Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Almost There
Can't believe I'm finally here. The final day before my last 2 exams! Woo hoo! God is so good! Dylan "just so happens" to have today and tomorrow off from school so I have ALL day today to study and I get to go celebrate tomorrow after school. It feels so surreal! Words can not describe the excitement I feel. But we're not quite done yet, so I gotta get the emotions under wraps and focus on studying.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
My Verse for Today
With everything said in the previous blog...
Here is your Verse of the Day:
1 John 5:4 (NIV). For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith....... Thoughts on This Verse... This is the companion passage to 1 John 2:17 --''The world and its desires are passing away, but the one who ...does the will of God lives forever.'' Our destiny and future are not limited to the boundaries of existence tied to our little blue planet. Our future and our hope burst the boundaries of mortality and are tied to our faith in a resurrected and victorious Savior who is coming back to bring us to his eternal home. This faith is displayed by doing God's will even when most in our contemporary culture choose to chase what is fleeting and transient.
My thoughts on this verse are that there is nothing I can’t overcome! The thing that is going to help me overcome is…my faith! Praise ya Jesus!!!!!!
God has spoken to me numerous times over the past week and a half about what I believe and my faith. Do I believe what I see or am I going to have faith? What am I choosing to believe?
♪ But the voice of Truth tells me a different story ♫
♫ The voice of Truth says do not be afraid ♫
♪ Out of all the voices calling out to me ♪
♫ I will choose and listen to believe the voice of Truth ♪
Here is your Verse of the Day:
1 John 5:4 (NIV). For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith....... Thoughts on This Verse... This is the companion passage to 1 John 2:17 --''The world and its desires are passing away, but the one who ...does the will of God lives forever.'' Our destiny and future are not limited to the boundaries of existence tied to our little blue planet. Our future and our hope burst the boundaries of mortality and are tied to our faith in a resurrected and victorious Savior who is coming back to bring us to his eternal home. This faith is displayed by doing God's will even when most in our contemporary culture choose to chase what is fleeting and transient.
My thoughts on this verse are that there is nothing I can’t overcome! The thing that is going to help me overcome is…my faith! Praise ya Jesus!!!!!!
God has spoken to me numerous times over the past week and a half about what I believe and my faith. Do I believe what I see or am I going to have faith? What am I choosing to believe?
♪ But the voice of Truth tells me a different story ♫
♫ The voice of Truth says do not be afraid ♫
♪ Out of all the voices calling out to me ♪
♫ I will choose and listen to believe the voice of Truth ♪
Part of the Process
Today was a REALLY rough day. My son's behavior was very challenging at times and I had a hard time dealing with it. Quite a few times though, I can’t remember specifically which ones, songs came on the radio that spoke right to what I was going through. God has done that over and over again this last month and it has been amazing! He soothes my soul…heals my heart…forgives my transgressions…makes me new!
When I was in my bedroom talking to God about what had taken place and my actions concerning it I noticed a book open under my night stand. I grabbed it out to see what it was and I read “When the Going Gets Tough.” I just had to laugh. It is a “booklet” from Discovery House that I had started reading awhile ago and hadn’t finished. When I turned the book over it was right at the part that I had highlighted about trials (yet I was past this part in the reading, hmmmm). Almost immediately I read “More than the…was my lack of maturity in terms of self-control and Christlikeness.” OUCH!!!!! More than Dylan’s problem with his behavior was my reaction to it. Joyce talks about making spiritual/emotional maturity your goal. Lord please help me to GROW UP! It is something I am striving for and I hope I get there sooner than later! Not only for my sake, but the sake of my precious little boy!
♫ Lord I want to be just like you
Cause he wants to me just like me
I want to be a holy example
for his innocent eyes to see
Helping me a living Bible Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like you
Cause he wants to be like me ♫
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z8bXcBRIU0
When I was in my bedroom talking to God about what had taken place and my actions concerning it I noticed a book open under my night stand. I grabbed it out to see what it was and I read “When the Going Gets Tough.” I just had to laugh. It is a “booklet” from Discovery House that I had started reading awhile ago and hadn’t finished. When I turned the book over it was right at the part that I had highlighted about trials (yet I was past this part in the reading, hmmmm). Almost immediately I read “More than the…was my lack of maturity in terms of self-control and Christlikeness.” OUCH!!!!! More than Dylan’s problem with his behavior was my reaction to it. Joyce talks about making spiritual/emotional maturity your goal. Lord please help me to GROW UP! It is something I am striving for and I hope I get there sooner than later! Not only for my sake, but the sake of my precious little boy!
♫ Lord I want to be just like you
Cause he wants to me just like me
I want to be a holy example
for his innocent eyes to see
Helping me a living Bible Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like you
Cause he wants to be like me ♫
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z8bXcBRIU0
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
My Verse for Today
I have an app on Facebook called My Daily Verse. Mine for today is...
Here is your Verse of the Day:
Psalm 31:23-24 (NIV). Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD....... Thoughts on This Verse... Love the LORD! Be strong because of your hope in the LORD. In other words, recognize where your strength is. Acknowledge your source of grace. Give praise to God for his abundant mercy and power lavished on us through his Holy Spirit. The LORD God does preserve his people. He does honor faithfulness even if it is mocked in this world. The LORD will bless his people and deal justly with those who mock and abuse them.
Amen! This is exactly where I am. Praise the Lord!
Here is your Verse of the Day:
Psalm 31:23-24 (NIV). Love the LORD, all his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD....... Thoughts on This Verse... Love the LORD! Be strong because of your hope in the LORD. In other words, recognize where your strength is. Acknowledge your source of grace. Give praise to God for his abundant mercy and power lavished on us through his Holy Spirit. The LORD God does preserve his people. He does honor faithfulness even if it is mocked in this world. The LORD will bless his people and deal justly with those who mock and abuse them.
Amen! This is exactly where I am. Praise the Lord!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Pain
I continue to be amazed at how God has loved on me, provided for me, brought healing to me during this difficult time. When I went to the grocery store earlier, I was flipping through the set radio channels in my car. I "happened" to turn on 90.1 which I seldom listen to. I don't remember what exactly caught my attention, but the broadcast was on pain. There was a statement so profound and I feel a message from God that I wrote it down. That statement is
Pain is the avenue that leads us back to Christ.
It's the avenue that strengthens our faith.
How so very true! That is exactly what I have been living the last several days. I thank God that He doesn't waste a thing. He uses everything that happens in His life for a purpose. Even if we can't see it.
Pain is the avenue that leads us back to Christ.
It's the avenue that strengthens our faith.
How so very true! That is exactly what I have been living the last several days. I thank God that He doesn't waste a thing. He uses everything that happens in His life for a purpose. Even if we can't see it.
Growing taller
I believe God gave me a revelation earlier. I was thinking about how we must fight against the enemy. Our war is not against flesh and blood. I also remembered that the word tells us that Jesus' enemies will be made a footstool for Him.
The LORD says to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."
Then it hit me...every time our enemies are defeated and they become our footstool (through our connection to Christ of course) we grow taller!
If you stand on a footstool at your house it makes you taller. The same goes in the spirit with the defeat of our enemies.
The LORD says to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."
Then it hit me...every time our enemies are defeated and they become our footstool (through our connection to Christ of course) we grow taller!
If you stand on a footstool at your house it makes you taller. The same goes in the spirit with the defeat of our enemies.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
What a word!
There is a situation in my life that has been really hard for me to deal with. Some days are better than others and this afternoon/evening has been one of the rougher ones. After I put Dylan to bed, I grabbed New Day New You by Joyce Meyer and said "God I need a word." I opened the book and the title read "More Than Conquerors." I just had to smile. God's reminder that I will over come this situation. The whole devotion was good, but the lines that stood out the most were "Whenever a trial of any kind comes against you, always remember: This too, shall pass! Be confident that during the trial you will learn something that will help you in the future." I especially like the second one! I was reminded earlier about God perfecting us through trials and that gold is purified through flames. Every trial, every tribulation, every struggle is designed to help me become the person God created me to be.
I also decided to glance at the devotion on the other page to see what it had to say. The title read "Know Your Enemy." I knew exactly what it was referring to since I have been reminding myself for quite some time now that my fight is not against flesh and blood.
I also decided to glance at the devotion on the other page to see what it had to say. The title read "Know Your Enemy." I knew exactly what it was referring to since I have been reminding myself for quite some time now that my fight is not against flesh and blood.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
What a Journey
I came across an email I had sent a friend on June 16, 2009. I am amazed by the journey I have been on since then. Wow! What a ride it has been.
The email said "i have had you on my heart since we saw each other. i love you and want so much for you. i just know that God is gong to meet you during you period of fasting."
My reply:
Thank you. I know He will too. It's just in a matter of in what way.
I have STRUGGLED with walking in love and going out on a limb because of past hurts and that is not God's desire for me. I know that He answers prayer that is in line with His will and both of those things are His will for me.
In a nut shell, Dale told me years ago that I was like a clam. Hard on the outside, but soft and beautiful on the inside. You just had to get past the hard part (of course, the hard shell was my protection). When I found my way back to God, He told me His desire was to reverse that. For me to be soft and beautiful on the outside and strong ("hard") in Him on the inside (at the center). God began that work and I know He is faithful to finish it, but I have hit some road blocks along the way.
Candy, it is sooooooo my desire to be able to reach out to people and tell them about our wonderful and awesome Savior without being hurt by their reaction. I want so badly to walk in love and impact people for Him. I want to be a person that can tell someone about Jesus and have them spit on me, tell me I'm a freak, whatever and still see them the same and not run and hid/cry. At this point that's not the case.
Awhile ago I was listening to Rascal Flatts' song "When the sand runs out." The chorus says
I'm gonna stop lookin' back
and start movin' on
And learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart
and make my mark
I wanna leave something here
Go out on a ledge without any net
That's what I'm gonna be about
Yeah, I wanna be runnin' when the
sand runs out
That is soo how I wanna be. I told God I want to be a person that goes out on a limb. But what happens when I fall? Then I get the wind knocked out of me. He told me "Yeah and then you come to me and I'll breathe life back into you. Then you go out and do it again" Unfortunately, it hasn't exactly worked quite that well. Either I haven't run to Him after it or I haven't had the _________ (you fill in the blank) to get back up and do it again. But some day I will. I know that.
God has a wonderful calling on my life and I REFUSE to let the enemy steal that from Him or me. Some days are better than others and we all have our moments. There's times my focus is right on and others I get frustrated and discouraged (that's usually when I have my eyes on this world/my circumstance instead of Him). I am a child of the Most High God. I am a princess and the apple of my daddy's eye. I am an over comer and more than a conqueror. I am the righteousness of Christ, bought with a price. I belong to the One who created me and loves me more than anything. I am loved by God. Not only that, He delights in me. As much as I love Dylan and enjoy him, God does so with me on a much grander scale. There's is nothing that is too big for God and I know that with Him on my side who can be against me? I know that Jesus didn't die for me to just make it to heaven, but that He desires that I enjoy life and have it to the full. He didn't die for me to be depressed, angry, or muddle through, but to experience all "this life" has to offer.
But like I said earlier, what the mind knows matters not to the heart. I know all these things and believe them whole heartedly. It's a matter of receiving/living it though. That's going to TOTALLY take God to do that. They say that the longest distance is the distance between your head and your heart. I have battled this for years because of my intellect and my self-preservation. He started a good work a few weeks ago with my heart through a couple people I know. Now what I going through now with the fast is a continuation of that journey. I just gotta trust Him and hang on!
God Bless,
Genetta
I can't even begin to describe the emotion I feel as I read this email. The understanding that I know possess is just mind boggling to me. I am still a work in progress (as I always will be until Christ returns) but I have come so, so far from where I was when I wrote this. I understand a whole lot better about the things I wrote about and a whole lot more about being able to walk in them. Thank you Jesus!
The email said "i have had you on my heart since we saw each other. i love you and want so much for you. i just know that God is gong to meet you during you period of fasting."
My reply:
Thank you. I know He will too. It's just in a matter of in what way.
I have STRUGGLED with walking in love and going out on a limb because of past hurts and that is not God's desire for me. I know that He answers prayer that is in line with His will and both of those things are His will for me.
In a nut shell, Dale told me years ago that I was like a clam. Hard on the outside, but soft and beautiful on the inside. You just had to get past the hard part (of course, the hard shell was my protection). When I found my way back to God, He told me His desire was to reverse that. For me to be soft and beautiful on the outside and strong ("hard") in Him on the inside (at the center). God began that work and I know He is faithful to finish it, but I have hit some road blocks along the way.
Candy, it is sooooooo my desire to be able to reach out to people and tell them about our wonderful and awesome Savior without being hurt by their reaction. I want so badly to walk in love and impact people for Him. I want to be a person that can tell someone about Jesus and have them spit on me, tell me I'm a freak, whatever and still see them the same and not run and hid/cry. At this point that's not the case.
Awhile ago I was listening to Rascal Flatts' song "When the sand runs out." The chorus says
I'm gonna stop lookin' back
and start movin' on
And learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart
and make my mark
I wanna leave something here
Go out on a ledge without any net
That's what I'm gonna be about
Yeah, I wanna be runnin' when the
sand runs out
That is soo how I wanna be. I told God I want to be a person that goes out on a limb. But what happens when I fall? Then I get the wind knocked out of me. He told me "Yeah and then you come to me and I'll breathe life back into you. Then you go out and do it again" Unfortunately, it hasn't exactly worked quite that well. Either I haven't run to Him after it or I haven't had the _________ (you fill in the blank) to get back up and do it again. But some day I will. I know that.
God has a wonderful calling on my life and I REFUSE to let the enemy steal that from Him or me. Some days are better than others and we all have our moments. There's times my focus is right on and others I get frustrated and discouraged (that's usually when I have my eyes on this world/my circumstance instead of Him). I am a child of the Most High God. I am a princess and the apple of my daddy's eye. I am an over comer and more than a conqueror. I am the righteousness of Christ, bought with a price. I belong to the One who created me and loves me more than anything. I am loved by God. Not only that, He delights in me. As much as I love Dylan and enjoy him, God does so with me on a much grander scale. There's is nothing that is too big for God and I know that with Him on my side who can be against me? I know that Jesus didn't die for me to just make it to heaven, but that He desires that I enjoy life and have it to the full. He didn't die for me to be depressed, angry, or muddle through, but to experience all "this life" has to offer.
But like I said earlier, what the mind knows matters not to the heart. I know all these things and believe them whole heartedly. It's a matter of receiving/living it though. That's going to TOTALLY take God to do that. They say that the longest distance is the distance between your head and your heart. I have battled this for years because of my intellect and my self-preservation. He started a good work a few weeks ago with my heart through a couple people I know. Now what I going through now with the fast is a continuation of that journey. I just gotta trust Him and hang on!
God Bless,
Genetta
I can't even begin to describe the emotion I feel as I read this email. The understanding that I know possess is just mind boggling to me. I am still a work in progress (as I always will be until Christ returns) but I have come so, so far from where I was when I wrote this. I understand a whole lot better about the things I wrote about and a whole lot more about being able to walk in them. Thank you Jesus!
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