Have you ever seen those ads for diet pills and miracle products that "burn fat while you sleep" and such? I always look at the "before" and "after" pictures. They crack me up. Sometimes, it doesn't even look like they took a picture of the same person! I think those ads are highly suspicious. However, if you have ever watched television shows like "The Biggest Loser" (Come on, admit you watch it, while you sit on the couch and eat chips. I know you do! LOL!). Anyway, when you see shows like the Biggest Loser or Extreme Makeover, the "before" and "after" pictures are really dramatic. Sometimes it really doesn't look like the same person. However, you know it is the same person, because you saw the whole transformation take place on the show. The changes are so drastic that you would have never guessed it was the same person in both photos if you had not watched the entire program.
Romans 12:2 is my favorite Bible verse. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of you mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will."
I am on a journey towards change. I have a desire to be transformed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In order to do that, I have had to change my old ways of thinking and old habits...I have had to renew my mind. I don't want to look the same or be the same. I ran into someone recently who said "If you keep losing weight, I'm not going to recognize you any more!" I said, "Good, that's the whole idea!" I want people to forget what the old me was like. I want to focus on the new me.
If you've ever lost weight or made an improvement to your physical appearance, I'm sure you have had people give you genuine compliments as well as back-handed compliments like, "Wow. You sure look better than you used to, I bet it cost a lot of money to get those teeth of yours fixed" or "You really have lost a lot of weight. You used to be huge!" Those are back-handed compliments because people can't celebrate the change you have made without commenting on how bad you used to be.
I'm sure you have old friends from high school or from your past that have really changed. I don't mean they're fat and bald (though I'm sure you have some of those, too!) I mean that they have turned their life around. They used to be a "party-er" or heavy drinker or drug user. Now they are a preacher or a Sunday School teacher. They are talking about Jesus and the Bible and you're thinking "Well I used to know them back when..".or "they didn't talk about Jesus when they were..."
Just like the back-handed compliments regarding physical changes, we can often be guilty of having the wrong attitude towards someone's spiritual change. However, if you think about it...its the change that catches your attention. If you ran into "Miss Goody Two Shoes" from high school and she was talking about Jesus, would that really surprise you or make you sit up and take notice? Perhaps not. But when you hear that the bully that used to beat you up or the guy that used to stay drunk every weekend is now preaching the gospel...that gets your attention. Please don't misunderstand me. "Miss Goody Two Shoes" needs Jesus as much as anybody. Our "goodness" does not save us or get us to heaven. I'm saying that when the change is that drastic, its an attention getter. It lets you know that the change is for real. Its not about their goodness..its about what God has done for them and how He changed their life.
God uses people and their circumstances...their past, their faults, their weaknesses, all of it. He doesn't choose to use a person and then find out three weeks later, "Wow! I didn't know she was like that. If I known she was that crazy, I would have chosen someone else to write that blog!" God uses us in spite of our weaknesses. Don't think that your past or your mistakes or previous sins will ever keep you from being able to do something for God! If you have asked for forgiveness, God has forgotten every sin you ever committed!
Isaiah 43:25 says "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins."
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:old things are passed away; behold all things are become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Sometimes, the most effective witness for God is someone who used to be really, really, bad! When you see someone who has really changed for God, don't talk about how bad they used to be...just say, "Wow, look what God had done!" Seeing the change in others should encourage us that the change we want to see in ourselves or in our loved ones can happen. God is no respecter of persons. What He did for one person, he can do for you or your son or daughter or spouse or parents or whoever in your life you are praying for.
I was talking to one of my children about one of our relatives that we are praying for to be saved. I said, "You have to believe that God is going to do it. Can you picture what they would be like if they were saved, can you see them saved in your mind? My child was like "No, Mama, I really can't see it...I just can't see it." So, we had to have a conversation about faith and change. I had examples that I could tell them of people that used to be a certain way before they were saved and how they have changed since Jesus changed them. Those examples were a testimony of what God had done and what He still will do.
Embrace your testimony! Everybody already knows you're not perfect. Don't let shame or regret keep you from doing something God has called you to do. We think that people will only remember what we used to be or how we used to act and that somehow God can't use us because of it. Maybe God wants to use you because of how you used to be or because of how you used to act! If you have been forgiven, it's over! If you are still dealing with an issue in your life, confess it and ask others to pray for you. James 5:16 says, "Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another, that ye may be healed".
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9
"Come now and let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
"For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:11-12)
Micah 7:19 says, "He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The New Man in My Life!
The New Man in My Life
I can’t wait to tell you about the new man in my life. He is very, very sweet. My kids like him, too. We talk about him all the time and can’t wait to see him again. He’s coming to spend Thanksgiving weekend with me and meet my whole extended family. What does he look like, you ask? He’s extremely cute. He has dark hair, a dark complexion and the most beautiful brown eyes. He’s of Hispanic heritage. He talks to me often on the phone in a language I don’t understand, but it doesn’t matter, because just the sound of his voice gives me a thrill. I love him and he loves me. I’m just crazy about him. I can really make him laugh. He gets so excited when he sees me, he practically drools. Did I mention he’s cute? Yeah, I did. He’s barrel-chested and has thick arms and meaty thighs and when he grins at me, I just melt. When he smiles at me, with his two teeth showing...yeah, he only has two teeth, (that’s how I like ‘em.) He’s my man, my boo. He’s the best–looking eight month old baby I’ve ever seen! He's my God-son.
I got you didn’t I? Did you really think I was talking about an adult man? Well, everything I said is true. He is very special and I do love him and he is so cute. A few months ago, I was having a bad day. Not a “bad hair” day, not a “flat-tire” day, not a “down in the dumps day”. I’m talking one of the “top ten worst days of my life” bad day. Sitting at my computer in the midst of my “worst day ever,” I opened an email from a relative who sent pictures of her children. As I looked at the pictures of her young son, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be nice to hold a baby? That would feel good. I would like to hold a baby.” It was a fleeting thought, just a momentary desire of my heart. I went back to the computer. Immediately, I received a text from my pastor’s wife. One of our church members had to be admitted to the hospital and they did not know what to do about finding someone to take care of her baby for a few days. They had called me for advice because of my history of working with foster care. She said, “I don’t know what we’re going to do”. I said, “I know what you’re going to do. You’re going to let me keep the baby until she gets better”…and so I did.
Since then, I have kept him for her to have surgery and to have medical appointments and for her to move. Now, I’m his God-mother. I do special things for him and his mother. Friends at church think I’m a “nice lady” for doing that. Others, (not church people), have criticized me for keeping him, saying that it’s a “risk”, too much “responsibility”. Neither side really understands that on that day, I needed that baby as much as he needed me! That baby is very special to me. He represents new life, new beginnings, and just how quickly God can answer a prayer and give you the desire of your heart!
I couldn’t resist fooling you with my “new man in my life” joke. I think God has a sense of humor, don’t you? My Dad teased me as a teenager when I was applying to colleges. He told me he was going to send me to Bible college so I would marry a preacher. I didn’t think that was funny. Seemed like a fate worse than death. My teenage mind wondered, “What could be worse than marrying a preacher?” Well, I didn’t go to Bible college, and I didn’t marry a preacher, so God made me the preacher! I’m not a Pastor, but I do like to teach and speak at church. God does have a sense of humor or at least he has a sense of irony!
Honestly, I do think that one day I will marry a preacher or at least someone very involved in ministry, because that is my heart’s desire. However, my children don't like for me to discuss my love life…that’s a sensitive subject for them. So, I’m just going to throw my friend “under the bus” and talk about her love life! (That's what friends are for!)
A few months ago, my friend and I sat on the beach and talked about what we were looking for in a man. We started out with the obvious non-negotiables that had to be in place…(He had to be a Christian, non-drinker, non-smoker, with a job, had to be faithful, etc.) Then we went on to more specific things like interests and personality and physical description. Well, as the conversation went on, we really started enjoying ourselves, laughing and coming up with some really outrageous, extremely specific things. Oh! the fun we had that day! My friend really came up with some real “doozies”. I laughed, thinking to myself, “She’s being unrealistic now, no man is ever going to do that or be like that.”
Guess what? She has met someone who meets all the criteria…even the doozies! Are they going to get married and ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after? That remains to be seen…that’s in God’s hands. The point is…God did bring someone into her life that was exactly in line with the desires of her heart. She’s having a great time and has met a wonderful new friend and companion.
Trust God with all the desires of your heart, (not just your romantic desires!) He made you and he knows what you like and what you need. Just ask. Be specific. After my friend’s experience of meeting someone with everything she had prayed for, I went back home and upgraded my list. (Really, I did. I’m not kidding).
The Bible says that we have not because we ask not. Now, I’m not suggesting God is a heavenly Santa Claus. Life will never be perfect, because we live in an imperfect, fallen world and there are some things we will never understand until we get to Heaven. Sometimes the answer is “no” or “wait”. I’m just saying…TRUST HIM. Make your requests known, with prayer and thanksgiving. Do your part...what you know is right to do… and then just watch Him show up! Believe in Him with child-like faith and expectancy.
He's able to do exceedingly abundantly more than you could ever ask or think! Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!
Get in the habit of keeping a daily prayer journal. In a few months time, you'll be surprised to look back at your old prayer requests and see what God has done!
Got Haters?
Have you got some haters?
At a previous place of employment, I had a Christian co-worker who was smart, confident, and assertive. She was a great friend.However, there were other employees who would make negative comments about her from time to time. I honestly think they were just jealous of her, because secretly they wished to be like her. Once, during an office move, she asked for an office window. Due to her seniority and position, it wasn't an unreasonable request. She was not given a window office. However, some of the "haters" thought they would be funny. They took a mirror and decorated it like a window and hung it over her desk. They thought they were mocking her. I was present in the room, when she saw it for the first time. She asked "Who did this for me? I love it!". I told her the whole story. She just laughed and said, "Well, the joke's on them because I like it and I think its pretty!" God took their trick that was intended to hurt her as a way to bless her.
I heard a preacher on the radio say, "If you don't have haters, you ain't blessed!"
In the Bible there was a man named Isaac who planted crops during a famine. The Bible says that the Lord blessed him and he reaped a hundredfold harvest in the same year. God blessed him so much that that he became very rich. He was so rich, in fact, that the Philistines in the land envied him. Once he became blessed, then the hatin' started!
I received a prophecy once that I would have a home that would make my enemies jealous. Well, I liked the house part. That sounded good to me. But the "enemy" part hurt my feelings. I didn't know I had any enemies. I'm a people pleaser. I want people to like me and approve of me. (If 200 people told me they liked my blog and one person told me they didn't, I would try to find out why that one person didn't like my blog and and see how I could change it so they would like it! Yes, I know that's crazy!) (If you have issues like this, check out a book called Approval Addiction by Joyce Meyer). Anyway, I decided maybe the prophecy was wrong, because I didn't have any enemies. (Yes, that was dumb. I know that now).
Within two to three weeks , I found out I had some haters! Someone had been talking about me behind my back. It hurt my feelings so terribly. I cried and cried literally all night long. What had I ever done to them? I couldn't sleep or eat. It was a hard time. But guess what? Within one month of the prophecy, I had bought a piece of land... within two months, I broke ground on a house. Within four months of that prophecy, I was moving into my new house. Who designs and builds a custom home in two months? God. Only He could have done that. I'm not perfect and I have a lot of faults and areas for improvement. I am no more special than you or anyone else. I am blessed and you are blessed and none of us deserve it. Thank God for your blessings. But...if you are blessed, you have enemies. If nothing else, you know your enemy, the devil, is rooting for your defeat every day. (Remember my earlier blog..your struggle is not against flesh and blood.)
Guess what, everyone has enemies! At no time in your life will everybody like you or be pleased with you. Someone will always think you could have done more or been better or whatever. That has always been a struggle for me. I've spent a lot of time trying to get approval from places where it would not come. I had to learn that true and perfect love and approval can only come from God. It's certainly not going to come from imperfect humans. We all have issues and areas for improvement! Whoever is talking about you right now, probably has plenty of areas in their own life that they need to be addressing! Don't let them get you down! Ask God to help you do your best...and then forget it.
So, if you know you have enemies...does that mean you can just go around and spread hate and discontent right back? Of course not. The Bible says as long as it depends upon YOU, you are to be at peace with everyone. First, go to the person. Ask for forgiveness...try to make it right. Then, the next step gets really "fun". Just forgive your enemy, whether they accept your apology or not. Then it gets even more fun.... Start praying for your enemy. Yep. Ask God to help you see them as he sees them.
The Bible tells us to love our enemies and bless them. You need to pray for them every day. Think I'm crazy? Well, I probably am. But...I promise you, when you learn to pray for your enemies and bless people who hurt you, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE! YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!
In the Bible, Joseph's brothers hated him. They hated the calling of God on his life and the favor of God on his life. They sold him as a slave. However, their 'hatin" caused him to receive even greater promotion and favor and eventually saved their own lives during a time of famine. Many years later, Joseph was in Egypt and they came to purchase food during a famine. Joseph forgave them for their hurtful deeds and told them:
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" Genesis 50:20.
Claim that scripture today and forgive anyone who has ever hurt you. Start praying for them today. You will be blessed!
At a previous place of employment, I had a Christian co-worker who was smart, confident, and assertive. She was a great friend.However, there were other employees who would make negative comments about her from time to time. I honestly think they were just jealous of her, because secretly they wished to be like her. Once, during an office move, she asked for an office window. Due to her seniority and position, it wasn't an unreasonable request. She was not given a window office. However, some of the "haters" thought they would be funny. They took a mirror and decorated it like a window and hung it over her desk. They thought they were mocking her. I was present in the room, when she saw it for the first time. She asked "Who did this for me? I love it!". I told her the whole story. She just laughed and said, "Well, the joke's on them because I like it and I think its pretty!" God took their trick that was intended to hurt her as a way to bless her.
I heard a preacher on the radio say, "If you don't have haters, you ain't blessed!"
In the Bible there was a man named Isaac who planted crops during a famine. The Bible says that the Lord blessed him and he reaped a hundredfold harvest in the same year. God blessed him so much that that he became very rich. He was so rich, in fact, that the Philistines in the land envied him. Once he became blessed, then the hatin' started!
I received a prophecy once that I would have a home that would make my enemies jealous. Well, I liked the house part. That sounded good to me. But the "enemy" part hurt my feelings. I didn't know I had any enemies. I'm a people pleaser. I want people to like me and approve of me. (If 200 people told me they liked my blog and one person told me they didn't, I would try to find out why that one person didn't like my blog and and see how I could change it so they would like it! Yes, I know that's crazy!) (If you have issues like this, check out a book called Approval Addiction by Joyce Meyer). Anyway, I decided maybe the prophecy was wrong, because I didn't have any enemies. (Yes, that was dumb. I know that now).
Within two to three weeks , I found out I had some haters! Someone had been talking about me behind my back. It hurt my feelings so terribly. I cried and cried literally all night long. What had I ever done to them? I couldn't sleep or eat. It was a hard time. But guess what? Within one month of the prophecy, I had bought a piece of land... within two months, I broke ground on a house. Within four months of that prophecy, I was moving into my new house. Who designs and builds a custom home in two months? God. Only He could have done that. I'm not perfect and I have a lot of faults and areas for improvement. I am no more special than you or anyone else. I am blessed and you are blessed and none of us deserve it. Thank God for your blessings. But...if you are blessed, you have enemies. If nothing else, you know your enemy, the devil, is rooting for your defeat every day. (Remember my earlier blog..your struggle is not against flesh and blood.)
Guess what, everyone has enemies! At no time in your life will everybody like you or be pleased with you. Someone will always think you could have done more or been better or whatever. That has always been a struggle for me. I've spent a lot of time trying to get approval from places where it would not come. I had to learn that true and perfect love and approval can only come from God. It's certainly not going to come from imperfect humans. We all have issues and areas for improvement! Whoever is talking about you right now, probably has plenty of areas in their own life that they need to be addressing! Don't let them get you down! Ask God to help you do your best...and then forget it.
So, if you know you have enemies...does that mean you can just go around and spread hate and discontent right back? Of course not. The Bible says as long as it depends upon YOU, you are to be at peace with everyone. First, go to the person. Ask for forgiveness...try to make it right. Then, the next step gets really "fun". Just forgive your enemy, whether they accept your apology or not. Then it gets even more fun.... Start praying for your enemy. Yep. Ask God to help you see them as he sees them.
The Bible tells us to love our enemies and bless them. You need to pray for them every day. Think I'm crazy? Well, I probably am. But...I promise you, when you learn to pray for your enemies and bless people who hurt you, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE! YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!
In the Bible, Joseph's brothers hated him. They hated the calling of God on his life and the favor of God on his life. They sold him as a slave. However, their 'hatin" caused him to receive even greater promotion and favor and eventually saved their own lives during a time of famine. Many years later, Joseph was in Egypt and they came to purchase food during a famine. Joseph forgave them for their hurtful deeds and told them:
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" Genesis 50:20.
Claim that scripture today and forgive anyone who has ever hurt you. Start praying for them today. You will be blessed!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Ho, Ho, Ho! or Bah Humbug? Your Perspective Can Turn On A Dime!
"Joy to the World the Lord is Come...."
Have you heard any Christmas songs being played in the stores yet? I already have. Christmas decorations have been in some stores for a couple of months. For some of you, those songs and decorations may have gotten you all excited and in the Christmas spirit. For others, it may fill you with an anxiety or dread or sadness.
Last week, my son wanted to wrap Christmas presents while listening to Christmas music. We had a great time. (Our gifts from Santa are all now wrapped up and hidden at an undisclosed location far away from the sneaky, "peeky", little snoopers that live here.) I'm praying and believing for a joy-filled Christmas this year. I've already made plans to do some things I've never done before.
Last year at this time, however, I was really, really dreading Christmas. Those first Christmas decorations in stores in October and early November were just more than I could take! The thought came to me at work one day that instead of dreading it so much, I should just face it head on and embrace it. I decided I would really go all out. So, a few days later ,my three children and I went into the attic to get down our Christmas decorations. We had only hauled a few boxes down into the living room when my daughter started crying and ran into her bedroom and fell across her bed sobbing. We were in a new house and a new situation and Christmas would never be the same. The Christmas decorations brought back a flood of memories for her that were more than she could handle at that moment. So, the boys and I quickly put the boxes up and decided we would wait a few days. We all went back into the attic and had a great time looking through old boxes of my mementos...birthday cards, pictures, report cards, Geometry tests I had failed...good times, good times.
Christmas is supposed to be a season of joy. If so, why does it make so many people depressed or anxious? If we are celebrating our Saviour's birth, why are people sad or worried? Because Christmas is also about family and friends. For people who have recently lost a loved one or lost their good health or whose finances are tight this year due to a lost job, Christmas can be a reminder of the loss. Memories of happier times can dampen our spirits.
I have always been a Christmas "nut"...I thought that people that didn't like Christmas had something wrong with them. I thought, "What's not to like about Christmas?" Its amazing how quickly our perspective can change. The last two Christmases were hard for me. Did I love Jesus any less? No. Was I still thankful for our Savior's birth? Yes. Seasons in our lives change and that can change our perspective. Ecclesiastes says "there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..." This may be your season of weeping, but that does not mean that your season of joy will never return.
If you or a friend is struggling with the upcoming Christmas season of "joy", what can you do about it? Admit it, acknowledge it, talk about it with a friend. You cannot force yourself or anyone else to be joyful. You do have to grieve your loss. But you can take one little baby step at a time, putting one foot in front of the other... Start praying about it now. Use this time as a time to get closer to God. Pray and ask God to help you to restore your joy.
In Psalms we read the psalmist crying out to God "Restore to me the joy of your salvation. " (Psalm 51:12). Jesus promised his disciples "You will grieve but your grief will turn to joy...and no one will take away your joy." (John 16:20,22). Claim that verse for yourself and quote it each day.
Do something positive. Sow a seed of kindness or love towards your future harvest of joy. Think of things you can do in memory or honor of that loved one that passed away. Start new traditions. Find someone who needs you and do something nice for them. Send some anonymous gifts..put money in a card and leave it on a co-workers desk. Think of someone from your past like an old Sunday School teacher who was special to you or special to your loved one and send them a thank you card and a little gift. Volunteer to "ring the bell' for the Salvation army or give of your time in some way that you never have. Do something to honor your memories of happier times and to thank God for them. Make a list of things you are thankful for and read it out loud each day as a praise to God.
Last year, I was really dreading Christmas day. After my children opened their presents, they would be leaving around 9:00 am and be gone all day. I knew it was going to be hard for me. So, I made a plan of action in advance. I called the nursing home and got permission to go on Christmas day. I took gifts and visited with residents and sang Christmas songs with them and prayed with them. Some of those people are not here this Christmas. I learned that one of the ladies I visited passed away shortly after Christmas. I'm so glad I went! I've already prayed about something to do on Christmas day this year, and God has already given me something to do to bless someone else. I didn't even have to look for it. It came to me.
Find a way to sow some "seed" this Christmas, whether it is monetary or just sowing time and love into someone's life. Sow it with expectation for your harvest of joy!
"He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him "(Psalm 126:6)
Have you heard any Christmas songs being played in the stores yet? I already have. Christmas decorations have been in some stores for a couple of months. For some of you, those songs and decorations may have gotten you all excited and in the Christmas spirit. For others, it may fill you with an anxiety or dread or sadness.
Last week, my son wanted to wrap Christmas presents while listening to Christmas music. We had a great time. (Our gifts from Santa are all now wrapped up and hidden at an undisclosed location far away from the sneaky, "peeky", little snoopers that live here.) I'm praying and believing for a joy-filled Christmas this year. I've already made plans to do some things I've never done before.
Last year at this time, however, I was really, really dreading Christmas. Those first Christmas decorations in stores in October and early November were just more than I could take! The thought came to me at work one day that instead of dreading it so much, I should just face it head on and embrace it. I decided I would really go all out. So, a few days later ,my three children and I went into the attic to get down our Christmas decorations. We had only hauled a few boxes down into the living room when my daughter started crying and ran into her bedroom and fell across her bed sobbing. We were in a new house and a new situation and Christmas would never be the same. The Christmas decorations brought back a flood of memories for her that were more than she could handle at that moment. So, the boys and I quickly put the boxes up and decided we would wait a few days. We all went back into the attic and had a great time looking through old boxes of my mementos...birthday cards, pictures, report cards, Geometry tests I had failed...good times, good times.
Christmas is supposed to be a season of joy. If so, why does it make so many people depressed or anxious? If we are celebrating our Saviour's birth, why are people sad or worried? Because Christmas is also about family and friends. For people who have recently lost a loved one or lost their good health or whose finances are tight this year due to a lost job, Christmas can be a reminder of the loss. Memories of happier times can dampen our spirits.
I have always been a Christmas "nut"...I thought that people that didn't like Christmas had something wrong with them. I thought, "What's not to like about Christmas?" Its amazing how quickly our perspective can change. The last two Christmases were hard for me. Did I love Jesus any less? No. Was I still thankful for our Savior's birth? Yes. Seasons in our lives change and that can change our perspective. Ecclesiastes says "there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance..." This may be your season of weeping, but that does not mean that your season of joy will never return.
If you or a friend is struggling with the upcoming Christmas season of "joy", what can you do about it? Admit it, acknowledge it, talk about it with a friend. You cannot force yourself or anyone else to be joyful. You do have to grieve your loss. But you can take one little baby step at a time, putting one foot in front of the other... Start praying about it now. Use this time as a time to get closer to God. Pray and ask God to help you to restore your joy.
In Psalms we read the psalmist crying out to God "Restore to me the joy of your salvation. " (Psalm 51:12). Jesus promised his disciples "You will grieve but your grief will turn to joy...and no one will take away your joy." (John 16:20,22). Claim that verse for yourself and quote it each day.
Do something positive. Sow a seed of kindness or love towards your future harvest of joy. Think of things you can do in memory or honor of that loved one that passed away. Start new traditions. Find someone who needs you and do something nice for them. Send some anonymous gifts..put money in a card and leave it on a co-workers desk. Think of someone from your past like an old Sunday School teacher who was special to you or special to your loved one and send them a thank you card and a little gift. Volunteer to "ring the bell' for the Salvation army or give of your time in some way that you never have. Do something to honor your memories of happier times and to thank God for them. Make a list of things you are thankful for and read it out loud each day as a praise to God.
Last year, I was really dreading Christmas day. After my children opened their presents, they would be leaving around 9:00 am and be gone all day. I knew it was going to be hard for me. So, I made a plan of action in advance. I called the nursing home and got permission to go on Christmas day. I took gifts and visited with residents and sang Christmas songs with them and prayed with them. Some of those people are not here this Christmas. I learned that one of the ladies I visited passed away shortly after Christmas. I'm so glad I went! I've already prayed about something to do on Christmas day this year, and God has already given me something to do to bless someone else. I didn't even have to look for it. It came to me.
Find a way to sow some "seed" this Christmas, whether it is monetary or just sowing time and love into someone's life. Sow it with expectation for your harvest of joy!
"He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him "(Psalm 126:6)
Sunday, November 13, 2011
My Deepest, Darkest, Worst Bad Habit
It's My deepest, darkest, worst bad habit....I'm a Procrastinator.
Are you a Procrastinator like Me? I'm a professional procrastinator. You wouldn't believe all of the things I can get done and the projects I can start, when I'm trying to avoid doing something I really don't want to do! (If you're a procrastinator, you're nodding your head right now. If not, you just think I'm crazy!)
If you have a problem with procrastination, your actual problem is a time problem. I bought a book on Procrastination a couple of months ago. It was a very helpful book. I discovered that Procrastinators have issues with judging time. Either they underestimate how long a task is going to take and so they don't start the task soon enough or they overestimate how long a task is going to take and they feel overwhelmed and never start. It was a great book. I read most of it...but I never got around to finishing it ...because...well, you know.
Procrastinating is all about wasting time...putting off for later what you should be doing now. I don't like to think that I have wasted something. To know that you have wasted money or effort or energy is not a good feeling. Yet, nothing feels worse to me than to know that I have wasted my time. When I think of years of my life that I wasted doing things I should not have been doing and not doing the things I should have been doing...it makes me feel sick inside. Wasted time is a wasted opportunity. The more I think about wasted time and opportunity, the longer the list of regrets gets...not finishing grad school, not losing weight sooner, not really getting serious about studying the Word of God until I went through a life crisis a few years ago, putting up with things I should not have, not standing up for myself or demanding better treatment when I should have...Its a horrible feeling to feel like you wasted your time and squandered your opportunities!
The good news is that God's Word tell us He can redeem our time. Our time is in God's hands. The Bible says that God will restore to us the years that the locust has eaten and that we can take back what the enemy has stolen from us. I'm on a mission to take back what has been stolen from me and that includes my time! The Bible also says that our youth can be renewed! Isaiah 40:29-31 says, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." In Ecclesiastes, the Bible says that everything is beautiful "in its own time". So, I'm claiming that verse for me! My time is coming!
One of the greatest ways that the devil deceives people is through time. The devil wants sinners to think they have all the time in the world. Many people know that they are not saved and will admit that they need to be saved, but say to themselves "not now, some other time" or "One day, when the time is right". If you have not asked Jesus Christ into your heart and asked forgiveness for your sins, the time is NOW! The Bible says "TODAY is the day of salvation.". When it comes to salvation, there is no time like the present! No one is promised tomorrow or even their next breath. The devil convinces people that they have plenty of time to get their heart right with God. People will say that they will commit their life to Christ when they are older or when they "get some things straight". The first step in getting your life straight is asking God for forgiveness and getting your heart straight!
The devil wants Christians to think that they do not have enough time. He tries to convince Christians that they cannot develop a daily prayer and Bible study time, because they are "too busy and don't have the time". If you are thinking of joining a ministry or doing a Christian act of service to help someone, the devil will try his best to convince you that you don't have the time. Many people say they do not get involved in ministries of the church because they "don't have the time". Some say they cannot attend church regularly on Sundays because that is "family time" or "rest time" or "my only time to sleep in".
If you have wasted years of your life not serving God or making poor decisions, don't beat yourself up! Commit the time that you have left to the Lord and ask him to redeem your time and to show you the most effective use of your time.
Any time you have and every breath you breathe came from God. Consider how you can use your time to bring Him honor today
Are you a Procrastinator like Me? I'm a professional procrastinator. You wouldn't believe all of the things I can get done and the projects I can start, when I'm trying to avoid doing something I really don't want to do! (If you're a procrastinator, you're nodding your head right now. If not, you just think I'm crazy!)
If you have a problem with procrastination, your actual problem is a time problem. I bought a book on Procrastination a couple of months ago. It was a very helpful book. I discovered that Procrastinators have issues with judging time. Either they underestimate how long a task is going to take and so they don't start the task soon enough or they overestimate how long a task is going to take and they feel overwhelmed and never start. It was a great book. I read most of it...but I never got around to finishing it ...because...well, you know.
Procrastinating is all about wasting time...putting off for later what you should be doing now. I don't like to think that I have wasted something. To know that you have wasted money or effort or energy is not a good feeling. Yet, nothing feels worse to me than to know that I have wasted my time. When I think of years of my life that I wasted doing things I should not have been doing and not doing the things I should have been doing...it makes me feel sick inside. Wasted time is a wasted opportunity. The more I think about wasted time and opportunity, the longer the list of regrets gets...not finishing grad school, not losing weight sooner, not really getting serious about studying the Word of God until I went through a life crisis a few years ago, putting up with things I should not have, not standing up for myself or demanding better treatment when I should have...Its a horrible feeling to feel like you wasted your time and squandered your opportunities!
The good news is that God's Word tell us He can redeem our time. Our time is in God's hands. The Bible says that God will restore to us the years that the locust has eaten and that we can take back what the enemy has stolen from us. I'm on a mission to take back what has been stolen from me and that includes my time! The Bible also says that our youth can be renewed! Isaiah 40:29-31 says, "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." In Ecclesiastes, the Bible says that everything is beautiful "in its own time". So, I'm claiming that verse for me! My time is coming!
One of the greatest ways that the devil deceives people is through time. The devil wants sinners to think they have all the time in the world. Many people know that they are not saved and will admit that they need to be saved, but say to themselves "not now, some other time" or "One day, when the time is right". If you have not asked Jesus Christ into your heart and asked forgiveness for your sins, the time is NOW! The Bible says "TODAY is the day of salvation.". When it comes to salvation, there is no time like the present! No one is promised tomorrow or even their next breath. The devil convinces people that they have plenty of time to get their heart right with God. People will say that they will commit their life to Christ when they are older or when they "get some things straight". The first step in getting your life straight is asking God for forgiveness and getting your heart straight!
The devil wants Christians to think that they do not have enough time. He tries to convince Christians that they cannot develop a daily prayer and Bible study time, because they are "too busy and don't have the time". If you are thinking of joining a ministry or doing a Christian act of service to help someone, the devil will try his best to convince you that you don't have the time. Many people say they do not get involved in ministries of the church because they "don't have the time". Some say they cannot attend church regularly on Sundays because that is "family time" or "rest time" or "my only time to sleep in".
If you have wasted years of your life not serving God or making poor decisions, don't beat yourself up! Commit the time that you have left to the Lord and ask him to redeem your time and to show you the most effective use of your time.
Any time you have and every breath you breathe came from God. Consider how you can use your time to bring Him honor today
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Why Do I keep Getting Myself Into These Situations???
There's must be something wrong deep inside my brain and psyche. I'm always signing myself up to do things, just to challenge myself to see if I can do it! Then, later, I'm always thinking to myself, "WHY DID I DO THIS?"
The first time I went to a zumba class, I just wanted to challenge myself to see if I could do it. The class started at 11:00 am. I hung in there and followed as best as I could (I'm not known for my coordination.) Around 11:55, the instructor played a slow song. I'm thinking "Thank you Jesus! I made it! This is the cool-down song. It's almost over. " Well, all of a sudden the "cool-down song" got faster and faster and I was doing double time and about to die! I gave the lady beside me a pained look. She said "You didn't know? This class lasts an hour and a half!"" I decided right there at that moment that I was going to do it if I died or not. I looked at the "gray-haired grannies" who were hanging in there and looking like they were having the time of their life. I looked at the women who were a lot bigger than me and they were working it! I said to myself "I don't care if they have to call 9-1-1. I don't care if they haul me out of here on a stretcher. I ain't giving up till either the class is over or me and all the grannies and big girls are dead!"
And I made it! Granted...by the end of the class, I walked out of there like a cowboy that had been riding his horse way too long and I had to hobble out of bed the next day. The point is...I made it. If I had been at home by myself, I never would have stuck it out that long. Just by having other people in there to challenge me...I kept at it. Now I go a couple of times a week and I LOVE IT!
I invited a guest speaker from my church to come home and eat Sunday lunch with me one day. A sweet, beautiful lady whom I love dearly...but who is also known for her grace, manners, and etiquette. I've been to her home. PERFECT. She holds tea parties and conducts workshops on etiquette and manners. As I was preparing the lunch before church that day, I thought to myself "What have I DONE? I just invited the Queen of Manners to eat at THE House of DYSFUNCTION???" I had never really invited guests over than weren't relatives or children coming for birthday parties and sleepovers. So, how did it go? Everything went well. (I did look over at my middle school aged son during the meal and see him cutting his meat with a spoon and fork. Maybe I need to sign him up for one of her workshops).
My positive experience with that lunch gave me the courage to really, really test myself. I started inviting all kinds of people over for lunch or dinner. Previous issues in my life had led me to believe that somehow I wouldn't be a good host or the food wouldn't be good or somehow it just wouldn't be good enough, at best it would be "okay" and people would "talk about me". I learned I had to stop listening to those thoughts and just do my best. I also learned that the challenge of having other people come to dinner or having other people in the Zumba class with me, really made me put my "best foot forward".
Proverbs 27:17 says as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Having other people around us to hold us accountable or to encourage us along really does make a difference. If you are struggling with an area in your life or specifically in your Christian walk, find someone to hold you accountable. It may not be your best friend...they may be the one encouraging you to make bad decisions! Thankfully, my own best friend is a wonderful accountability partner that I can tell anything! Whether its a diet or sticking to an exercise routine or sticking to your daily Bible reading, it helps to have someone working on the goal with you or at least checking in with you to see how you are coming on your goal. Start looking at your friends and ask yourself, "Are they helping me towards my goals? Are they encouraging me to improve and do my best? When I am around them, do I act according to my Christian values?"
In addition, we should all have people in our lives in which we are the one trying to help that person towards their goals, where we are the mentor and they are the "mentee". If you are doing that, make sure you still have strong Christians in your life to sharpen you! As I mentioned in an earlier blog, we are not to "forsake the assembling of ourselves together" which means that we need to get together with other believers regularly in worship services.
So, am I over all my issues? What do you think? Would I be writing about it in my blog if I was over it? NO, of course I still have issues. I signed my house up to be on the Christmas parade of homes tour for a fundraiser. I called my best friend and said "I have just invited the whole town of Princeton to come to my house and look at my Christmas decorations! What have I done? You know every house on there is going to be a lot bigger than mine. What was I thinking??"
So, my friend, being the "Iron that sharpens iron" reminded me that this wasn't about the size of my house at all. She reminded me about the opportunity that this will be to give thanks to God about all he has done for me. She reminded me how I dedicated my house to the Lord and how I placed a Bible in its foundation (literally in the cement of the foundation). She reminded me how I anointed my house for ministry to others. (If you come on the tour, don't slip on the oil, cause I've anointed this house so much its practically greasy! LOL!) So, I calmed down and decided that she was right. So bring on the challenge!
Are you being "sharpened" and are you "sharpening" anyone else? Go find someone to be your sharpener!
(P.S. If you are one of those folks in the area that's always running marathons and half marathons...please, please, please don't sharpen me!) (Smile!)
The first time I went to a zumba class, I just wanted to challenge myself to see if I could do it. The class started at 11:00 am. I hung in there and followed as best as I could (I'm not known for my coordination.) Around 11:55, the instructor played a slow song. I'm thinking "Thank you Jesus! I made it! This is the cool-down song. It's almost over. " Well, all of a sudden the "cool-down song" got faster and faster and I was doing double time and about to die! I gave the lady beside me a pained look. She said "You didn't know? This class lasts an hour and a half!"" I decided right there at that moment that I was going to do it if I died or not. I looked at the "gray-haired grannies" who were hanging in there and looking like they were having the time of their life. I looked at the women who were a lot bigger than me and they were working it! I said to myself "I don't care if they have to call 9-1-1. I don't care if they haul me out of here on a stretcher. I ain't giving up till either the class is over or me and all the grannies and big girls are dead!"
And I made it! Granted...by the end of the class, I walked out of there like a cowboy that had been riding his horse way too long and I had to hobble out of bed the next day. The point is...I made it. If I had been at home by myself, I never would have stuck it out that long. Just by having other people in there to challenge me...I kept at it. Now I go a couple of times a week and I LOVE IT!
I invited a guest speaker from my church to come home and eat Sunday lunch with me one day. A sweet, beautiful lady whom I love dearly...but who is also known for her grace, manners, and etiquette. I've been to her home. PERFECT. She holds tea parties and conducts workshops on etiquette and manners. As I was preparing the lunch before church that day, I thought to myself "What have I DONE? I just invited the Queen of Manners to eat at THE House of DYSFUNCTION???" I had never really invited guests over than weren't relatives or children coming for birthday parties and sleepovers. So, how did it go? Everything went well. (I did look over at my middle school aged son during the meal and see him cutting his meat with a spoon and fork. Maybe I need to sign him up for one of her workshops).
My positive experience with that lunch gave me the courage to really, really test myself. I started inviting all kinds of people over for lunch or dinner. Previous issues in my life had led me to believe that somehow I wouldn't be a good host or the food wouldn't be good or somehow it just wouldn't be good enough, at best it would be "okay" and people would "talk about me". I learned I had to stop listening to those thoughts and just do my best. I also learned that the challenge of having other people come to dinner or having other people in the Zumba class with me, really made me put my "best foot forward".
Proverbs 27:17 says as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Having other people around us to hold us accountable or to encourage us along really does make a difference. If you are struggling with an area in your life or specifically in your Christian walk, find someone to hold you accountable. It may not be your best friend...they may be the one encouraging you to make bad decisions! Thankfully, my own best friend is a wonderful accountability partner that I can tell anything! Whether its a diet or sticking to an exercise routine or sticking to your daily Bible reading, it helps to have someone working on the goal with you or at least checking in with you to see how you are coming on your goal. Start looking at your friends and ask yourself, "Are they helping me towards my goals? Are they encouraging me to improve and do my best? When I am around them, do I act according to my Christian values?"
In addition, we should all have people in our lives in which we are the one trying to help that person towards their goals, where we are the mentor and they are the "mentee". If you are doing that, make sure you still have strong Christians in your life to sharpen you! As I mentioned in an earlier blog, we are not to "forsake the assembling of ourselves together" which means that we need to get together with other believers regularly in worship services.
So, am I over all my issues? What do you think? Would I be writing about it in my blog if I was over it? NO, of course I still have issues. I signed my house up to be on the Christmas parade of homes tour for a fundraiser. I called my best friend and said "I have just invited the whole town of Princeton to come to my house and look at my Christmas decorations! What have I done? You know every house on there is going to be a lot bigger than mine. What was I thinking??"
So, my friend, being the "Iron that sharpens iron" reminded me that this wasn't about the size of my house at all. She reminded me about the opportunity that this will be to give thanks to God about all he has done for me. She reminded me how I dedicated my house to the Lord and how I placed a Bible in its foundation (literally in the cement of the foundation). She reminded me how I anointed my house for ministry to others. (If you come on the tour, don't slip on the oil, cause I've anointed this house so much its practically greasy! LOL!) So, I calmed down and decided that she was right. So bring on the challenge!
Are you being "sharpened" and are you "sharpening" anyone else? Go find someone to be your sharpener!
(P.S. If you are one of those folks in the area that's always running marathons and half marathons...please, please, please don't sharpen me!) (Smile!)
Friday, November 11, 2011
Know Your Enemy
**Many thanks go out to our veterans on this Veterans Day for all they have sacrificed to serve our country and protect our freedom. Remember to pray for those who are still serving, the families that they leave behind, and for those who are recovering from physical injuries or emotional trauma as a result of their service.**
I have never served in the military, never fought in a war, never risked my life for my country. To be honest, I probably couldn't make it through basic training. I don't have what it takes...and I am so thankful for the military heroes that do have what it takes.
I don't know anything about combat or modern warfare strategy.I have learned and studied, and continue to study, however, about spiritual warfare. Military geniuses know strategy and they know their enemy. Did you know that you have an enemy? John 10:10 tells you that your enemy, the devil, came to kill, steal, and destroy. The devil is your enemy...not other people.
Though it may seem that most of your problems come from other people, the Bible says "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against...the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil." (Eph 6:12). It's really not other people that you are struggling against...its the deceiver operating through them (or possibly through you!) to destroy your life.So, stop fighting the person that hurt you emotionally or physically, stole from you, lied to you, lied about you, cheated you, cheated on you or whatever. Focus your battle on defeating your true enemy , the devil, with the weapons that God has given you. That's who I really, really hate!
Military strategists know weapons and they use all of the weapons available to them to achieve the goal of defeating their enemy. The Bible says that though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does (2 Cor. 10:3) The Bible says that the weapons of our spiritual warfare are not carnal, or of this world, but they are mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds.
What weapons do we have in our arsenal? Prayer, praise, and the Word of God! We have power and authority in the name of Jesus and through the blood of Jesus. The Bible says we overcome (or win the battle) through the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Your words have power and the Word of God has even more power. The armor of God is made up of salvation, peace, righteousness, faith, truth, and the Word of God. The word of God is the only offensive weapon that we use. That rest of the armor of God is made up of defensive weapons. Learn to fight by saying what the Bible says ! Don't talk about the person or situation that hurt you..learn to say what the Word says about you and your situation.
Before you go to battle, you have to be prepared! Make sure that you have confessed any sin in your own life before you start trying to defeat your enemy. Next, you must plan your attack. Begin to look up scriptures related to your issue or problem. Then, go on the offensive and say what the Word says about your situation!
(I use the Complete Promise Bible for Women and I also like "Daily Declarations for Spiritual Warfare" or "Prayers that Rout Demons and Break Curses", both by John Eckhardt. You should be able to find many resources online or in a Christian bookstore, such as a Bible Concordance to help you find the actual Bible verses that you need related to a particular situation).
Finally, remember that the Lord your God is actually fighting your battles for you. Isaiah 49:25 says that God will contend with those that contend with you! Isaiah 54:17 says that no weapon formed against you will prosper and any tongue that rises up against you in judgement, you will condemn. So, other than using the Word of God, prayer, and praise...STOP YOUR FIGHTING. Let God handle it!
I decree and declare over you:
"The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven." (Deut 28:7)
I have never served in the military, never fought in a war, never risked my life for my country. To be honest, I probably couldn't make it through basic training. I don't have what it takes...and I am so thankful for the military heroes that do have what it takes.
I don't know anything about combat or modern warfare strategy.I have learned and studied, and continue to study, however, about spiritual warfare. Military geniuses know strategy and they know their enemy. Did you know that you have an enemy? John 10:10 tells you that your enemy, the devil, came to kill, steal, and destroy. The devil is your enemy...not other people.
Though it may seem that most of your problems come from other people, the Bible says "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against...the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil." (Eph 6:12). It's really not other people that you are struggling against...its the deceiver operating through them (or possibly through you!) to destroy your life.So, stop fighting the person that hurt you emotionally or physically, stole from you, lied to you, lied about you, cheated you, cheated on you or whatever. Focus your battle on defeating your true enemy , the devil, with the weapons that God has given you. That's who I really, really hate!
Military strategists know weapons and they use all of the weapons available to them to achieve the goal of defeating their enemy. The Bible says that though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does (2 Cor. 10:3) The Bible says that the weapons of our spiritual warfare are not carnal, or of this world, but they are mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds.
What weapons do we have in our arsenal? Prayer, praise, and the Word of God! We have power and authority in the name of Jesus and through the blood of Jesus. The Bible says we overcome (or win the battle) through the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Your words have power and the Word of God has even more power. The armor of God is made up of salvation, peace, righteousness, faith, truth, and the Word of God. The word of God is the only offensive weapon that we use. That rest of the armor of God is made up of defensive weapons. Learn to fight by saying what the Bible says ! Don't talk about the person or situation that hurt you..learn to say what the Word says about you and your situation.
Before you go to battle, you have to be prepared! Make sure that you have confessed any sin in your own life before you start trying to defeat your enemy. Next, you must plan your attack. Begin to look up scriptures related to your issue or problem. Then, go on the offensive and say what the Word says about your situation!
(I use the Complete Promise Bible for Women and I also like "Daily Declarations for Spiritual Warfare" or "Prayers that Rout Demons and Break Curses", both by John Eckhardt. You should be able to find many resources online or in a Christian bookstore, such as a Bible Concordance to help you find the actual Bible verses that you need related to a particular situation).
Finally, remember that the Lord your God is actually fighting your battles for you. Isaiah 49:25 says that God will contend with those that contend with you! Isaiah 54:17 says that no weapon formed against you will prosper and any tongue that rises up against you in judgement, you will condemn. So, other than using the Word of God, prayer, and praise...STOP YOUR FIGHTING. Let God handle it!
I decree and declare over you:
"The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven." (Deut 28:7)
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