Awesome

My God is so awesome! 

I just have to say it. Again. And again

He has brought me from a shy, insecure and fearful woman to this crazy for Him, my worth secure in Him, not afraid when He is by my side chick! 

My God is AWESOME! 

Did I say that already?

Ooopps. 

Let me say it again!

MY GOD IS AWESOME!

He has become my Redeemer, my Provider, my Protector, the ROCK on which I stand, my Lover, my Friend who sticks closer than a brother and my EVERYTHING.

He has freed me from bitterness and unforgiveness towards my parents for divorcing. He has walked with me through the pain, anger and depression of separating and divorcing my husband. He has restored dreams, redeemed me, and reminded me of what He has promised me. 

He has given my beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, a garment of praise instead of heaviness - planted by Him to display His glory.

He placed me in a family and church that has supported, challenged and encouraged me. I am so very thankful for them.

My God is awesome. 

Waiting...

It seems I spend my life waiting for the next BIG thing to happen. I couldn’t wait to turn 16, then 18, go to college, get married, get anywhere really. My life seems to be running from one stage to the next. Instead of enjoying where I am, I’m always wishing for the next thing. Instead of learning and growing where I was, I looked for the next thing or moment to fill my need, to satisfy the longing in my heart. Unfortunately, when those things came along I was always broken hearted and disappointed.

It’s still a struggle. I get frustrated and want to throw the towel in on life. I get frustrated because I’m not financially where I want to be, and I figured I’d have a few kids and a good man to walk through life with by now. So many dreams and plans that seem empty and like they will never be fulfilled.  

So now what?!?

I wait. On the One whose plans for my life are beyond what I could dream or think up, whose timing is perfect, and really can fulfill all my deepest longings and desires.

I wait - doing what I know I’ve been called to do. I am to continue on in the pursuit of the most amazing relationship with my magnificent Creator. To learn and grow where I am. To help those around me develop into all that God has designed them to be. To know I have not been forgotten and He sees and knows my frustrations and disappointments.

“So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."

-1 Peter 1:13-16 The Message

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

Ephesians 3:20 The Message

“Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, His blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans He took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in Him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone.”

-Ephesians 1:7-12 The Message 

Oh Eve...

Oh Eve...

I know you didn't realize the consequences of your decision to take that bite. It looked good to eat and held promise of making you wise, knowing good AND evil, making you like God...

If you hadn't done it, I would still have perfect relationship with God and those around me...

Oh God...

I'm so amazed and astounded at Your wisdom. That You planned for the consequence of Eve's decision long before You created her. You determined to provide a way to bring me back into that perfect, sinless relationship with You...

Oh Jesus...

Thank you for living an obedient life, dying an incredibly horrible and painful death and defeating the power of sin, so I could have relationship with the Father again...

With You, I have the power to live life as God designed it to be!

"The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"
The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit."
Genesis 3:2-6 The Message

"Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, His blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans He took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in Him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth."
-Ephesians 1:7-10 The Message

Stepping Beyond the Fear of Rejection

Well Said!!!

http://www.paleoforwomen.com/food-love-hack-friday-stepping-beyond-the-fear-of-rejection/

"The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller."
Proverbs 11:24 The Message

Fast Food Letdown

I had a very exciting job opportunity come into my life. I was excited and very nervous. I love the job I have and will be sad to leave it. It doesn't pay a lot though and I would like to be able to move forward with my life a little faster than I am.

I was so excited and focused on what this job would bring that I let myself slide back into bad financial habits. I placed all my hope in the fact that I would be making more money, I could do more of the things I dream of, before I even had the job. Bad financial decisions lead to stress, stress leads to poor sleep and bad eating habits, those lead to a bunch of annoying health issues and a very unhappy, guilt-ridden, depressed me.

Thankfully, Saturday morning God smacked me in the face with this Scripture:

"Samuel said to them, 'Don't be fearful. It's true that you have done something very wrong. All the same, don't turn your back on God. Worship and serve Him heart and soul! Don't chase after ghost-gods. There's nothing to them. They can't help you. They're nothing but ghost-gods! God, simply because of who He is, is not going to walk off and leave His people. God took delight in making you into His very own people...But I beg of you, fear God and worship Him honestly and heartily. You've seen how greatly He has worked among you!'"
-1 Samuel 12:20-22, 24 The Message

I was placing my identity in ghost-gods. Ghost meaning a mere shadow or semblance. Something that looks like the real thing. Ever watched a fast food commercial, then went to the fast food restaurant and thought, "This isn't what I ordered? It looked bigger and better on TV!" That burger you saw on TV is just a ghost or semblance of what you will actually get. Gotta love advertisements!

Instead of trusting that God would take care of me, I was looking to my job to provide my sense of identity and worth. Again. Thankfully, He is always forgiving and when I miss it, He is waiting to welcome me back and help me learn more about myself and about WHO HE IS!

Having dreams and working hard to achieve them isn't a bad thing, but allowing them to take God's place in your life is.

"Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time."
-Psalm 34:19 The Message

"What happened was this: People knew God perfectly well, but when they didn't treat Him like God, refusing to worship Him, they trivialized themselves into silliness and confusion so that there was neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretended to know it all, but were illiterate regarding life. They traded the glory of God who holds the whole world in His hands for cheap figurines you can buy at any roadside stand."
-Romans 1:21-23 The Message

Good Gifts

Originally published on June 8, 2012.

My God is so GOOD!

This week He has proven His love for me in the little things.
I received 3 answers to prayer. They weren't big looooooooooooooooooong prayers, more like, "God, it would be nice to have an aloe vera plant. I would like to experiment with it.", "Daddy, I would really like to have a new heart necklace. I really love the one I have, but it is getting a little beat up from all the use.", or "I really need a hug from You. I need to know that someone really cares about me."

Someone sent me a text message telling me how awesome I am and reminding me how much God loves me. I got my hug!!! It made me cry.

I stopped to visit someone. They randomly(it was random to me, but not to my God!) asked me if I would like an aloe vera plant. Seriously? YES! Not just one plant, but one with like 10 babies that I can split...oh yeah!

I received a beautiful heart necklace as a bridesmaid gift today. I'm so excited to wear it for Tom & Sarah's wedding tomorrow!

These things might seem simple, but they really show me how much God cares for me. He is so amazing. He never fails to capture my heart again and again with the intimate love He shows for me.


"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
-Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
-James 1:17 NIV

Custom Made

"This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, The God who summons horses and chariots and armies— they lie down and then can't get up; they're snuffed out like so many candles: "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say 'Thank you!' —the coyotes and the buzzards— Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for Myself, a people custom-made to praise Me."
-Isaiah 43:16-21 The Message

God gave this passage to me on Monday. When I first read it I didn't really think much of it, but as the week progressed I saw what He did.

Vs. 16-17: He reminded me of Who He Is! He is in control and He is mighty and is working things out for me. He is my protector and I don't have to be afraid.

Vs. 18-20: So many times I get focused on what has happened in my past, my failures, and who I think I should be, that I can't see God for all the clouds and rain in my mind and heart! He reminded me that I can't change my past, but I can learn from it and go on to change my each and every day. I need to be focused on what is going on in my life and in the lives of those around me at this present moment. How can I see where I am going if I'm too busy looking behind me? Watch out for that tree! or in my case, poles.
I've been worrying and stressing about my lab tech job interview in 11 days. I had an interview with this company 7-8 years ago. I didn't get the job. I also worked as a co-op student in the plant previous to that. The manager I worked under thought I was too quiet and shy. (Yes. I used to be quiet and shy.) All I kept thinking about is the past rejection.
I know God has a great plan for my life. I believe this job will be the right fit at the right time. I will walk into the interview with confidence knowing that I have the skills and experience they are looking for and will be prepared to answer whatever questions they may have.
But my expectations are not in the job, they are in God. He is my provider and I have all that I need and more! He has been faithful, so no matter what happens I will keep trusting and seeking Him.

Vs. 21. This just makes me feel incredibly special and loved! I'm custom made to praise God! I'm chosen, made ESPECIALLY for Him. Dude.