Gaining focus...

Possessing your Promised land...

Requires action...

Walking forward...
One foot in front of the other...
Making required changes...
Becoming a participant, not just a spectator...
Living, moving, and breathing...
Seeking, remaining & abiding in God's presence...
Falling down...yet standing back up!
Stumbling...yet never giving up!
Pressing on toward the goal!
Persevering in...through...& despite!


"But I feel..."
"DESPITE my feelings, I press on..."


"But it's hard..."
"I CAN do ALL things through Christ!!!"


"But I can't do this..."
"I AM MORE than a Conqueror!"


"But I'm so weak..."
"God's strength is PERFECT in my weakness!"


Re-gain your focus. Put your eyes on the prize. Grab a hold of the outstretched hand of Jesus. Wipe the sweat from your brow. Tell your pity-party to take a hike. Get back up! Fight the good fight. No one can walk this journey for you! 


God has promised to go before you and behind you and beside you. God has promised to carry your burdens. God has promised to strengthen you. God has promised your destination, but you still have to walk forward. You have to possess it. You have to want it. 


You have to do your part...whatever it is God has asked you to do. The instructions for each of us may be different, but it will require an act of obedience on your part. Are you supposed to "let go" of something so He can give you something better? Are you to lay down your offenses and forgive? Are you supposed to trust Him and keep your mouth closed instead of taking matters into your own hands? 


For me, I'm learning to believe God IS who He says He is...not just for everyone else, but for ME!  Will I TRUST, and THEN OBEY what He asks me to do?  Will I TRUST God is who He says He is, and that I AM who God says I AM despite how I feel????


So I am going through my personal journey of TRUSTING GOD, BELIEVING HIM, & THEN OBEYING HIM DESPITE MY FEELINGS. 


What action is God calling you to today?  Will you walk another step toward YOUR Promised Land by CHOOSING to obey?

Got a mountain???

"I think I can..."

"I think I can..."

"I think I can..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The little engine that could...did!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you're not familiar with the story of the "Little Engine that Could", it's a cute little children's story about an train engine that was trying to climb a mountain. As the mountain began to peak, the little engine began to lose strength, stamina, and energy, thus causing him to lose his confidence in his ability to make the uphill journey.

Depending on the version of the written story, the little engine basically tells himself he can't make the mountain. Negative thoughts begin to flood his mind and he begins to believe the lies that he isn't capable of  finishing hit journey.

"I'll never make it."

"It's too hard."

"I can't do this."

"They were right! I'm not good enough."

"Why do I even try?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The way we think (and speak!) about ourselves does matter. 

The way we think (and speak!) about our situations does matter.

The way we think (and speak!) about the people around us matters.

The way we think (and speak!) about our future really does matter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next time you encounter a mountain in the path before you,

and are tempted to say, "This is JUST TOO BIG!!!"...

I pray that you would remind your mountain

just HOW BIG YOUR JESUS IS!!!

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt...you can also say to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done." Matthew 21:21

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And when the voices and your thoughts say...

"I can't do this!"

"This is too hard!"

"I'll never make it!"

...then you remind yourself that...

"I can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST

 who strengthens me!!!"

Philippians 4:13 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The "Little Engine that Could" finally DID climb that mountain!

He didn't give up! He spoke up and talked to himself!

He spoke to the doubts and said...

"I think I can!" He said it more than once!!!

He kept going forward! (Despite wanting to quit!)

He made it!!!!!!!!

and

so

will

you

IF

you 

DO

NOT

QUIT!!!

Where's the "line"?

Where do we draw the line in the sand?

In a place where it's comfortable for us?

Or in a place where God says to draw the line?

And then with so many versions of the Bible, do we look for the version that gives us permission to do what it is that we want? The version that justifies it's o-kay. It's not like we'll lose our salvation. At least, not with that one decision. Maybe down the road, we could, but, you know, we'll stop before it gets that far.

Where's our hearts?

Where's our integrity?

Where's the character in all of that?

Where is our fear of the Lord?

If Christians are supposed to be light in this world, then why do we make excuses for our reason of molding to the ways of this world? When does it end? Are we willing to stand up, and sweat blood, to declare I WILL NOT COMPROMISE!

Most of us aren't. Honestly.

We'll stand until it gets too hard and then we cave into it. Why? What keeps us from truly turning our backs upon something and never going back? What is the key? What is the issue we need to "get" in order to do that?

I'm totally talking to myself as well.

I'm just overwhelmed this morning with so many questions and scenarios of situations people have shared with me in the past month.

I don't "get" it. I want to. I really do.

I want to "get" it for me! I want to "get" it for you!

I want the "key"!!!

I want the "thing", whatever that "thing" is, that helps us to get out of our complacency of a luke-warm life of simply surviving in a mound compromised decisions.

What is it going to take????

Just my huge mound of thoughts this morning!

Directions please!

"When you are down to nothing...
GOD is up to something!!!"

I keep reading verses on "wait on the Lord" and "persevere" and "press on" and "stand firm". Some days it's all I can do to function. What do you do when you can barely make it through your day? What do you do when you don't even know what to pray? What do you do when you don't even know what to do to get out of where you're at because you have no idea where you are and how you got there?

Somehow, (AGAIN!) I lost my focus. Or should I say my focus got redirected because I've definitely been focused! Just on the wrong things!

Set your minds on things above,
not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2

My mind has been everywhere BUT on things above! My mind has been on my circumstances, on the "what ifs?", on worrying about things I have no control over, fearing the unknown, trying to figure out the "how's" and "why's".

By having my mind set on earthly things, I lose my joy (and quite quickly I might add!), I lose my hope, I lose my focus...

Jesus, I pray that You would help me to set my mind on things above as I choose to get my mind off of the circumstances surrounding me. I need your help because it's so easy to look at what I see, rather than what I don't see. I know Your plan for my life is so much greater than what I can even envision right now, and I thank You for believing in me & loving me through my doubt and unbelief. Jesus, please lead the people to this blog who also need this message; those who have lost their direction by focusing on their circumstances, rather than You! Put your warring angels around us as we seek to go after everything You have promised us in Your Word. YOUR promises and YOUR purposes stand FOREVER! Thank You Jesus that as we give you our worry, fear, and anxieties, that You, in return, give us peace and joy! Thank You Jesus! ~Amen

Keep on keeping on...

Press on...

Stand firm...

Sometimes...BUT...then

Sometimes I cry.
Sometimes I get weak.
Sometimes I feel broken.
Sometimes I sob.
Sometimes I sleep.
Sometimes I want to give up.
Sometimes I can't breathe.
Sometimes the pain is too intense.
Sometimes I seem stronger than what I am.

BUT...

those are the times
Jesus holds my heart

those are the times
Jesus renews my strength

those are the times
I crawl up on Jesus' lap

those are the times
I lay my burdens down at Jesus' feet.

THEN...

He gives me strength for one more day!
He fills my heart up once again!
He reassures me of His love & acceptance!
He enables me to pick my sword up & fight!
He breathes His Spirit into me!
He tells me great & unsearchable things!
He renews my faith!
He pulls me to my feet!
He gives me more hope & love to give away!

SO THAT...

I can hold my sword up high...
and fight the good fight!
I can smile and encourage others again!
I can stand firm in His promises!
I can be a testimony of His faithfulness!

That is why I get up every morning and stand for those things that look impossible to others (sometimes even myself!). That is why I keep writing and encouraging others to press on! That is why I press on...so that YOU will press on!

I press on because I KNOW God is a
Promise Keeper!!! The Bible says so!

I press on because I WANT the prize
He has promised me!

I press on because I don't EVER WANT
to go back to living without Him!

Praying that you will continue to press on when you feel weary from the battle.

~Jesus, you know the pain and weariness of the battle we face daily. You know what it's like to be tempted by the enemy to give up. When you were praying by yourself, the devil tried to take your eyes off the goal by promising you things if only You would turn to him. Yet, You totally relied on Your Father to provide for all of Your needs! Teach us, even in our weariness, to declare: "It is written_______" when the enemy tries to get us to quit doing what it is YOU have called us to do! Thank you that YOUR strength becomes perfect in our weakness! Thank You that with YOU, ALL things are possible! Thank You that You go before us, walk beside us, and are our rear guard in every circumstance we encounter! Thank You that weeping remains for a only a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning!!! In Jesus' precious name, Amen~

Get aggressive!

Get aggressive...

You can sit back and twiddle your fingers, getting trampled on by your circumstances and the enemy, OR you can be active and aggressive in PRAYER, and receive the victory and the promises that are RIGHTFULLY yours because of Jesus Christ!


Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force

------------------------------------

Start demanding...

Like it or not, believe it or not, we have an enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy from you! You can agree or disagree, but the fact is that there is good, and there is evil! God vs. Satan (Devil). If he can keep you from believing that he exists, or even from believing that God exists, then you've already been defeated! Sorry, true story. We don't need to focus on "Oh, no, Satan is big and horrible and...", because TRUTH is that the very spoken name of Jesus Christ crushes him. Yes, he does things to wreak havoc, BUT my God is BIGGER!!! MORE powerful! MORE effective!!! When you speak the Word of God, the Bible, you are not only praying God's Word back to God, you are also defeating your enemy.


Here's the amazing thing! He's already been defeated! If you are a child of God (accepted Jesus into your heart), then 1 John 4:4 says, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."


Once you realize the things you are believing are lies (because the truth is the Bible!), you can claim this verse and start demanding your repayment. Proverbs 6:31 "If he (a thief, which is what Satan is) is caught, he MUST pay seven fold." THAT means He owes you EVERYTHING that He's stolen or has tried to steal from your life: health, children, joy, marriages, friendships, love, jobs, finances, etc. PLUS MORE!


Call forth... Romans 4:17 ..."He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed- The God who gives life to the dead & calls things that ARE NOT as IF THEY WERE!

-------------------------------------------

Get violent!

Get violent...

Do you want what God has promised you?

Are you praying for it?

Are you seeking HIM?

Do you desire MORE in your life?

Are you tired of the ups and downs?

Do you get tired of doubting the voice of God?

Are you tired of wavering back and forth in unbelief?

Have you lost your joy in the journey?

Are you tired of fighting day in and day out with YOURself?


God has MORE for us! More than just waking up, doing life, and ending our day in sleep. He has VICTORY here on earth for us! He has JOY unspeakable! He has PEACE! He has FULFILLMENT for us...NOW, not just in eternity.


I don't know about you, but I WANT IT!
I WANT ALL THAT GOD
SAYS I CAN HAVE!
HERE...& NOW...TODAY...AND FOREVER!

You need to speak to the storms in your life TODAY. You need to aggressively go after it in prayer. You need to tell the devil where to go...directly back to hell. You need to saturate yourself in the Word of God. You need to take God AT HIS WORD and quit letting others tell you what you SHOULD BE doing. You need to get so close to God that you KNOW His voice without a doubt!

How do you do this? You open your Bible! You read your Bible! God's Word doesn't return void (Isaiah 55:11) which means that it WILL accomplish what it says it will. Every scripture you read or post or pray MAKES A DIFFERENCE in the Spiritual realm. EVERYtime. NO exceptions.

Ephesians 6 describes how to put on the armor of God. Read it. Memorize it. Use it. Do it. It mentions the sword of the Spirit being the Word of God. Picture a battle with swords. A sword can pierce. A sword can slice. A sword is a weapon. Sword of Spirit=Bible...get it? Speak the Word of God OUTLOUD!!!

God has already won this battle for you! He has already defeated your enemies! He has already given you those things you have asked Him for! When Jesus died on the cross, He said, "It is Finished!!!" Done. Completed. End of story. Declare scripture back to God. Jesus is the One who said it. He doesn't lie. He wants YOU to believe it and receive it and declare it!

In our own strength, we can do NOTHING, but God's power, the resurrection power through Jesus Christ, can do EVERYTHING!!! Search the Bible on how God "showed up" and how Jesus performed miracles. Look at these verses on how the Holy Spirit "showed up". He came with force. Speak boldly and "show up" in prayer with a heavenly violence through Jesus Christ!


Acts 2:1-3 ¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

-----------------------------------

Acts 16:25-26 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.

------------------------------------

Are you sad???

"Come to me,

all you who are
weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest"

Matthew 11:28


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you ever get discouraged? I do...

Do you ever feel sad? I do...

Do you ever feel like "giving up?" I do...

Do you ever just want to sleep your life away? I do...

Do you ever lose your focus? I do.

Do you get tired of waiting for God to answer? I do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I used to "go" there and STAY there for long periods of time to the point that I really couldn't function. I couldn't be the mom my kids needed. I couldn't keep my house clean. I couldn't face people outside my home. I would isolate myself from the outside world; not answering the phone, not reaching out to people, etc.

All I could do was sleep...

...everyday...

...for days....

...and sometimes...

...weeks...

Even a year 1/2 ago, That is how I survived!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every once in awhile, I resort back to that mode of survival. This m0rning, I woke up, and felt that old aching pulling at my soul...driving me back to bed with my head buried under the covers. I lay there for awhile, staring at the clock, and rehearsing doubt in my mind...over and over...until I dozed off to "dream-land".

Before I did, however, Isaiah 35 came to my mind. Not knowing that passage off the top of my head, I grabbed the Bible sitting next to my bed, and looked it up. God spoke to my heart as He drew me to similar verses that I found in a different chapter earlier this morning...

Although I still CHOSE to succumb to a morning of despair and isolation under my covers, God still CHOSE to "show up" and speak life and hope to my heart! He sought me out...knowing I would still choose to sleep...and CHOSE to encourage me anyway!

I woke a couple hours later to my heart jumping out of my chest with the sound of the phone. I sat up...tried to collect my thoughts...and attempted to decipher the dream I woke up from...(all while ignoring the phone! Sorry Mr. Eye Dr. for not answering my phone! Thank you for letting me know my contacts were in.)

I got up, went for my coffee...still trying to process what was going through my mind. I started going through my phone to see my missed calls/texts, when suddenly, it hit me....

"I've been played!!!"

I allowed circumstances to dictate an outcome! I allowed despair to rule in my heart! I allowed myself to lose focus by focusing on that which I see instead of that which I cannot see! I allowed life to steal my joy....(and my morning!) AGAIN!!!

At this point, I was feeling MORE discouraged because I "gave in" to old behaviors and patterns. As my soul was being dragged down farther, I remembered this...

"Hey, I don't HAVE to stay here!!!"

Well, that's easy to say, but that requires work on my part. Pretending to be happy and thankful until I feel that way. Choosing to speak positively. Blah, blah, blah...

I sat down with my Bible, and re-evaluated Isaiah 35, which God gave me before I fell asleep. Ha! I looked back at my journal and the other verses He gave me earlier. Ha! I began to get excited. (Not much...but enough to decide to stay awake and out of bed!)

I kept looking and I prayed these verses back to God. Ha! My heart was feeling hope again. I put on some worship music even though I really didn't feel like it. Ha! Something lifted. I felt a little better. I re-read my journal and promises that God HAS given me. Ha! I was getting re-energized again!

I started declaring things as if they already were in existence! WOW! I was really feeling good! I started praying and praising God for what I have and for what He's already done! WooHoo! I was feeling great!

I started singing to the worship music that played (that I really didn't want to put on in the first place!) and my soul soared in the presence of God. He was filling my heart with HIS hope and joy and faith!

Within 1/2 hour, I WAS EXCITED...AND HOPEFUL...AND RENEWED...AND READY AGAIN FOR THIS THING CALLED LIFE...

ALL because I CHOSE to turn to God, instead of my feelings & circumstances. Now, nothing has changed in my circumstances, except I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW that God is working! He is working in ways that I can't even imagine or comprehend! THAT excites me!

Put on the garment of praise
(especially when you
don't FEEL like it!)
for the spirit of heaviness!!!

Isaiah 61:3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Recapture...

Recapture~ To capture again...recover by capture...retake...to bring back by remembering...seize...take hold of...obtain...

This sounds like an action word. One which requires movement...forceful...taking of...purposeful...involves strategy...not a passive activity...

What do you need to recapture in your life today? Is it joy of the Lord? Freedom from bondage or addiction? A grateful attitude? A childlike faith? A servant's heart? Smiles and laughter? Quietness? Stillness? Quality time with your family or with your children? Your position in Christ? Lost hope or dreams? A slender figure? Finances?

Whatever it may be, God doesn't expect you to do alone.

He does, however, expect us to do our part. We are God's warriors and we are strong in and because of Christ Jesus.

Do you ever realize how fighting for justice or getting your kids to obey is not always an easy process? It takes commitment, discipline, consistency, and persistence. The same is true of life.

Joel 3:9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.

It is time to quit complaining and making excuses on why we are not doing the things God is asking us to do. It's time to recapture those things in your life that God has given you authority and power over. You are not helpless or weak, because HE is strong. You are not a prisoner of your situation because HE has redeemed you by the blood of the lamb. You are not a victim, but..."more than a conquerer."

Let's proclaim that we are children of God, we are going to stand, we are going to make a difference, and we are going to recapture those things in which the enemy has tried to steal from us!

Stand FIRM!

Life has a way of interrupting our plans...whether it be circumstances, people, roadblocks, or unforeseeable mountains. That is just the way life is! That is how we learn, grow, and mature in our daily walk.

It can be frustrating when someone doesn't react the way you expect, or says something to hurt your ego. It is also frustrating when someone accuses of you of being someone or doing something that is out of your character.

Life's circumstances has the potential to steal our focus, as well as our joy. The job promotion you were expecting goes to someone else. The promise made to you is broken. You or someone you love is diagnosed with a life threatening (or even terminal) illness. The marriage you thought was firm is shaken. The friendship you hold dear to your heart is shattered into a million pieces. You poor your heart out to a person or in your blog and are totally rejected.

Everyone has life circumstances that rattle their "nicely-put-together" life. Maybe you are experiencing one now that has brought a whirlwind of chaos into your house or your thoughts. Welcome to this thing we call: "LIFE"...

That totally does NOT sound very encouraging! I agree...

Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
because you know that your brothers
throughout the world are undergoing
the same kind of sufferings.

1 Peter 5:9

I see in this verse that other people are not absent from the sufferings that I have in my life. Granted, this verse isn't talking about MY circumstance directly, BUT here lies a word of encouragement from the writer of 1 Peter.

Written in today's language (totally MY interpretation!!!), Peter may say to you today, in the midst of your frustration & hurt of your life's circumstance:

"Hello??? Seriously??? Why in the world are you allowing the devil to steal your joy & peace? Don't you see he has NO authority over you? Resist him! Tell him to take his lies and go elsewhere! I know this is hard for you, but you WILL get through this!!! Stand firm in God's TRUTH! Stand firm in what GOD has spoken to you! Stand firm in what YOU KNOW God has called you to!!! Do NOT give up! You are NOT alone in this type of suffering! I KNOW people who have been through this and THEY MADE IT! Be encouraged and know YOU WILL get to the other side of this!!!"

As I look at this verse in its original context, it doesn't quite say that very thing, but the idea behind it (and many others) is the same! We do NOT have to give in when life gets hard! We do NOT have to crawl into our safe and isolated shell when things or people come against us! We do NOT have to give up on the promises God has spoken to us JUST BECAUSE others don't see it! You don't have to cave when your world comes crashing down!

Peter says, "Resist him..." (meaning the devil, as written in the previous verse). When the lies (broken records) come into your mind, you REFUSE to believe them! "Well, how do I know if it's a lie or truth?" Read the Bible, and seek out what God says about you!

I will post soon on that subject, but for this moment, simply STAND FIRM and DO NOT give up!

Be encouraged through some of the other Bible verses I found regarding Standing Firm!

2 Timothy 2:9a Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"

Exodus 14:13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.

2 Chronicles 20:17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' "

Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place

2 Corinthians 1:21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 3:8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.

Luke 21:19 By standing firm you will gain life.

Matthew 24:13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Matthew 10:22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Proverbs 10:25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

Psalm 20:8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm

Job 11:15 then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear.

But the plans of the LORD
stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart
through all generations.

Psalm 33:11

Depression and withdrawal...

I lived in depression EVERY day of my life until recently (the past year or so)...

As a young girl, by the time I was 8 years old, I had been subjected to watching my alcoholic father severely beat my my mother & had already been sexually abused by two men. I'm guessing I wasn't a happy little girl back then. With those stats, I would have to say I've had depression at least 26/34 years that I have been alive!!!

I have learned over the past few months that when I need to evaluate myself (whether it be actions, attitudes, or heart motives), I tend to withdraw...BUT not like I am used to doing.

In the past, when I withdrew, it was because I couldn't stand being around other people. I NEEDED to be depressed. I NEEDED people to worry about me. I NEEDED to know that I mattered if I "fell off the face of the earth". I NEEDED to be the "pity party" for attention.

When I withdraw now, it is because I NEED to hear God speak to my heart loud and clear. I NEED to clear my mind of all of the distractions. I NEED to fill myself back up with God. I NEED to spend time seeking God's with scripture instead of seeking the voices of those I love and respect. I NEED to give the energy I have to my children before my friends. I NEED to let God revive, renew, and restore me. I NEED to bury myself in the Bible and teaching CDs and worship music. If I have exhausted all of what I've received from God, then I NEED to get filled back up so I can begin to give it all back out again.

The past couple days I have been dealing with some things. I REFUSE to give into depression. I REFUSE to surrender my destiny because of the devil's lies. I REFUSE to give up because things don't seem to be going as I hoped they would.

BUT...in order NOT to give into those things, I HAVE to surround myself with God, and God alone. Yes, there is a time to spend with people, and we NEED fellowship, but there is also a time when we have to get one-on-one with God.

God is always there waiting for us to talk to Him. WE ARE THE ONES who have to make the time to spend with Him. Do you know why I can post the things I do, or say the things I say with such passion and "knowing"??? Because I have spent time with God. I have gotten to know God's character by reading the Bible and because in the still, quiet moments, I allow myself to be "still" enough to listen, in my heart, for His direction and His encouragement, which ONLY He can give me.

I wouldn't have the strength and passion that I have if I did not spend this needed time with God! I wouldn't be able to encourage anyone with the words I write or speak if I didn't first saturate myself in the presence of God, my heavenly daddy.

So dear friends, I may seem depressed because of the withdrawal that you are used to seeing, BUT...I'm not. I'm just choosing to whine, groan, and complain to God first before picking up the phone to whine, groan, and complain to you. The funny thing is that by the time I'm done whining, groaning, and complaining to God, I'm already rejoicing, feeling hopeful, and ready to conquer the world again:) The great thing is that the speed of this "Training Camp" is increasing, so I'm getting lesson after lesson after lesson, one right after the next! So..... when I'm done whining to God, and feel like conquering the world...ha...another area that needs work "pops" up and I need to whine and complain and......all over again:)

So dear friend, even though it may seem as though I am depressed...I'm not. I'm just getting renewed and rejuvenated and rested so I can continue to do what I do best....love and encourage people:)

Roller Coaster...

I don't know about you, but this has been a hard week! Life was smooth-sailing, I felt like I was on top of the world, and little by little, I was getting side-swiped from every direction. And although this was a hard week, God was STILL here. He met me right where I was at and let me cry and moan and then helped me get back on my feet. When the next mudslide came, he let me cry and moan and AGAIN, helped me get back on my feet.

Jesus never promised us an easy life...

Jesus never told us we'd be without hardships...

Jesus never told us we would always be happy...

BUT...

He did promise to be our Rock! Our fortress! Perfect strength in our weakness! Our Shelter! Our comforter! Our guide! Our light! Our Hope! Our Joy!

He also promised that HE would NEVER leave us!!!

So............as this roller coaster continues to have ups and downs and twists and turns, I will put my seat belt on and stay firmly in my seat because Jesus Christ is the driver of this ride!


As I approach the top, I anticipate what's on the other side. With Jesus at the controls, I don't have to fear what I'm about to zoom into!


As I lose my stomach on the way down and feel like I am going to fly out of my seat, I hold my breath, tighten my grip, and go with the flow.


There are ups and downs of life, but through it all, Jesus Christ, as a firm foundation in my life, is the only thing that remains stable. Change is inevitable and expected...So why not hold onto the one thing that is never shaken on this roller-coaster-ride that we call life???

Motives...

May the words of my mouth
and the meditations of my heart
be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD,
my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Ah...I love this verse. It reminds me to check my actions and my heart attitudes, as well as my motives. I love the prospects that God has for me in 2010. He's promised to restore all those things that the enemy has stolen. It's so wonderful!

I'm also losing weight this year! Woo hoo! I'll finally be skinny, and pretty, and noticed, and...

My blog will touch many people, and my testimony will be heard, and God will make my name great, and...

My artwork is totally going to soar with God! I will FINALLY have something worthy enough to offer...

Music!!! I wrote and performed one song and now God is going to give me more songs, and people will actually be asking for me by name and...

HELLO???????????????????????

I'm sensing a "little" problem in my statements above. What about you???

It's so easy to get off track when we try to do things to glorify ourselves, instead of God! And it's even easier to "go there" and not realize you are camping right in the center of Camp Pride! Sometimes, it takes small whisper to get us back to a right heart attitude and other times, it takes tripping on a major stump to make us realize who we are trying to please.

I've had the "big stump" fall, and it was NOT fun at all! I want to be more aware of the nudges of God saying, "Um...Heaven...you might want to rethink that statement."

What is even more amazing is when I say "Yes, it is all because of God! The glory belongs to HIM! God, is soooooooooooooo great and is doing a great thing in me!", and not even realizing that I don't want to share the glory with God. I want it to myself! I want people to know how GREAT I am! And what I CAN do!

Yesterday, I "met" with God, and He showed me this in myself. The attitude that I wanted God to do these great things in and through me so that I would get noticed so that I would feel great about myself! Ouch!* Nothing like self-inflicted pain!!!

So, Jesus, once again, I pray that You would be glorified in all I do or say. That, as painful as it may be, that YOU would strip the wrong heart attitudes from me and plant the right ones in me. I truly am who I am because of who YOU ARE! I AM ALIVE because YOU LIVE IN ME! The only gifts I have are the ones that YOU PLACED IN ME! Lord, keep the words of my mouth and the meditations and motives of my heart pleasing to YOU! May I DAILY/every moment be aware of You and Your voice, that I may not trip on my prideful thoughts. Help me to lay them at the cross and leave them there! I thank You for still loving me and for not giving up on me! I welcome this journey of being humble before YOU! Please NEVER let me forget that I am who I am because of WHO YOU ARE!!! In Jesus' name, Amen~