If you're like me, right now you're wondering where in the world 2010 went. It feels like just a little while ago we were heralding in the new decade. Now we are one year into it and welcoming 2011 with open arms. Something about a new year is refreshing. It has a way of allowing a person to forget what is behind and press on to what's ahead, but it can also be intimidating. Knowing what it may hold, and praying for things it will. You know... we hold the key to our success, in both the present and the future. We determine the course of our lives with a simple action that we don't often realize... our words.
In Proverbs 18:21 is says...
"Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose."
Pretty powerful, huh? With the words of your mouth you have the power to direct your future. So my realization of beauty in the new year is speak out your destiny. Choose your words carefully and speak life over your future. Is it easy? No, not all the time. I find myself regularly talking down about myself and my life, not realizing the powerful influence that it is having on my mindset and future. The good news is that our lives are held in the palms of the One who has more power than any earthly dominance. Even when we mess up and poorly choose our words, He still has a plan. He makes all things work together for the good of those who love him. So as we move into a new chapter of our lives, confess. Speak what you want to happen, don't give up and watch in amazement as your future lines up with your words.
December 31, 2010
December 22, 2010
Acceptance...
How many times do we look for acceptance in worldly aspects? We strive, pursue and live to please those around us and become accepted by those we come in contact with on a regular basis. Honestly, its tiring and a bit stressful. The good news is this...
"For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God and others will approve of you too."
-Romans 14:17,18
"However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them."
-John 6:37
The answer to all our daily stress to be perfect is simple... stop. Stop trying to please everyone and trying to live a flawless life in order to fulfill God's plans. The only thing you need to strive towards is your relationship with your Father. I frequently find myself trying to please everyone. I constantly wonder if someone took something I said the wrong way or assumed something that I didn't intend, and its personally exhausting and draining. I waste so much time wondering and worrying about how I appear to others, when I could spend that time getting to know the One who's opinion matters the most. Just like these verses say our acceptance is in Jesus. When we live to please Him, we will please those we need to. Living a life filled with Him is promised to be a life of abundance. When the goodness of God is on the inside of you, and you allow it to shine through, others won't be able to stay away. They will see something different in you; something they want. The love of God is attractive. So my realization of beauty in this is live to please One, not all. It is so much easier to strive to please someone who already loves you despite your flaws and mistakes; someone who will NEVER reject you. He accepts you despite the things you have done, may do and will do in the future. God IS love. He loves because thats who he is. So release the stress of trying to be perfect, and rest in the presence of the perfect One.
December 6, 2010
Lamentations...
Up until recently, I don't think I have ever read the book of Lamentations. I didn't even know where to find it in my Bible. It just never appealed to me as one of the books that I would get a lot of insight from. Just the fact that Lamentation means weeping, wailing, and mourning made me steer clear and read around it. But the other day I searched for a certain type of verse and came upon one in Lamentations. As I began to read, my eyes were opened. I read the context of the verse, and as I did, I discovered that this portion of Lamentations was exactly what I needed. Among the cries and groans of the Israelites so vividly described in this book was a sign of hope. A sign that even though they were suffering, they knew the true faithfulness and loving nature of God. So as I read, this is the portion that has come to be one of my favorite parts of the Bible...
"I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed. I remember it all- oh, how well I remember- the feeling of hitting the bottom. BUT there's one thing I remember; and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
God's loyal love couldn't have run out; his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It is a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst. Why? Because the Master won't ever walk out and fail to return. If He works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense."
Lamentations 3:22-33
Despite the stressful world we live in, God is bigger and stronger than anything we are facing. His love is enough to cover every area of our problems and then some. He doesn't say there won't be struggles, but He does promise to help us through them and never leave our sides. He makes all things work together for the good of those who love them. There is such peace in that. So my realization of beauty in this is that God knows the struggles we go through. Cry out to him... moan, sigh, groan if you want, God knows the pain that this world brings and when we are honest with Him about how we feel, it opens up doors for healing and peace. He's with you... he never left.
"I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed. I remember it all- oh, how well I remember- the feeling of hitting the bottom. BUT there's one thing I remember; and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
God's loyal love couldn't have run out; his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It is a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst. Why? Because the Master won't ever walk out and fail to return. If He works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense."
Lamentations 3:22-33
Despite the stressful world we live in, God is bigger and stronger than anything we are facing. His love is enough to cover every area of our problems and then some. He doesn't say there won't be struggles, but He does promise to help us through them and never leave our sides. He makes all things work together for the good of those who love them. There is such peace in that. So my realization of beauty in this is that God knows the struggles we go through. Cry out to him... moan, sigh, groan if you want, God knows the pain that this world brings and when we are honest with Him about how we feel, it opens up doors for healing and peace. He's with you... he never left.
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