Ephesians 5:25 has really been on my heart lately. The word if God instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church. Well what does that mean for us the wives. Well I began to think about church, first we are the church our physical bodies. We live our lives consecrated to God to prepare an atmosphere within our hearts for Him to move in our lives. Even at the building the church services start with praise and worship to draw the attention of the congregation to the purpose for being there. Worship sets the atmosphere for God to move. I am not suggesting we worship our husbands but this does make one consider their responsibility to create the atmosphere for their marriage. Here are some questions to think on: Are you creating an atmosphere of open, honest, communication? Are you creating an atmosphere of encouragement? What are you contributing to the atmosphere when you argue? Are you fighting fair?
Father,
Help us create a positive, honest, atmosphere with our actions and words in our marriage and wherever we go. May your love pour out of us in all situations. Thank you for changing and shaping us. Amen
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Words of Wisdom
This few days I spent at a spa with my mom, grandmothers, great grandmothers, and aunts and I wanted to share with you some bits of wisdom I picked up.
1. Never apologize for being you for being who God called you to be. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. So shrink for no one, hold your head high. Psalm 139:14
2. Don't be afraid. Fear manifest itself in many ways for some people they have to do everything under the sun because they are afraid of feeling inadequate, or they are afraid it won't get done if they don't do it themselves. Others may be so paralyzed by failure they don't try which limits their potential and the impact they could have on others. 2 Timothy 1:7
3. Perfection is being exactly who God has called you to be. There are no perfect circles in nature, there are no straight lines but everything fits. Nature exudes God's glory because every plant and creature is doing just what it was created to do. The only way we can reach perfection is to operated in the gifts and anointing that God has given us individually. 1 Kings 8:61
4. Worship is unique. Sure we worship together in church with music and hands raised. However, on your own, the way you communicate with God is unique to you. Some worship through the discovery of science, uncovering God's mysteries and sharing it with the world. Some worship through dance, moving freely to exalt The Creator. How you worship may look completely different than anyone else. God knows you and understands your worship completely. John 4:24
God,
Thank you for your revelation and the legacy you have given me. May this wisdom be passed down not only to and through my children but through the children of those who read this. I love you, I thank you.
Amen
1. Never apologize for being you for being who God called you to be. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. So shrink for no one, hold your head high. Psalm 139:14
2. Don't be afraid. Fear manifest itself in many ways for some people they have to do everything under the sun because they are afraid of feeling inadequate, or they are afraid it won't get done if they don't do it themselves. Others may be so paralyzed by failure they don't try which limits their potential and the impact they could have on others. 2 Timothy 1:7
3. Perfection is being exactly who God has called you to be. There are no perfect circles in nature, there are no straight lines but everything fits. Nature exudes God's glory because every plant and creature is doing just what it was created to do. The only way we can reach perfection is to operated in the gifts and anointing that God has given us individually. 1 Kings 8:61
4. Worship is unique. Sure we worship together in church with music and hands raised. However, on your own, the way you communicate with God is unique to you. Some worship through the discovery of science, uncovering God's mysteries and sharing it with the world. Some worship through dance, moving freely to exalt The Creator. How you worship may look completely different than anyone else. God knows you and understands your worship completely. John 4:24
God,
Thank you for your revelation and the legacy you have given me. May this wisdom be passed down not only to and through my children but through the children of those who read this. I love you, I thank you.
Amen
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Canvas vs. Clay
I was talking to my mom the other day and she gave me a few words of wisdom. Too often we live our life as if we have a blank canvas, and we have to paint this beautiful picture to present to God. We work so hard to make sure we have the right colors and textures, to make sure we include depth and range. Often times forgetting that none of the above things is our responsibility; we are clay.
Clay does nothing but what the potter shapes and molds it to do. It does not move on its own, it does not create something to be presented to the potter. Rather the potter is creating something out of the clay. When I was a little girl I would watch my aunt at the potter’s wheel. I was amazed at the ease in which she shaped and molded vases and cups, something that was hard for my little hands to do. As I reminisce about the clay in her hands, I never once heard her curse the clay for being clay. She never disapproved of the clay or what it had to bring. I don’t even think she saw the clay as the big ugly block that it was. She would wet her hands, sit down and make the clay into what she envisioned it to be.
We are clay. I don’t think God looks down on us judging us for what we do or don’t do. Measuring us based on our accomplishments rather He sees us for who we will be; as mothers, fathers, sisters, brother, missionaries, pastors, teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc. The bible says in Isaiah 46:10 that God sees things from the end to the beginning. Isn’t it wonderful that He sees us not as the big ugly block of clay we are but the beautiful masterpiece He is making us to be. Isn’t it amazing that we are not judged on our accomplishments on blank canvases but rather our willingness to be shaped and molded by Him?
Even Jesus was clay. He submitted and was obedient when He got baptized. He had not yet performed any documented miracles yet God still said to Him, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. Be encouraged today to submit to the process that is life, to be shaped and molded to what God has called you to be. Not looking at the other beautiful pieces of pottery around you trying to conform to them but realizing that you are being formed and fashioned for a specific purpose.
Father,
Please shower us with you love, affirm us, shape us mold us. Give us the wisdom not to compare ourselves to the ideas we have of others. Not to create something to present to you but rather to present to you ourselves to be fashioned by you. Thank you for your grace and mercy. For being faithful even when we aren’t. We love you.
Amen
Clay does nothing but what the potter shapes and molds it to do. It does not move on its own, it does not create something to be presented to the potter. Rather the potter is creating something out of the clay. When I was a little girl I would watch my aunt at the potter’s wheel. I was amazed at the ease in which she shaped and molded vases and cups, something that was hard for my little hands to do. As I reminisce about the clay in her hands, I never once heard her curse the clay for being clay. She never disapproved of the clay or what it had to bring. I don’t even think she saw the clay as the big ugly block that it was. She would wet her hands, sit down and make the clay into what she envisioned it to be.
We are clay. I don’t think God looks down on us judging us for what we do or don’t do. Measuring us based on our accomplishments rather He sees us for who we will be; as mothers, fathers, sisters, brother, missionaries, pastors, teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc. The bible says in Isaiah 46:10 that God sees things from the end to the beginning. Isn’t it wonderful that He sees us not as the big ugly block of clay we are but the beautiful masterpiece He is making us to be. Isn’t it amazing that we are not judged on our accomplishments on blank canvases but rather our willingness to be shaped and molded by Him?
Even Jesus was clay. He submitted and was obedient when He got baptized. He had not yet performed any documented miracles yet God still said to Him, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. Be encouraged today to submit to the process that is life, to be shaped and molded to what God has called you to be. Not looking at the other beautiful pieces of pottery around you trying to conform to them but realizing that you are being formed and fashioned for a specific purpose.
Father,
Please shower us with you love, affirm us, shape us mold us. Give us the wisdom not to compare ourselves to the ideas we have of others. Not to create something to present to you but rather to present to you ourselves to be fashioned by you. Thank you for your grace and mercy. For being faithful even when we aren’t. We love you.
Amen
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Hurt Feelings Switch
Love is not easily offended…. I have a hurt feelings switch. We all do per my mother and she knows almost everything. I have worked long and hard to make my switch heavy, it is very hard to turn on…so I thought. Before I go into that, let’s look at the verse above from 1 Corinthians 13 it says, “love it not easily offended.” Well what is easy? This of course is relative. Multiplication is easy to a mathematician but to a 5 year old it’s foreign. So we have to look at ourselves, our lives, and our personal growth the things that offended us 10 years ago, 5 years ago even last year should not offend us the same way. Let me define offense. When I am talking about offense here I am referring to one individual intentionally or unintentionally trying to hurt you emotionally.
Okay so back to the hurt feeling switch. Someone flipped my switch and can you believe that, that heavy switch now defies gravity! It seems I can’t force it down. Every time I think about that person and what they said it brings tears to my eyes, I don’t want to flip the switch down. The thing is I know how this person thinks; I know this person said what they said to hurt me because they wanted me to feel as bad as I unintentionally made them feel. I know this person knows they went over the line and I also know they probably won’t apologize but they defiantly don’t hate me. Knowing these things should have made the switch slightly heavier, but it didn’t.
God had to reveal to me the growth in this situation. The growth that He was requiring me to make. What! Me! Did you hear what they said?! Do you know what they did and you want ME to GROW?! Yes God wants us to grow. One day this situation will rise again maybe with a different person or circumstance, but the expectation is for me to not be so quick to flip that switch. To use my understanding not to justify that persons antics, but to maintain my personal discipline and emotional control. The truth of the matter is folks that when we stand before God and He asks us why we didn’t do what He said to do, using the excuse that someone flipped your hurt feelings switch will not be an sufficient answer.
Father,
Help us to be more like you. Continue to shape us and challenge us, show us how to show and receive true love with no strings attached. Make our hurt feelings switch heavier by the day and when we flip that switch father give us grace to bring it back down. We love you and we thank you for daily transformation.
Amen.
Okay so back to the hurt feeling switch. Someone flipped my switch and can you believe that, that heavy switch now defies gravity! It seems I can’t force it down. Every time I think about that person and what they said it brings tears to my eyes, I don’t want to flip the switch down. The thing is I know how this person thinks; I know this person said what they said to hurt me because they wanted me to feel as bad as I unintentionally made them feel. I know this person knows they went over the line and I also know they probably won’t apologize but they defiantly don’t hate me. Knowing these things should have made the switch slightly heavier, but it didn’t.
God had to reveal to me the growth in this situation. The growth that He was requiring me to make. What! Me! Did you hear what they said?! Do you know what they did and you want ME to GROW?! Yes God wants us to grow. One day this situation will rise again maybe with a different person or circumstance, but the expectation is for me to not be so quick to flip that switch. To use my understanding not to justify that persons antics, but to maintain my personal discipline and emotional control. The truth of the matter is folks that when we stand before God and He asks us why we didn’t do what He said to do, using the excuse that someone flipped your hurt feelings switch will not be an sufficient answer.
Father,
Help us to be more like you. Continue to shape us and challenge us, show us how to show and receive true love with no strings attached. Make our hurt feelings switch heavier by the day and when we flip that switch father give us grace to bring it back down. We love you and we thank you for daily transformation.
Amen.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Would A God of Love Do That?
I was listening to a very interesting coversation about the character of God. When one co-worker mentioned that natural disasters are sometimes seen as punishment from God, another co-worker asked "Would a God of love do that?" It was interesting because God is love but that does not mean He is a pushover. There are still consequences for ones actions, the bible says, in Proverbs 29:15 "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left [to himself] bringeth his mother to shame." Further verse 17 says, "Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul." So a God of love would correct and dicipline His children because He will not call us to do anything He wouldn't do.
Well naturally the next question would be, "Would God punish a nation?" There are many examples of this in the Old Testament, Noah's hometown and the world was flooded (God promised not to flood the entire world agian), Soddom and Gomorah, He even punished Isreal and for years they were enslaved then walked through the wilderness.
After Christ died on the cross, and rose again we were afforded grace, however, the character of God did not change. Hebrews 13:8 say, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
I am not saying that naturally disasters are punishments from God, but they could be. It can also simply be the result of our free will; we make decisions concerning our enviorment on a daily basis that effect the eco-system, another reason can be that God simply allows things to happen so future events can occur (if children don't learn to get up after falling they wont learn how to walk).
Be blessed.
Well naturally the next question would be, "Would God punish a nation?" There are many examples of this in the Old Testament, Noah's hometown and the world was flooded (God promised not to flood the entire world agian), Soddom and Gomorah, He even punished Isreal and for years they were enslaved then walked through the wilderness.
After Christ died on the cross, and rose again we were afforded grace, however, the character of God did not change. Hebrews 13:8 say, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
I am not saying that naturally disasters are punishments from God, but they could be. It can also simply be the result of our free will; we make decisions concerning our enviorment on a daily basis that effect the eco-system, another reason can be that God simply allows things to happen so future events can occur (if children don't learn to get up after falling they wont learn how to walk).
Be blessed.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happiness or Love?
I realized the other day I am constantly being bombarded with the things the world says that sounds good but goes against everything God says. Like, "You do you, I will do me." or "If you like it, I love it." I have said both of these things and recently; just because it’s easier than taking the time or energy to care. Or how about, "I just want you to be happy."
This is something my mom never said to me and with good reason. There are things that make people happy like drugs, sex, booze, if that were the case if it was of most importance for everyone to be happy and to stay in their own little bubble then what would be the point of love. Love stretches both the giver and receiver it’s sometimes uncomfortable for both parties but is more necessary than happiness. Love understands that addiction, illness and helplessness are real, love weights the risks and the benefits and love acts accordingly regardless of one’s happiness. I wonder if this world will ever stop chasing the illusion of happiness and just open up to receive perfect love. Who knows one day they may look up and be happy.
God help us to live up to your definition of love (1 Corinthians 13) rather than chasing the worlds definition of happiness. Shape us and mold us to be more like you.
This is something my mom never said to me and with good reason. There are things that make people happy like drugs, sex, booze, if that were the case if it was of most importance for everyone to be happy and to stay in their own little bubble then what would be the point of love. Love stretches both the giver and receiver it’s sometimes uncomfortable for both parties but is more necessary than happiness. Love understands that addiction, illness and helplessness are real, love weights the risks and the benefits and love acts accordingly regardless of one’s happiness. I wonder if this world will ever stop chasing the illusion of happiness and just open up to receive perfect love. Who knows one day they may look up and be happy.
God help us to live up to your definition of love (1 Corinthians 13) rather than chasing the worlds definition of happiness. Shape us and mold us to be more like you.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs
Yesterday a lady at my job was so rude. She was so irritating so I decided that today I would absolutely ignore her. I mean I didn't even look in her direction. The logic was eventually she would notice, then feel bad, then stop being so mean to me.
Well at the end of the day as I was walking to my car I realized how exhausted I was. The Holy Spirit laid on my heart that holding a grudge is hard work. Crazy thing is you dont even realize how hard you are working until you let it go!
I look at scriptures like the 10 commandments and can easily see how God put those rules in place to protect me, but to see that keeping no record of wrong is for my benefit took this lesson.
This society teaches us so many backward things like, "forgive, don't forget." The bible clearly states 1 Corinthians 13:5 "Love keeps no record of wrongs." All God has called us to do is love. Love our neighbor, our parents, our spouse, our children. If you are keeping a constant tally on what they do then that is not love and it will seep into every area of your life. Causing you to isolate yourself and find more things to put on your list.
You may ask, "How can I stop keeping track when I have done it for so long?" Stop and repent every time for as long as it takes. My husband and I were arguing and he stopped in the middle of the argument and said, "I am so sorry but while we are talking about this I keep thinking of everything else you have done wrong. Can we talk about this and this alone later." That was a hard and honest thing for him to say and sometimes it takes that.
Father,
Thank you for providing us with a blueprint for life. How foolish we are to look to anyone but you for insight and instruction. Thank you for showing us that by letting things go we are not being weak but strong, trusting that you are sovereign and that all things truly work out for our good. We love you Lord.
Shape us, mold us, make us more like you.
Amen
Well at the end of the day as I was walking to my car I realized how exhausted I was. The Holy Spirit laid on my heart that holding a grudge is hard work. Crazy thing is you dont even realize how hard you are working until you let it go!
I look at scriptures like the 10 commandments and can easily see how God put those rules in place to protect me, but to see that keeping no record of wrong is for my benefit took this lesson.
This society teaches us so many backward things like, "forgive, don't forget." The bible clearly states 1 Corinthians 13:5 "Love keeps no record of wrongs." All God has called us to do is love. Love our neighbor, our parents, our spouse, our children. If you are keeping a constant tally on what they do then that is not love and it will seep into every area of your life. Causing you to isolate yourself and find more things to put on your list.
You may ask, "How can I stop keeping track when I have done it for so long?" Stop and repent every time for as long as it takes. My husband and I were arguing and he stopped in the middle of the argument and said, "I am so sorry but while we are talking about this I keep thinking of everything else you have done wrong. Can we talk about this and this alone later." That was a hard and honest thing for him to say and sometimes it takes that.
Father,
Thank you for providing us with a blueprint for life. How foolish we are to look to anyone but you for insight and instruction. Thank you for showing us that by letting things go we are not being weak but strong, trusting that you are sovereign and that all things truly work out for our good. We love you Lord.
Shape us, mold us, make us more like you.
Amen
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