Lord, I feel exhausted! I can't take anymore! Does life ever get any easier?
The list can go on and on. How many times have we said these same words to God? The Bible says that God will never give us more than we can handle. Do we believe that? Can you believe that? This world is constantly begging for our attention. Our families, our friends and our church always need something.
But what about God?
"But seek first his kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33
Do you go to God in prayer for every decision? Better question, do you go to God in prayer for anything? I have found that most people often neglect their prayer and study time with the Lord. How can you hear from God, how can you obey Him, how can you have an intimate, personal and practical love relationship with Him if you neglect to talk to Him daily?
I once posed this question to a class I taught for women: If you treated your spouse the same way you treated God, what would your marriage be like? Would you still be married? If so, how viable would the relationship be. Most of us (if we answer honestly) would be divorced by now. If you never talked to your spouse, spent time with them or consulted them there would be no relationship.
When we are overwhelmed and bombarded by the things we face in life we need to stop and ask ourselves what our true priorities are. In the beginning of putting this ministry together I began to feel completely exhausted, overwhelmed and ready to call it quits. I felt like the ministry was never going to get off and running, my job was a means to and end and my family life was just another thing on my to-do list. I could not even function, I did not even want to pray. You know what I realized through my tears of desperation? I was relying on myself completely! Sure, I was praying and studying daily. However, I did not trust that God could or would give me specific details for everything He had called me to do. I knew without a doubt three things God had asked me to do: Be a wife, mother and to start this ministy. I realized that in order to do all that He asked me to do I had to wholly rely on Him. Moment by moment, day by day to show me His plan.
"I am the vine, you are the branches, If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
Did you catch that? How much can we accomplish without Him? Nothing.
God promises us that if we seek Him first He will give us everything that we need. Stop trying to do everything, be everything to everybody. You can't! You are absolutely 100% guaranteed to fail.
I encourage each and everyone of you who are tired, weary and heavy-laiden come to the Lord and He will give you rest. We do not have to walk this road alone. Make God your first priority even when there does not seem to be enough time in the day and you are exhausted. Spend time with Him and watch to see what happens.
I have found no greater peace, happiness and contentment since I have put God as my first priority. There used to never be enough time, money or anything else. But now I marvel at the amazing things God has done in my life and my husband's. He is faithful, do not be afraid. Trust Him! He knows everything and He is everywhere, you are not.
Be encouraged! You are never alone. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Make Him your top priority and be blessed.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Monday, November 29, 2010
Grace
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I felt like the Holy Spirit was really impressing upon me that you cannot talk about grace unless you talk about love. They go hand in hand. God shows us grace because He loves us. God sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for us so that we might be saved. The key word to look at is "might" in that sentence. We will never be forced by God to accept the free gift of salvation. It is our choice. However, once we have received salvation through God's love we receive grace.
"Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple"
Luke 14:33
There are two different types of grace, but only one is true. There is what Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book, The Cost of Discipleship calls "cheap grace" and "costly grace".
I had lived my entire life under the umbrella of "cheap grace". Cheap grace can be described as someone who receives salvation, labels themself a Christian but does not change their behavior, attitudes or choices in any way. I grew up a Christian, I went to church every Sunday and went on mission trips. However, if you looked beyond the painted on face you would see someone who was broken, looking for happiness in all the wrong places. In other words, a fake.
My prayer and reason behind writing this blog and pouring my heart and soul into this ministry is for all of us to live for "costly grace". In the scripture above you see that Jesus is talking to His disciples. He is saying that if they truly wanted to be His disciples they must leave the world behind and commit to becoming more like Jesus. It sounds intimidating. It sounds difficult. Trust me I have been there.
I was at that point in my life where I wanted to scream at the Lord saying "there has to be more than this!". He answered my call. He told told me I had to give up everything I lived for and put it in His hands. I had to make some very tough decisions, some that I still struggle with today. The decision to live for Christ isn't just a one time deal. It is a choice you make every single day of your life. All I can say is to do everything He calls you to do. Do not hesitate. It is scary and you will feel uncomfortable. But it is truly the most amazing leap of faith you will ever take. Just fall into His arms and let Him lead you.
Do not settle for cheap grace. Do not just play church and read your Bible. Do not just hope one day things will be different. You cannot not keep doing the same thing expecting different results. What is the Lord convicting you of in your heart right now?
Give Him everything you have. You will stumble and fall, but He will be there to pick you up. There is nothing in this life that compares to what God has for you. Nothing. Take the steps He has been asking you to take. Leave it all behind. He has it all under control.
Walk in faith. Become a Rock Solid Woman of God. What does it mean to be Rock Solid? Immoveable, unshakeable and transformed by the power that comes from the Holy Spirit.
I want to leave you with two passages of scripture that I know will give you a strong foundation to stand on.
Be blessed!
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:37-39
"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualifed you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 1:10-14
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I felt like the Holy Spirit was really impressing upon me that you cannot talk about grace unless you talk about love. They go hand in hand. God shows us grace because He loves us. God sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for us so that we might be saved. The key word to look at is "might" in that sentence. We will never be forced by God to accept the free gift of salvation. It is our choice. However, once we have received salvation through God's love we receive grace.
"Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple"
Luke 14:33
There are two different types of grace, but only one is true. There is what Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book, The Cost of Discipleship calls "cheap grace" and "costly grace".
I had lived my entire life under the umbrella of "cheap grace". Cheap grace can be described as someone who receives salvation, labels themself a Christian but does not change their behavior, attitudes or choices in any way. I grew up a Christian, I went to church every Sunday and went on mission trips. However, if you looked beyond the painted on face you would see someone who was broken, looking for happiness in all the wrong places. In other words, a fake.
My prayer and reason behind writing this blog and pouring my heart and soul into this ministry is for all of us to live for "costly grace". In the scripture above you see that Jesus is talking to His disciples. He is saying that if they truly wanted to be His disciples they must leave the world behind and commit to becoming more like Jesus. It sounds intimidating. It sounds difficult. Trust me I have been there.
I was at that point in my life where I wanted to scream at the Lord saying "there has to be more than this!". He answered my call. He told told me I had to give up everything I lived for and put it in His hands. I had to make some very tough decisions, some that I still struggle with today. The decision to live for Christ isn't just a one time deal. It is a choice you make every single day of your life. All I can say is to do everything He calls you to do. Do not hesitate. It is scary and you will feel uncomfortable. But it is truly the most amazing leap of faith you will ever take. Just fall into His arms and let Him lead you.
Do not settle for cheap grace. Do not just play church and read your Bible. Do not just hope one day things will be different. You cannot not keep doing the same thing expecting different results. What is the Lord convicting you of in your heart right now?
Give Him everything you have. You will stumble and fall, but He will be there to pick you up. There is nothing in this life that compares to what God has for you. Nothing. Take the steps He has been asking you to take. Leave it all behind. He has it all under control.
Walk in faith. Become a Rock Solid Woman of God. What does it mean to be Rock Solid? Immoveable, unshakeable and transformed by the power that comes from the Holy Spirit.
I want to leave you with two passages of scripture that I know will give you a strong foundation to stand on.
Be blessed!
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:37-39
"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualifed you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 1:10-14
Saturday, November 13, 2010
What Does It Mean To Be A Rock Solid Woman?
What Does It Mean To Be A Rock Solid Woman?
I will never pretend that I have all the answers. The only reason I am "qualified" to write this blog is because God has laid it upon my heart to share with women about all that He has done in my life so that He can do a work in your life.
"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalms 40:2-3
If I were to reflect upon my life I would see a broken and selfish woman who loved to pretend that I was really something that I never truly was, a Christian. I left behind me in my quest to find true happiness destroyed lives and dreams. I knew of God, I went to church and grew up in a Christian home but had never experienced an encounter with The Living God.
I remember one night my son was asleep in his room and my husband had left me, too angry and hurt to even look at me or speak to me. I laid on the floor in the fetal position in so much pain believing that my life was over and I would never recover from the destruction I had caused. I thought of my precious son who was only a year old, who would never understand what had happened between his dad and I. Who I was sure at that time would never get the opportunity to have a relationship with his dad in the future, because of me.
I am reliving this moment for the first time now since it happend over three years ago. At the time I would never have recognized it as God doing a work in my life. Preparing me for a future that I could not comprehend.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity." Jeremiah 29:11-14
We all have been, or some of you still may be, held captive by the sin in your life. My husband did come back home to me and we worked on picking up the pieces of our broken marriage. It has taken almost three years to get to place where I am now. The Word of God is true when He says "seek me with all your heart and I will be found by you". I gave my life over to Christ with full abandon earlier this year.
A Rock Solid Woman is a woman who leaves behind her life of sin, all of the brokenness and destruction and chooses to follow Jesus. She says "here I am Lord, send me". We cannot change on our own, real life change comes from God alone.
The time is now to raise up an army of women ready to be radically obedient and full of the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8
I am never going to be perfect and neither will you. I still fall short every day. However, I know that God has amazing things in store for those who love Him "no eye has seen, no ear has heard". Let us walk this journey together. Take a big step of faith. Let go of everything and follow God. He has amazing things in store for each of us.
As I continue blogging I want to share with you all that God has given me. I believe that the way to teach and to learn is through transparency. So let us be bold, courageous and radically obedient!
Become a Rock Solid Woman for God!
I will never pretend that I have all the answers. The only reason I am "qualified" to write this blog is because God has laid it upon my heart to share with women about all that He has done in my life so that He can do a work in your life.
"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalms 40:2-3
If I were to reflect upon my life I would see a broken and selfish woman who loved to pretend that I was really something that I never truly was, a Christian. I left behind me in my quest to find true happiness destroyed lives and dreams. I knew of God, I went to church and grew up in a Christian home but had never experienced an encounter with The Living God.
I remember one night my son was asleep in his room and my husband had left me, too angry and hurt to even look at me or speak to me. I laid on the floor in the fetal position in so much pain believing that my life was over and I would never recover from the destruction I had caused. I thought of my precious son who was only a year old, who would never understand what had happened between his dad and I. Who I was sure at that time would never get the opportunity to have a relationship with his dad in the future, because of me.
I am reliving this moment for the first time now since it happend over three years ago. At the time I would never have recognized it as God doing a work in my life. Preparing me for a future that I could not comprehend.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity." Jeremiah 29:11-14
We all have been, or some of you still may be, held captive by the sin in your life. My husband did come back home to me and we worked on picking up the pieces of our broken marriage. It has taken almost three years to get to place where I am now. The Word of God is true when He says "seek me with all your heart and I will be found by you". I gave my life over to Christ with full abandon earlier this year.
A Rock Solid Woman is a woman who leaves behind her life of sin, all of the brokenness and destruction and chooses to follow Jesus. She says "here I am Lord, send me". We cannot change on our own, real life change comes from God alone.
The time is now to raise up an army of women ready to be radically obedient and full of the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8
I am never going to be perfect and neither will you. I still fall short every day. However, I know that God has amazing things in store for those who love Him "no eye has seen, no ear has heard". Let us walk this journey together. Take a big step of faith. Let go of everything and follow God. He has amazing things in store for each of us.
As I continue blogging I want to share with you all that God has given me. I believe that the way to teach and to learn is through transparency. So let us be bold, courageous and radically obedient!
Become a Rock Solid Woman for God!
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