Change is...

James 1:4The Message (MSG)

Faith Under Pressure

2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Romans 5:3-5New Life Version (NLV)

3 We are glad for our troubles also. We know that troubles help us learn not to give up. 4 When we have learned not to give up, it shows we have stood the test. When we have stood the test, it gives us hope. 5 Hope never makes us ashamed because the love of God has come into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.

My parents always told me that anything was possible.  If I put my mind to do something, I could achieve it.  They also instilled in me that they didn’t raise quitters.  Make a commitment and stick to it, was their motto.  In my 20’s, I didn’t really hang onto those words.  I was strolling through life, riding the roller coaster of ups and downs.  I was successful in some areas, but lacking in others.  Professionally I was doing well.  Personally, with my marriage and taking care of myself, I was doing OK.  After time, “ok” wasn’t going to cut it.  I had to make some changes.  I had to dig deep and really look at myself.  Where does my heart really lie?  I had to have a mindset change.  I needed to put all excuses aside and make some CHANGES.  I knew that this was something He had placed in front of me.  I even remember telling the women at my Bible Study, I felt like God was telling me NOT to jump and move forward.  Well, that was NOT what God was telling me.  Instead, He was asking me to jump and make a change.  

God has a mission for each and every one of us.  Wherever you are, you are meant to be in that place.  Plant you feet and take in the view.  There are really bad days and some really awesome days.  However, be prepared for God to interrupt “normalcy” to dig you up and replant you somewhere else.  Change is a scary word, but in order to be more and do more, we have to try “change”. 

On the other hand, a difficult event may happen in your life that you don’t understand, God is still with you and working through that with you.  It may not be something you understand at the moment, but later, God will reveal the “why” behind that happening.  

“God is often working behind the scenes of your life, orchestrating HIs destiny for you.”  (Steven Furtick, 2016)

God knows our path and which direction we will go.  We just need to Trust.  He is orchestrating it all for the good.  

I love sitting and reflecting on the past 4 years and seeing how my life has unfolded with the simple act of trusting and making a change, which has lead to so many other changes.  I also love sitting and wondering where He will have me go next.  What will my future struggles be?  What will those struggles teach me?  Sometimes you have to just let go and trust.  

"I will trust in you" by Lauren Daigle w/lyrics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXMPNXXnCls

Be Blessed!

Mental Battles

Proverbs 4:25

Let your eyes look straight in front of you, and keep looking at what is in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.

Romans 12:2New Life Version (NLV)

2 Do not act like the sinful people of the world. Let God change your life. First of all, let Him give you a new mind. Then you will know what God wants you to do. And the things you do will be good and pleasing and perfect.

2 Samuel 22:40New Life Version (NLV)

40 For You have dressed me with strength for battle. You have put under me those who came against me.

Today I had a conversation with my mom about being more for others.  What does that mean to you?  To me, it is doing and being all that I can for the people in my life.  Sometimes being more for others is planned, but most of the time it is random.   This weekend my family and I took our annual Mother’s Day weekend vacation.  I took a well needed “brain break”.  In the midst of that, I was in the moment with my kids and created memories.  Memories that they will hold onto for a long time.  However, as I stepped back into the daily routine on Tuesday, my brain started thinking about all the opportunities I had missed or how I didn’t keep track of something I should have been on top of.  I literally became my own enemy, fighting the battle of negativity in my own head.  This is a battle I have to prepare for daily.  

“Plant beauty, grow beauty.  Plant thorns, grow thorns.  Time will allow for either.”  

(Lysa TerKeurst, Uninvited) 

Putting on my “armor of God” is where that all changes.  In that moment, of course after fighting my thoughts for a few minutes, I realized that I didn’t miss out on those opportunities or loose track of myself.  Why?  Because I was soaking up the moments with my family.  I gave God those thoughts of negativity.  I thanked Him that no one else could see the battles that go on inside me.  I thanked Him for his grace and strength.  Today was a new day.  I took a step forward and began my day with the attitude that I will do what I can in the moments sitting right in front of me.  I’m going to plant as much beauty with my words and actions.  Why?  Because this reflects His love and that is my purpose.  If I plant those negative thoughts and dwell in them, I’m planting thorns that will continue to take over like weeds.  So, today, whatever your mental battle is, give those “thorns” to Him and let Him plant a beautiful garden of thoughts for you.

Be Blessed

Leap of Faith

Hebrews 11:1-2The Message (MSG)

Faith in What We Don’t See

11 1-2 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

James 4:14-15Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

14 You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

15 Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.

Jumping and not knowing what is on the other side is scary.  It is a large leap of faith.  ”It’s putting your belief and trust in something or somebody outside of yourself, and then acting on that belief.”(http://getmorestrength.org/daily/leap-of-faith/)

This mountain goat could choose to stay on the side that he is comfortable and familiar with.  He does not need to jump to the other side, but he is curious.  Curious if the other side has more to offer.  Curious if the other side has richer soil which provides more vegetation.  Curious to know…  So with a running start and without a thought, he takes a large leap into the air and focuses on what is directly in front of him.  Not on what is below him.  He trusts that this leap will carry him to the other side.  He isn’t for sure what is on the other side, but his natural instinct, gut feeling, is telling him that it is necessary to take that leap of faith.  

We get so comfortable in life at times.  So comfortable, that we become still and stagnant.  We are not doing justice to ourselves or others in those stagnant “seasons”.  We even ignore the tugs that are pulling us into a different direction, an unfamiliar direction.  Why not take a leap of faith?  Get uncomfortable.  The quote, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you” has popped up multiple times in the last week for me.  Being uncomfortable, scared, anxious, builds up the momentum for you to do something great.  You are going to grow, stretch, and mold into a new chapter in your life.  Little leaps of faith pop up and interrupt our lives frequently.  Large leaps of faith pop up less frequently, but still occur.  Whether it is large or small, take courage, pray, and take the step HE is wanting you to take.  Because if our focus is on Him on the other side of the cliff, we will land firm, on our feet, on the other side.  

The fear of being alone..

Proverbs 18:24New Life Version (NLV)

24 A man who has friends must be a friend, but there is a friend who stays nearer than a brother.

Isaiah 41:10New Life Version (NLV)

10 Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will give you strength, and for sure I will help you. Yes, I will hold you up with My right hand that is right and good.

Isaiah 46:4New Life Version (NLV)

4 Even when you are old I will be the same. And even when your hair turns white, I will help you. I will take care of what I have made. I will carry you, and will save you.

1 Corinthians 12:27-28

You are all a part of the body of Christ. 28 God has chosen different ones in the church to do His work. First, there are missionaries. Second, there are preachers or those who speak for God. And third, there are teachers. He has also chosen those who do powerful works and those who have the gifts of healing. And He has chosen those who help others who are in need and those who are able to lead others in work and those who speak in special sounds.

I’m a true extrovert.  I love being around others.  I love entertaining.  I love filling my time with close friends and new friends.  In fact, many of you know that I don’t like closed invitations.  When I invite, I invite anyone and everyone.  

I do like down time.  I like sitting and enjoying a good book.  I love quiet family nights at home.  Curling up to watch a good movie.  However, those times happen in spurts.  

So when I see someone who is hurting and feeling alone, my heart aches for them.  When they are screaming out for help, but don’t know how to help themselves, it takes a lot out of me emotionally.  When someone is sinking in anger, depression, anxiousness, etc, I want to truly reach out and shake those emotions out of them.  I want them to know that they are not alone.  God doesn’t intend us to be alone.  

God intends for us to be HIS hands and feet daily.  We are chosen to do His work.  It doesn’t matter what our “status” is, but it does matter what His mission is for us.  Many people that surround us daily don’t know or understand the love that God has for us.  We can’t shake God’s goodness in them.  They will notice God’s goodness through our actions.  That person may not be effected immediately, but over time, if they keep being surrounded by other’s that have Godly actions, their heart will be softened.  Their loneliness will be shaken from them.  

Do I have a fear of being alone?  Or fighting a battle in life without His love and grace?  We all need reminders that we are not alone and that we are a “tribe” who are fighting those battles together.  

Enjoy Matthew Wes:  All the People Said Amen

Be Blessed!