Thursday, November 29, 2012

What Greater Looks Like

I recently began participating in an online Bible Study with Melissa Taylor from Proverbs 31 Ministries.  It is based on the book titled Greater by Pastor Steven Furtick.  This post is to link up to the weekly blog hop.

"God doesn't do greater thinks exclusively through great people. He does them through anyone who is willing to trust Him in greater ways".

I turned 40 two weeks ago.

Ouch. 

For the last few months I have been reflecting on many many things.  One of them being that I don't want to live my next 40 years (Lord willing) the same way I lived my last 40.

For the most part I have lived the majority of my life in a constant state of fear.  I suffered panic and anxiety attacks for most of my 20's.  I am not sure why I have been gripped by fear for most of my life.  I have been blessed with a wonderful childhood, a wonderful family to grow up in and I married my soul mate. God has been good to me and still I am bound by the chains of the enemy at times.  I don't want it to be that way in my next 40 years.  I want to be free.  I want to live my life for God, unafraid of what others my think or say about me. 

So what does greater look like for me?

-it means less of me and more of Him
-it means being able to look outside of myself and seeing the needs of others around me
-it means stepping out of my comfort zone and letting Him take the reigns of my life
-being great in the little things so I can do greater things for HIS glory

Trusting Him in greater ways .......that is exactly what greater looks like.




Monday, October 29, 2012

The Perfect Storm

The storm outside brewing, they name her. They have been watching her for over a week or more. Out there in the ocean churning, and gathering strength and speed. And I wonder....did she finally find the source of her strength? Has she finally discovered that it goes way beyond weather patterns and cold fronts and warm fronts and wind gusts? That all of this is beyond our control.

 
There is a different storm brewing inside me, but, one that churns just the same. Life goes by so quickly and sometimes it's as if I can't catch my breath. How do I slow it down? How do I squeeze everything I possibly can out of this one life? How do I live my best life, right here....right now?

"Time's a relentless river, it rages on and its a respecter of no one. And this, this is the only way to slow time: when I fully enter times swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention, I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here." ~Ann Voskamp

Be all here....in the moment. We all have just one life and don't we all just want to live it well? To make a difference? To see the bigger picture? To connect to our source and our strength?

 
"This is where God is. In the present. I AM- His very name. I want to take shoes off. I am, so full of the weight of the present, that time's river slows to a still...and God himself is timeless. This is a supreme gift, time, God Himself framed in the moment. I hardly breathe....and time is only of the essence, because time is the essence of God, I Am. This I need to consecrate: time.

When I am present, I meet I Am, the very presence of a present God. In His embrace, time loses all sense of speed and stress and space and stands so still and ....holy.

I am a hunter of beauty and I move slow and keep the eyes wide, every fiber of every muscle sensing all wonder and this is the thrill of the hunt.

I hunger to taste life.

To taste God. " Ann Voskamp- One Thousand Gifts

 
Dayspring provided me with a copy of One Thousand Gift's Photo Gift Book and the God in the Moment Perpetual Calendar for this review. All opinions are my own. If you have had the opportunity to read One Thousand Gift by Ann Voskamp...this would make a wonderful addition to your collection.



Today, as we are stuck inside because of the "perfect storm" that is brewing...I am thankful for times to just sit and be still in the presence of our Almighty God. Praying that all involved stay safe.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Love Delusions

Reflecting on the words of David this week:

Psalm 4
Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods
3 Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.

4 Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the LORD.

6 Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.

8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety.


Delusions = things that mislead the mind.

Lord, What are the delusions in my life that you are calling me out on? Help me to be aware of them and to replace them with your word.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

He Is With You

A reminder that He is indeed with us. Even on the days when we aren't sure about.




Hoping you are having a wonderful weekend.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

New Habit

I had no idea that when I read my devotions early this morning, how it was going to impact the rest of my day.

I have to be honest....I am NOT a morning person.

I like to stay nestled in bed until about 7:30 (sometimes a wee bit later). Then its a mad dash for a shower, clothes and out the door by 7:55 so that I can make it to work by 8:30.

But for the last few months I have been working really hard to get up when hubby gets up (6:45 a.m.) so that I can get some alone time in with my main man Jesus. If I don't I find I am easily distracted and before you know its bed time and I have not talked with Him all day. When that happens its no wonder I am grumpy, worried, and just plain lazy.

I started this back in August and I have been doing well with it. And you know what?

Its changing the way I think.

With that being said ...this morning I ended up falling back to sleep after hubby got up and I didnt wake up until 7:25. Immediately I began thinking how terrible I am and how I am not going to get everything in before work this morning. I took my shower, as I walked past my room....I saw my Bible and my devotional just sitting there. I said to myself "Ugh no time...I will have to do it later." I took two steps and something in me said.."Do it now".

I backed up sat down and read the words of Psalm 63, and Psalm 139:7-10. When I read todays reading my heart skipped a beat:

"I want you to learn a new habit. Try saying, "I trust you, Jesus" in response to whatever happens to you. If there is time, think about who I am in all My Power and Glory; ponder also the depth and and breadth of my love for you."

I have struggled, for as long as I can remember, from panic attacks. I am a natural born worry wart. If there is nothing to worry about ...don't worry I will find something. It was as if these words were speaking just to me.

I said a small prayer that no matter what may lay ahead today- that I would say "I trust you, Jesus."

Oh how I needed to be reminded of that because less than an hour later I received some startling news that shook my insides to the core.


(more tomorrow)

Monday, January 2, 2012

And I love Him....

Its funny how when my one word for this year (Abide) came to my mind, everything since then has just confirmed that that is the word that was meant for me this year.

I slipped out of bed this morning, opened my Jesus Calling devotional and my bible and this is what greeted me:

"Relax in my healing presence. As you spend time with Me, your thoughts tend to jump ahead to todays plans and problems. Bring your mind back to Me for refreshment and renewal. Let the light of My Presence soak into you, as you focus your thoughts on Me. Thus I equip you to face whatever the day brings. This sacrifice of time pleases Me and strengthens you. Do not skimp on our time together. Resist the clamor of tasks waiting to be done. You have chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from you."

Psalm 105:4~ Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.

Abide. Remain. Search for the Lord.

My heart swells at the thought that me searching after Him....pleases Him. I go to Him for refreshment...offering nothing. I need His Word in my life for me to breath. And He loves it. When I think about it- its selfish on my part. But He loves it.

In what other relationship on this earth- would that be the case? How is it possible that our relationship with Him can be totally opposite of anything we have ever encountered? Normally we would be accused of being self-centered, too needy. Not with Him.

And I love Him.