My life is not my own
It is a letter
To be read by those around me
A message of hope and peace
Trials and triumphs
Wisdom and understanding
Most importantly it is a delaration
Of Gods unchanging love
And salvation through His son Jesus
This letter may be interpurted
Through eyes that are hurting
Proud, angry or ashamed
However, the message remains
God is Love and
Love calls your name.
2 Cor. 3:2-4
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Character Matters
My dad said this and I wanted to share this with you all.
"The Bible says what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and to loose his soul... It further begs the question what shall a man give in exchange for his soul. In these perilous times people have all but let go of every standard of integrity and character. In the end that's all we will have is our character and our name. God help you if they both don't line up. To do all that we do and be found a cast away would be such a great waste. Can you live for God in secret as you do in public? That's when you've got the Victory. Character Matters."
Thank you Pastor Walters for your words of wisdom
"The Bible says what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and to loose his soul... It further begs the question what shall a man give in exchange for his soul. In these perilous times people have all but let go of every standard of integrity and character. In the end that's all we will have is our character and our name. God help you if they both don't line up. To do all that we do and be found a cast away would be such a great waste. Can you live for God in secret as you do in public? That's when you've got the Victory. Character Matters."
Thank you Pastor Walters for your words of wisdom
Monday, July 4, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
All Things Work Together for Good
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
This week my best friend and I have been talking a lot about maintaning a positive attitude. For me because of this scripture it is easier for me not to get upset over day to day things than it is for them. When he asked me how I can be so happy all the time I referred him to this scripture. We have to believe 100% that everything that happens to us is for our benefit. At first glace when you see me or even while you are reading this you may assume that nothing bad has ever happened to me. Well let me tell you a few of my trials and triumphs.
When I was a little girl I was molested. I don't remember much about it but I do remember being in the corner in the closet scared with a a hole in my tights. A man whose face I can't remember but I know he was a relative, found me in the closet, took me to change my tights and told me not to ruin my great grandmothers birthday party. I was 7. I didn't tell my parents until I was 16 and about to leave the house. I knew had I said something earlier my father would have killed my assailant and I would have to grow up without my dad. How has this benefited me?
Well for one I became a person who didn't want "to ruin it". I always pushed my feelings aside thinking instead of the other person and how my feelings if vocalized may negatively effect them. This is something that I still struggle with sometimes. It is important to voice ones feelings to have an authentic relationship. On the other hand this deep level of empathy I developed helped me not to hold a grudge. I know that what happened to me was a result of something that more than likely happened to my molester. Understanding that, and that this horrible situation could be used for my benefit made it easier for me to forgive him and move on. God has allowed me to work with hundreds of girls over the past 6 years. Many of which were molested and never talked about it. Many of these young girls were ashamed, and deeply scarred. God has allowed me to be in there lives and help them through some of their healing.
If you are wondering, "how can I just do that"? "How can I just believe that everything all the time is going to work out for good. What about those impossible situations where everything is going wrong and I can see no good that can come from it?" I suggest you do two things. The first thing is to write down the hardest situations in you life. I mean those times where you felt most alone, where you felt the most hurt, pain or lack of understanding. Next write down positive things that have happened as a result of that situation. If you cant think of anything right away start with the obvious. Your still here. You survived. Try to avert the negatives dont write, "I'm glad he left me because I didn't need him anyway." Try instead to write, "It only gets better from here, I learned a lot so the next man that comes into my life will be better for me". This may take some time, and some soul searching and it may not be easy, but it is necessary.
The second thing for you to do is to speak positive words. "Faith comes by hearing". My mom used to make us say two positive things for every negative thing when my siblings and I would talk about each other. Do the same. When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts say out loud two positive things. For example when stuck in traffic. Rather than getting upset say, "Thank you God I may have just avoided an accident, or thank you God for allowing me more time with you or your kids, or who ever is in the car with you at the moment".
Before you know it you will believe that all things work out for your benefit. You will start to recognize and appreciate how God redeems the hard times. Say this scripture to yourself often and remember practice makes perfect. Christianity is the practice of operating in the teaching of Christ.
Father,
Help us to realize that we are you favorites. Reveal to us the depth of your love. Show us how you have or will redeem our past trials and tribulations. Help us to really believe that all things work together for our good. We know you are sovereign and that your word is true but help us to believe it and walk in that belief. Continue to shape and mold us, to make us more like you. We love you, we thank you. Amen.
This week my best friend and I have been talking a lot about maintaning a positive attitude. For me because of this scripture it is easier for me not to get upset over day to day things than it is for them. When he asked me how I can be so happy all the time I referred him to this scripture. We have to believe 100% that everything that happens to us is for our benefit. At first glace when you see me or even while you are reading this you may assume that nothing bad has ever happened to me. Well let me tell you a few of my trials and triumphs.
When I was a little girl I was molested. I don't remember much about it but I do remember being in the corner in the closet scared with a a hole in my tights. A man whose face I can't remember but I know he was a relative, found me in the closet, took me to change my tights and told me not to ruin my great grandmothers birthday party. I was 7. I didn't tell my parents until I was 16 and about to leave the house. I knew had I said something earlier my father would have killed my assailant and I would have to grow up without my dad. How has this benefited me?
Well for one I became a person who didn't want "to ruin it". I always pushed my feelings aside thinking instead of the other person and how my feelings if vocalized may negatively effect them. This is something that I still struggle with sometimes. It is important to voice ones feelings to have an authentic relationship. On the other hand this deep level of empathy I developed helped me not to hold a grudge. I know that what happened to me was a result of something that more than likely happened to my molester. Understanding that, and that this horrible situation could be used for my benefit made it easier for me to forgive him and move on. God has allowed me to work with hundreds of girls over the past 6 years. Many of which were molested and never talked about it. Many of these young girls were ashamed, and deeply scarred. God has allowed me to be in there lives and help them through some of their healing.
If you are wondering, "how can I just do that"? "How can I just believe that everything all the time is going to work out for good. What about those impossible situations where everything is going wrong and I can see no good that can come from it?" I suggest you do two things. The first thing is to write down the hardest situations in you life. I mean those times where you felt most alone, where you felt the most hurt, pain or lack of understanding. Next write down positive things that have happened as a result of that situation. If you cant think of anything right away start with the obvious. Your still here. You survived. Try to avert the negatives dont write, "I'm glad he left me because I didn't need him anyway." Try instead to write, "It only gets better from here, I learned a lot so the next man that comes into my life will be better for me". This may take some time, and some soul searching and it may not be easy, but it is necessary.
The second thing for you to do is to speak positive words. "Faith comes by hearing". My mom used to make us say two positive things for every negative thing when my siblings and I would talk about each other. Do the same. When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts say out loud two positive things. For example when stuck in traffic. Rather than getting upset say, "Thank you God I may have just avoided an accident, or thank you God for allowing me more time with you or your kids, or who ever is in the car with you at the moment".
Before you know it you will believe that all things work out for your benefit. You will start to recognize and appreciate how God redeems the hard times. Say this scripture to yourself often and remember practice makes perfect. Christianity is the practice of operating in the teaching of Christ.
Father,
Help us to realize that we are you favorites. Reveal to us the depth of your love. Show us how you have or will redeem our past trials and tribulations. Help us to really believe that all things work together for our good. We know you are sovereign and that your word is true but help us to believe it and walk in that belief. Continue to shape and mold us, to make us more like you. We love you, we thank you. Amen.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
We Make Our Plans God Changes Them
Lately it has been brought to my attention how little I trust God. Proverbs 16: 9 states, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (NLT). I am very good at making plans it’s when the Lord orders my steps that I start to panic. Have you ever mapped out a plan? I mean a well detained 5 or 10 year plan. One where all the pieces seem to fit then God moves in your life. He turns your whole plan around to the point where you have to trust Him.
I am really good at making plans that require little of my faith and a lot of my effort. The hard thing is using little of my effort and a lot of my faith. When I hit these rough patches in my life I am often directed to the story of Joseph. Joseph knew he was destined for greatness, then out of nowhere he gets put in a pit, his integrity is attacked, he is thrown into prison and it seems all hope is lost. The bible doesn’t talk about Joseph making any plans for his life but we can tell from his story that he was one to be prepared. Here is the evidence about his character. First his father favored him and trusted him, he was then put over all Pilot owned, and even when he was put in prison he was placed in charge over prisoners. Joseph was a leader, and a dreamer and I am sure being put in a pit, sold into slavery, and thrown into prison was not his plan. God ordered his steps and he ended up right where God showed him he would be. Even more he was able to reconcile with his family who tossed him aside.
In life we get thrown curve balls, our plans fall through or completely change course. Instead of panicking we should be grateful holding on to the promise and call God has on our lives. He wants us to make plans, not so we can be disappointed but so our plans can look more and more like the plan He has for us. He wants us to get to the point where our trials and sacrifices are looked at as stepping stones and open doors.
James 1:2-4 states, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The lesson for us in this is if we make our plans and God changes them, to trust Him wholly and completely. What we may see as trials and inconveniences in the changes of our plans are Gods way of shaping and molding us through our experiences to be more like Him.
Father,
Thank you for changing our plans. For opening doors and opportunities we otherwise may have missed. Though we feel we know best because we have lived the days of our lives, your word says you knew us even before conception. We trust your plan for our lives. Order our steps, open and close doors, and ultimately shape and mold us to be more like you. We love you.
Friday, May 13, 2011
A Voyice Used by God
http://www.examiner.com/gospel-music-in-riverside/a-voyice-used-by-god-1
This is a great article by Amanda Walters check it out!
This is a great article by Amanda Walters check it out!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Like Christ Loved the Church
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
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
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