Turning to God instead of Turning on people around you!

I watched session 7 of Mercy Triumphs, the Beth Moore Bible study on James. She said something very profound and supported it with wonderful scripture!! If we do not turn to God when we are "in between the rains," then we will turn on each other. This really struck me, because I have become a grumbler. We excuse this behavior, with "I'm just human" or "everybody else does it" but it hurts us, it hurts our witness and it brings everybody else down with us. James 5:7 talks about the rains, and Beth goes into detail about how often references to rain in scripture are speaking of our patience in waiting for God's blessings. The rain is the blessing and the periods in between are when we must remain faithful and our faith is tested. We must confess our sin to one another and ask for prayer instead of merely grumbling. I haven't been living that way and I am so glad God spoke through this study this morning. I wanted to record the impact it had so that I can start living this way (instead of the human, worldly way!!). I now have to intentionally seek out first of all God in prayer, and then other Christians that I can confess to and pray with. Thank you God for answers and for never giving up on me!!

Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of the dawn, or coming of rains in early spring. Hosea 6:5

Freedom

This morning on the way to the gym I was feeling overwhelmed with what I perceive to be other people's negative opinions of me. A song came on the radio, and the music just caught me, not the lyrics, but the music. It's like Jesus was trying to get my attention and He was going to use what ever song on at that moment (even if it was a song about a father and daughter!) Anyways, He got my attention and I cried out to Him. I told Him I couldn't deal with all the negative thoughts plaguing my mind. He whispered to me, "You are enough for me." I believed Him for the first time in a long time. He was saying I haven't messed up to bad, or stumbled to to far for Him to love me and use me for His glory. I praised Him and after that I felt and still feel an overwhelming peace. He is opening up my eyes to His truth and revealing the lies I've been believing. He's reminding me in a very real way that I must trust only in Him. I must fear only Him, not others and their opinions, that is what Satan wants me to do and unfortunately I have wasted a lot of time doing it. No more, I can't do it on my own, but I am going to trust Him. It's about Him and what He thinks and His word tells me everything I need to know about that! I just want to encourage anyone who reads this to turn to Him and His word for your value, not other people's opinions. For one thing we never really know what people think of us because it's always coated in their personal issues and selfishness because they are only human like you, for another thing their opinion just really doesn't matter in the big scheme of things, but His does! You may know all of this, but just make sure your living it out, I wasn't but I'm going to trust in Him to get me right!

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me. The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. Psalm 118: 6,7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy one is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10

Stress!

Man, today has been one of those days with my kids. I know I'm largely to blame, but that doesn't make it any easier. I have 2 girls that won't take naps and one who is a walking injury, that's the only way I know how to put it. I tried to force them to lay down for a while and Emery got out of bed and some how fell down and gave herself a black eye. I feel like she always has some kind of "boo boo" and it's usually on her face. I try not to get discouraged but man, it's hard being a parent. I know it is the most important thing I'll ever do but some days I just feel defeated! This is therapy for me, so just indulge me. I know I am so blessed to have 2 beautiful healthy little girls and I would not trade them for the world but man they can test me! They can push me to a stress level I would rather not go. Today I am clinging to these verses:

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

Psalm 126:5

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits and in his word I put my hope.

Psalm 130:5

I have to keep telling myself, it will get better, we will have better days and I know it's true. The last thing I want to do is feel sorry for myself. He never said it would be easy, look what Jesus went through for me. I have the best life a person could ask for, but I still have these days where I can't get past my own problems. I don't know how people do this life with out faith in the Lord. I'm glad I never have to find out. If you read this, pray for me. Thanks.

God's Word is Timeless!

I am reading through the old testiment backwards. I've tried several times from the beginning and lost it around Numbers. That is sad I know, but maybe this backwards thing will work. So far I really like it because I haven't done a whole lot of bible study on these books, are they called the Minor Prophets? Anyways, this morning during my quiet time I felt the Lord nudging my spirit to follow his leading in encouraging younger women to study the bible early on. It is so important and God speaks answers to our toughest questions when we keep seeking. God knows our struggles and He makes a way for us to get throughthem when we are obedient. He gives us His word to encourage us and keep us going. When we don't seek His word regularly we get tangled in our own mess of sin and pride. His word gives power for daily living. Thankyou Lord for the power and strength you give through your word. Let me not forget how important it is to fill up on your word each morning.

These verses gave me encouragement today:

On that day you will no longer need be ashamed for you will no longer be rebels against me.
I will remove all the proud and arrogant people from among you.
There will be no more haughtiness on my holy mountain.
Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.

God's word is so timeless! (I am the Lord , and I do not change....Malachi 3:6) I'm so glad that on that day I will no longer be a rebel! These verses remind me to not focus on my place in this world so much, but to focus on Him and how I can build others up. Pride so easily slips in and tries to take over but God values my humility, my dependence on Him. Lord, thankyou for your work in my life. Without you, I am so human, so weak. With you I am strong. (A final word: Be strong i nt he Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10

His grace is all I need.

This summer I have been doing a bible study by Beth Moore called Living Beyond Yourself and I finished it today. I has been one of the best I've ever done. I really felt God speak this morning. He reminded me that I can turn everything over to Him and He will give me a clean slate every day. He gives me the ability to seek His will in the morning and all day long. Beth Moore suggested keeping a journal every night of all the ways God works in my life through out the day. I am going to try this, because my biggest struggle is staying focused on Him in my day to day life. I try to do life on my own and I just can't do it. I can't even begin to describe all the ways I mess up everyday, I sometimes start to think, maybe I'm just not cut out for life here. I start thinking about my endless list of short comings; I'm unorganized, I eat too much junk, I'm self conscious, I get stressed out too easily, I put my foot in my mouth all the time, I take things personally that I shouldn't, I forget things, I'm lazy, I'm spend to much money..........the list goes on and on. I get focused on my weakness and my junk, but that is not the Lord. The Lord reminds me that He equips me with everything I need for this life. He wants to use me, He wants to build me up, He loves me and that's enough. On my own, I will never amount to much but when I put all my being into seeking Him and His will, expecting Him to work, who knows what He will do with me. Witnessing God work through someone like me is truly witnessing a miracle! That is why I have to carry on and let him use my weakness to bring glory to himself. It's not always easy, I am constantly tempted to put up defenses and try to go it alone, but he reminds me that that road leads no where quick. God wants to be open about my weakness so that others know that anything good in my life came directly from Him. Only He gives me the ability to quit focusing on Me and make a difference in this world. I want the strength to be bold for Him here and do the good works he has prepared for me to do!

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

2 Corinthians 12:9