I know it has been a long time since I have written anything. It has been a crazy busy summer! God, as always, is amazing. I can't describe all the amazing things that He has done in my life the last couple months, because there has been a lot.
What I will say is stay faithful. Keep dialy communication with God because that is the only way to keep your complete focus on him. Everyone is busy. I am extremely busy with work and life. It is easy to say you will do it later but will you? God desires you every day and wants you to be in His presence continually.
God answered a very important prayer today for someone very close to me. The situation my friend was in was very scary, but God took care of it. As this has been happening the last few weeks, it has really made me think about what is important, and it put a lot of things in perspective. Life is busy, but it is also too short to not live your life close to God.
7.17.2008
5.06.2008
10K
No, I didn't win $10,000...but I did run (and walk) my first 10K last weekend. For those of you who know me well, you know that I detest running. It all started in January when my good friend Lisa suggested that all of us girls run in the Flying Pig 10K in Cincinnati. We all agreed and the training started. Well, if you could call it training. The most I have ever ran was around the bases in softball. So, this was a challenge for me. I started slow, walking most of the time and running a little bit. Over time the running increased, and so did my shin splints. Apparently, that is something else that I get from my father. In February I did 6 miles in 1.5 hours and I knew I had to train harder if I was going to get through this! A few weeks before the race, I did get out more and just hoped for the best.
My goal of the weekend was to complete the 6.2 miles, in less than 1.5 hours. That is all I wanted. When we were waiting for the race to begin, it was pooring rain. Not just a drizzle, a heavy rain that the wind was blowing sideways. I prayed the whole time that God would hold it off just long enough to complete the race. I was nervous enough and didn't want the rain on top of it! As soon as we started the rain subsided and didn't rain again until we were leaving for the car! Yes, that is God. The coolest thing about the race were the people. Several times I almost got very emotional because there were people out there cheering us on. It was cold and wet, but they were out there encouraging people they didn't even know. That is what kept me going. In mile 3, two of my friends were waiting there and that really kept me going. My shins were so sore, but my friend said "you can do this - keep going!". Just what I needed to hear at that point in time (thanks Jody).
This got me thinking. In life there are times when we could give up. Times when we don't want to go on and complete the race. That is when we need our friends and family there encouraging us on. Giving us words to lift our spirits, and that are there congratulating us when we complete the race. We also need to be that friend to others. We need to be the encourager at times and lift others up. Don't get so lost in your own life that you forget about those around you. Even people you don't know. God could use you to encourage someone and you don't even know it. I have no doubt that God put these people in my life for a reason and used them for me to complete the race. I did complete it in 1:23 and God was with me the entire way. It was an amazing feeling crossing the finish line and knowing I completed the race and met my goals, with amazing friends there along the way.
My goal of the weekend was to complete the 6.2 miles, in less than 1.5 hours. That is all I wanted. When we were waiting for the race to begin, it was pooring rain. Not just a drizzle, a heavy rain that the wind was blowing sideways. I prayed the whole time that God would hold it off just long enough to complete the race. I was nervous enough and didn't want the rain on top of it! As soon as we started the rain subsided and didn't rain again until we were leaving for the car! Yes, that is God. The coolest thing about the race were the people. Several times I almost got very emotional because there were people out there cheering us on. It was cold and wet, but they were out there encouraging people they didn't even know. That is what kept me going. In mile 3, two of my friends were waiting there and that really kept me going. My shins were so sore, but my friend said "you can do this - keep going!". Just what I needed to hear at that point in time (thanks Jody).
This got me thinking. In life there are times when we could give up. Times when we don't want to go on and complete the race. That is when we need our friends and family there encouraging us on. Giving us words to lift our spirits, and that are there congratulating us when we complete the race. We also need to be that friend to others. We need to be the encourager at times and lift others up. Don't get so lost in your own life that you forget about those around you. Even people you don't know. God could use you to encourage someone and you don't even know it. I have no doubt that God put these people in my life for a reason and used them for me to complete the race. I did complete it in 1:23 and God was with me the entire way. It was an amazing feeling crossing the finish line and knowing I completed the race and met my goals, with amazing friends there along the way.
4.06.2008
I Am
Isaiah 41:10- So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Bread, Water, Way, Truth, Life, Beginning, End, Love...these are just a few ways to describe God. This week God has been showing me who He is. I have Bible Verse cards that I flip over each week that I can see daily. Isaiah 41:10 was the verse from this week. I have had a lot on my mind this week with a lot of decisions to make. I have been praying for clarity and wisdom of God's will, and expecting an answer. Well, all week God has been showing me who He is. Tuesday night at church, the pastor was speaking out of John and John 1:1 begins with how the Word is God. So, he proceeded to go through knowing who God is. I thought, Ok??? I was expecting an answer to my prayers, not a lesson on who God is. I know who God is...So, I sort of dismissed the lesson but I kept praying, and expecting an answer for what I was praying for.
Then, my week went on and it was a tough one. All week the theme was the same. Knowing who God is and being patient. On several instances, God was telling me the same thing. Then Isaiah 41:10 was spoken into my life several times. My bible verse cards, the worship leader read it during worship, then it was read on the radio when I got in the car. I literally said out loud, "what God...what are you trying to show me with this...I don't want to miss what you have for me, please, please show me". Then I went to the church I used to go to. I was supposed to go last week, but couldn't because I had to go to Ohio suddenly. Well, today I went and it was amazing. I got to see exactly who my God was. God is bigger than anything. It is all about Him and is all for Him. He is the one in control and showed me that His will is perfect and He is perfect. That is who God is. He is perfection and there is nothing that goes on in my life that He is not in control of. He is the Word and His Word says that He is my God. He was with me today, as he is everyday being my strength and holding me up in His hand.
Bread, Water, Way, Truth, Life, Beginning, End, Love...these are just a few ways to describe God. This week God has been showing me who He is. I have Bible Verse cards that I flip over each week that I can see daily. Isaiah 41:10 was the verse from this week. I have had a lot on my mind this week with a lot of decisions to make. I have been praying for clarity and wisdom of God's will, and expecting an answer. Well, all week God has been showing me who He is. Tuesday night at church, the pastor was speaking out of John and John 1:1 begins with how the Word is God. So, he proceeded to go through knowing who God is. I thought, Ok??? I was expecting an answer to my prayers, not a lesson on who God is. I know who God is...So, I sort of dismissed the lesson but I kept praying, and expecting an answer for what I was praying for.
Then, my week went on and it was a tough one. All week the theme was the same. Knowing who God is and being patient. On several instances, God was telling me the same thing. Then Isaiah 41:10 was spoken into my life several times. My bible verse cards, the worship leader read it during worship, then it was read on the radio when I got in the car. I literally said out loud, "what God...what are you trying to show me with this...I don't want to miss what you have for me, please, please show me". Then I went to the church I used to go to. I was supposed to go last week, but couldn't because I had to go to Ohio suddenly. Well, today I went and it was amazing. I got to see exactly who my God was. God is bigger than anything. It is all about Him and is all for Him. He is the one in control and showed me that His will is perfect and He is perfect. That is who God is. He is perfection and there is nothing that goes on in my life that He is not in control of. He is the Word and His Word says that He is my God. He was with me today, as he is everyday being my strength and holding me up in His hand.
2.11.2008
Walls
Joshua 6:2-5 - 2.Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in."
In my quiet time recently, I was lead to the story of Joshua and the city of Jericho. I have read and heard this story many times, but this particular time it was used to help me see where I have been for quite a while.
As I was reading this the other day it made me think of a long time friend of mine who always told me that I built "walls" up around my heart. He could see that when I was hurt, my defense was to put that wall right up to protect myself from being hurt again. I always thought he was crazy saying that, until I was in church a couple of Sundays ago (of course, it was the Sunday after Joshua was my quiet time). I was sitting in church and during worship I realized that for the last year I have had a wall built around my heart. The wall was not towards people, but it was towards God. I know that seems odd to say, but my prayer for the last year has been for God to use me, but to protect me from being hurt again. What I was doing was putting a stipulation on God to say "okay God, here I am. You can use me, but only if I don't get hurt. If I will get hurt, then I'm out". My wall was causing a rift in my relationship to God. Yes, I was reading my Bible daily and praying, but I wasn't listening. I couldn't hear God and I couldn't figure out why until I realized that I had a wall around my heart just like Jericho.
This was a big "AhHa" moment for me. I have to work on surrendering everything everday to Him and not to allow the wall to go back up. If there is a wall that you are holding up, let it go. Surrender it all to God and He will be your refuge.
In my quiet time recently, I was lead to the story of Joshua and the city of Jericho. I have read and heard this story many times, but this particular time it was used to help me see where I have been for quite a while.
As I was reading this the other day it made me think of a long time friend of mine who always told me that I built "walls" up around my heart. He could see that when I was hurt, my defense was to put that wall right up to protect myself from being hurt again. I always thought he was crazy saying that, until I was in church a couple of Sundays ago (of course, it was the Sunday after Joshua was my quiet time). I was sitting in church and during worship I realized that for the last year I have had a wall built around my heart. The wall was not towards people, but it was towards God. I know that seems odd to say, but my prayer for the last year has been for God to use me, but to protect me from being hurt again. What I was doing was putting a stipulation on God to say "okay God, here I am. You can use me, but only if I don't get hurt. If I will get hurt, then I'm out". My wall was causing a rift in my relationship to God. Yes, I was reading my Bible daily and praying, but I wasn't listening. I couldn't hear God and I couldn't figure out why until I realized that I had a wall around my heart just like Jericho.
This was a big "AhHa" moment for me. I have to work on surrendering everything everday to Him and not to allow the wall to go back up. If there is a wall that you are holding up, let it go. Surrender it all to God and He will be your refuge.
1.31.2008
Taking time
In your life do you ever find yourself doing something without thinking about it? Every morning I get up at usually the same time, depending on how many times I hit the snooze button. Then I go through my routine. Shower, quiet time, makeup, hair, dressed and out the door for work. The other day, I got it in my head that I was going to get up early and go to the gym because I wasn't going to be able to go to after work. I got up at 4:30...yes, I said it, 4:30 a.m. My routine was not normal that day. I actaully think that my body went into shock because I got up that early and on top of that I worked out for an hour!
It made me think that many times we just go through the motions of life. Often I just go through the motions of my day, doing what needs to be done. I get so busy that I don't stop and take time to really spend quality time with others. I am pulled in so many directions that I dont' take the time for what is important. God commanded us to love. Love others as He loves us. Would God ever get so busy that he didn't take the time to listen? That He wouldn't take the time to stop what he is doing to show His love? My life lately has been consumed with work and I have not been taking time to stop and show God's love to others. What is the point to life if we are not doing God's work? I hope when you read this you will stop focusing so much on what isn't getting done and focus more on those that are around you. Work will always be there tomorrow...people may not be.
It made me think that many times we just go through the motions of life. Often I just go through the motions of my day, doing what needs to be done. I get so busy that I don't stop and take time to really spend quality time with others. I am pulled in so many directions that I dont' take the time for what is important. God commanded us to love. Love others as He loves us. Would God ever get so busy that he didn't take the time to listen? That He wouldn't take the time to stop what he is doing to show His love? My life lately has been consumed with work and I have not been taking time to stop and show God's love to others. What is the point to life if we are not doing God's work? I hope when you read this you will stop focusing so much on what isn't getting done and focus more on those that are around you. Work will always be there tomorrow...people may not be.
1.05.2008
Praise Him
1 Peter 4:16 - However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
There is a song by Casting Crowns called Praise You In This Storm. It is a very popular song with a powerful meaning. It a hard to do, but when you stop focusing on your problem, and put the focus on God, you will see it, and be able to bear it, in a whole new way.
When I was home for Christmas we had a death in the family. Jim was my mothers cousin(Connie) husband. He was 59 years old and lost his battle with cancer on Christmas day. I did not know the family very well, because I have been away for so long, but what I remember of Jim, he was always smiling and laughing. He adored his wife and loved the Lord. What made me think of this song and verse was my mom telling me something Connie did the Sunday night before Christmas. My mom was at their house and their entire family was there. They knew it was any time that Jim would be going home to see the Lord and mom said that Connie cried out to the Lord to comfort and shelter her. In the face of her husbands death, she cried out to the Lord.
Whenever we face something that we think we will never get through, praise God. Praise Him for everything, no matter what it is. When you are going through something that is tough, if you see God's hand in it, you will learn more about yourself. Trials will make you stronger and will help you learn more about yourself. Praise God for the trial and for what He is going to teach you through it. It will be hard, and you may feel like you won't make it through, but God will comfort you and guide you.
There is a song by Casting Crowns called Praise You In This Storm. It is a very popular song with a powerful meaning. It a hard to do, but when you stop focusing on your problem, and put the focus on God, you will see it, and be able to bear it, in a whole new way.
When I was home for Christmas we had a death in the family. Jim was my mothers cousin(Connie) husband. He was 59 years old and lost his battle with cancer on Christmas day. I did not know the family very well, because I have been away for so long, but what I remember of Jim, he was always smiling and laughing. He adored his wife and loved the Lord. What made me think of this song and verse was my mom telling me something Connie did the Sunday night before Christmas. My mom was at their house and their entire family was there. They knew it was any time that Jim would be going home to see the Lord and mom said that Connie cried out to the Lord to comfort and shelter her. In the face of her husbands death, she cried out to the Lord.
Whenever we face something that we think we will never get through, praise God. Praise Him for everything, no matter what it is. When you are going through something that is tough, if you see God's hand in it, you will learn more about yourself. Trials will make you stronger and will help you learn more about yourself. Praise God for the trial and for what He is going to teach you through it. It will be hard, and you may feel like you won't make it through, but God will comfort you and guide you.
12.06.2007
Supply
Phillippians 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus
This morning it was freezing! I didn't sleep at all last night and was really tired, so on my way this morning I wanted Starbucks desperately! As I was trying to make the split decision, I decided that I didn't need it. I have been really praying about my finances and I didn't need to spend $4.00 on a tall chocolate mocha with organic milk. I wanted it, but didn't need to spend the money on something that I didn't need.
There is a difference between what we want and what we need. We live in a world that is bombarded with materialism. Make more money, have the bigger house, better car, more clothes, have more shoes than your neighbor (Not possible living next to Brittany). We see it all the time, and especially with Christmas coming up, it is more prevalent. I won't go off on that subject right now...back to Starbucks...
So, I didn't get Starbucks. I knew that was not where I needed to be spending money. So, this morning at work I got a phone call from one of my Reps. She was at Starbucks and wanted to know if I wanted her to bring me something back. Wooo Hooo! To me that was a little thing that God did just for me.
God will supply you with what you need and bring you blessings when you are obedient to him. I was studying the verse above and I found 4 other times where "glorious riches" was listed in the Bible. The Glorious Riches is God living within you. When you have God in your heart, leading your life, following Him always, He will always supply you with exactly what you need. God knows exactly what you need and will always take care of His children.
This morning it was freezing! I didn't sleep at all last night and was really tired, so on my way this morning I wanted Starbucks desperately! As I was trying to make the split decision, I decided that I didn't need it. I have been really praying about my finances and I didn't need to spend $4.00 on a tall chocolate mocha with organic milk. I wanted it, but didn't need to spend the money on something that I didn't need.
There is a difference between what we want and what we need. We live in a world that is bombarded with materialism. Make more money, have the bigger house, better car, more clothes, have more shoes than your neighbor (Not possible living next to Brittany). We see it all the time, and especially with Christmas coming up, it is more prevalent. I won't go off on that subject right now...back to Starbucks...
So, I didn't get Starbucks. I knew that was not where I needed to be spending money. So, this morning at work I got a phone call from one of my Reps. She was at Starbucks and wanted to know if I wanted her to bring me something back. Wooo Hooo! To me that was a little thing that God did just for me.
God will supply you with what you need and bring you blessings when you are obedient to him. I was studying the verse above and I found 4 other times where "glorious riches" was listed in the Bible. The Glorious Riches is God living within you. When you have God in your heart, leading your life, following Him always, He will always supply you with exactly what you need. God knows exactly what you need and will always take care of His children.
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