Hope all of you had a wonderful weekend enjoying the freedoms you have been given. I enjoyed spending time with good friends and a little time with my niece and nephew which is always a blessing.
This weekend I was also reminded how important it is to let God minister to you through others. I can be a very private person about some things in my life, because I am afraid of criticism or rejection. Plus being introverted and crazy bent in some ways to do it myself, I have a hard time sometimes letting others in.
My niece right now is in this phase of being 2. If any mom's are reading you know exactly what I mean :) LOL :) For the rest of you, the terrible 2's is not a wives tale, it really happens :) Around 2 kids are finding out they are their own person separate from mom and dad. They are learning and growing and finding they are able to do things on their own. So my niece's mantra right now is "I do it by myself!" Sometimes in cute little girl voice, or screaming defiantly voice. :)
I laugh, but I also realized that this is not far from what I do with many people and God. This mentality to do it yourself, seems good, but when boiled down, is only very isolating.
In my small group tonight, the topic was about being a spiritual family and how we need each other. With my family conflict going on I have been very careful who I talk to about this. I have opened up to a couple people, and that has helped some, but I realized tonight more that opening up to this small group was important too.
I don't need to tell them the nitty gritty details, but just giving brief description and asking for prayer allows God to minister through his people and fortify his kids, us as believers. So I shared some with them, and someone else in the group was also moved to share their struggle they were having in their family. I shared God's promise from the Bible about God telling the Israelites to not be afriad, stand firm... He would fight for them, all they needed to do was be still.
You know sharing help me to feel less alone in my struggle and this verse also spoke to this other person as well. It drew us closer together as a group and God lifted both of us up and encouraged us. As I hugged them goodbye, they quietly said to me "we are going to get our miracle yet" What comfort!
God provides abundantly! Sometimes we limit Him because we are too afraid to let Him or anyone else in. Not every situation is a safe place to share with people. I'm not saying you need to yell your troubles on the street corner. But God does provide people to help us and nudges us to let go and share. Suddenly, the doors of heaven open and blessing are poured out not only on the one sharing but others.
As Christians we need each other! We are stronger, healthier, and more fortified as believers when we share with each other. The burdens are lifted and we more easily keep our eyes on Jesus together.
So Good lesson for me this weekend is to quit trying to carry loads by myself, and to also share how God encourages me. Both pack powerful stuff from God!
What pain or struggle do you keep really close to you? What people has God or is God bringing into your life and nudging you share? Or Maybe God has moved in your struggle and is encouraging you to share. You may find that letting go and letting others see you, may open doors to blessings and comfort from God that you can't even imagine, for you and maybe for someone else too! So share! "We will get our miracle, yet"
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Friday, July 4, 2014
My Red Sea, My Mighty God!
Sorry it has been so long since my last post. This week has been busy. It has also been really emotionally trying for me.
My family situation has gotten worse. There may be divorce on the table for one side of this drama, and the other side has talked about it. There are kids involved in this and it is becoming very heart breaking. My family lives only a few houses down from me and one street over. This is close and personal and the only close family I have. I feel helpless to know what to do to help them reconcile.
My heart has been definitely hurting this week for them. It seems like there is no end to this nightmare and destruction.
In storms like this, all the things around you are telling you that that this situation is hopeless, God is not there, He doesn't care because things are getting worse, etc. Sound like someone we know? The devil right? The more I draw closer to God and find His love and peace in my heart the more the devil hates it. The more he wants to make me believe everything is hopeless and God isn't who He says He is. What better way to attack me as a single girl with a small family?
The devil is going for the jugular. He knows my family is my major love and refuge being a single, especially since we live houses from each other. It is a down right war on the dearest people to me in this world. Everyone has something or someone they love the most, and he is going to throw up those smoke and mirrors to try and make me believe the worst and give up on God.
This all started with my heart change with God. I started praying for a family member to have the ability to come to a women's retreat. I prayed for 3 months and they came and were blessed. That very night after she came home, this fight broke out in my family.
It was like devil knew I was trying to help my family member see God and he declared war. Every step I have taken to try and show God's love to them, the heat is dialed up and another thing is added to this mess. I am getting more and more bold about talking about God to my family and here we go again. With my human eyes, I only see destruction and a totally impossible situation.
The disciples with their human eyes could only see the same thing when Jesus was crucified. They thought the world as they knew it was coming to an end and all was lost. Honestly, it feels this way to me with my family. But you know, if I turn my eyes toward God, He helps me remember all the times He has worked miracles in impossible situations throughout history and in my life.
The disciples were beside themselves with grief over Jesus death. How does someone come back from the dead? Not even death can stop our loving God! And on the 3rd day He rose and made it possible for the world to be saved! What looked like the end became the greatest story of redemption and love known to man and the universe!
So couple mornings ago my heart is in despair. I had just the night before learned all this new stuff going on and I felt sick to my stomach. Through my tears I'm asking God why, why another level of darkness and more destruction. Like David in the Psalms "How Much Longer God!"
That morning I was reading the story of Moses and Israelites at the Red Sea. They had been slaves for 400+ years, afraid of the Egyptians, and rightly so. They finally get the courage to believe this 80 year old wild man Moses from the sticks to run from Egypt, and now they are boxed in at the Red Sea with the Egyptian army hot on their trail. I can understand how they began to doubt and feel they were to going to die right there at the Egyptians hand. Then God speaks up in their fright, through Moses.
This is the love and faith I am talking about!!! This is the Awesome God I serve! This is the difference between being a Christ follower and being someone that just does good things but doesn't believe in Jesus. The Christian, has comfort, peace, and hope, Even when things look Horrible! The person that is just doing good only does it when things are going good and they feel like it. They are destroyed in spirit when life kicks up and bad things starts happening. They are swept away by grief and the cares of the world. The Christian has hope and can stand even in the worst storms! Not on their own, but by the power and love of our Mighty God!
So yesterday when I'm running and I make 2.3 miles straight, I'm singing and praising God in my heart for all the comfort and promise He gives in the storm I'm in, up against my Red Sea. I still cry over the pain this is causing to the ones I love, but I am not afraid of the outcome. My God fights, and He has already won! He will not give up on my family! He will fight till every heart has a chance to chose Him and see His love and Glory!
Don't you want someone to fight for you? Are you in a huge mess up against your own Red Sea? Call out to God, Give him your heart, turn over all you cares to him, seek His face! He WILL FIGHT FOR YOU! You need only to be still and surrender. The war is won! YES, He Loves you that much!
My family situation has gotten worse. There may be divorce on the table for one side of this drama, and the other side has talked about it. There are kids involved in this and it is becoming very heart breaking. My family lives only a few houses down from me and one street over. This is close and personal and the only close family I have. I feel helpless to know what to do to help them reconcile.
My heart has been definitely hurting this week for them. It seems like there is no end to this nightmare and destruction.
In storms like this, all the things around you are telling you that that this situation is hopeless, God is not there, He doesn't care because things are getting worse, etc. Sound like someone we know? The devil right? The more I draw closer to God and find His love and peace in my heart the more the devil hates it. The more he wants to make me believe everything is hopeless and God isn't who He says He is. What better way to attack me as a single girl with a small family?
The devil is going for the jugular. He knows my family is my major love and refuge being a single, especially since we live houses from each other. It is a down right war on the dearest people to me in this world. Everyone has something or someone they love the most, and he is going to throw up those smoke and mirrors to try and make me believe the worst and give up on God.
This all started with my heart change with God. I started praying for a family member to have the ability to come to a women's retreat. I prayed for 3 months and they came and were blessed. That very night after she came home, this fight broke out in my family.
It was like devil knew I was trying to help my family member see God and he declared war. Every step I have taken to try and show God's love to them, the heat is dialed up and another thing is added to this mess. I am getting more and more bold about talking about God to my family and here we go again. With my human eyes, I only see destruction and a totally impossible situation.
The disciples with their human eyes could only see the same thing when Jesus was crucified. They thought the world as they knew it was coming to an end and all was lost. Honestly, it feels this way to me with my family. But you know, if I turn my eyes toward God, He helps me remember all the times He has worked miracles in impossible situations throughout history and in my life.
The disciples were beside themselves with grief over Jesus death. How does someone come back from the dead? Not even death can stop our loving God! And on the 3rd day He rose and made it possible for the world to be saved! What looked like the end became the greatest story of redemption and love known to man and the universe!
So couple mornings ago my heart is in despair. I had just the night before learned all this new stuff going on and I felt sick to my stomach. Through my tears I'm asking God why, why another level of darkness and more destruction. Like David in the Psalms "How Much Longer God!"
That morning I was reading the story of Moses and Israelites at the Red Sea. They had been slaves for 400+ years, afraid of the Egyptians, and rightly so. They finally get the courage to believe this 80 year old wild man Moses from the sticks to run from Egypt, and now they are boxed in at the Red Sea with the Egyptian army hot on their trail. I can understand how they began to doubt and feel they were to going to die right there at the Egyptians hand. Then God speaks up in their fright, through Moses.
- Exodus 14:13-14: "Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” NIV
This is the love and faith I am talking about!!! This is the Awesome God I serve! This is the difference between being a Christ follower and being someone that just does good things but doesn't believe in Jesus. The Christian, has comfort, peace, and hope, Even when things look Horrible! The person that is just doing good only does it when things are going good and they feel like it. They are destroyed in spirit when life kicks up and bad things starts happening. They are swept away by grief and the cares of the world. The Christian has hope and can stand even in the worst storms! Not on their own, but by the power and love of our Mighty God!
So yesterday when I'm running and I make 2.3 miles straight, I'm singing and praising God in my heart for all the comfort and promise He gives in the storm I'm in, up against my Red Sea. I still cry over the pain this is causing to the ones I love, but I am not afraid of the outcome. My God fights, and He has already won! He will not give up on my family! He will fight till every heart has a chance to chose Him and see His love and Glory!
Don't you want someone to fight for you? Are you in a huge mess up against your own Red Sea? Call out to God, Give him your heart, turn over all you cares to him, seek His face! He WILL FIGHT FOR YOU! You need only to be still and surrender. The war is won! YES, He Loves you that much!
Monday, June 30, 2014
Out of the Ashes, God's bigger picture!
Do you sometimes look back on the hard times in your life, see the damage its done, and wish you hadn't had to go through it? I wish that sometimes with some experiences in my life. Especially some that involve my family's dysfunction when I was growing up. It took a long time for me to dig through that baggage and feel like I was doing more than just existing in life.
This was kind of a underlying topic today. Probably also more on my mind because I am reading the story of Joseph in the Bible. And in general in my job, I'm surrounded by patients that probably at one point think those thoughts. The reason they see me is because they were injured, had a stroke, or disease that is causing pain and decreased function in some way.
Reading this morning I was really struck by how Joseph so graciously forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery. He literally told them it wasn't their fault because God had a purpose to save many people and his family from Egypt's great famine.
My friend at work, stated a similar thing about her life. Basically the idea that what didn't kill her as a kid even though painful and traumatic sometimes made her stronger. I mainly agree with that, but you can be stronger but have no loving, kind, tender heart. Joseph manages to trust God so much through his experiences that he is resilient beyond most, and keeps his tender heart.
I wish to have that kind of heart that no matter what I go through nothing destroys my desire to love, give, be grateful, share joy. So I look at my past a little differently tonight. Maybe the very things I went through are to prepare me to be the exact person God made me to be. Maybe many will be helped because I went through all this junk in my life.
What experiences in your past keep you locked down, or pour bitterness into your life? Is it possible the very things that have been a thorn in your side or a big gash in your heart, are they very things that can shape you into ministering to another person in need? How can you find God's bigger picture? Sometimes it means looking beyond ourselves to God and asking Him to show us. Then like Joseph we can begin to see some of the beautiful things God is pulling out of the ashes of our lives to help others. :)
This was kind of a underlying topic today. Probably also more on my mind because I am reading the story of Joseph in the Bible. And in general in my job, I'm surrounded by patients that probably at one point think those thoughts. The reason they see me is because they were injured, had a stroke, or disease that is causing pain and decreased function in some way.
Reading this morning I was really struck by how Joseph so graciously forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery. He literally told them it wasn't their fault because God had a purpose to save many people and his family from Egypt's great famine.
- Genesis 45:5-7: " And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance."
My friend at work, stated a similar thing about her life. Basically the idea that what didn't kill her as a kid even though painful and traumatic sometimes made her stronger. I mainly agree with that, but you can be stronger but have no loving, kind, tender heart. Joseph manages to trust God so much through his experiences that he is resilient beyond most, and keeps his tender heart.
I wish to have that kind of heart that no matter what I go through nothing destroys my desire to love, give, be grateful, share joy. So I look at my past a little differently tonight. Maybe the very things I went through are to prepare me to be the exact person God made me to be. Maybe many will be helped because I went through all this junk in my life.
What experiences in your past keep you locked down, or pour bitterness into your life? Is it possible the very things that have been a thorn in your side or a big gash in your heart, are they very things that can shape you into ministering to another person in need? How can you find God's bigger picture? Sometimes it means looking beyond ourselves to God and asking Him to show us. Then like Joseph we can begin to see some of the beautiful things God is pulling out of the ashes of our lives to help others. :)
Thursday, June 26, 2014
This is Love Callin'
Still feeling a little discombobulated this week. Not getting the best of sleep, a lull in the number of texts from friends and family, and my worship time has felt flat. But God is carrying me. :)
When I drive to work, I pray, and I have a list of people I pray for. This is my routine. But this morning I was feeling spiritually congested. Between the dog thing, lack of sleep, and multiple other little nagging things, just not feeling very close to God.
Today, however, I just took a break from my prayer list and just told God how I was feeling and asked the Holy Spirit to speak for me what I could not. Here is one of my favorite verses on this.
You know some days, you are feeling good, and as a Christian you are just flowing with God! Things are happening or you are getting new insight. Then you have days where you feel like worship in the morning is like chewing a dry newspaper and you just feel disconnected. You know God is there but the world seems to be crashing in, and you can't seem to hear above the noise.
I get worried on days like these that I'm not living out my faith because of how I'm feeling, but God still moves even on our bad days. Sometimes, God reminds us that even on these days He is still working, and we just need to keep our faces to Him. Even if we don't feel like things are working. I wonder if some times He is like "Relax, kid, you are stressing out way too much, I got this!" There is another verse that is one of my favorites on this. (I know, I'm a little of a verse junkie) :)
Coming back from my run tonight, that I really did not feel like doing today, kind of like my worship this morning, some words from the song I was listening to jumped out at me. Its a Toby Mac song: Get Back Up
When I drive to work, I pray, and I have a list of people I pray for. This is my routine. But this morning I was feeling spiritually congested. Between the dog thing, lack of sleep, and multiple other little nagging things, just not feeling very close to God.
Today, however, I just took a break from my prayer list and just told God how I was feeling and asked the Holy Spirit to speak for me what I could not. Here is one of my favorite verses on this.
- Romans 8:26-27: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." NIV
You know some days, you are feeling good, and as a Christian you are just flowing with God! Things are happening or you are getting new insight. Then you have days where you feel like worship in the morning is like chewing a dry newspaper and you just feel disconnected. You know God is there but the world seems to be crashing in, and you can't seem to hear above the noise.
I get worried on days like these that I'm not living out my faith because of how I'm feeling, but God still moves even on our bad days. Sometimes, God reminds us that even on these days He is still working, and we just need to keep our faces to Him. Even if we don't feel like things are working. I wonder if some times He is like "Relax, kid, you are stressing out way too much, I got this!" There is another verse that is one of my favorites on this. (I know, I'm a little of a verse junkie) :)
- Philippians 1:6 : " being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." NIV
Coming back from my run tonight, that I really did not feel like doing today, kind of like my worship this morning, some words from the song I was listening to jumped out at me. Its a Toby Mac song: Get Back Up
We lose our way,
We get back up again
Never too late to get back up again,
One day, you gonna shine again,
You may be knocked down but not out forever,
Lose our way, we get back up again,
So get up, get up
You gonna shine again
It's never too late, to get back up again
You may be knocked down, but not out forever,
May be knocked down, but not out forever!
This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken,
This is love callin'.
This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken
This is love callin'.
This is love callin', love callin',
I am so broken
This is love callin' love callin
We get back up again
Never too late to get back up again,
One day, you gonna shine again,
You may be knocked down but not out forever,
Lose our way, we get back up again,
So get up, get up
You gonna shine again
It's never too late, to get back up again
You may be knocked down, but not out forever,
May be knocked down, but not out forever!
This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken,
This is love callin'.
This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken
This is love callin'.
This is love callin', love callin',
I am so broken
This is love callin' love callin
God's got our backs :) He see us when we feel like we falter and struggle to get back up again. We are His Kids and we have the power in Him to get back up again, we maybe knocked down but not out forever!
The line that really caught me tonight, was "This is love callin' out to the broken" At that moment, I felt so much comfort like God right then calling out to me. Ring Ring.... Hello.... This is love callin' to your broken heart.... It is going to be fine, I've got ya!
Do you see why I love my God? I hope so. He feels the same about you. Do you hear Him...... Love's is calling and Yes it IS for You!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Endurance, Encouragement, & Hope!
Do you feel some days you struggle with stamina for your life? I definitely do! I'm not good at long suffering or perseverance either. I get a little better as I get older but it is not my strong suit.
So this running thing for me is going to stretch me! A lot! As a kid I was always good at the short races. Put me in a 50 yard dash any day! I won in 5th grade :) But I stunk in the mile run. I just couldn't wrap my mind around running that long. I had no endurance.
I have run 6 of the last 8 days trying to get ready for the running part of this team triathlon. I almost didn't run tonight because I wanted to eat dinner with my folks. They eat dinner early and I try and run before I eat dinner, but I ran 2 hours after dinner with them, and it went good.
Something that is helping me is that I am using my inhaler before I run. I have exercise induced asthma and before I knew that fact, running was just miserable. It isn't too bad now. It is nice to run without feeling like you are dying to catch your breath.
I notice I am able to run longer since I start, 3 minutes straight now at a time. I know to many of you that may sound ridiculous, but for me this is an achievement. I do feel my body get stronger and am able to keep the pace going. It is really interesting now being able to monitor my muscles and such now that I'm not gasping for air.
So as I was running tonight and feeling the increase ease of running little longer, I was thinking about how God strengthens us and gives us endurance for our lives. We all need Him and His inhaler :), the Holy Spirit to keep running the race of faith. We are all at different stages of our endurance. But life's bumps and huge waves continue to give opportunities to call on and trust God to build our strength and endurance in Him.
Wherever you are at in the race, the beginning, middle, or have been in the race for a long time, God can and will lift us up and give us the endurance and hope we need for the race. It's not easy some times but over time, we can start to see that we don't get ruffled as easily with circumstance we had a melt down over even just six months ago. Slowly but surely we start to feel those spiritual muscle flexing and our lungs begin able to go longer and longer with less effort, because we are growing in God!
Whats is demanding endurance from you right now? Work, family stress, a sick loved one, or maybe you are ill and suffering. God is with you and is longs to help build your endurance and encourage and give you hope! Stay in the race! In God you are stronger than you think!
So this running thing for me is going to stretch me! A lot! As a kid I was always good at the short races. Put me in a 50 yard dash any day! I won in 5th grade :) But I stunk in the mile run. I just couldn't wrap my mind around running that long. I had no endurance.
I have run 6 of the last 8 days trying to get ready for the running part of this team triathlon. I almost didn't run tonight because I wanted to eat dinner with my folks. They eat dinner early and I try and run before I eat dinner, but I ran 2 hours after dinner with them, and it went good.
Something that is helping me is that I am using my inhaler before I run. I have exercise induced asthma and before I knew that fact, running was just miserable. It isn't too bad now. It is nice to run without feeling like you are dying to catch your breath.
I notice I am able to run longer since I start, 3 minutes straight now at a time. I know to many of you that may sound ridiculous, but for me this is an achievement. I do feel my body get stronger and am able to keep the pace going. It is really interesting now being able to monitor my muscles and such now that I'm not gasping for air.
So as I was running tonight and feeling the increase ease of running little longer, I was thinking about how God strengthens us and gives us endurance for our lives. We all need Him and His inhaler :), the Holy Spirit to keep running the race of faith. We are all at different stages of our endurance. But life's bumps and huge waves continue to give opportunities to call on and trust God to build our strength and endurance in Him.
- Romans 15:4-6 has such great message for this: " For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" NIV
Wherever you are at in the race, the beginning, middle, or have been in the race for a long time, God can and will lift us up and give us the endurance and hope we need for the race. It's not easy some times but over time, we can start to see that we don't get ruffled as easily with circumstance we had a melt down over even just six months ago. Slowly but surely we start to feel those spiritual muscle flexing and our lungs begin able to go longer and longer with less effort, because we are growing in God!
Whats is demanding endurance from you right now? Work, family stress, a sick loved one, or maybe you are ill and suffering. God is with you and is longs to help build your endurance and encourage and give you hope! Stay in the race! In God you are stronger than you think!
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Control Freak? No worries, God's Got Your Back :)
Do you ever have issues with control? Like being a little of a control freak? I fully admit I have issues with it. If they had a recovery group for it, I would be first up front confessing :) The older I get the more I try and roll with life, but sometimes my tendencies toward being OCD take over :) This week though my control issue has been a little more justified in the sense of safety, but it definitely made me think more about how much I trust God.
My neighbor this week decided they wanted to get a new dog. Now my city has a ordinance that you can only have 2 dogs for several reasons. They already had 3 dogs, but the puppy they had was tearing up their house so they were going to exchange the puppy for adult dog. I like animals and my neighbors are nice so I really didn't care this was dog number 3. They have always kept the yard nice no unsavory smells from the yard :) or major long stretches of barking. They are pretty cool.
However, the new dog seemed to be not the friendliest and looks like it might be related to pitt bull. This made me a little nervous, but tried to roll with it. My neighbor's other 2 dogs are boxers. Great Dogs! lovem! super playful and friendly rarely bark and very sweet.
That night right after they got the new dog, I was awakened in the middle of the night at the sound of the dog barking crazy and of gun shots in their yard. I got up and rushed to the back sliding door and stepped out to see both my neighbors staring at the ground and heard another shot. I quickly shouted out "Is everything okay?" They shouted back "just a possum". I was definitely rattled just by the fact they shot a gun in city limits. Even if it was a possum, definitely extreme measures. I think they were trying to get the dog to stop barking, but still.
Then about 4 am, I heard a terrible screeching sound like an animal fight. Now, I have an indoor- outdoor cat so I was worried maybe the dog had gotten my cat. Thank goodness it was not that, but the new dog had decided to attack the smaller puppy that my neighbors were going to take to a new home the next day. My neighbors were screaming at the top of there lungs for the dog to stop and they started to pull dogs off each other. It finally stopped, but again I was now super rattled.
So the next day, I asked the neighbor what the dog fight was about if the little dog was bothering the new dog ,and she told me it wasn't a fight just one of the dogs got their leg caught in the fence. Since I had seen the fight, I knew she wasn't being honest with me.
This is such a tough place to be. I love my neighbors, but I don't want to feel unsafe either. I didn't know what to do, especially now that I knew my neighbor lied to me. I felt like my environment was totally out of control and stuck with 2 options neither very good. One: talk to the neighbor about my concerns and risk making enemies, or Two: not saying anything and potentially have an aggressive dog incident next door again.
The next two nights I struggled to sleep and obsessing over this, totally clouding my worship and prayer time. I was amazed at how much a dog could seep into and disturb my mental life. It was out of my control. I could say something to my neighbors, but ultimately it was out of my control. I thought "Man, If I struggle to give up this dog thing to God then how would I manage if I was truly persecuted.
Okay, now I know that my concerns are legit. No one should have to live in fear of aggressive dog and firearms being drawn next door. But it did make me realize that I have a hard time trusting God to help me handle these situations with His love, grace, and trust that He will work this out.
At some point, we might be faced with situations where we have to endure people being down right mean and even violent, our environment totally out of control without a say. How do we still cling to our loving God through these more minor situations like the dog or even persecution?
Honestly, this week I felt like I wasn't the best example of trusting in God. Not that I don't have a right to be concerned, and not that I shouldn't say anything, but I let it consume my whole being to the point of crazy.
But God is good! God helped me out, and I talked with a great friend this week that encouraged me. I prayed really hard about this, and in faith talked to my neighbor in love. I put my concern forward and that I wanted us as neighbors to be able to have honest open communication with each other. She seemed to take it well and did not yell at me or anything. Haven't seen any of the dogs for a few days now. Don't know what that means, but I have to trust God and keep giving it up to Him. I have done all I can to as lovingly as I can and did the best I could to keep a good relationship with my neighbors.
I am worried that this will cause a wedge in the neighborhood. I have been praying for God to open hearts down my street. Maybe being able to approach this conflict with my neighbor in a calm and loving way creates an opportunity that I don't know yet. Maybe, it speaks of Gods love in the midst of this unpleasantness. God has a way of making something beautiful out of totally horrible and difficult things.
So I'm not totally free of this stress, I don't know if the dog is still next door, or if my neighbors still like me or not, and I'm still struggling during the day to stop thinking about it. But God is mightier than my mental obsession over this and whatever is going on. I refuse to give in and let this take over. When I catch myself circling it in my head I pray that God will take it and I give it to Him, over and over. It's like a spiritual workout :) It's sometimes exhausting! But I feel better slowly, and just like a work out it will make me stronger in my faith.
What thing or things are you obsessing about that you may not have full control over in your life? Or maybe you are dealing with some serious persecution. Whatever the case, Take Heart! Give it to God! Over and Over if you have to and know that these are spiritual exercises that are perfecting your faith so you will be lacking nothing!
My neighbor this week decided they wanted to get a new dog. Now my city has a ordinance that you can only have 2 dogs for several reasons. They already had 3 dogs, but the puppy they had was tearing up their house so they were going to exchange the puppy for adult dog. I like animals and my neighbors are nice so I really didn't care this was dog number 3. They have always kept the yard nice no unsavory smells from the yard :) or major long stretches of barking. They are pretty cool.
However, the new dog seemed to be not the friendliest and looks like it might be related to pitt bull. This made me a little nervous, but tried to roll with it. My neighbor's other 2 dogs are boxers. Great Dogs! lovem! super playful and friendly rarely bark and very sweet.
That night right after they got the new dog, I was awakened in the middle of the night at the sound of the dog barking crazy and of gun shots in their yard. I got up and rushed to the back sliding door and stepped out to see both my neighbors staring at the ground and heard another shot. I quickly shouted out "Is everything okay?" They shouted back "just a possum". I was definitely rattled just by the fact they shot a gun in city limits. Even if it was a possum, definitely extreme measures. I think they were trying to get the dog to stop barking, but still.
Then about 4 am, I heard a terrible screeching sound like an animal fight. Now, I have an indoor- outdoor cat so I was worried maybe the dog had gotten my cat. Thank goodness it was not that, but the new dog had decided to attack the smaller puppy that my neighbors were going to take to a new home the next day. My neighbors were screaming at the top of there lungs for the dog to stop and they started to pull dogs off each other. It finally stopped, but again I was now super rattled.
So the next day, I asked the neighbor what the dog fight was about if the little dog was bothering the new dog ,and she told me it wasn't a fight just one of the dogs got their leg caught in the fence. Since I had seen the fight, I knew she wasn't being honest with me.
This is such a tough place to be. I love my neighbors, but I don't want to feel unsafe either. I didn't know what to do, especially now that I knew my neighbor lied to me. I felt like my environment was totally out of control and stuck with 2 options neither very good. One: talk to the neighbor about my concerns and risk making enemies, or Two: not saying anything and potentially have an aggressive dog incident next door again.
The next two nights I struggled to sleep and obsessing over this, totally clouding my worship and prayer time. I was amazed at how much a dog could seep into and disturb my mental life. It was out of my control. I could say something to my neighbors, but ultimately it was out of my control. I thought "Man, If I struggle to give up this dog thing to God then how would I manage if I was truly persecuted.
Okay, now I know that my concerns are legit. No one should have to live in fear of aggressive dog and firearms being drawn next door. But it did make me realize that I have a hard time trusting God to help me handle these situations with His love, grace, and trust that He will work this out.
At some point, we might be faced with situations where we have to endure people being down right mean and even violent, our environment totally out of control without a say. How do we still cling to our loving God through these more minor situations like the dog or even persecution?
Honestly, this week I felt like I wasn't the best example of trusting in God. Not that I don't have a right to be concerned, and not that I shouldn't say anything, but I let it consume my whole being to the point of crazy.
But God is good! God helped me out, and I talked with a great friend this week that encouraged me. I prayed really hard about this, and in faith talked to my neighbor in love. I put my concern forward and that I wanted us as neighbors to be able to have honest open communication with each other. She seemed to take it well and did not yell at me or anything. Haven't seen any of the dogs for a few days now. Don't know what that means, but I have to trust God and keep giving it up to Him. I have done all I can to as lovingly as I can and did the best I could to keep a good relationship with my neighbors.
I am worried that this will cause a wedge in the neighborhood. I have been praying for God to open hearts down my street. Maybe being able to approach this conflict with my neighbor in a calm and loving way creates an opportunity that I don't know yet. Maybe, it speaks of Gods love in the midst of this unpleasantness. God has a way of making something beautiful out of totally horrible and difficult things.
So I'm not totally free of this stress, I don't know if the dog is still next door, or if my neighbors still like me or not, and I'm still struggling during the day to stop thinking about it. But God is mightier than my mental obsession over this and whatever is going on. I refuse to give in and let this take over. When I catch myself circling it in my head I pray that God will take it and I give it to Him, over and over. It's like a spiritual workout :) It's sometimes exhausting! But I feel better slowly, and just like a work out it will make me stronger in my faith.
- James 1:2-4 really helps me in times like this: " Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything"
What thing or things are you obsessing about that you may not have full control over in your life? Or maybe you are dealing with some serious persecution. Whatever the case, Take Heart! Give it to God! Over and Over if you have to and know that these are spiritual exercises that are perfecting your faith so you will be lacking nothing!
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Rest in His Goodness
I was at a loss at what to write today and God said Goodness. I'm sure most of you know the word and have a good idea of its meaning but I looked it up. This is the definition.
d-nis] noun
Good·ness
[good-nis] noun
2. moral excellence; virtue.
3. kindly feeling; kindness; generosity.
4. excellence of quality: goodness of workmanship.
The last one is probably my favorite.
For me since, this transformation in my heart, goodness is everything from God. Everything good that happens is of God.
- James 1:17 says: " Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."NIV
It is not that I don't see the horrible things in the world. On the contrary, I almost see more pain, suffering, and heart ache, but instead of feeling hopeless, I see the hope! God's goodness and how He is trying to reach every heart and fill them with His love.
In our heart of hearts we need to see God. Moses felt this and asked God to show Himself to him.
- Exodus 33:19 tells us what God said to Moses request: "And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence..."
The sermon today was pretty good, little un-orthodox, but I thought very good. Every denomination, tries to distinguish itself with special things, different doctrine, rules etc. Some good and others maybe not as good. The question of the sermon was, when people hear our name, denomination or person, shouldn't the first thing that comes to their minds, God's Goodness? We can say Love, Jesus, compassion, hope, faithfulness... etc. Yes to all of it. It all is under that Goodness umbrella right? I Corinthians 13 states Love is the greatest but they are all from God's Goodness.
So as a Christians we should be known to all around us as the ones that reflect God's Goodness and #1 one on the list of God's goodness is love. We are not perfect, but spending time with God can help despite our mistakes and weaknesses. We can help others see His Goodness and let Him draw hearts.
So as I take time to soak in and look for God's goodness everyday, like Gods word, my sweet nieces hugs, the beautiful day, or a co-workers kind words, all these things fill me and give me essence and strength to reflect those things back to a hurting world. It becomes a domino effect. I'm not perfect at it, I struggle, but God blesses as I behold Him.
So I didn't know what to say today, but I guess God decided. Rest in His Goodness. And He will give you the best part, essence, and the strength to shine it to others. Lets be known as reflectors of Gods Goodness!
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