So, God has been speaking to me in BOLD ways about the fact that He created me in a wonderful and beautiful way! I just can't figure out why it has taken me this long to allow God to talk to me so freely!
Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Can't put into words!
My husband, Claude, he is one that I just can't put into words how special and unque he is! I've never known ANYONE that can do so many things and still be humbled by the compliments he gets over the things he does! Well, one of his MANY talents is welding! I caught him welding together a new cart for our portable church! Very cool stuff! Check it out:
How lucky am I!?! I get to spend my days and nites with this man! As Julie Andrews said in The Sound Of Music..."I must of done something good"!!!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
I got nothin'...
HAHAHA!!!
I am sitting in front of the computer thinking about all the stuff that's been going on over the last couple weeks and I am drawing a blank on what to blog about...LOL!! It's funny because there HAS been things happening, but it's just "life" so I don't think too much about it as "blog-worthy".
However, THAT made me think about something I learned this year at the CATALYST Conference in Georgia...
There was a speaker there named Priscilla Shirer. She told this story about herself growing up. She was asleep in her bedroom (that she shared with her sister) when a fire broke out at the house behind theirs. She said her sister literally climbed over her in the bed to look out the window that was over HER bed and that her mom came into the room and hovered over her to look out that same window...all the while, she slept through it. She slept through the fire engines and the ambulance noises. SHE SLEPT THROUGH IT!!! Her point to the story (or what I took from it!) was that important things happen and we often times "sleep" through them.
Sometimes, we are so busy looking back to the past thinking, wondering, wishing...
Sometimes, we are so busy looking to the future thinking, wondering, hoping...
We are so busy with the past and the future that we are "sleeping" through the present! We miss the little things that are happening in our day to day lives that make it beautiful, precious, liveable!
So, I want to look to the future and remember the past, but I really want to focus on today and what God is doing in my life daily! There is so much in my everyday life...I don't want to sleep through it.
I am sitting in front of the computer thinking about all the stuff that's been going on over the last couple weeks and I am drawing a blank on what to blog about...LOL!! It's funny because there HAS been things happening, but it's just "life" so I don't think too much about it as "blog-worthy".
However, THAT made me think about something I learned this year at the CATALYST Conference in Georgia...
There was a speaker there named Priscilla Shirer. She told this story about herself growing up. She was asleep in her bedroom (that she shared with her sister) when a fire broke out at the house behind theirs. She said her sister literally climbed over her in the bed to look out the window that was over HER bed and that her mom came into the room and hovered over her to look out that same window...all the while, she slept through it. She slept through the fire engines and the ambulance noises. SHE SLEPT THROUGH IT!!! Her point to the story (or what I took from it!) was that important things happen and we often times "sleep" through them.
Sometimes, we are so busy looking back to the past thinking, wondering, wishing...
Sometimes, we are so busy looking to the future thinking, wondering, hoping...
We are so busy with the past and the future that we are "sleeping" through the present! We miss the little things that are happening in our day to day lives that make it beautiful, precious, liveable!
So, I want to look to the future and remember the past, but I really want to focus on today and what God is doing in my life daily! There is so much in my everyday life...I don't want to sleep through it.
Monday, October 17, 2011
I am learning!
Ever since we moved to NC from FL to help plant a church, I have felt "unqualified". I mean, seriously, think about all the things that you think you know spiritually and how your spiritual maturity is your own responsibility. But then think about the idea of being "on display" as an example for others of what to be (or, in my case ALOT OF TIMES, what NOT to be!). I am not sure where my insecurities generated from. I had always considered myself bold and "confident". But for some reason, I had lost that confidence and had allowed satan to slip in the back door and use me because of them.
God has been teaching me so many things over the past several months. I have so many things to work on and to allow God to work on through me. One thing I am definitely starting to believe is that God CAN and WILL use me, flaws and all, IF I allow Him to! He can use a loud, feisty, bossy, take-charge, no room for error, roll over people to get things done kind of woman! He made me with the personality to be bold and to stand firm. He also can TEACH me how to do things with grace and with kindness! I am starting to believe that God CAN USE ME and I am qualified!
I AM LEARNING!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
But I want what she has...!
I am reading this book with a couple of great ladies at church and we meet once a week to discuss what we've learned and how we can apply the truths to our own lives! The book is called" Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl". Let me tell you, this woman could've been me!!! She writes and it sounds like things I have thought, wished, wanted, done, imagined, acted, said, etc...you understand!!!
In one of the chapters she's writing about becoming more than a Bible study girl in our relationships. She talked about how we as women so many times want to be other women or to attain the status of other women, to have attributes of other women, or simply possess the lifestyle of other women. I humbly admit that I have done all of these things at least a thousand times in my life. One paragraph in particular really made me stop and cnsider what God wants from me and how I am so far from hitting the mark on it. She quotes Matthew 11:28-30 where it talks about Jesus telling us to come to him all of us who are weary and heavy burdened because his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Now, I've been a Christian for a very long time and I gotta say that there have been MANY TIMES when I would not have considered the yoke easy and the burden light!!! But, she points out several thngs that I hadn't considered. First, I am probably trying to carry the burden myself, thus, it's not easy and light! Well...DUH! The second part I will quote so that I don't lose the meaning she intended:
"Note a couple key words in these verses. A yoke is a wooden frame used to harness two draft animals to whatever they have to pull. The Greek word for "easy" can also mean "well-fitted". Combine this information together and it appears that Jesus is saying he has equipped each of us with well fitted assignments in life. As long as we do and aspire to only what he calls us, our burden will not only be changeable, it will be light."
WOW!!!
The more I study and read about how God has a unique plan for me, the less I worry about wanting to be someone else! I'm not saying that I am completely free of this struggle, but I have more peace about myself, my calling, and the things God has in store for me!!!
In one of the chapters she's writing about becoming more than a Bible study girl in our relationships. She talked about how we as women so many times want to be other women or to attain the status of other women, to have attributes of other women, or simply possess the lifestyle of other women. I humbly admit that I have done all of these things at least a thousand times in my life. One paragraph in particular really made me stop and cnsider what God wants from me and how I am so far from hitting the mark on it. She quotes Matthew 11:28-30 where it talks about Jesus telling us to come to him all of us who are weary and heavy burdened because his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Now, I've been a Christian for a very long time and I gotta say that there have been MANY TIMES when I would not have considered the yoke easy and the burden light!!! But, she points out several thngs that I hadn't considered. First, I am probably trying to carry the burden myself, thus, it's not easy and light! Well...DUH! The second part I will quote so that I don't lose the meaning she intended:
"Note a couple key words in these verses. A yoke is a wooden frame used to harness two draft animals to whatever they have to pull. The Greek word for "easy" can also mean "well-fitted". Combine this information together and it appears that Jesus is saying he has equipped each of us with well fitted assignments in life. As long as we do and aspire to only what he calls us, our burden will not only be changeable, it will be light."
WOW!!!
The more I study and read about how God has a unique plan for me, the less I worry about wanting to be someone else! I'm not saying that I am completely free of this struggle, but I have more peace about myself, my calling, and the things God has in store for me!!!
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