July 16th
"SELF-PITY IS A SLIMY, BOTTOMLESS PIT. Once you fall in, you tend to go deeper and deeper into the mire. As you slide down those slippery walls, you are well on your way to depression, and the darkness is profound.
Your only hope is to look up and see the Light of My Presence shining down on you. Though the Light looks dim from your perspective, deep in the pit, those rays of hope can reach you at any depth. While you focus on Me in trust, you rise ever so slowly out of the abyss of despair. finally, you can reach up and grasp My hand. I will pull you out into the Light again. I will gently cleanse you, washing off the clinging mire. I will cover you with My righteousness and walk with you down the path of Life."
Psalm 42:5; Psalm 147:11
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That dark, damp, evil whole of depression is one place I never, ever want to be again. high school can be a pretty dark place too. While I had a lot of fun, there are a lot of bad choices I made during that time of my life. There were a lot of good ones made as well, and self-knowledge made too. There were many dark times of my life in those days, I would never want to go back and be a teenager again. Fighting with my parents, mostly my dad, and having responsibilities that a teenager shouldn't have. However, I should have stepped up to the plate and been more helpful for my dad and brother than I was. I was too concerned about myself, my boyfriend, friends, and being depressed inwardly to think about how I was affecting others. Not too long after I moved back to the U.S. from after living in Germany with my brother and father (parents divorced years earlier and Mom was back in the States) after getting into a physical altercation with my father... my "beloved" boyfriend was killed in a freak accident at a gun shooting range he was at with his uncle and father. He had also recently moved back to the U.S. and we were going to visit eachother shortly after I moved back. I think, after that happened, I pretty much sunk into a dark whirlwind of depression and any thoughts of God went out the window.
I was about 16. I was pretty damn good at hiding my depression outwards, but inwardly, I was so incredibly self-destructive. It continued on and got a bit better after meeting one of my best friends, then switching schools and moving in with my Gparents. My poor Gparents, I took a lot out on them, but they are and always have been wonderful to me, put up with me, loved me, took care of me, fought with me, and they let me have a lot of free-rein. Got into trouble here and there, but as I got older, I had the nagging tug at my thoughts and mind that was God trying to call me back to him. Which, I ignored for a few more years.
At 18, I got pregnant. I'd been dating a guy for a few years (we ended up staying together for 7 years in total--from 16.5 until over a year ago with one major break up in between for a year and half) already and had decided to keep the baby. Unfortunately, I didn't find out until after I'd been the passenger during a car accident and after a heavy night of drinking a week or so before the accident. While I don't open up about this a whole lot, but it's time to stop carrying the guilt. I've let go of it, but I ended up having to abort the baby due to medical complications and we felt that was best for all of us at the time. There was no way I could have gone through a miscarriage. Probably would have shook my world even more. Complications that were caused by my recklessness. It was heartbreaking and devastating. Not something I ever want to go through again in my life. Hardest decision I have ever had to make.
I basically walked through a lot of fog for a while. Thankfully, my mother found an amazing church that really hit me. Hit me where it hurts and the words our Pastor spoke, the words of Jesus, had me on my knees crying and begging for Him to hold me and to take away my pain, my anger, my worries, my depression, all the negativity in my life. I was Saved then, as my mother was saved in jail from multiple DWIs. We have both been on a struggling path since then, but we know that all we have to do is cry out to Jesus, and His hand is there to help us, to pull us out of whatever hole we may have gotten ourselves into. I Thank Him immensely. He saved me because He loves me. Loved me enough to die for all of MY sins. MY wrongdoings, MY bad decisions. He was willing to take the rap for all of it, because He loves me THAT much. He loves us all THAT much. I don't think it's too much of Him to ask that we love Him back and spread the word about His love...and how amazing it is. How He can change your life in the utmost best way possible.
Thank you for letting me share that. It brought back years of memories, good and bad, tears, and emotions that I will never forget. But I am grateful that He made it all better. He is still working on me, as He is you.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
July 14 & 15
July 14th
"KEEP WALKING with Me along the path I have chosen for you. Your desire to live close to me is a delight to My heart. I could instantly grant you the spiritual riches you desire, but that is not My way for you. Together we will forge a pathway up the high mountain. The journey is arduous at times, and you are weak. Someday you will dance lightfooted on the high peaks; but for now, your walk is often plodding and heavy. All I require of you is to take the next step, clinging to My hand for strength and direction. Though the path is difficult and the scenery dull at the moment, there are sparkling surprises just around the bend. Stay on the path I have selected for you. It is truly the path of Life."
Psalm 37:23; Psalm 23:2-3
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I love this! Life is not meant to be easy. Thanks to Adam and Eve? Eh, maybe, but I believe God saw that mishap coming anyway. I dislike reading and hearing people complain that God isn't real or this and that because if it were so and if He truly loved His children, there would be no poor, no murder, no this and that, but people fail to realize that those happenings are based off of a person's bad judgement and bad decision making. He can only do so much for us; He has given us Free Will to make the decisions we do, but we need to make them wisely and with His guidance. He wants us to pray and ask for that guidance, wants us to follow our paths. Yes, there will be bumps in the road. Yes, there will be high and lows, but we are not alone in any of those times! HE is there, raising us up in those good times, and holding our hands, there to help pull us out of the bad. We have to learn to make the correct decisions to better our lives, we cannot have Him do it for us; what is the learning and experience in that? That makes it too easy, too boring. Doing the best we can in this life using His guidance, will lead us to the shiny gates of Heaven. That is our reward and what an Awesome reward it is! There is no reward in easy, having everything handed to you on a silver platter. The reward has much more meaning when you have had to work through many different circumstances, good and bad, to reach that goal. We have to learn to trust in Him to guide us through the rough patches, to guide us through the dark towards the little light at the end of the tunnel. Only with Him, will we reach that ultimate reward.
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July 15th
"DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW! This is not a suggestion, but a command. I divided time into days and nights, so that you would have manageable portions of life to handle. amy grace is sufficient for you, but its sufficiency is for only one day at a time. When you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy frame. You stagger under this heavy load, which I never intended you to carry.
Throw off this oppressive burden with one quick thrust of trust. Anxious thoughts meander about and crisscross in your brain, but trusting Me brings you directly into My Presence. As you thus affirm your faith, shackles of worry fall off instantly. My Presence continually by trusting Me at all times."
Matthew 6:34; 2 Corinthians 12:9
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I love this one too! While it's not the same scripture listed at the end of today's devotional, it is close by and part of it, haha. It is one that always sticks with me and I love that it does. I used to be a huge worry wort about the littlest, most petty things. SO not worth it! My mom gave me this scripture a LONG time ago:
Momma would tell me to speak my worries to Him. Pretend/visualize putting them into a bucket or into His hands, and handing them over to watch Him reel His arm back like a baseball pitcher, and throw it to the furthest galaxy only to have it explode into nothing. He takes your worries and rids you of them. Doing so always makes my shoulders, mind, and heart feel much lighter and less crowded; giving me more free space and thoughts to dedicate to Him and being in His Presence.
How awesome is that?! Any time I catch myself worrying about anything (which I have gotten good at now), I stop myself, empty it out on Him, and He demolishes it. Win-Win!
"KEEP WALKING with Me along the path I have chosen for you. Your desire to live close to me is a delight to My heart. I could instantly grant you the spiritual riches you desire, but that is not My way for you. Together we will forge a pathway up the high mountain. The journey is arduous at times, and you are weak. Someday you will dance lightfooted on the high peaks; but for now, your walk is often plodding and heavy. All I require of you is to take the next step, clinging to My hand for strength and direction. Though the path is difficult and the scenery dull at the moment, there are sparkling surprises just around the bend. Stay on the path I have selected for you. It is truly the path of Life."
Psalm 37:23; Psalm 23:2-3
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I love this! Life is not meant to be easy. Thanks to Adam and Eve? Eh, maybe, but I believe God saw that mishap coming anyway. I dislike reading and hearing people complain that God isn't real or this and that because if it were so and if He truly loved His children, there would be no poor, no murder, no this and that, but people fail to realize that those happenings are based off of a person's bad judgement and bad decision making. He can only do so much for us; He has given us Free Will to make the decisions we do, but we need to make them wisely and with His guidance. He wants us to pray and ask for that guidance, wants us to follow our paths. Yes, there will be bumps in the road. Yes, there will be high and lows, but we are not alone in any of those times! HE is there, raising us up in those good times, and holding our hands, there to help pull us out of the bad. We have to learn to make the correct decisions to better our lives, we cannot have Him do it for us; what is the learning and experience in that? That makes it too easy, too boring. Doing the best we can in this life using His guidance, will lead us to the shiny gates of Heaven. That is our reward and what an Awesome reward it is! There is no reward in easy, having everything handed to you on a silver platter. The reward has much more meaning when you have had to work through many different circumstances, good and bad, to reach that goal. We have to learn to trust in Him to guide us through the rough patches, to guide us through the dark towards the little light at the end of the tunnel. Only with Him, will we reach that ultimate reward.
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July 15th
"DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW! This is not a suggestion, but a command. I divided time into days and nights, so that you would have manageable portions of life to handle. amy grace is sufficient for you, but its sufficiency is for only one day at a time. When you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy frame. You stagger under this heavy load, which I never intended you to carry.
Throw off this oppressive burden with one quick thrust of trust. Anxious thoughts meander about and crisscross in your brain, but trusting Me brings you directly into My Presence. As you thus affirm your faith, shackles of worry fall off instantly. My Presence continually by trusting Me at all times."
Matthew 6:34; 2 Corinthians 12:9
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I love this one too! While it's not the same scripture listed at the end of today's devotional, it is close by and part of it, haha. It is one that always sticks with me and I love that it does. I used to be a huge worry wort about the littlest, most petty things. SO not worth it! My mom gave me this scripture a LONG time ago:
Matthew 6:25-34
New International Version (NIV)
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?Momma would tell me to speak my worries to Him. Pretend/visualize putting them into a bucket or into His hands, and handing them over to watch Him reel His arm back like a baseball pitcher, and throw it to the furthest galaxy only to have it explode into nothing. He takes your worries and rids you of them. Doing so always makes my shoulders, mind, and heart feel much lighter and less crowded; giving me more free space and thoughts to dedicate to Him and being in His Presence.
How awesome is that?! Any time I catch myself worrying about anything (which I have gotten good at now), I stop myself, empty it out on Him, and He demolishes it. Win-Win!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
July 13
July 13
"I WANT YOU to experience the riches of your salvation: the Joy of being loved constantly and unconditionally. You make a practice of judging yourself, based on how you look or behave or feel. If you like what you see in the mirror, you feel a bit more worthy of My Love. When things are going smoothly and your performance seems adequate, you find it easier to believe you are My beloved child. When you feel discouraged, you tend to look inward so you can correct whatever is wrong.
Instead of trying to "fix" yourself, fix your gaze on Me, the Lover of your soul. Rather than using your energy to judge yourself, direct it to praising Me. Remember that I see you clothed in My righteousness, radiant in My perfect Love."
Ephesians 2:7-8; Hebrews 3:1; Psalm 34:5
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How incredibly true! When life gets us down, we blame ourselves and think poorly of ourselves inside and bringing all that negativity in our lives will only make matters worse. If we look up and praise Him, letting Him inside...it raises us up too, it let's that positivity and His Spirit cleanse our souls and our way-of-thinking. All we have to do, is turn to Him. He created us and He loves us, no matter what is going on in our lives, no matter what we have done. It may upset Him, but he still loves us and wants to raise us to be in His Presence, no matter what. We are His creation and we are perfect to Him.
I know how it feels to look inside and not be happy with myself. It has happened numerous times in my life. I was miserable and depressed, self-loathing and filled with bitterness because I was not happy on the inside. I didn't understand why. I had a wonderful family who gives love and support unconditionally, I had a good job, food on the table, a roof over my head, animals who was always there for me, amazing friends who just being with them took away some of those negative feelings..but only for a little bit. It was just slapping a bandaid on in hopes it would soon heal and go away.
Lightbulb! I had turned my back on Jesus. I had fallen off the tracks, yet again. I had forgotten to turn to Him when I was in my darkest cloud, so completely overwhelmed by everything; yet I had so much! Worldly "things" are just "things." They are not enough to placate our soul. I opened my arms and asked for forgiveness. Apologizing for forgetting about Him; asking to fill my heart and soul with His Holy Spirit. Being in His Presence like that is overwhelming in a different way. In a filling way. In a positive and energizing type of light. I felt whole again, free again, Happy again. Relief and His Love overpowers even the darkest clouds, the darkest thoughts, the deepest hurts. His Spirit washes it all away and leaves only His Love and Spirit.
Going to a shrink may help us gain another perspective on our lives and try to help us "fix" ourselves, but how can we not seek the One who created us in the first place? The One who knows us inside and out, the BEST person, the Best mechanic for the job? He specializes in correct fixing that starts with our heart and soul and giving to Him, entrusting Him to lead us down the correct path. What better person to guide us than the One who made us who and what we are? He is the expert. Not a shrink, not a doctor... No one can prescribe The Holy Spirit but Him.
"I WANT YOU to experience the riches of your salvation: the Joy of being loved constantly and unconditionally. You make a practice of judging yourself, based on how you look or behave or feel. If you like what you see in the mirror, you feel a bit more worthy of My Love. When things are going smoothly and your performance seems adequate, you find it easier to believe you are My beloved child. When you feel discouraged, you tend to look inward so you can correct whatever is wrong.
Instead of trying to "fix" yourself, fix your gaze on Me, the Lover of your soul. Rather than using your energy to judge yourself, direct it to praising Me. Remember that I see you clothed in My righteousness, radiant in My perfect Love."
Ephesians 2:7-8; Hebrews 3:1; Psalm 34:5
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How incredibly true! When life gets us down, we blame ourselves and think poorly of ourselves inside and bringing all that negativity in our lives will only make matters worse. If we look up and praise Him, letting Him inside...it raises us up too, it let's that positivity and His Spirit cleanse our souls and our way-of-thinking. All we have to do, is turn to Him. He created us and He loves us, no matter what is going on in our lives, no matter what we have done. It may upset Him, but he still loves us and wants to raise us to be in His Presence, no matter what. We are His creation and we are perfect to Him.
I know how it feels to look inside and not be happy with myself. It has happened numerous times in my life. I was miserable and depressed, self-loathing and filled with bitterness because I was not happy on the inside. I didn't understand why. I had a wonderful family who gives love and support unconditionally, I had a good job, food on the table, a roof over my head, animals who was always there for me, amazing friends who just being with them took away some of those negative feelings..but only for a little bit. It was just slapping a bandaid on in hopes it would soon heal and go away.
Lightbulb! I had turned my back on Jesus. I had fallen off the tracks, yet again. I had forgotten to turn to Him when I was in my darkest cloud, so completely overwhelmed by everything; yet I had so much! Worldly "things" are just "things." They are not enough to placate our soul. I opened my arms and asked for forgiveness. Apologizing for forgetting about Him; asking to fill my heart and soul with His Holy Spirit. Being in His Presence like that is overwhelming in a different way. In a filling way. In a positive and energizing type of light. I felt whole again, free again, Happy again. Relief and His Love overpowers even the darkest clouds, the darkest thoughts, the deepest hurts. His Spirit washes it all away and leaves only His Love and Spirit.
Going to a shrink may help us gain another perspective on our lives and try to help us "fix" ourselves, but how can we not seek the One who created us in the first place? The One who knows us inside and out, the BEST person, the Best mechanic for the job? He specializes in correct fixing that starts with our heart and soul and giving to Him, entrusting Him to lead us down the correct path. What better person to guide us than the One who made us who and what we are? He is the expert. Not a shrink, not a doctor... No one can prescribe The Holy Spirit but Him.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
July 12
July 12
"WHENVER YOU FEEL DISTANT from Me, whisper My Name in loving trust. This simple prayer can restore your awareness of My Presence.
My Name is constantly abused in the world, where people use it as a curse word. This verbal assault reaches all the way to heaven; every word is heard and recorded. When you trustingly whisper My Name, My aching eas are soothed. The grating rancor of the world's blasphemies cannot compete with a trusting child's utterance: 'Jesus.' The power of My Name to bless both you and Me is beyond your understanding."
Acts 4:12; John 16:24
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I will be one to admit, yes I have spoken The Lord's name in vain. Too many times to count in my lifetime. How horrible I felt afterward, I cannot begin to explain and still apologize for it to this day. I hope that calling out to Him when my thoughts start to betray me, when I feel myself start to slip and speak His name... that it makes up for the past transgression, at least in some way. I do not expect to be completely forgiven for that, how it must hurt Him. I pray that drawing near to Him, when I do, helps soothe the pain I have caused for Him.
When I am feeling down and low, I know all I have to do is say, "Jesus, hear me. Jesus, be near me. Jesus."... just, "Jesus," and/or "God" and He is RIGHT there by my side. No matter what. He is there waiting and listening, ready to open His ears and heart for me to pour my thoughts, worries, concerns, happiness, gratitude and love into Him.
Even when we feel far away, He is always there. Always waiting, always watching, always patient and loving.
"WHENVER YOU FEEL DISTANT from Me, whisper My Name in loving trust. This simple prayer can restore your awareness of My Presence.
My Name is constantly abused in the world, where people use it as a curse word. This verbal assault reaches all the way to heaven; every word is heard and recorded. When you trustingly whisper My Name, My aching eas are soothed. The grating rancor of the world's blasphemies cannot compete with a trusting child's utterance: 'Jesus.' The power of My Name to bless both you and Me is beyond your understanding."
Acts 4:12; John 16:24
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I will be one to admit, yes I have spoken The Lord's name in vain. Too many times to count in my lifetime. How horrible I felt afterward, I cannot begin to explain and still apologize for it to this day. I hope that calling out to Him when my thoughts start to betray me, when I feel myself start to slip and speak His name... that it makes up for the past transgression, at least in some way. I do not expect to be completely forgiven for that, how it must hurt Him. I pray that drawing near to Him, when I do, helps soothe the pain I have caused for Him.
When I am feeling down and low, I know all I have to do is say, "Jesus, hear me. Jesus, be near me. Jesus."... just, "Jesus," and/or "God" and He is RIGHT there by my side. No matter what. He is there waiting and listening, ready to open His ears and heart for me to pour my thoughts, worries, concerns, happiness, gratitude and love into Him.
Even when we feel far away, He is always there. Always waiting, always watching, always patient and loving.
Monday, July 11, 2011
July 11
July 11
"WORSHIP ME ONLY. Idolatry has always been the downfall of My people. I make no secrets about being a jealous God. Current idols are more subtle than ancient ones, because today's false gods are often outside the field of religion. People, possessions, status, and self-aggrandize-ment are some of the most popular deities today. Beware of bowing down before these things. False gods never satisfy; instead, they stiru up lust for more and more.
When you seek me instead of the world's idols, you experience My Joy and Peace. these intangibles slack the thirst of your soul. providing deep satisfaction. The glitter of the world is tinny and temporal. The Light of My Presence is brilliant and everlasting. Walk in the Light with me. Thus you become a beacon through whom others are drawn to Me.
Exodus 20:4-5; 2 Samuel 22:29
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How many times do we see ourselves feeling or thinking, "GAAAH! I need this or that" or "OMGosh that is so awesome, I have to have that!" and get so caught up thinking about the things we think we need or want? ALL.THE.TIME. Husband and I knowingly do this and have to rein ourselves back in, lol. We all get so caught up with the worldly things, they are so tempting, how could we not! Thankfully, I have learned to really rationalize needs vs. wants...and especially now that Dave and I are wanting to really start a family of our own, we have to be cost effective.
The best thing I ever read, was in one of my books: "Prayers for your Marriage." It's a great book with a bunch of prayers containing everything from money issues, to other relationship issues, concerns, etc., and one part I will not forget was in the money issues part. Every time you get a paycheck or some kind of money from who-knows where.. Stop. Pray about it. Thank Jesus for giving you the means to obtain the money you have. Thank Him for giving you the funds and pray, asking for His help and guidance in spending His money wisely.
It isn't OUR money to spend. Sure, we've earned it, but who gave us the means to earn it? He did. Give thanks and appreciation. Pray for guidance. It TRULY helps! It has helped us a lot. Though we've gone off the tracks by letting the worldly things cloud our judgement when we have gotten a large sum of money in..and then it's gone. We rationalize it logically by how we spent it. For the most part, it is true. However, we should have prayed about it and given thanks and asked for help in guiding our spending ways so we spend the given money wisely. Sure, our house is more furnished now and we have a few nice things, but at what appreciation and what cost? We have kicked ourselves and I have thought inwardly how selfish we were.
The few times we have gotten money recently (besides David's paychecks), I have prayed and asked for guidance. It turns out, I didn't even spend it on the thing that I had wanted for a while (new phone) and ended up holding on to it "just in case"...and it came in handy! Although, I will admit, I felt selfish and didn't want to use/spend it on xyz but had to. Humble Pie!! Then I was blessed with funds after finally selling my saddle. He does work, in His own way and His own time on His terms...not mine. I am grateful and thankful that He had me hold onto it because He knew something else was going to come up that would need taken care of. He knows better than I do, who am I to question that?
He is so amazing and always takes care of us!
"WORSHIP ME ONLY. Idolatry has always been the downfall of My people. I make no secrets about being a jealous God. Current idols are more subtle than ancient ones, because today's false gods are often outside the field of religion. People, possessions, status, and self-aggrandize-ment are some of the most popular deities today. Beware of bowing down before these things. False gods never satisfy; instead, they stiru up lust for more and more.
When you seek me instead of the world's idols, you experience My Joy and Peace. these intangibles slack the thirst of your soul. providing deep satisfaction. The glitter of the world is tinny and temporal. The Light of My Presence is brilliant and everlasting. Walk in the Light with me. Thus you become a beacon through whom others are drawn to Me.
Exodus 20:4-5; 2 Samuel 22:29
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How many times do we see ourselves feeling or thinking, "GAAAH! I need this or that" or "OMGosh that is so awesome, I have to have that!" and get so caught up thinking about the things we think we need or want? ALL.THE.TIME. Husband and I knowingly do this and have to rein ourselves back in, lol. We all get so caught up with the worldly things, they are so tempting, how could we not! Thankfully, I have learned to really rationalize needs vs. wants...and especially now that Dave and I are wanting to really start a family of our own, we have to be cost effective.
The best thing I ever read, was in one of my books: "Prayers for your Marriage." It's a great book with a bunch of prayers containing everything from money issues, to other relationship issues, concerns, etc., and one part I will not forget was in the money issues part. Every time you get a paycheck or some kind of money from who-knows where.. Stop. Pray about it. Thank Jesus for giving you the means to obtain the money you have. Thank Him for giving you the funds and pray, asking for His help and guidance in spending His money wisely.
It isn't OUR money to spend. Sure, we've earned it, but who gave us the means to earn it? He did. Give thanks and appreciation. Pray for guidance. It TRULY helps! It has helped us a lot. Though we've gone off the tracks by letting the worldly things cloud our judgement when we have gotten a large sum of money in..and then it's gone. We rationalize it logically by how we spent it. For the most part, it is true. However, we should have prayed about it and given thanks and asked for help in guiding our spending ways so we spend the given money wisely. Sure, our house is more furnished now and we have a few nice things, but at what appreciation and what cost? We have kicked ourselves and I have thought inwardly how selfish we were.
The few times we have gotten money recently (besides David's paychecks), I have prayed and asked for guidance. It turns out, I didn't even spend it on the thing that I had wanted for a while (new phone) and ended up holding on to it "just in case"...and it came in handy! Although, I will admit, I felt selfish and didn't want to use/spend it on xyz but had to. Humble Pie!! Then I was blessed with funds after finally selling my saddle. He does work, in His own way and His own time on His terms...not mine. I am grateful and thankful that He had me hold onto it because He knew something else was going to come up that would need taken care of. He knows better than I do, who am I to question that?
He is so amazing and always takes care of us!
July 9 & 10
July 9
"STOP WORRYING long enough to hear My voice. I speak softly to you, in the depths of your being. your mind shuttles back and forth, hither and yon, weaving webs of anxious confusion. As My thoughts rise up within you, they become entangled in those sticky webs of worry. Thus, my voice is muffled, and you hear only 'white noise.'
Ask My Spirit to quiet your mind so that you can think My thoughts. This ability is an awesome benefit of being My child, patterned after My own image. Do not be deafened by the noise of the world or that of your own thinking. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Sit quietly in My Presence, lettign My thoughts reprogram your thinking."
Deuteronomy 30:20; Genesis 1:27; Romans 12:2
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Honestly, the only thing that comes to mind (that I haven't already talked about relating to this), is:
When you're really starting to worry about something that you push all other thoughts to the back burner and it's so clouded in your mind that you can't think of anything else or let anything else in (like God's voice telling you to shut up and stop worrying)...
Remember to...
STOP!!! In the name of God! And let him speeeeeak to your heart! (sung to the tune of "Stop, In the Name of Love")
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July 10
"RELAX IN MY PEACEFUL PRESENCE. Do not bring performance pressures into our sacred space of communion. When you are with someone you trust completely, you feel free to be yourself. This is one of the joys of true friendship. Though I am Lord of lords and King of kings, I also desire to be your intimate Friend. When you are tense or pretentious in our relationship, I feel hurt. I know the worst about you, but I also see the best in you. I long for you to trust Me enough to be fully yourself with Me. When you are real with Me, I am able to bring out the best in you: the very gifts that I have planted in your soul. Relax, and enjoy our friendship."
Revelations 17:14; John 15:13-15
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I couldn't help but giggle reading this. I remember when I was younger and I would try to justify my actions to God in something I've done to others here on earth. Back then I didn't quite understand as I do now that: YOU CAN'T HIDE WHO YOU ARE FROM GOD. Anyone who thinks they can are only hurting and fooling themselves in the process. God is who made us who we are. He knows the ins and outs of our hearts, mind, body, and soul. He knows us better than anyone would ever think to know or understand. BUT, just because He already knows this, doesn't mean we should stop sharing who we are with Him. Letting Him in willingly and openly "HERE I AM, GOD!" with welcoming arms. He wants us to want Him in, to be privy of our thoughts, worries/concerns, happiness, questions...etc. He already knows our deepest, darkest secrets, goals, and dreams...but just wants us to openly and willingly share it with Him.
God is so awesome that even Chuck Norris can't one-up Him.
"STOP WORRYING long enough to hear My voice. I speak softly to you, in the depths of your being. your mind shuttles back and forth, hither and yon, weaving webs of anxious confusion. As My thoughts rise up within you, they become entangled in those sticky webs of worry. Thus, my voice is muffled, and you hear only 'white noise.'
Ask My Spirit to quiet your mind so that you can think My thoughts. This ability is an awesome benefit of being My child, patterned after My own image. Do not be deafened by the noise of the world or that of your own thinking. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Sit quietly in My Presence, lettign My thoughts reprogram your thinking."
Deuteronomy 30:20; Genesis 1:27; Romans 12:2
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Honestly, the only thing that comes to mind (that I haven't already talked about relating to this), is:
When you're really starting to worry about something that you push all other thoughts to the back burner and it's so clouded in your mind that you can't think of anything else or let anything else in (like God's voice telling you to shut up and stop worrying)...
Remember to...
STOP!!! In the name of God! And let him speeeeeak to your heart! (sung to the tune of "Stop, In the Name of Love")
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July 10
"RELAX IN MY PEACEFUL PRESENCE. Do not bring performance pressures into our sacred space of communion. When you are with someone you trust completely, you feel free to be yourself. This is one of the joys of true friendship. Though I am Lord of lords and King of kings, I also desire to be your intimate Friend. When you are tense or pretentious in our relationship, I feel hurt. I know the worst about you, but I also see the best in you. I long for you to trust Me enough to be fully yourself with Me. When you are real with Me, I am able to bring out the best in you: the very gifts that I have planted in your soul. Relax, and enjoy our friendship."
Revelations 17:14; John 15:13-15
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I couldn't help but giggle reading this. I remember when I was younger and I would try to justify my actions to God in something I've done to others here on earth. Back then I didn't quite understand as I do now that: YOU CAN'T HIDE WHO YOU ARE FROM GOD. Anyone who thinks they can are only hurting and fooling themselves in the process. God is who made us who we are. He knows the ins and outs of our hearts, mind, body, and soul. He knows us better than anyone would ever think to know or understand. BUT, just because He already knows this, doesn't mean we should stop sharing who we are with Him. Letting Him in willingly and openly "HERE I AM, GOD!" with welcoming arms. He wants us to want Him in, to be privy of our thoughts, worries/concerns, happiness, questions...etc. He already knows our deepest, darkest secrets, goals, and dreams...but just wants us to openly and willingly share it with Him.
God is so awesome that even Chuck Norris can't one-up Him.
Friday, July 8, 2011
July 8
July 8
"WHEN YOU SEEK MY FACE, put aside thoughts of everything else. I am above all, as well as in all; your communication with Me transcends both time and circumstances. Be prepared to be blessed bountifully by My Presence, for I am a God of unlimited abundance. Open wide your heart and mind to receive more and more of Me. When your Joy in Me meets My Joy in you, there are fireworks of heavenly ecstasy. This is eternal life here and now: a tiny foretaste of what awaits you in the life to come. Now you see only a poor reflection as in a mirror, but then you will see face-to-Face."
John 15:11; 1 Corinthians 13:12
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Good Afternoon!
I am a little behind today, forgive me!
And what a beautiful day it as turned into. Didn't start off all that well for me; my mare and I had a clash during our schooling session and boy was I ever frustrated with her (and myself) after our ride. Then, like any teenager would do, kept doing those little things that kept driving me even more up the wall.
Stop. Breath. "God, please take this frustration away from me, please do that and in it's place, fill my heart with contentment, happiness, and joy of the Holy Spirit. I am near to beating this little horse to a pulp, but would rather not. Please help me stay calm, relax, and enjoy the very faint breeze we do have today. I thank you for this time you have given me to even spend with my bratty horse, any time with her, good and bad, is a blessing...and for that I thank You."
Much better!!
Taking just those little moments in your day to push everything else away and speak to Him, ask for His help, or just express gratitude for something He has done or given you, brings joy. Can you imagine that feeling duplicated by hundreds and thousands? If speaking with Him each time lifts everything off your shoulders, can you imagine how Heaven is going to be? We'll all float on light as a feather..
"WHEN YOU SEEK MY FACE, put aside thoughts of everything else. I am above all, as well as in all; your communication with Me transcends both time and circumstances. Be prepared to be blessed bountifully by My Presence, for I am a God of unlimited abundance. Open wide your heart and mind to receive more and more of Me. When your Joy in Me meets My Joy in you, there are fireworks of heavenly ecstasy. This is eternal life here and now: a tiny foretaste of what awaits you in the life to come. Now you see only a poor reflection as in a mirror, but then you will see face-to-Face."
John 15:11; 1 Corinthians 13:12
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Good Afternoon!
I am a little behind today, forgive me!
And what a beautiful day it as turned into. Didn't start off all that well for me; my mare and I had a clash during our schooling session and boy was I ever frustrated with her (and myself) after our ride. Then, like any teenager would do, kept doing those little things that kept driving me even more up the wall.
Stop. Breath. "God, please take this frustration away from me, please do that and in it's place, fill my heart with contentment, happiness, and joy of the Holy Spirit. I am near to beating this little horse to a pulp, but would rather not. Please help me stay calm, relax, and enjoy the very faint breeze we do have today. I thank you for this time you have given me to even spend with my bratty horse, any time with her, good and bad, is a blessing...and for that I thank You."
Much better!!
Taking just those little moments in your day to push everything else away and speak to Him, ask for His help, or just express gratitude for something He has done or given you, brings joy. Can you imagine that feeling duplicated by hundreds and thousands? If speaking with Him each time lifts everything off your shoulders, can you imagine how Heaven is going to be? We'll all float on light as a feather..
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