I plan just about everything... I have to know what I'm doing at all times.
This includes much of what I say. When faced with a situation... I am very quick to think... and over think... everything I should and shouldn't say. I am so afraid that I am going to say something wrong and I will hurt someone, or that I'll hurt myself, after all who wants to make themselves look bad?! I will say though, I can't even tell you how many times this has back fired on me... and I end up doing what I hoped I wouldn't... saying something wrong.
I would love to be able to speak my mind... to say what's on my heart. I don't know why that has to be so hard for me. Fear... that sums it up pretty well.
God used my devotion time, again, to get me thinking.
But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you are to speak; for what you are to say will be given you in that very hour and moment, for it is not you who are speaking, but the Spirit of you Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:19-20
"Do you realize how much peace can be ours if we will just stop trying to figure out in advance everything we need to day and do in every situation we face in life? If you are like me, you wear yourself out trying to prepare yourself for every situation you are likely to run into in the future. You try to plan and rehearse every word you are going to speak in every interview and conversation. Jesus is telling us here that we don't have to do that. He is telling us to trust all that to the Holy Spirit who will guide us and direct us.
When we do have to make hard decisions or solve complicated problems or confront difficult people, the Holy Spirit will decide the proper time and the best approach. He will give us the right words to say. Until then, we don't need to bother ourselves with it. If we listen to what the Lord is telling us here in this passage, not only will we have more peace, but we will also enjoy more success. Because when we do have to speak, what comes out of our mouth will be spiritual wisdom from God and not something that we have come up with out of our own carnal mind."
-Joyce Meyer, from New Day New You
Reading this was like looking in a mirror. I realized that I am putting so much pressure on myself for nothing! The fact is... I don't have to have things figured out. Wearing myself out about what I should or shouldn't say shows that I'm not relying on the Holy Spirit's guidance. Wow! that's big. This, once again shows my lack of trust. Ouch, I feel that in my heart! God is amazing in the way that He lovingly and patiently molds us to what He has called us to be.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
"God helps those who help themselves...." / Seeds Of Turmoil
"God helps those who help themselves." Sounds good right? Is it right? Is is biblical?
I think part of the reason we say that is because we want to teach against laziness... or a lack of initiative.
The phrase is not a verse from the Bible... It was made popular by Ben Franklin... who probably got impatient with Christian who would say things like, "I'm just trusting the Lord" or "It's all up to God." or "I'm just waiting on the Lord." The saying came from Poor Richard's Almanac.
This saying has caused people to take matters into their own hands... showing a lack of trust in God. When people do that... things don't always end well.
The fact is... we don't realize the consequences that follow every decision we make. What might seem like a small choice can set the road for generations to come...
I recently finished the book Seeds of Turmoil, written by Bryant Wright.
This book takes us into the roots of the crisis in the Middle East.
Bryant Wright takes us to the very beginning to what started the whole mess...
Sarah, Abraham's wife... decided to take matters into her own hands, (she wanted to give God a hand)... she basically lacked faith that God would follow through with the promise He made to them, that He would make them into a great nation.
She gave Hagar her maid to Abraham... and from that Ishmael was born. God did keep His promise and Sarah at the age of 90... had Isaac.
From Ishmael we have the Arabs... and from Isaac we have Israel.
This was a good book that goes into detail about who, what , where... and why things are the way they are in the Middle East. I recommend it!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I think part of the reason we say that is because we want to teach against laziness... or a lack of initiative.
The phrase is not a verse from the Bible... It was made popular by Ben Franklin... who probably got impatient with Christian who would say things like, "I'm just trusting the Lord" or "It's all up to God." or "I'm just waiting on the Lord." The saying came from Poor Richard's Almanac.
This saying has caused people to take matters into their own hands... showing a lack of trust in God. When people do that... things don't always end well.
The fact is... we don't realize the consequences that follow every decision we make. What might seem like a small choice can set the road for generations to come...
I recently finished the book Seeds of Turmoil, written by Bryant Wright.
This book takes us into the roots of the crisis in the Middle East.
Bryant Wright takes us to the very beginning to what started the whole mess...
Sarah, Abraham's wife... decided to take matters into her own hands, (she wanted to give God a hand)... she basically lacked faith that God would follow through with the promise He made to them, that He would make them into a great nation.
She gave Hagar her maid to Abraham... and from that Ishmael was born. God did keep His promise and Sarah at the age of 90... had Isaac.
From Ishmael we have the Arabs... and from Isaac we have Israel.
This was a good book that goes into detail about who, what , where... and why things are the way they are in the Middle East. I recommend it!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Patience
Running the Race...
Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-Hebrews 12:1-2
Patience With a Smile
Be patient in little things. Learn to bear the everyday trials and annoyances of life quietly and calmly, and then, when unforseen trouble or calamity comes, your strength will not forsake you.
There is much difference between genuine patience and sullen endurance, as between the smile of love, and the malicious gnashing of the teeth.
-William Swan Plumer
Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-Hebrews 12:1-2
Patience With a Smile
Be patient in little things. Learn to bear the everyday trials and annoyances of life quietly and calmly, and then, when unforseen trouble or calamity comes, your strength will not forsake you.
There is much difference between genuine patience and sullen endurance, as between the smile of love, and the malicious gnashing of the teeth.
-William Swan Plumer
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Oh, Well...
Today God used something to cause me to do a little soul searching.
My daily devotional today was in my Joyce Meyer book, New Day New You.
So here is what Joyce had to say...
Oh, Well
Whenever I find myself in a situation I can't do anything about, I have found that a good way to cast my care upon the Lord is simply say, "Oh, well."
Take, for example, the morning that Dave spilled his OJ in the car and got a little of it on my sweater. Immediately he said, "Devil, I'm not impressed." And I said, "Oh, well." So that problem was solved, and we pressed forward with the rest of our day.
Some things just aren't worth getting upset about, yet many people do. Unfortunately a large majority of Christians are upset, fretful, and full of anxiety most
of the time. It is not the big things that get to them; it is the little things that don't fit into their plans. Instead of casting their care and just saying, "Oh, well," they are always trying to do something about something they can't do anything about. On more than one occasion that simple phrase "Oh, well" has really helped me make it through.
I can get easily irritated... over the small things. I hate running late, I hate feeling like I'm being ignored, I hate feeling rushed... and so on. The devil sure knows how to push my buttons most mornings at my house. If you have a child, and you have to get them to school, and yourself off to work, then you probably know what I'm talking about. There have been countless times I have been on my way to work... thinking about everything I may have done/said wrong... countless times I have had to apologize to my child. This is something God has been digging into me about... and I have made some strides.
It is almost easier when things are too big for us to try to handle... things we have to let go and give to God. It is a relief to be able to say, "Here God, this one is all Yours!... it's too much for me to deal with."
It tends to be those smaller things that we try to take on and deal with, that we can drive ourselves crazy over. We so often think that we 'should' be able to handle this thing... or that thing. Why?!?
When we let those little things get to us... we sin. We tend to get angry and short tempered... or we get anxious and worry... (all sin!) Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself-- it tends only to evildoing. Psalm 37:8
God tell us to cast all our cares on Him... no matter the size. There are no "I should be able to handle this." He can handle it.
My new focus and prayer for myself... to say "Oh, well" more. I don't need to sweat the small... or the big stuff.
My daily devotional today was in my Joyce Meyer book, New Day New You.
So here is what Joyce had to say...
Oh, Well
Whenever I find myself in a situation I can't do anything about, I have found that a good way to cast my care upon the Lord is simply say, "Oh, well."
Take, for example, the morning that Dave spilled his OJ in the car and got a little of it on my sweater. Immediately he said, "Devil, I'm not impressed." And I said, "Oh, well." So that problem was solved, and we pressed forward with the rest of our day.
Some things just aren't worth getting upset about, yet many people do. Unfortunately a large majority of Christians are upset, fretful, and full of anxiety most
of the time. It is not the big things that get to them; it is the little things that don't fit into their plans. Instead of casting their care and just saying, "Oh, well," they are always trying to do something about something they can't do anything about. On more than one occasion that simple phrase "Oh, well" has really helped me make it through.
I can get easily irritated... over the small things. I hate running late, I hate feeling like I'm being ignored, I hate feeling rushed... and so on. The devil sure knows how to push my buttons most mornings at my house. If you have a child, and you have to get them to school, and yourself off to work, then you probably know what I'm talking about. There have been countless times I have been on my way to work... thinking about everything I may have done/said wrong... countless times I have had to apologize to my child. This is something God has been digging into me about... and I have made some strides.
It is almost easier when things are too big for us to try to handle... things we have to let go and give to God. It is a relief to be able to say, "Here God, this one is all Yours!... it's too much for me to deal with."
It tends to be those smaller things that we try to take on and deal with, that we can drive ourselves crazy over. We so often think that we 'should' be able to handle this thing... or that thing. Why?!?
When we let those little things get to us... we sin. We tend to get angry and short tempered... or we get anxious and worry... (all sin!) Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself-- it tends only to evildoing. Psalm 37:8
God tell us to cast all our cares on Him... no matter the size. There are no "I should be able to handle this." He can handle it.
My new focus and prayer for myself... to say "Oh, well" more. I don't need to sweat the small... or the big stuff.
Friday, September 10, 2010
"Messy, but in a cleansing sort of way..."
"Messy, but in a cleansing sort of way..." This was a phrase I read the other day as I was finishing the book So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore. This phrase hit me like a bullet... and really got me thinking.
How often does God have to allow things to be completely "messed" up to get our attention?
We have to get to the point that we are totally helpless and frustrated... emotionally...physically... and even spiritually whipped out... then we call out to God... "How could this happen?"... "Why Lord?"... and finally "HELP Lord.. I can't do this on my on!"
The story of God's on people, the Israelites, come to my mind... Look at how many times it took God to get their attention.
When they were able to finally get out of Egypt... Did you know that they were only 11 days from the Promise land? Then because of they're stubbornness and complaining... it took them 40 years! Huge difference!
Then once in the Promise land, God told them to keep His laws, but time and time again, generation after generation, the Israelites would slip into living like the people of the land. They worshipped Idols... and married into this sinful nation. Then God would allow one of their enemies to come in and take them captive. The Israelites would eventually cry out to God for help. God would raise up a judge to step in and lead the Israelites. After the judge died, God's people would fall again into sin... God would allow an enemy to step in again and take them captive... His people would cry out again... He would send a judge... This was a vicious cycle that happened way too many times. I read this and I think.. "Come on... learn from your past people!" (Read Judges)
All this first started because they disobeyed God and didn't complete the task of taking the land of Canaan. Each tribe cherished a fierce independence that led to everyone doing whatever seemed right in his own eyes.
Do we do that?
Yes! We are a very independent people... It is so easy to get caught up in our lives... do what we think is right... justify our actions... do things our way to fit our needs/wants. We don't want to admit it, but we put God up on a shelf. We make other things our idols and God states that He is a jealous God,(Exodus 20:5.) God has to get our attention! So, sometimes He allows things to get 'messed' up to get our attention. Then we realize our need/want for Our Heavenly Father, we take Him off the shelf, and cry to Him to help us!
The amazing thing is... God shows mercy... and compassion... and forgiveness to us. He shows it to us time after time after time... just like He did to the Israelites.
We don't deserve it... and... that is true love!
God showed me in Beth Moore's phrase... "Messy, but in a cleaning sort of way..."
That He will 'mess' things up to put them back in the 'proper' order... His order.
These are the times I feel Him the most... the times when it HAS to be up to Him... because I can't clean up the mess without Him. It is a comfort to know that I don't have to do it on my own.
How often does God have to allow things to be completely "messed" up to get our attention?
We have to get to the point that we are totally helpless and frustrated... emotionally...physically... and even spiritually whipped out... then we call out to God... "How could this happen?"... "Why Lord?"... and finally "HELP Lord.. I can't do this on my on!"
The story of God's on people, the Israelites, come to my mind... Look at how many times it took God to get their attention.
When they were able to finally get out of Egypt... Did you know that they were only 11 days from the Promise land? Then because of they're stubbornness and complaining... it took them 40 years! Huge difference!
Then once in the Promise land, God told them to keep His laws, but time and time again, generation after generation, the Israelites would slip into living like the people of the land. They worshipped Idols... and married into this sinful nation. Then God would allow one of their enemies to come in and take them captive. The Israelites would eventually cry out to God for help. God would raise up a judge to step in and lead the Israelites. After the judge died, God's people would fall again into sin... God would allow an enemy to step in again and take them captive... His people would cry out again... He would send a judge... This was a vicious cycle that happened way too many times. I read this and I think.. "Come on... learn from your past people!" (Read Judges)
All this first started because they disobeyed God and didn't complete the task of taking the land of Canaan. Each tribe cherished a fierce independence that led to everyone doing whatever seemed right in his own eyes.
Do we do that?
Yes! We are a very independent people... It is so easy to get caught up in our lives... do what we think is right... justify our actions... do things our way to fit our needs/wants. We don't want to admit it, but we put God up on a shelf. We make other things our idols and God states that He is a jealous God,(Exodus 20:5.) God has to get our attention! So, sometimes He allows things to get 'messed' up to get our attention. Then we realize our need/want for Our Heavenly Father, we take Him off the shelf, and cry to Him to help us!
The amazing thing is... God shows mercy... and compassion... and forgiveness to us. He shows it to us time after time after time... just like He did to the Israelites.
We don't deserve it... and... that is true love!
God showed me in Beth Moore's phrase... "Messy, but in a cleaning sort of way..."
That He will 'mess' things up to put them back in the 'proper' order... His order.
These are the times I feel Him the most... the times when it HAS to be up to Him... because I can't clean up the mess without Him. It is a comfort to know that I don't have to do it on my own.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Angel Song by Sheila Walsh & Kathryn Cushman
I just finished reading a fabulous fiction novel by Sheila Walsh and Kathryn Cushman entitled Angel Song. This is an inspiring and well written book that pulled at my heart strings. I truly couldn't put it down... I smiled... and I even shed a tear or two.
Book Description...
When Annie Fletcher returns to Charleston to see her younger sister, Sarah, receive her master’s degree, she finds herself riding in the back of an ambulance, watching helplessly as Sarah fights for life. During the ride, Sarah appears to talk to someone who is not there, humming a melody Annie has never heard before.
Neighbor Ethan McKinney lends a shoulder when Sarah unexpectedly dies. And as a carpenter, Ethan volunteers to help Annie get the Fletcher family home into shape for selling. Ethan’s presence is distracting, but what troubles Annie is her neighbor Tammy’s 12-year-old son. Keith has Down Syndrome and the guile to believe he can see and hear angels.
God begins to reveal Himself to Annie – both in her newfound friends and through heart-rending and clearly supernatural events. Annie discovers faith in God, finally experiencing the comfort that His angels really do surround us.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://booksneeze.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Book Description...
When Annie Fletcher returns to Charleston to see her younger sister, Sarah, receive her master’s degree, she finds herself riding in the back of an ambulance, watching helplessly as Sarah fights for life. During the ride, Sarah appears to talk to someone who is not there, humming a melody Annie has never heard before.
Neighbor Ethan McKinney lends a shoulder when Sarah unexpectedly dies. And as a carpenter, Ethan volunteers to help Annie get the Fletcher family home into shape for selling. Ethan’s presence is distracting, but what troubles Annie is her neighbor Tammy’s 12-year-old son. Keith has Down Syndrome and the guile to believe he can see and hear angels.
God begins to reveal Himself to Annie – both in her newfound friends and through heart-rending and clearly supernatural events. Annie discovers faith in God, finally experiencing the comfort that His angels really do surround us.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com <http://booksneeze.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Insecurity = Fear
Did you know that our insecurities are based on fear? Fear of... rejection, of being alone, of being unimportant, of betrayal, fear of being replaced, of disrespect, of being hurt, fear of pain of any sort. Our insecurities/fears will isolate us... give us ulcers, hurt relationships, and keep us from opportunities.
This kind of fear is such a waste of time... but I can't think of one person that doesn't go through it.
In Beth Moore's book So Long, Insecurity you've been a bad friend to us. She makes a great point on truly trusting God. On page 323 she states...
I used to think that the essence of trusting God was trusting that He wouldn't allow my fears to become realities. Without realizing it, I mostly trusted God to do what I told Him. If He didn't, I was thrown for a total loop. Over more time than should have been necessary, a couple realizations finally dawned on me about this thing I was calling trust: 1) It wasn't the real thing. 2) It constantly failed to treat the core issue. Trusting God to never let fears come to fruition doesn't get to the bottom of where insecurity lurks. It's too conditional. It suggest that if any of our terrors come to pass, God is not trustworthy after all. If, like me, you tend to think that the essence of trust is counting on God to obey you, go ahead and wave bye-bye from a country mile to any semblance of lasting stability. If we can't count on God, for crying out loud, who can we count on? In the words of Isaiah 33:6, "He is your constant source of stability."
She goes on to say...
When we set certain conditions for trust, we offer the enemy of our souls the perfect playground for toying with our minds. No he can't read our thoughts, but he can certainly study our behaviors. He figures out what we are most afraid of, and then he taunts us unmercifully.
In order to have that true stability from God, we have to drop the conditions off our trust and determine that God will take care of us! He will take care of us no matter what!
If we want to become secure, it starts with changing our mind-set. We have to take claim of our thoughts, know the promises that God has for us, and most of all... we have to truly trust Him.
This kind of fear is such a waste of time... but I can't think of one person that doesn't go through it.
In Beth Moore's book So Long, Insecurity you've been a bad friend to us. She makes a great point on truly trusting God. On page 323 she states...
I used to think that the essence of trusting God was trusting that He wouldn't allow my fears to become realities. Without realizing it, I mostly trusted God to do what I told Him. If He didn't, I was thrown for a total loop. Over more time than should have been necessary, a couple realizations finally dawned on me about this thing I was calling trust: 1) It wasn't the real thing. 2) It constantly failed to treat the core issue. Trusting God to never let fears come to fruition doesn't get to the bottom of where insecurity lurks. It's too conditional. It suggest that if any of our terrors come to pass, God is not trustworthy after all. If, like me, you tend to think that the essence of trust is counting on God to obey you, go ahead and wave bye-bye from a country mile to any semblance of lasting stability. If we can't count on God, for crying out loud, who can we count on? In the words of Isaiah 33:6, "He is your constant source of stability."
She goes on to say...
When we set certain conditions for trust, we offer the enemy of our souls the perfect playground for toying with our minds. No he can't read our thoughts, but he can certainly study our behaviors. He figures out what we are most afraid of, and then he taunts us unmercifully.
In order to have that true stability from God, we have to drop the conditions off our trust and determine that God will take care of us! He will take care of us no matter what!
If we want to become secure, it starts with changing our mind-set. We have to take claim of our thoughts, know the promises that God has for us, and most of all... we have to truly trust Him.
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