Category: Advice

Part two: "Saying I'm Sorry" - Active steps

10/16/2014

"love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for"
-love is not a fight, Warren barfield

So, in Part I of 'Saying I'm Sorry', we spoke about marriage and we also spoke about saying 'I'm sorry,' in that particular context. It was seen that we first say 'sorry' to Our Father, who knows us. I'd like to say, Thank the LORD that He STILL LOVES US even though He knows the very depths and darkness of our hearts. Isn't that reason ALONE to apologize to HIM FIRST? If anything, He should be the only One,
….but we still have reality to deal with. =) =)

We also spoke about how your wife or husband may be upset with you for something you did, and so the next step is apologizing to them. With that said, it will take courage, but saying 'I'm sorry' in that aspect, is the first step to reconciling with them.

Other Steps Include:

1. As you are now clean before God, go BACK to God, to ask for the next steps. HE will tell you what your next steps are. Sit before Him and wait for His answer as you are restoring your position or your marriage.

2. I would encourage you to watch the movie 'Fireproof' (2008), directed by Alex Kendrick. I highly recommend it as its worth your time. I believe that this is an investment that can truly impact your life. You can also buy 'The Love Dare Book', which you'll also see is in association with the movie. Go through the book and be intentional about it. This situation is of course between you and God, so see as fit, and according to the Holy Spirit's guidance.

3. Go out and love your wife, your children, whom ever has been hurt from this.
Also see what the needed steps are. What practical steps do you ensure that it doesn't happen again? Will you be chatting with so-and-so online? Ask yourself these questions, journal these out maybe. It's good to be prepared and ready to give an answer to not only yourself, but your significant other to show that you have thought about how to improve. As said before, overall, it will be more of a concerted effort for the resolution, but doing your part is also a start, and a very big start.

4. As you do this, you may think that nothing is happening or they don't believe you've 'changed that fast', well, that's where God plays HIS part. TRUST Him to change their hearts and to bless you both as you continue this process of moving on. God has so much in store for you guys.

5. Continue.
Don't give up. You'll get there, just don't give up.

6. It's worth fighting for. Remember your ministry. Remember your start. Remember the good times. Remember why you fell in love in the first place. God's got it. Just trust in Him.

I once heard someone say, "the end of me is the beginning of God". I know that you may be sick of this, you're tied down and don't have the time…but it's in these moments when we throw our hands up in the air that God takes us up into His arms, and gives us wings to fly instead. So stand strong and never give up, it's worth fighting for. Marriage is a gift from God. <3

Remember, if it were the other way round in your situation, you'd be worth fighting for.

Never give up.

Part I: Character: Saying I'm Sorry

Part i: Character - saying i'm sorry

10/13/2014

I woke up the other day, feeling led to write down the next topic for the the blog. I felt that there was a stronghold on marriages in a particular city. I pray that strongholds may be broken in that city, in Jesus' Name (I also encourage you to pray for marriages all around the world in Jesus Name). The other point was the general sense of those who were failing to say, 'I'm Sorry'.

I pondered these things, and asked the Lord what He wanted me to write, but at first only got the notion that He wanted to say that people need to start saying 'sorry' (as we know, it's often more of a pride element when we don't acknowledge what we've done and then apologize).

Later on in the day, I thought of the song, 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word' by Blue & Elton John.

The lyrics say:
"What do I do to make you want me?
What have I got to do to be heard?
What do I say when it's all over?
And sorry seems to be the hardest word"

Sometimes we don't need to do a whole lot of STUFF to impress someone (Emphasis on sometimes. Let's apply things to our own situations instead! Lol!). Or sometimes we can try to "figure it out" or fix it on our own. Instead, sorry, would be what is needed in that circumstance, at least as a genuine start. The actions and "figuring it out" can follow after. Let me tell you a little secret: collaborative effort is always best. Never try to do it on your own as if the person doesn't exist and will exist when you figure it all out. Just say sorry and then with God's help, move on to the next step. =)

Now, you might be saying, "Grr! So what if that person doesn't want to hear what I have to say!?"

The song identifies with that aspect, noting:
"It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over?"

As said above, sometimes when we've hurt someone and want to say 'sorry', or have said 'sorry', they might not want to hear it or want to talk about it any more because of the hurt. Instead they may need time, and want to see actions.

"So what do I do in the mean time? Sing this sad song?" :) No. But thank God for Redemption. Thank God it starts with Him. =) Like David, who humbled himself and went to God: "Against you, you only, have I sinned…"-Psalm 51:4 …we go to that place, and talk with God.

Side Note: Once we are forgiven, it is FINISHED. In other words, God remembers it no more. That means, any time after that, if you're still reminded of that sin, then its either our flesh, or the devil. Solutions? Well, there are many, but we take steps to make sure it doesn't come to our mind over and over by using Scripture, and also taking practical steps (more on this in Part II, coming soon!).

Remember that we are promised once and for all that: "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" -Romans 8:1

Thus, just like David did in his redemption process, GET UP AND WALK.

Continue and sin no more by the Power of the Holy Spirit.
God's with you all the way. Don't give up.

Part II: Saying I'm Sorry - Active Steps

Comparisons - Knowing Who We Are

6/14/2014

Photo Credit: Meagan Good

What powerful words!!! :)
I randomly went on Meagan Good's instagram today and saw this quote and I thought, 'This is powerful truth!!" Amen! :)

Maybe you've been feeling like you need to be like somebody else in order to be liked, or that you need to be something else to be liked, but you feel like it's not really you, it's somebody else. You may feel like people like somebody else more but don't like you.

Don't compare yourself. People are not meant to be liked based on who they want to be like, but based on who they already are.

1 Corinthians 12:12-30 touches on this perfectly. It talks about how we are one body, but many parts. I encourage you to do a Bible Study on it! :)

To some extent, comparisons stem from wanting to be like somebody else, but not ourselves, and comparing ourselves with others.

This text talks about how the body is actually a unit (verse 12).
A unit is defined as: "as individual thing or person regarded as single and complete but which can also form an individual component of a larger or more complex whole" (Oxford American Dictionary).

We were meant to be whole as an individual in Christ, and in that, to be a part of a joint and vital component of a more complex whole :)

We all have one and the same Spirit (verse 13). Praise God He doesn't give 100% of the Spirit to some and 20% to others when He "doesn't feel like it" haha! We're all whole and one in Christ.

Now, what does that look like in the physical world? Well, we are human, so comparing ourselves will occur, but it's making sure we don't make this our focus and pursuit (i.e. our worldly pursuit).

Verse 15 says, what if the foot said, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body", and verse 17 asks us what if the whole body became an eye where the sense of hearing be.

Friend, where would the sense of smell be if the body were a big 'ol ear?
Getting the picture now? :) :) ;-) Ok. So...

Know that we are made with significance, carefully crafted to be who we are, along with the role that we play. We are not insignificant.

Verses 22-26 may answers that notion:

"On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

Amen. Did you read that? If ONE PART. ONE. ONE. ONE. ONEEEE part SUFFERS, EVERY PART SUFFERS WITH IT.
You are significant and you may not know it yet if you're still comparing yourself with others :) ;-)
You are important.

I'll leave you with my favorite part of the passage:
"But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be." (verse 18).

I find this beautiful and inspiring because it says, "as HE wanted them to be." not as XYZ wanted them to be, but HE. He arranged them all perfectly. You are created perfectly to be who you are, and God created you to be that part, not man, but God (and we know that God is sovereign, so He is in control so it wasn't just random). He loves you very much and has not 'forgotten' about you. You are a vital component to the community of God, and you are wanted, just as you are.

So what does the quote at the beginning have to do with this?
Well, if we start liking who we are, and know what our purpose is, we're less likely to compare ourselves to others because we know who we are and whose we are. We will start realizing how wonderfully different yet similar we really are, and with that aspect, will start to wish well on others and not just ourselves :) It's a road and journey we all take together, so let's celebrate each other! Amen! :) Jesus loves you <3

P.S. Next time you are questioning who you are, remember to go back to the original "Manual", the Maker knows who you are, He created you. Reinforce His truths about you over and over so you won't forget who you are in Christ! Or even better, have a heart-to-heart with Him, and ask Him who you are. ;-)

Any questions? Let me know by writing to me here!

Now Is The Time

4/29/2014

Photo credit: Horia Varlan

Joshua 8: 1-2 "Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city." (Emphasis mine).

Have you ever wanted to do something and the Lord says to you, 'wait'. Or, 'not yet'?

A while ago, I wrote about how during the wait, God's doing something significant that we may not be seeing with our natural eye.

Sometimes we may think that because it's taking so long or because we don't see what we are thinking it should be like, that its reason to settle for something less, but we all know that that's not what God wants for our lives, He wants to give us His best. We know that there are many reasons He asks us to wait, but because we are His child, waiting is for our benefit, and it creates opportunity for a new thing in our lives, and all to the glory of God. Amen.

I had the opportunity to read this verse in the Book of Joshua.
This verse became important after reading Chapters 6 and 7, which I recommend you read as well to get the full context.

Briefly, in Chapters 6 and 7, the Lord had told Joshua that he had delivered Jericho into his hands (i.e. given him the city). He was then commanded to march around the city once with all the armed men, for 6 days. On the 7th day, they were to march around the city 7 times. In Joshua 6:18 the Lord says to Joshua to keep away from the devoted things as it would bring trouble. Later in Chapter 7 we see that a guy named Achan had hopped on along and taken that which was devoted, when it wasn't the time to.

We know it wasn't the time to take these ''good things'' from the land yet, as in Chapter 8, from what the Lord says to Joshua after He tells him to go into another city: "Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.... You shall do to Ai and its kind as you did to Jericho (the place of the previous battle), except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves..." (Joshua 8:1-2).

The New Living Translation says, "But this time you may keep the plunder and livestock for yourselves...."

But this time...
This time. The event of going into another city had occurred before, but it was this time, it was thee time. This particular time. Outside of that time was the wrong time.

Waiting. It can be a tough one eh?

We all make mistakes and may do something we're not supposed to at the appointed time. Even if you're a leader, you're going to make mistakes. It's just about being real with yourself and not allowing yourself or others put you on an untouchable pedestal. It's about how we handle it after the mistake that counts, i.e. did we learn something, did we grow from it? Are we getting closer to God now because of it? Are we now ready to do what God's asking us to do? etc.

I've already told you about how I started this whole website and went ahead of God, put all these sections to the website and I was all super jolly about it, only to have Him ask me to only start with one blog post. *Ouch* :) I smile about it now, but yes it was majorly humbling at the time. I can only boast in the Lord: but since then, I've never had to sit down and think: "what is the next blog post going to be?" but more of waiting on God until He told me what to say next; He's had the lead. It's a waiting process as well because I would sometimes see other sites doing 'more' stuff or had more sections, but had to wait on God's voice, and then proceed. Not only that, but we don't know other people's story or journey as they did their work, so it's unfair to judge by what the human eye can see. Amen. :)

God's timing is so perfect, when you see it happening, you'll be so content that you'll forget about past experiences or wonder why you went ahead before! He has it all under control.

Waiting on God teaches us to submit to Him, and to let Him take the lead.

This time, the Israelites had the joy (hallelujah!) of carrying the plunder and livestock, as the Lord said they could do. You too, will be able to enjoy what He's asking you to do. He had opened the door to enjoy this wonderful gift.

Let's remember that when God says 'not yet', it's 'not yet'. When He says 'go', 'go'. There's a time for everything :)

So here are the questions: Is the Lord telling you to go? Is He telling you that NOW is the right time? Enter the doors to which He is telling you to go. Why don't you have a nice heart to heart with the Lord tonight? He's with you all the way, as He's leading you to go where you wants you to go. Amen!

Set Aside For His Glory

3/3/2014

At my church we are studying the Book of Nehemiah, which is quite interesting to say the least!
Something struck out to me as I re-read Chapter 5.

Chapter 5 is about Nehemiah trying to help the poor. Long story short, Nehemiah calls a meeting to accuse the nobles and officials because they were exacting usury from their own countrymen. Fortunately the meeting is successful and an agreement to stop the usury is reached. Nehemiah later says that he was appointed to be governor in the Land of Judah but neither he nor his brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. He says, however, the earlier governors who preceded him had placed a heavy burden on the people and took pieces of silver from them as well as their daily food and wine. The former governors' assistants had also taken advantage of the people, but out of reverence of God, Nehemiah did not act like that.

What stood out to me were verses 15-16, which said, "But the earlier governors – those proceeding me – placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from [the Jews ]and in addition to food and wine. Their assignments also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence of God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work of this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land" (Emphasis mine).
Amen!

Nehemiah chose not to do the things that were around him.

Fam, at times we will be faced with challenges were it seems like EVERYONE is doing "it" ("it" meaning, anything like usury, debauchery, malice, drinking, clubbing, etc.)
But we won't have to do it because we are different.
We're Christ's :)

It reminded me of Daniel 3, where King Nebuchadnezzar made a ninety-feet-tall image of gold, and summoned all the people to bow down to it when they heard a sound (Daniel 3:5). The people bowed, but Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah chose not to bow down with the others because they feared God.

At times, we will be faced with an opportunity were EVERYONE (or it seems like everyone, or it just might be everyone in your group or city) is going clubbing or doing whatever, but you won't be going clubbing, because you'll be choosing to be faithful to God.

Of course it's hard to see "a lot people doing these things", and as cliché as it may sound, it's not easy, but it will be worth it.

I remember when I first got Saved (when I first became a Christian), I was still clubbing until God asked me to surrender that part of my life to Him. I had made so many friends from all this going out, but my Abba said to me one night, "Tawana, you have one foot and hand in the world, and the other hand and foot on Me."
I was stuck and didn't know what to say. I even spoke to someone about this, asked them for prayer about what God was asking me to do (I'll explain later why it really wasn't about clubbing, and why I took it to wise counsel for prayer ;-)

God was faithful and reminded me a few times before I surrendered and wanted Him instead of this "stuff!"

You see, what was underneath was more of a fear of "is He going to catch me when I let go of these things?" I didn't know what to expect and that's where the fear came from.
God wanted me to know that I could FULLY trust Him, and that I had to unfold my tightly gripped fingers, and hold onto Him instead. And surely He was faithful, and most of all, He caught me.
As I surrendered to Him, the journey of going deeper in the Bible began.
As I started spending time with God, I'd go back to my room after class and read and study the Bible. The Lord was faithful to me through it all because He would speak to me as I read His Word. I started off using a Bible plan on YouVersion, which was great because it had a nice commentary to accompany the study, and as a new Christian I really really needed that! :)

Even though it seemed like "everyone" else was out "having a good time" with these things, He wanted to tell me that He loved me and that I didn't need all these types of things. With His faithfulness, spending time with Him was priceless compared to the things I had oh so "missed out on." Did temptations come? Of course! But we keep going regardless of every fiery dart that comes our way.

Even though people around me were still clubbing, I didn't do that because I wanted to honor God.
He wanted me to honor Him with my life so that He could honor me. He wanted me to be His.

Now, I won't sit here and say it was so easy and perfect and la la la...it wasn't, but it was worth it.
I did lose "friends", but really, as the quotation marks express, were they really friends if they weren't excited to see me read the Bible or stop the things that drew me away from God? True friends stayed as I grew deeper in the Lord, and new ones came along as well.

Whatever we give up on for the sake of Christ, Our Greatest Friend replaces with even greater.

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." -Matthew 19:26

My point is this: Serving God is going to come with costs.

Losing others will come as well, but that's because God created us to be holy and consecrated for His use, not Holy and "available for all extra things around us". For His use, because we are His.
It may sound like: "wow, I will be restricted from xyz" etc, but I pray for grace and revelation for us to always look at it this way:

1. We're human, so we will have random moments of "oh...If only I were doing xyz or going to xyz", or moments of "this is hard work!" So I pray for grace to take us by storm when these moments come.

2. To always remember that we are not doing this alone. Jesus promised that

He would ask the Father, and He would give us another Advocate, who will never leave us - John 14:16.

And that when the Father sends the Advocate as Jesus' representative--that is, the Holy Spirit--We will be taught everything, and will be reminded of everything Jesus has told us. - John 14:26.

So we're not alone in this.

And also...

3. Remember whose you are and who your Daddy is.
He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lord, the Great Redeemer, Provider, El-Shaddai....and if He is all these things, as a daughter or son, we become heirs, princesses, princes, a royal priesthood and so forth!

Side Note: This just reminds me of Proverbs 31 where King Lamuel's mother tells him that it is not for kings to drink wine and rulers to crave beer because they might drink and forget what the law says. She wanted to say that because he was of king value, and didn't need to be involved in things that could potentially bring his value down! When one is a king (small k), they don't have to do these things, because they are precious and would now have a different focus in life. That's why King Lemuel's mother is saying: "give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more" (Proverbs 31:6). Her advice to her son was, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" (verse 8-9): Now this was King Lamuel's royal duty, not the former.

We, as royal priesthoods, should also seek the best, and to "do the best" in terms of being empowered by Our Abba, Your Daddy, who is in Heaven, who Has said that "everything is yours."

Fam, remember this: It may not be easy for us in our own strength, but it's easy for God. He wants to see us holy, consecrated, and set aside, all for His glory! RememberHe loves you very much <3
Always In Jesus Name,
Amen! :)

A Few Items on the List:

1. If you would like to receive a newsletter with new posts, encouragement, and updates, you may subscribe here.

2. I would love to join you in prayer to our Wonderful God! If you have any prayer requests, please send them here.

Through Thick and Thin: God is Sovereign Part 2

2/28/2014

Yesterday we spoke about how God is Sovereign, that Jesus is a Friend who is able to save, and is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Today we'll continue to touch on His sovereignty and how He is there through any storm.

"Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you" -Psalm 119:91 (Emphasis mine).
All things serve Him.
To endure means to stick through, to remain in existence.

Before this verse, it says, "Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures." Psalm 119:90.

His faithfulness continues through, it says. You see, to go through something is different going by.
If you say to someone "I'll go through it with you", you mean that you will be actively engaging with them in the process, not just being passive. That's what His faithfulness does, it continues through ALL things.

Psalm 119:90 says that He established the earth and it endures, it stands (as opposed to the ever changing things around us).
I remember one time a scientist gave his opinion by saying that he was amazed at how the earth was positioned and that he if it were to move an inch to any side, he believed it would disrupt the formation of the earth, planets etc.
Whether his claim was true or not, one thing I know is that scientists can't fully scientifically explain away all the reasons of how the earth is where it is, how it's position is there, how it is sustained (yes, we know gravity...but you know what I mean). They can calculate how the earth is held up, or that if it moves an inch, it could fall down...but even if we had ALL the calculations, GOD is still in control.

Remember how I posted about how God knows when one sparrow is about to go down?
*light bulb moment* Yea..I know.
Imagine for us, how much more for us, who are created in His image! How much more!! Amen!

Know that God is sovereign over all, and He loves us very so very much.
Because of the Lord's great promises, we can endure until the end.

A Few Things:

1. If you would like to receive a newsletter with new posts, encouragement, and updates, you can sign up for a newsletter!

2. I would love to join you in prayer to our Wonderful God! If you have any prayer requests, please send them here.

One Source

11/1/2013

I went to London the other weekend for a conference and to stay with a friend. Before I went to bed at her place, I had a worry about whether God would provide for me in a certain area in my life. I pretty much vented it to God and told Him that I was worried about it.

At around 3:20am, I was awoken to a revelation about my worry. I had had a dream where I had the Apple plug, which connects to my iTouch, iPad, etc. and in the dream I said, "this plug connects to everything!"

I then woke up.

This dream was about one plug giving power.

The Lord wanted me to know that He is the One Power and One Source. He wanted me to know that He is the One Source connecting to everything and I need not worry.

As I'm in a challenging place right now in a new city, God is reassuring me that He is the One who I can go to and He will connect me to everything else.

This also reassured me that He does listen to my prayers and cares about my every worry. :)
He is so faithful and so true, and He will be with me wherever I go, and He will be there with you too.

People's opinions

10/29/2013

People's opinions.
What an interesting thing.

There'll always be something that people think about you or say about you, only because they don't fully understand.

A verse I read this morning was Acts 28:5 "But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects."

What's this about you ask?

Well, Paul (at that time held as a prisoner) had been in a boat that had been shipwrecked (read Acts 27:27-44). The soldiers in the boat were planning to kill the prisoners to prevent them from swimming away, but fortunately the centurion (a professional officer or commander of the army) wanted to spare Paul's life and thus kept the plan from happening.

Long story short, Paul is safely on the shore on an island called Malta.

The islanders show him unusual kindness as it says (verse 2) which is quite an interesting phrase in itself, but any who, the islanders built a fire and welcomed Paul and the others.

Reading Acts 28:3-6 it says that Paul gathered a pile of brushwood, and as he put it on the fire, a viper (a large snake with large fangs) was driven out by the heat and it fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw that the snake was on Paul's hand, they said to each other, "this man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live" (verse 4)

The people assumed that Paul's "lifestyle" had come to haunt him and now his life was going to be taken by the snake. The islanders had formed their opinion and conclusion, and yes, they had even included God in it.

Good thing for Paul he can't read minds, or he'd go loco, but we see that what he did was shake the snake off into the fire and he suffered no ill effects. (verse 5).

Yes, it seems like it was was that simple as it says, "But Paul shook the snake off..." The word "but" means: "regardless of, nevertheless, in spite of." Paul shook it off in spite of what was going on around him. He didn't let the snake suck on him whilst dwelling on how "ohh it must be God punishing me because things are going wrong..."

There are times when we need to just shake it off, and I mean, shake it off and keep moving. People will formulate an opinion based on what they think, saw, or some preconceived notion, but we can't let that stop us, even if they are "fastened" to us and are looking for what next to say or think of you.

I read verse in Acts this morning. This evening I was led to read 1 Peter 3:13 "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?"

Verse 14 then says, "But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed."

Verse 16 also says, "...keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

The context of 1 Peter 3:22 is about suffering for doing good.

We also see that Paul had been doing the Lord's work, and still ended up being put in jail and persecuted among other things.
I'm humbled when I also think of Christ and all the good He did, but still got persecuted (think of the Pharisees and all their judgements and willingness to "catch" Christ doing something wrong so they could blame Him). So how much more for us...how much more...

My point is this:
Let't continue to do good. To seek to do good, to be eager to do good. As it is written, it is better to suffer for doing good than evil.
We know that Christ said that there will be suffering in this world but He has over come the world (John 33:16), so it is much better, as we are reassured here, to suffer for doing good.

I know it hurts when people form opinions about you, even when you're resting in the Lord's way, but remember that your mission is far too precious (and so are you and your sanity!) and that it will only make you stronger and give you a thicker skin ("all things work together for good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28). Let's choose to forgive and then shake it off like a snake so we can move toward the prize which we have been called heavenward (Philippians 3:14).

Not only that, but I want you to know that Christ knows how you feel when people talk about you, form opinions about you that are not true or when they jump to conclusions. He knows exactly how you feel, so I encourage you to run to Him, into His arms so He can hold you through it. He will never let you down, never, He's always here, to rescue you.

What's in front of you

9/11/2013

I feel like the Lord is teaching me lately about not working so hard.
I'm not saying that one shouldn't work...but I'm saying, in the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42, I can officially introduce myself as...Martha.

So hi, I'm Martha. No, not from the Brady Bunch, just good 'ol Martha, from the Biblical.....Bunch...

I won't lie, this transition is not a smooth one, but by God's grace, I'm learning.

One area pertaining to working played out in front of me recently:

My mom got a tape measure to measure her waist. She was holding it in her hand and said to me that she was told that it was good to start measuring 2 cm from the belly button.

She decided to take a guess of where 2 cm was by using her hand. Eventually she said, okay, I'll just estimate.

I watched her and said, "how about using the tape measure in your hand to measure 2 cm?"

She didn't get it at first and then she started laughing and realized that she could've just done that from the beginning.

It reminded me of the story of the Widow's Oil in 2 Kings 4:10.

Elisha heard the cry of the lady: "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

Elisha responded: “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

The lady said, “Your servant has nothing there at all, except a small jar of olive oil.”

Elisha tells the lady to go around asking the neighbors for empty jars. He tells her to pour the oil in the jars until they are filled.

When all the jars were filled, the oil stopped. She told Elisha, and he instructed her to sell the oil, to pay her debts, and that her and her sons could live on what was left.

So what's the connection between my mom and the Widow's oil?
Well, both of them had something in front of them that they could use in order to profit.

God has already placed something in front of you for profit, He has already given you a gift, an instrument, a book, a person, talent...etc. just something or even things, in order for you to use.

I was trying to go around me and I would think, "okay, so, next task I have to do is this and that!" and I would be so tired and warned out! Not a good idea!

Of course we have to be hard workers, but if God has given you the resources, (even if it's a "little bit" like the oil) we can be sure enough to rest that when we take hold of it, He will supply us with the direction, process, and we can start to see more coming out when we invest in the little that we have.

He never intends for us to be burned out, worried, and warned out about nothing, when really He can do it all for us!

For me, what's in front of me is the Word of God.
I feel like that's my starting point :-)

How about you?
What's your starting point?
Why don't you pray and ask God what's in front of you so you can start taking advantage of the great things He has given you!

Remember that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Amen!

Who are you listening to?

8/2/2013

Wow it's been a while!
God's been doing great things and He is so faithful!
I just want to let you know that whatever God's doing in your life, He is going to bless it! Amen!

So today I was scanning through my journal and I stopped at when I wrote down Genesis 3:11 and right away the title "who are you listening to" came to me.

Friend, who are you listening to?
Are you listening to somebody else today who's not God's voice?
Are you listening to someone who isn't a voice to be trusted?
God's telling you to stop right now. Right now.

Genesis 3:11 says, "who told you that you were naked? Have you EATEN from the TREE that I COMMANDED you not to eat from?"

What are you eating?
Are you eating from television? From videos? From celebrities?
Are you eating from people who God says 'no' to?

It's time to re-assess who you spend time with.

These "things" will benefit you for a while, but in the long run, they'll destroy you.

Don't believe the lies of the enemy. The enemy is INDIRECTLY telling you to 'stop right now' that your purpose isn't good enough, and that YOU'RE not good enough.
Tell him that you are, tell Him that God loves you and that you are good enough. Tell him that God's gifts and CALLING are irrevocable (Romans 11:29), so we can CHOOSE to STOP right now and make a u-turn and head back to God. Tell him you can do it without the lies and that you don't need momentary pleasures. Amen.

The enemy has a plan for you, just as GOD has a plan for you, but we have to CHOOSE whom we're LISTENING to.

God loves you very much and wants to see you prosper, but for now, please ask yourself:

Who are you listening to?

God bless you.

<<Previous