I had been thinking about what my word for 2015 would be for some time now. I wish I had done a better job with my 2014 word, surrender. But that is the beauty of choosing a word, you can't actually fail. Nor do I think in choosing a new word you actually let the last one go. I think as the years move on, I will add another word, continuing to work on the changing me from the inside out each year. Focusing on one word, but using all my words.
In choosing this year's word I thought over the last couple of years and asked myself when did I feel most accomplished? When did I feel good about who I was and what I was doing?
That would bring up thoughts of my family, being a wife, mom and grandmother. I thought of my job as a teacher, how I see that as a large part of my life and feeling of success. But, there are times where I feel like I touch a lot more of this world and make a biggetr difference. Those are the times where I am making myself available to God, being a part of His work and sharing His love and promises with a hurting, frustrated, dark world.
It is the area of my life I need to increase. The opportunities to do this are endless. You look at your window, drive down the streets of your neighborhood, listen to the talk in grocery stores...and you find people who need God, who need hope, and who need someone to tell them. They need someone who will take the time to listen, to love, to give, to pray and just be there, available for God to use them. That is where my word comes from...the need for me to become that.
So from that were words like intentional, available, giving, loving...and the list goes on. It also goes back to my 2014 word, surrender. But it starts much simpler. I contemplated each of those words. But as I thought, I thought also about the fact that I just need to do it. I have all those other words within me, I just keep them there and pull them out when I am in a situation. How do I get myself into more situations....I go. That is going to be my word...I just need to Go.
I had my word chosen and then I went to church last Sunday. The scripture used was exactly the scripture I had been thinking of...Matthew 28: 19-20 "Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Love when God confirms, and you know He was behind your thinking all along. So, in 2015 I will GO...I will GO with intention, a loving heart, a giving spirit and surrendered to God's spirit and moving. I will GO in my town and to other towns. I will listen as I GO, I will share as I GO....and I hope and pray many will come to know the peace I found and that they will GO as well.
Happy New Year....may 2015 hold many blessings for you in your life.
Want to hear more about choosing one word for 2015...you can read about it here:One Word
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Will He Give Us More Than We Can Handle...Absolutely!
How many of us came to know God while life was favorable, things were going our way? We weren't searching, we weren't feeling anything missing.
I doubt many.
In fact, how many of us feel closer to God when things are difficult? When we feel the need to get on our knees and realize it is just TOO MUCH to handle. We can't do it. We are too sad, too empty, too scared. We have tried filling it or fixing it, meeting it with human ways...people, money, jobs....and it is never enough.
I know I had believed for a very long time that it was scriptural that God never gives us more than we can handle. True, there is scripture that says He will always give us a way out of temptation (1 Cor. 10:13) ...but trials? No, there was never a promise for an easy life. There was never a promise that He wouldn't give us more than we can handle.
Honestly, we walk in a world of darkness. There is pain, suffering, trials, disease, wars, pride, immorality....we can't handle it. It leaves you empty, drained, sad and angry. It leaves you searching to fill that void. It is that darkness and our failure to fix it which brings us to God...He fills that. He is our stronghold. He carries us through. It is because of Him we can walk through those times with a peace that can't be explained. It is His desire that we come to that place where we say...I can't handle this. I need You. I need You to help me. I need You to fix this. I need You to give me peace as I move through this.
While I am here, let me also address that sometimes we go to those who can quote scripture, who attend church or maybe even have a role in the church....we think they may lead us to the answers. So often, they are the ones who disappoint us. We forget that they are walking in the life right beside us. They fail and mess up just like we do. They are not the answer. Sometimes...though they can do the things I mentioned, sometimes they haven't even found God yet. Sometimes, they are also still trying to do it on their own. If they are not pointing you to a surrender....if they are too busy telling you to stop this and don't do this, there is a good chance they are as lost as you. If they are truly pointing you to God...you'll know it by their love. They won't be full of DOs and DON'Ts....they will be full of love, grace and mercy.
So, if you are struggling and searching...if there is an emptiness. If you feel like I can't handle this...it is time. It is time to look up to Him and say, I can't handle this. I need to give you this, and the rest of my life too. I need to put you in control. Do it. Do it everyday. I truly believe we must surrender daily. We will always have struggles and things we can't handle. He will allow us to be there. Through it, He will teach us, grow us, and let us learn to depend on Him. We must fight through that constant urge to handle it all on our own, do it our way...it takes surrender.
"...though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1: 6,7
I doubt many.
In fact, how many of us feel closer to God when things are difficult? When we feel the need to get on our knees and realize it is just TOO MUCH to handle. We can't do it. We are too sad, too empty, too scared. We have tried filling it or fixing it, meeting it with human ways...people, money, jobs....and it is never enough.
I know I had believed for a very long time that it was scriptural that God never gives us more than we can handle. True, there is scripture that says He will always give us a way out of temptation (1 Cor. 10:13) ...but trials? No, there was never a promise for an easy life. There was never a promise that He wouldn't give us more than we can handle.
Honestly, we walk in a world of darkness. There is pain, suffering, trials, disease, wars, pride, immorality....we can't handle it. It leaves you empty, drained, sad and angry. It leaves you searching to fill that void. It is that darkness and our failure to fix it which brings us to God...He fills that. He is our stronghold. He carries us through. It is because of Him we can walk through those times with a peace that can't be explained. It is His desire that we come to that place where we say...I can't handle this. I need You. I need You to help me. I need You to fix this. I need You to give me peace as I move through this.
While I am here, let me also address that sometimes we go to those who can quote scripture, who attend church or maybe even have a role in the church....we think they may lead us to the answers. So often, they are the ones who disappoint us. We forget that they are walking in the life right beside us. They fail and mess up just like we do. They are not the answer. Sometimes...though they can do the things I mentioned, sometimes they haven't even found God yet. Sometimes, they are also still trying to do it on their own. If they are not pointing you to a surrender....if they are too busy telling you to stop this and don't do this, there is a good chance they are as lost as you. If they are truly pointing you to God...you'll know it by their love. They won't be full of DOs and DON'Ts....they will be full of love, grace and mercy.
So, if you are struggling and searching...if there is an emptiness. If you feel like I can't handle this...it is time. It is time to look up to Him and say, I can't handle this. I need to give you this, and the rest of my life too. I need to put you in control. Do it. Do it everyday. I truly believe we must surrender daily. We will always have struggles and things we can't handle. He will allow us to be there. Through it, He will teach us, grow us, and let us learn to depend on Him. We must fight through that constant urge to handle it all on our own, do it our way...it takes surrender.
"...though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1: 6,7
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Filling Empty Spaces
As I surrender my life to God, it requires a letting go of things of this world. This is not an easy release. I have taken years to develop these habits. I walk in the house and immediately turn something on, my head gets plugged right in and before you know it my time is gone and I have allowed all things worldly to saturate my mind and our heart.
Many times I would push myself to change those habits. I wouldn't turn on the television. I would leave the computer sitting and off. However, it doesn't take long before I am back where I left.
Why? I left that time idle. I did not replace it with things that will bring me closer to God. I didn't replace my activity with things that are purer. I needed to fill those empty spaces.
I need to build new habits. I want to wake in the morning and get my coffee....settle down, open His word and pray. I want to listen to His whisperings to my heart.
In the evenings I want to spend some time reading books of inspiration and challenge of my walk.
I want to write and spend time reflecting on His work in my life. I want to share with others the struggles of this walk. I want to have an army surrounding me to fight off the enemy.
I want to get into His Word and study it, get to know Him more. I want to hear his direction for me. I want to hear Him reveal my sins and show me where I need change. I want to understand who He really is, fall more deeply in love with him.
I want to spend time building relationships of accountability and ministry.
I want to spend time just praising Him.
I want to be doing worthwhile-life-changing-actions to change the lives of others.
I have plenty to fill those empty spaces. I'm making changes...SLOWLY. My eye is on the prize. I continue to run the race.
The world is much heavier to carry...filling those empty spaces with things more pure and holy...it is uplifting and invigorating.
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God-what is good and well-pleasing and perfect."
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Slippery Slopes
I am linking up today with Juana Mikels
Don't you love to count your blessings? I wake up and just smile sometimes at the life I have and the way God has blessed me.
An amazing husband...
An incredible job....
4 children and 7 grandchildren....
An amazing and loving church....
All gifts from God. Each a blessing and a reminder of His favor in my life.
And each one...a time requirement from my life.
Ouch! I know right...not sounding thankful there, am I? But I am, I truly am. But it is a slippery slope to have all these blessings. All these things that demand time and attention.
You see, they are NOT number one, but I slip too easily into making them number one. When that happens...I move God from where He belongs...down the slippery slope, they all slip so easily into His position.
As I seek to surrender my life to Him, I know I have to keep Him in first position and I can't even allow His blessings to get in the way of that. I need to give him my utmost time, energy and devotion. He shouldn't get the end of the day energy. I shouldn't be searching for ways to fit Him in. I shouldn't come to the end of the week and realize I went the whole week and didn't open my bible since Sunday morning in church.
How do you balance it all? How do you give your family all the attention and love they need, fill all the expectations of your job, and do your part in the church family? That isn't mentioning the opportunities you don't want to miss out on with others around you...ministering and making connections. And YOU, taking care of you in all that mix.
I can't help but think the enemy sits back and smiles when we get caught on these slippery slopes. He must smile and rub his hands together as we get so caught up in the blessings God gave us, and we forget the one who provided it all. Sometimes we make it so easy for him.
I am working on this. I'd love to hear how you do it.
"You will show me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. " Psalm 16:11
My prayer is that my words be used to bring light and salt to you.
An amazing husband...
An incredible job....
4 children and 7 grandchildren....
An amazing and loving church....
All gifts from God. Each a blessing and a reminder of His favor in my life.
And each one...a time requirement from my life.
Ouch! I know right...not sounding thankful there, am I? But I am, I truly am. But it is a slippery slope to have all these blessings. All these things that demand time and attention.
You see, they are NOT number one, but I slip too easily into making them number one. When that happens...I move God from where He belongs...down the slippery slope, they all slip so easily into His position.
As I seek to surrender my life to Him, I know I have to keep Him in first position and I can't even allow His blessings to get in the way of that. I need to give him my utmost time, energy and devotion. He shouldn't get the end of the day energy. I shouldn't be searching for ways to fit Him in. I shouldn't come to the end of the week and realize I went the whole week and didn't open my bible since Sunday morning in church.
How do you balance it all? How do you give your family all the attention and love they need, fill all the expectations of your job, and do your part in the church family? That isn't mentioning the opportunities you don't want to miss out on with others around you...ministering and making connections. And YOU, taking care of you in all that mix.
I can't help but think the enemy sits back and smiles when we get caught on these slippery slopes. He must smile and rub his hands together as we get so caught up in the blessings God gave us, and we forget the one who provided it all. Sometimes we make it so easy for him.
I am working on this. I'd love to hear how you do it.
"You will show me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. " Psalm 16:11
My prayer is that my words be used to bring light and salt to you.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Surrendering Requires Discipline
I chose the word surrendered for my one word focus in 2014. I knew I had changes to make if I was going to live a life of surrender. Seven days in and I am seeing this word is the one word that represents a Christian life. It is a giving up of oneself. It is giving it all to God. Everything.
The first change I find myself working on is time. I had become a selfish user of my time. It was all about me. Of course, we all have things on our schedule that aren't all about ourselves, but what I found was when nothing was on my schedule, I took all that time and spent it doing simple, foolish tasks. I filled my time with nothing of value. It wouldn't help anyone. It wouldn't grow or change me. It wouldn't show an almighty God I love and am so thankful for Him and His work in my life. I was filling my life up with empty-void-minute-filling-tasks.
I had every excuse in the world. I am too tired. I just need to do brainless activity after such a full day. I deserve some down time. The excuses and the activity all revolved around ME.
To change that I had to initiate some self-discipline. I looked at my time and created a schedule that is filled with much more valuable items. I scheduled time I would spend in God's word, time to write, time to pray, time to read and time to be quiet and reflect. I will do the brainless activity still, but it will come after more time is spent on the best things.
I am quite certain God will continue to point out more changes I need to make. He will point out other things I need to surrender. I am realizing that this life was the life I was meant to live every year. Every day. Every moment. Surrendered to God's will.
In my devotion this morning was this, "Believing and trusting are hard work because they involve a surrendering process, a giving-up of control." I have more to give up, more to set before Him that I have hung on to. He owns it all.
I know I have a year ahead where I will be learning how to surrender more.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7
The first change I find myself working on is time. I had become a selfish user of my time. It was all about me. Of course, we all have things on our schedule that aren't all about ourselves, but what I found was when nothing was on my schedule, I took all that time and spent it doing simple, foolish tasks. I filled my time with nothing of value. It wouldn't help anyone. It wouldn't grow or change me. It wouldn't show an almighty God I love and am so thankful for Him and His work in my life. I was filling my life up with empty-void-minute-filling-tasks.
I had every excuse in the world. I am too tired. I just need to do brainless activity after such a full day. I deserve some down time. The excuses and the activity all revolved around ME.
To change that I had to initiate some self-discipline. I looked at my time and created a schedule that is filled with much more valuable items. I scheduled time I would spend in God's word, time to write, time to pray, time to read and time to be quiet and reflect. I will do the brainless activity still, but it will come after more time is spent on the best things.
I am quite certain God will continue to point out more changes I need to make. He will point out other things I need to surrender. I am realizing that this life was the life I was meant to live every year. Every day. Every moment. Surrendered to God's will.
In my devotion this morning was this, "Believing and trusting are hard work because they involve a surrendering process, a giving-up of control." I have more to give up, more to set before Him that I have hung on to. He owns it all.
I know I have a year ahead where I will be learning how to surrender more.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
One Word 2014
One day I made a choice to follow Christ. I decided to commit my life to Him, no longer wanting to be in charge, I wanted Him in charge. Then began the journey. I made a decision that day and He took hold of my hand. But like any child, I pulled from His hand and attempted to move my way, make my choices, turned away from His plan....and He has allowed it for a time, allowed me to taste the consequences of those decisions. But He knew the commitment I made, and knew I would realize over, and over again I needed Him. I can't get it right. But that tug of war continues. Like many Christians I always hang on to things. I still make decisions that are selfish, cowardly, trying to fit in here. I never really give totally. I reflect back on 2013 and I see I've come a long way from that young teen who made that decision. I pull less, and look away less....but He continues to show me areas I hold back. Which led me to choose my word for this upcoming year...surrendered. I want to daily seek out His will and make a more conscious effort to seek Him first...not myself.
So what will that look like?
My time. I eat away time doing silly, foolish things that make no difference. I need to surrender more of my time for things that shine God's light. I need to be in His Word, study it, understand, seek Him out. I need to see all His plans for me. He gave me a love for writing...maybe a little talent. I hardly write any more, I need to write more.
Building relationships. I don't give anyone enough of my time. My time is not intentional enough. I need to be more focused on those I know, those he places me with, those who may have needs I can meet. I use to be great about phone calls, letters/cards, spending time talking and listening. I need to be willing to sacrifice more. I need to be more Christ like...He was there, all the time, for everyone.
Prayer. My prayer life has grown...a lot. But, it isn't where it should be. My moments should be full of intentional prayer.
I want the work of my heart and my hands to bring others to know Christ as I know Him. I want many to experience the relationship I have.
The rest I know He will reveal to me. I need to be open and ready. Ready to see what He wants me to surrender. I need to be ready to do what He wants, when He wants and how He wants. I need to just follow where His hand leads me.
2014...SURRENDERED
Want to find your own one word for 2014?? Check this out One Word
So what will that look like?
My time. I eat away time doing silly, foolish things that make no difference. I need to surrender more of my time for things that shine God's light. I need to be in His Word, study it, understand, seek Him out. I need to see all His plans for me. He gave me a love for writing...maybe a little talent. I hardly write any more, I need to write more.
Building relationships. I don't give anyone enough of my time. My time is not intentional enough. I need to be more focused on those I know, those he places me with, those who may have needs I can meet. I use to be great about phone calls, letters/cards, spending time talking and listening. I need to be willing to sacrifice more. I need to be more Christ like...He was there, all the time, for everyone.
Prayer. My prayer life has grown...a lot. But, it isn't where it should be. My moments should be full of intentional prayer.
I want the work of my heart and my hands to bring others to know Christ as I know Him. I want many to experience the relationship I have.
The rest I know He will reveal to me. I need to be open and ready. Ready to see what He wants me to surrender. I need to be ready to do what He wants, when He wants and how He wants. I need to just follow where His hand leads me.
2014...SURRENDERED
Want to find your own one word for 2014?? Check this out One Word
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