Ok, I've been wanting to do this for awhile. I'm going to to try something new on here. I'm going to do a series of blog entries. Usually I write about one thing, then move on to something different. But, this particular series has been in the back of my head for awhile now. So... What is it? It's called, "What is Better?"
In this set of posts, I'm going to to talk about the string of AT&T commercials that have been released over the last few months. They all feature a man sitting with a group of kids that are probably 5 or 6 years old. In each one, they are talking about what is better: fast or slow, bigger or smaller, more or less, doing one thing or doing more than one thing.
I know that the commercials are cute. I know that they are funny. I know that technically they are trying to grab the attention of the adults that AT&T wants to have as customers. But, I think the audience they actually speak to is much younger. The kids in the commercials get kids not just watching them, but also quoting them. Kids aren't going to run out and buy a cell phone or a plan with AT&T, but they are listening to those commercials, and I just don't like what the commercials are teaching them. I think our kids are getting a set of completely wrong ideas and values from these commercials. And, I think a lot of adults don't really take the time to see past the cute kids with the witty answers to the real message that's being conveyed.
So, I guess you could say that I'm about to get on a small soapbox for a few posts. But, I do think it's worth writing! And, I definitely think it's worth reading! Look for the first one early next week!
In the meantime, I am SO thankful for all this glorious rain we're getting! We need it SO badly! But, it is making it hard for me to get out from under this blanket and off my couch...
Friday, September 20, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Steal My Show!
I used to have the hardest time accepting compliments. No matter what the compliment was, I would very quickly respond with some reason why it was wrong. If someone said my hair looked nice, I would point out the part that was out of place. If someone said my outfit was cute, I would point out that I had nothing to wear and it was all I could find. But, the compliments about things I had done were the ones I would discount more than anything else. Anytime someone said, "You did such a good job on (fill in the blank)," I would very quickly make sure they knew the mistakes I made while doing it, the parts that didn't work, or why I just didn't really do a good job in general.
Why in the world did I do this? Who knows! Maybe I was just fishing for more compliments, especially since that's what usually followed my negative responses. Maybe I really didn't believe the compliments, and I was really, honestly discounting them. Maybe I just didn't believe that I was deserving of the compliment. I could probably spend three days psychoanalyzing all the reasons why, but that's not really the important thing here! So, I'll spare you the details on that one!
The good thing is, I'm not that way anymore. Now, when someone gives me a compliment, I'm able to accept it. It might be a simple, "Thank you." I might thank the person and take it a step farther by agreeing with them. Or, sometimes I even go so far as to point out things that I see as being really good! My responses are just completely different now! But, that's not even the important thing here. The important thing is WHY I respond differently!
There's actually a song by TobyMac that explains this really well. (If you been with me for any length of time, it's no surprise to you that there's a music connection here!) The song is called "Steal My Show." It's all about how he's about to go on stage for a concert, and he's asking God to steal his show and use him to say what He wants to say to the people in the crowd. I love the song, but there's one part of it that really makes it apply to anyone:
No matter who we are,
No matter what we do,
Every day we can choose to say
If You wanna steal my show,
I'll sit back and watch you go.
If You've got something to say,
Go on and take it away.
This is the difference: Every time I'm doing anything, this song pops into my head, and very quickly turns into a prayer. I can be writing a Sunday school lesson, getting ready for a meeting, writing a blog entry, making a wreath, or planning a major event, my prayer is still the same. "God, this is Yours. Use me to make this great!" And, you know... He usually does!
Giving God control of things also gives Him control of the outcome. I've been able to do things I never thought I could do, better than I thought I could do them, simply because I constantly ask God to take them over while I'm doing them. And this is what makes it so easy to accept compliments so graciously. When I ask God to steal my show, I know the show is going to be good! It's NOT me that's doing it!! It's all Him!! So, of course compliments will come! I get excited when I get complimented, because I know it's not really me that's being complimented. It's the work God did through me. And, I love to be able to point out to people that whatever it is that I've done was actually a "God thing!"
So, what show can you let God steal?
All things are from Him and through Him and for Him. May the glory be to Him forever. Amen. ~Romans 11:36
So, whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, you should do it all for God's glory. ~1 Corinthians 10:31
Why in the world did I do this? Who knows! Maybe I was just fishing for more compliments, especially since that's what usually followed my negative responses. Maybe I really didn't believe the compliments, and I was really, honestly discounting them. Maybe I just didn't believe that I was deserving of the compliment. I could probably spend three days psychoanalyzing all the reasons why, but that's not really the important thing here! So, I'll spare you the details on that one!
The good thing is, I'm not that way anymore. Now, when someone gives me a compliment, I'm able to accept it. It might be a simple, "Thank you." I might thank the person and take it a step farther by agreeing with them. Or, sometimes I even go so far as to point out things that I see as being really good! My responses are just completely different now! But, that's not even the important thing here. The important thing is WHY I respond differently!
There's actually a song by TobyMac that explains this really well. (If you been with me for any length of time, it's no surprise to you that there's a music connection here!) The song is called "Steal My Show." It's all about how he's about to go on stage for a concert, and he's asking God to steal his show and use him to say what He wants to say to the people in the crowd. I love the song, but there's one part of it that really makes it apply to anyone:
No matter who we are,
No matter what we do,
Every day we can choose to say
If You wanna steal my show,
I'll sit back and watch you go.
If You've got something to say,
Go on and take it away.
This is the difference: Every time I'm doing anything, this song pops into my head, and very quickly turns into a prayer. I can be writing a Sunday school lesson, getting ready for a meeting, writing a blog entry, making a wreath, or planning a major event, my prayer is still the same. "God, this is Yours. Use me to make this great!" And, you know... He usually does!
Giving God control of things also gives Him control of the outcome. I've been able to do things I never thought I could do, better than I thought I could do them, simply because I constantly ask God to take them over while I'm doing them. And this is what makes it so easy to accept compliments so graciously. When I ask God to steal my show, I know the show is going to be good! It's NOT me that's doing it!! It's all Him!! So, of course compliments will come! I get excited when I get complimented, because I know it's not really me that's being complimented. It's the work God did through me. And, I love to be able to point out to people that whatever it is that I've done was actually a "God thing!"
So, what show can you let God steal?
All things are from Him and through Him and for Him. May the glory be to Him forever. Amen. ~Romans 11:36
So, whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, you should do it all for God's glory. ~1 Corinthians 10:31
Thursday, August 22, 2013
It's MY Church!!!
Well... We started the week off with another hospital stay. This one was only one night, and the doctors finally explained to us that, because Matt is on blood thinners, he will be admitted any time he has blood in his vomit. (Sorry to be so gross!) But, it's strictly a precaution. They have to run tests to make sure he's not bleeding internally, and the tests can't really be done in his doctor's office. So, that took my panic level down about ten notches! As soon as he said the word "hospital," my mind instantly started racing back to December of 2011 when we were there for 21 days. It was such a relief to know that it wasn't a big deal! But, I'm also not excited about the fact that we may have many more of these short little stays in our future.
Anyway... Once again, I had a lot of time sitting in my beloved chair-bed next to him while we were there. During that time, I was overwhelmed with texts, calls, emails, and Facebook messages from friends of ours who were asking how we were doing and if we needed anything. This really got me thinking about the amazing group of people we are now so closely intertwined with at church. And, it made me really upset about the bad name that "church" seems to have these days.
Churches, in general, have come under a lot of fire lately. And, as much as I hate to admit it, a lot of the criticism is warranted. Churches have become more of a country club and less of a place where the hands and feet of Christ are truly moving. Now wait... Before you lynch me for saying that... Think about your own church. Maybe the one you attend right now, maybe ones you have attended in the past. I would bet that the majority of the people who attend are VERY similar in race, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, etc. There are lots of groups (dare I call them cliques?) that have sprung out of small groups, Sunday school classes, committees, organizations, etc. So, everyone has their little group of people they gravitate toward when they are there. None of these things in isolation are necessarily bad. But, if you are that person, walking in as a visitor, who doesn't happen to "fit the mold," you feel like an outsider from the get go. A diverse congregation is much more comfortable to a visitor walking in for the first time, but most churches just are not diverse.
So, right now you're probably wondering why this bad rap upsets me if I believe it is, at least in part, warranted. Well... The answer to that is simple: It's because of MY church!
Yes, I go to one of those very non-diverse churches. And it has, on occasion, been referred to as a country club. But, that's based on what you see from a distance. Once you get inside our four walls (or however many walls we actually have!), what you experience is completely different. At least what we experienced was completely different! We are surrounded by people who truly understand how to share the love of Christ with others!
In 2011, we had only visited New World UMC a handful of times when Matt got sick and went into the hospital. The minute the church got word that he was there, the help and support came pouring out like I've never seen before! We were visited multiple times by the pastor and associate pastor. Meals were brought to my house for my mom and kids for three weeks straight! They raked our leave after our trees all dumped...43 bags worth! And, they put Christmas lights on our house since we didn't even know if Matt would be home by Christmas. But, most importantly, they prayed for us constantly! And we were STRANGERS to them! Most of the people helping us were people we had never even met!
And THAT is why I get upset about the bad rap that churches have right now. The people who are saying all those negative things don't know MY church!
See, church isn't about what denomination you are, or which service you go to on Sunday morning. It's not even about going on Sunday morning! It's about sharing Christ with others whenever you can. The "church" just gives us an opportunity to unite with other people who have that same goal. We get to worship together, study the Bible together, and hang out together. And, that's all great. Those are the things that keep the church going! They are a vital part of the experience! But, to me, church is SO much more than that! The amazing people in MY church cared for my family when I couldn't do it myself, without even knowing me. I wish everyone could come experience what these people have to offer!
So, here's my challenge to you, if you don't already do this! Shift how you think about church. Church is not a place. It's not a worship service. It's not a meeting or a committee. Church is what we do! It's who we are! It is a part of every word we say and every step we take! We are called to be the church in everything we do! So, the next time you see a visitor walk in the door of your church, or the next time you're at the grocery store, or the next time you have a chance to get involved in a mission of any kind, just stop and think, "Do I go to church? Or AM I THE CHURCH?" And then proceed accordingly!
You are the body of Christ and parts of each other. ~1 Corinthians 12:27
He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to every creature..." ~Mark 16:15
Anyway... Once again, I had a lot of time sitting in my beloved chair-bed next to him while we were there. During that time, I was overwhelmed with texts, calls, emails, and Facebook messages from friends of ours who were asking how we were doing and if we needed anything. This really got me thinking about the amazing group of people we are now so closely intertwined with at church. And, it made me really upset about the bad name that "church" seems to have these days.
Churches, in general, have come under a lot of fire lately. And, as much as I hate to admit it, a lot of the criticism is warranted. Churches have become more of a country club and less of a place where the hands and feet of Christ are truly moving. Now wait... Before you lynch me for saying that... Think about your own church. Maybe the one you attend right now, maybe ones you have attended in the past. I would bet that the majority of the people who attend are VERY similar in race, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, etc. There are lots of groups (dare I call them cliques?) that have sprung out of small groups, Sunday school classes, committees, organizations, etc. So, everyone has their little group of people they gravitate toward when they are there. None of these things in isolation are necessarily bad. But, if you are that person, walking in as a visitor, who doesn't happen to "fit the mold," you feel like an outsider from the get go. A diverse congregation is much more comfortable to a visitor walking in for the first time, but most churches just are not diverse.
So, right now you're probably wondering why this bad rap upsets me if I believe it is, at least in part, warranted. Well... The answer to that is simple: It's because of MY church!
Yes, I go to one of those very non-diverse churches. And it has, on occasion, been referred to as a country club. But, that's based on what you see from a distance. Once you get inside our four walls (or however many walls we actually have!), what you experience is completely different. At least what we experienced was completely different! We are surrounded by people who truly understand how to share the love of Christ with others!
In 2011, we had only visited New World UMC a handful of times when Matt got sick and went into the hospital. The minute the church got word that he was there, the help and support came pouring out like I've never seen before! We were visited multiple times by the pastor and associate pastor. Meals were brought to my house for my mom and kids for three weeks straight! They raked our leave after our trees all dumped...43 bags worth! And, they put Christmas lights on our house since we didn't even know if Matt would be home by Christmas. But, most importantly, they prayed for us constantly! And we were STRANGERS to them! Most of the people helping us were people we had never even met!
And THAT is why I get upset about the bad rap that churches have right now. The people who are saying all those negative things don't know MY church!
See, church isn't about what denomination you are, or which service you go to on Sunday morning. It's not even about going on Sunday morning! It's about sharing Christ with others whenever you can. The "church" just gives us an opportunity to unite with other people who have that same goal. We get to worship together, study the Bible together, and hang out together. And, that's all great. Those are the things that keep the church going! They are a vital part of the experience! But, to me, church is SO much more than that! The amazing people in MY church cared for my family when I couldn't do it myself, without even knowing me. I wish everyone could come experience what these people have to offer!
So, here's my challenge to you, if you don't already do this! Shift how you think about church. Church is not a place. It's not a worship service. It's not a meeting or a committee. Church is what we do! It's who we are! It is a part of every word we say and every step we take! We are called to be the church in everything we do! So, the next time you see a visitor walk in the door of your church, or the next time you're at the grocery store, or the next time you have a chance to get involved in a mission of any kind, just stop and think, "Do I go to church? Or AM I THE CHURCH?" And then proceed accordingly!
You are the body of Christ and parts of each other. ~1 Corinthians 12:27
He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to every creature..." ~Mark 16:15
Saturday, August 17, 2013
How Dark Are Your Tan Lines?
This picture cracks me up! I saw it floating around on Facebook not too long ago, but when I saw it, the label over the guy with no tan said, "Minister." Haha! I got a kick out of that! But, no matter what labels are on the picture, you get the idea. If you are outside everyday doing the same activity, you're going to get some pretty dark tan lines from the stuff you wear while you're doing it. And, if you never go outside, you'll stay white as a ghost with no tan lines at all. My problem is that I have about 87 different sets of tan lines. I have them from two different bathing suits, the shorts and tank tops I wore on vacation, and my flip flops. But, my darkest ones are from running. My feet are whiter than the rest of my legs, and I think the lines from my Nike shorts are probably permanent now!
Tan lines remind me a lot of our relationship with God. (I'm really not crazy! Just bear with me on this one!) Think about it for a minute... The more you are exposed to the sun, the darker your tan lines, right? Well, the more you expose yourself to God, the deeper your relationship gets with Him. You can expose yourself to Him once a week, once a day, or continually. It's up to you. But, the more you do it, the darker your spiritual tan lines get.
I'm really working on my spiritual tan! For most of my life I was the epitome of a Sunday Christian. I went to church almost every Sunday, but that was about it. I was lukewarm at best. If I had any spiritual tan lines, they were pretty light, and I'm pretty sure no one else could see them. Over the last few years, I've been making a conscious effort to change that. Matthew 22:37 says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." That's exactly what I try to do! I want to have spiritual tan lines that are always getting darker and more defined. But, more than that, I want to live my life so that others can see God through me. I want everyone to see how tan I am!
So, how do you work on your spiritual tan lines? You do anything you can to get closer to God. And that looks different for everyone. For me, it started with changing the way I worship. I don't just go to church. I get lost in the service! I let the music speak to soul, I carefully listen to the sermon to see how God is speaking to me through it, I look for any and every opportunity to let God fill me enough to last me until the next Sunday. I also get into the Bible more. If something is going on, and I'm not sure what to do, I turn to the Bible for the answers. It's like my little owner's manual for life. I read bits and pieces of it daily just to keep me uplifted and connected to Him. I listen to praise music all the time. I've stopped listening to anything else. Every time I turn on the radio or Pandora on my phone, I get blasted with messages of God's love. I look for ways to share God with others by being in service to people whenever I can. And, probably most importantly, I pray all the time! I am almost constantly in dialogue with God! Sometimes it's a long, meditative prayer session. Sometimes it's just a thought or two as I'm going through my day. Sometimes, I'm just listening to Him. And I always pray myself to sleep at night.
What works for me may not work for you. You have to get to know God in your own way. You have to decide how you need to work on your own spiritual tan lines.
But, I want to caution you against the spiritual sunburn! Think of kids who go to church camp. They come back on fire for God, ready to change everything about their lives and live for Him. But, usually that fire fades pretty quickly just like a sunburn does. If you overexpose yourself all at one time with no idea of how to maintain that exposure on a daily basis, you'll just get overwhelmed and go right back to what you've always done. Start from where you are and increase your exposure gradually. If you connect with God once a week, try to increase that to 2 or 3 times a week. Get used to that, then try for everyday. What I think you'll find is that the more you expose yourself to God, the more you are going to crave a deeper relationship with Him, and it will start to unfold naturally. You will get to a point where all you want to do is love Him with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind! And your life will be forever changed because of it! At least, that's what happened for me!
So, take a look at your spiritual tan lines. How dark are they? But more importantly, how are you going to make them darker?
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
New and Improved!
Praise in the Storm got a facelift! When I started this blog, I had no idea how to do anything other than use the ready-made templates available in Blogger. So, I chose one and started blogging. I thought I was big time because I figured out how to change the font and font color!
Then, last summer, I created a new blog for my classroom ideas. I spent days and days searching the web trying to figure out how to customize everything about it. And, I was successful! But, after that, I couldn't stand this blog! It just looked so BLAH! But, I never sat down and took the time to recreate it... until now!
Thank goodness the process was much faster this time! I got to do a lot of copying and pasting from my teacher blog, so this time it only took me about 2 days. And now I really like how it looks!
I know I've said before that I was going to try to post more regularly.... Well, that was a FAIL! It didn't happen! But I really am going to post more regularly! The difference is that before, I was just saying that I was going to do it. But, this time I have been feeling extremely nudged to do it. It seems like almost everywhere I go, God is showing me something that I could share by writing about it. I had to start making a list on my iPhone of all the ideas He's given me, so that I don't forget them! He gives me these little nudges all the time... while I'm running, on vacation, even when I'm watching TV! So, I have lots of good stuff to share, and it will be coming soon!
If you read this blog, and you like it, please feel free to share it! You are more than welcome to share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or whatever your social media site of choice may be! Thanks for reading!
Then, last summer, I created a new blog for my classroom ideas. I spent days and days searching the web trying to figure out how to customize everything about it. And, I was successful! But, after that, I couldn't stand this blog! It just looked so BLAH! But, I never sat down and took the time to recreate it... until now!
Thank goodness the process was much faster this time! I got to do a lot of copying and pasting from my teacher blog, so this time it only took me about 2 days. And now I really like how it looks!
I know I've said before that I was going to try to post more regularly.... Well, that was a FAIL! It didn't happen! But I really am going to post more regularly! The difference is that before, I was just saying that I was going to do it. But, this time I have been feeling extremely nudged to do it. It seems like almost everywhere I go, God is showing me something that I could share by writing about it. I had to start making a list on my iPhone of all the ideas He's given me, so that I don't forget them! He gives me these little nudges all the time... while I'm running, on vacation, even when I'm watching TV! So, I have lots of good stuff to share, and it will be coming soon!
If you read this blog, and you like it, please feel free to share it! You are more than welcome to share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or whatever your social media site of choice may be! Thanks for reading!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Only One Mile????
By now most of you know that I like to run. I like it for a lot of reasons. It's good exercise, it's good stress relief, and it gives me a small window of time where I'm alone with my thoughts. I always listen to my Casting Crowns or Contemporary Christian stations on Pandora while I run. I just get lost in the music and let my feet do the work. And, every once in awhile I run without music. On these days, I spend that time time either praying or just listening to what God has to say to me.
But, since October, I think I've run a grand total of 4 times. (Pretty impressive, huh?) I've wanted to go more than that, but there was always a reason why I didn't...too tired, too busy, too cold, too late... Personally, I like to refer to these "reasons" as excuses. That's all they are. If I had really wanted to run, I would've gotten off my backside and done it! The really sad part is that I actually ran a half-marathon at the end of October! I was going to take a week off after that, but that week turned into over 4 months!
Well, as of last week, I am officially staying at home and am no longer working. So, most of my excuses are just plain gone. I was actually really excited that I would be able to run pretty much every day. But, I was really sick last week. So, there was no way I could. I couldn't do much of anything except lay in bed. Over the weekend I started feeling better, so today I decided it was a good idea to go run.
I have a route that I follow that is right at 3 miles. I walked out of my neighborhood and started running. It didn't take very long before my lungs were saying, "Are you serious right now? You want us to do what??" I only made it a mile before I had to slow down and walk. I switched back and forth between walking and running for the second mile, then I just walked the third mile.
During that third mile, I was thinking, "Why did I even come out here? This is so stupid! One mile? That's all I can do? One mile???" I mean, four months ago I ran 13.1 miles without walking at all. And now, all I could do was run one mile. Sounds pretty pathetic, I know. But then I started thinking about the first time I ever ran (by choice) about 8 years ago. I was all excited that I ran half a mile! I was so proud of myself because I thought half a mile was such a long distance!
If you would have asked me that day if I ever thought I'd run a half marathon, I would have called you crazy! Even 3 years ago I would have said there was no way I'd ever be able to run that far. But, last summer I decided I was going to do it...and I did! But, here's the catch...I did NOT do it by myself. I had to call on God to help me throughout the entire process. On days when I didn't want to train, He helped me get out there. On days when I was hurt, He helped me get through it. On the day of the race, He gave me the strength to make it to the finish line. And, I am convinced to this day that He carried me for the first 6 miles. I wouldn't have been able to do it without Him. I just wouldn't have.
The whole point is that there are lots of things that we are able to do, even if we think we can't. When you call on God to help you, You have the power to do anything! You still have to put forth the work and effort. You still have to be dedicated to what you are doing. But He can absolutely turn the impossible into the possible. All you have to do is take that first step and ask Him to help you with the second step.
So, I don't think that God sees my miserable run today as the giant failure that I see it as. I think He sees it as a first step. It wasn't perfect. It wasn't fabulous. It wasn't even something I can believe I just admitted! But, it was a first step. If I stay committed to running and continue to ask Him to help me do it, I'll be running a full marathon before you know it!
No matter what it is that you are facing, don't make yourself face it alone! Ask God to help you and He will. Even if your attempts are so far from perfect you're ashamed to admit you tried! You can do it with His help. All you have to do is ask!
I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. ~Philippians 4:13
But, since October, I think I've run a grand total of 4 times. (Pretty impressive, huh?) I've wanted to go more than that, but there was always a reason why I didn't...too tired, too busy, too cold, too late... Personally, I like to refer to these "reasons" as excuses. That's all they are. If I had really wanted to run, I would've gotten off my backside and done it! The really sad part is that I actually ran a half-marathon at the end of October! I was going to take a week off after that, but that week turned into over 4 months!
Well, as of last week, I am officially staying at home and am no longer working. So, most of my excuses are just plain gone. I was actually really excited that I would be able to run pretty much every day. But, I was really sick last week. So, there was no way I could. I couldn't do much of anything except lay in bed. Over the weekend I started feeling better, so today I decided it was a good idea to go run.
I have a route that I follow that is right at 3 miles. I walked out of my neighborhood and started running. It didn't take very long before my lungs were saying, "Are you serious right now? You want us to do what??" I only made it a mile before I had to slow down and walk. I switched back and forth between walking and running for the second mile, then I just walked the third mile.
During that third mile, I was thinking, "Why did I even come out here? This is so stupid! One mile? That's all I can do? One mile???" I mean, four months ago I ran 13.1 miles without walking at all. And now, all I could do was run one mile. Sounds pretty pathetic, I know. But then I started thinking about the first time I ever ran (by choice) about 8 years ago. I was all excited that I ran half a mile! I was so proud of myself because I thought half a mile was such a long distance!
If you would have asked me that day if I ever thought I'd run a half marathon, I would have called you crazy! Even 3 years ago I would have said there was no way I'd ever be able to run that far. But, last summer I decided I was going to do it...and I did! But, here's the catch...I did NOT do it by myself. I had to call on God to help me throughout the entire process. On days when I didn't want to train, He helped me get out there. On days when I was hurt, He helped me get through it. On the day of the race, He gave me the strength to make it to the finish line. And, I am convinced to this day that He carried me for the first 6 miles. I wouldn't have been able to do it without Him. I just wouldn't have.
The whole point is that there are lots of things that we are able to do, even if we think we can't. When you call on God to help you, You have the power to do anything! You still have to put forth the work and effort. You still have to be dedicated to what you are doing. But He can absolutely turn the impossible into the possible. All you have to do is take that first step and ask Him to help you with the second step.
So, I don't think that God sees my miserable run today as the giant failure that I see it as. I think He sees it as a first step. It wasn't perfect. It wasn't fabulous. It wasn't even something I can believe I just admitted! But, it was a first step. If I stay committed to running and continue to ask Him to help me do it, I'll be running a full marathon before you know it!
No matter what it is that you are facing, don't make yourself face it alone! Ask God to help you and He will. Even if your attempts are so far from perfect you're ashamed to admit you tried! You can do it with His help. All you have to do is ask!
I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. ~Philippians 4:13
Monday, February 4, 2013
Thoughts of a Birthday Girl
It's so easy to go to God when things are bad, when you need something, when you are down, when someone is sick, or when you need help. But how often do you stop just to tell Him thanks? For some reason, when things are going well, it's so easy to take God for granted. Well, today is one of those days where I'm just thankful. Nothing more. Nothing less. Why am I thankful? Why am I thankful? Well, I thought you would never ask! Please, let me tell you!
First, I am thankful that I am the daughter of my God who loves me no matter what. There is nothing I could do to make Him love me more or less. There is nothing I could to earn the love He has for me. He knows that I'm not in as good of shape as I used to be. He loves me anyway. He knows that I procrastinate. He loves me anyway. He knows that sometimes my patience runs out and I'm not very nice. He loves me anyway. He knows that I can't carry a tune in a paper bag, but I belt out praise and worship songs despite my lousy voice. He loves me anyway. He sees me for exactly who I am, and He loves everything about me. For this, I am more thankful than anything else in my life!
Second, I am thankful for the amazing partner in life He has given to me. I am married to the most wonderful husband I could ever ask for! I know lots of people who are married, but I honestly have never met two people who have the relationship that Matt and I have. He knows more about me than anyone else on this Earth, and loves me in spite of my many faults. He treats me like a queen, even when I don't deserve it. There is never a moment of my life that I question his love for me. And, the beauty of it is, I love him back just as much, if not more! We have been together for almost 16 years, and I can't wait for the next 60!
Third, I am so thankful for the amazing family I have. My kids, parents, brothers, and sister-in-law are all loving, supportive, and there for me whenever I need them. Again, I know lots of people who have families, but very few of them have the amazing kind of family I have.
Fourth, I am very thankful for the support network of friends God has blessed me with. I have friends at work, at church, through Matt, from college, from high school, and even from elementary school, that support me each and every day. Each friend I have serves a different purpose in my life, but each one of them serves a very important purpose!
I'm really not trying to sound like I'm giving an acceptance speech at the Oscars! But, I just don't think I stop to thank God enough for the amazing people He's put into my life. So, today, when so many of you amazing people have reached out to remind me that you are a vital part of my life by wishing me a happy birthday, all I can think of doing is thanking Him for bringing you to me!
So, no matter what storms are going on in your life....what has He done for you that you are thankful for??
Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
First, I am thankful that I am the daughter of my God who loves me no matter what. There is nothing I could do to make Him love me more or less. There is nothing I could to earn the love He has for me. He knows that I'm not in as good of shape as I used to be. He loves me anyway. He knows that I procrastinate. He loves me anyway. He knows that sometimes my patience runs out and I'm not very nice. He loves me anyway. He knows that I can't carry a tune in a paper bag, but I belt out praise and worship songs despite my lousy voice. He loves me anyway. He sees me for exactly who I am, and He loves everything about me. For this, I am more thankful than anything else in my life!
Second, I am thankful for the amazing partner in life He has given to me. I am married to the most wonderful husband I could ever ask for! I know lots of people who are married, but I honestly have never met two people who have the relationship that Matt and I have. He knows more about me than anyone else on this Earth, and loves me in spite of my many faults. He treats me like a queen, even when I don't deserve it. There is never a moment of my life that I question his love for me. And, the beauty of it is, I love him back just as much, if not more! We have been together for almost 16 years, and I can't wait for the next 60!
Third, I am so thankful for the amazing family I have. My kids, parents, brothers, and sister-in-law are all loving, supportive, and there for me whenever I need them. Again, I know lots of people who have families, but very few of them have the amazing kind of family I have.
Fourth, I am very thankful for the support network of friends God has blessed me with. I have friends at work, at church, through Matt, from college, from high school, and even from elementary school, that support me each and every day. Each friend I have serves a different purpose in my life, but each one of them serves a very important purpose!
I'm really not trying to sound like I'm giving an acceptance speech at the Oscars! But, I just don't think I stop to thank God enough for the amazing people He's put into my life. So, today, when so many of you amazing people have reached out to remind me that you are a vital part of my life by wishing me a happy birthday, all I can think of doing is thanking Him for bringing you to me!
So, no matter what storms are going on in your life....what has He done for you that you are thankful for??
Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Monday, January 21, 2013
It's How You Wait
By no choice of my own, I was up at 5am this morning. Matt's alarm went off, I heard it, and that was it. I was up. And I was thinking, Really? There's no school today, I have absolutely nothing I have to do, and I'm up over an hour before I usually get up? I guess you could say I was NOT happy!
But, I started flipping channels, and Joyce Meyer was on. I really enjoy watching her, so that's what I turned it to. She was telling this story about a muscle car her husband bought and her attempts to get him to sell it. The whole gist of what she was saying was that patience is a fruit of the Spirit and patience is not just being able to wait on something. It's how you wait.
This really spoke to me and got me thinking. I'll be the first to admit...patience has never been one of my strongest characteristics! I'm the kind of person who will take forever to figure out what I want, what I'm doing, where I'm going, etc. But, once I do finally figure it out, I want it NOW! I've really had to make a big time effort to work on that, and I have been for years now. I do think I have become more patient, but I still have a long way to go!
But...hearing Joyce talk about patience made me wonder if I really have become more patient. I've gotten better at waiting for things. But that whole, "It's how you wait" part...that's the part that gets me. The more I think about it...I really pester God...A LOT! When I've decided I want something, or I feel like He's shown me something He wants me to do or a path He's going to send me on, I just hound Him about it until it happens. Everyday I will say something about it while I'm praying. And, at times, I'm not too nice about it. I know what I say to my own kids when they ask me the same thing over and over and over again! It makes me crazy! But, that's what I've been doing myself when I constantly bug God about doing something, showing me something, or giving me something.
I dug into my Bible and found this verse: ...hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently. ~Romans 8:24-25. And then I found this one: I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope. ~Psalm 130:5. I've read these two verses probably fifty times in the last hour. I've read the verses that come before them and after them to get the whole context within which they were written. What I've come to is that once I've asked God for something, I have to really, truly trust Him to decide what He's going to do. I have to be thankful for the things He has already done in my life while I am waiting on Him. I have to put my hope in His word while I am waiting on Him. I have to use the gifts He has already given me to help people, bless people, and bring Him to people while I am waiting on Him. But, I definitely do not need to nag Him!
See, here's what I know. God's timing is always perfect. If I try to change His timing, that takes the perfection out of the action. I may get what I'm asking for, but it won't work the way He wants it to unless I wait on Him to give it to me. And, if I truly trust Him, His plan, and His timing, then I won't ask for or expect anything other than that. And when I do, I am only showing Him that I do not fully trust Him.
I've never really looked at patience this way before, but I'm glad I have a new perspective on it. I guess in hindsight, that 5am alarm wasn't so bad!
But, I started flipping channels, and Joyce Meyer was on. I really enjoy watching her, so that's what I turned it to. She was telling this story about a muscle car her husband bought and her attempts to get him to sell it. The whole gist of what she was saying was that patience is a fruit of the Spirit and patience is not just being able to wait on something. It's how you wait.
This really spoke to me and got me thinking. I'll be the first to admit...patience has never been one of my strongest characteristics! I'm the kind of person who will take forever to figure out what I want, what I'm doing, where I'm going, etc. But, once I do finally figure it out, I want it NOW! I've really had to make a big time effort to work on that, and I have been for years now. I do think I have become more patient, but I still have a long way to go!
But...hearing Joyce talk about patience made me wonder if I really have become more patient. I've gotten better at waiting for things. But that whole, "It's how you wait" part...that's the part that gets me. The more I think about it...I really pester God...A LOT! When I've decided I want something, or I feel like He's shown me something He wants me to do or a path He's going to send me on, I just hound Him about it until it happens. Everyday I will say something about it while I'm praying. And, at times, I'm not too nice about it. I know what I say to my own kids when they ask me the same thing over and over and over again! It makes me crazy! But, that's what I've been doing myself when I constantly bug God about doing something, showing me something, or giving me something.
I dug into my Bible and found this verse: ...hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently. ~Romans 8:24-25. And then I found this one: I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope. ~Psalm 130:5. I've read these two verses probably fifty times in the last hour. I've read the verses that come before them and after them to get the whole context within which they were written. What I've come to is that once I've asked God for something, I have to really, truly trust Him to decide what He's going to do. I have to be thankful for the things He has already done in my life while I am waiting on Him. I have to put my hope in His word while I am waiting on Him. I have to use the gifts He has already given me to help people, bless people, and bring Him to people while I am waiting on Him. But, I definitely do not need to nag Him!
See, here's what I know. God's timing is always perfect. If I try to change His timing, that takes the perfection out of the action. I may get what I'm asking for, but it won't work the way He wants it to unless I wait on Him to give it to me. And, if I truly trust Him, His plan, and His timing, then I won't ask for or expect anything other than that. And when I do, I am only showing Him that I do not fully trust Him.
I've never really looked at patience this way before, but I'm glad I have a new perspective on it. I guess in hindsight, that 5am alarm wasn't so bad!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Just Shut Up and Listen!!
I had a pretty amazing experience today that I just have to share with you! Well, I guess technically it was yesterday since it's now 2AM! Anyway, I went to a women's mini-retreat at my church. The topic was prayer, and it was lead by an amazing woman named Annette Sowell, who is a retired minister and is full of inspiring thoughts, experiences, and ideas. She was introducing us to a seven step process that she has used for years to pray. Before lunch, she pretty much gave us an overview of her process and explained each step. We broke for lunch, and when we came back together we spent about an hour going through the process ourselves. She wanted us to experience it at least once before we left.
When it was time to be in our quiet, individual prayer time, I went out into the concourse of the church and found a little spot where I could sit. I started going through the steps of her process one by one. About halfway through it, I was asking God to help me with a really tough personal situation I am going through right now. After I laid this particular issue on Him, I decided to just listen. See, I'm really good at talking to God. I mean REALLY good! I pray all the time! But I kind of suck at listening to him. So that's what I wanted to focus on today. So, I just sat with my eyes closed waiting and listening. After several minutes, I started seeing these images. They weren't really anything I could make out...just kind of flashes and blobs of light and color. But then all of a sudden, I saw the letters in the word "forgive" pass in front of me. To be honest, I was pretty shocked. But, His message to me couldn't have been any more clear! So, I said, "OK, God. I get it. I have to forgive her, and I will."
After I processed that for a minute, I went back to just listening. Again, the flashes of light and color were coming, and I felt like I was even seeing some faces, but I had no idea who they were. And then, out of nowhere I heard Him say, "James." And I thought, "What??" I don't know anyone named James that I can think of. But He said it again, "James." And then I got it. "You want me to read James? Wait, that is a book in the Bible, right? I'm pretty sure it is... So, what part of James do you want me to read?" And I kept sitting with my eyes closed listening for His answer. All I saw was a line of 1's running in front of me. So I thought, "OK...Is it 1:11? 11:1? 1:1?" And He said, "Just get your Bible and see."
So, I got my Bible, found James, and quickly discovered that there are only 5 chapters in it. There is no such thing as James 11. So, I knew He had to be sending me to James 1. I started with James 1:11, and nothing in it really jumped out at me. So, I kept reading, and when I got to James 1:12, I stopped dead in my tracks. It says, "Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him." This verse spoke directly to me! I am definitely enduring trials right now, and God led me right to a place in Bible that tells me that not only can I endure it, but there is something really good waiting for me on the other side! I never made it past that verse during the rest of our prayer time. I just kept reading it over and over again, soaking up the awesomeness of what it said and what I had just experienced!
This is the first time I have experienced something like this while I was praying. God gave me some very important advice and encouragement that will help me get through this situation I'm dealing with, but I think He showed me something even more important than that. He showed me how important it is to just shut up and listen! Prayer definitely has to be a two-way conversation, and I just never have prayed in a way that really allowed me to listen to Him before today. But, I can promise you I will be taking time to truly listen to Him a LOT more from now on!
When it was time to be in our quiet, individual prayer time, I went out into the concourse of the church and found a little spot where I could sit. I started going through the steps of her process one by one. About halfway through it, I was asking God to help me with a really tough personal situation I am going through right now. After I laid this particular issue on Him, I decided to just listen. See, I'm really good at talking to God. I mean REALLY good! I pray all the time! But I kind of suck at listening to him. So that's what I wanted to focus on today. So, I just sat with my eyes closed waiting and listening. After several minutes, I started seeing these images. They weren't really anything I could make out...just kind of flashes and blobs of light and color. But then all of a sudden, I saw the letters in the word "forgive" pass in front of me. To be honest, I was pretty shocked. But, His message to me couldn't have been any more clear! So, I said, "OK, God. I get it. I have to forgive her, and I will."
After I processed that for a minute, I went back to just listening. Again, the flashes of light and color were coming, and I felt like I was even seeing some faces, but I had no idea who they were. And then, out of nowhere I heard Him say, "James." And I thought, "What??" I don't know anyone named James that I can think of. But He said it again, "James." And then I got it. "You want me to read James? Wait, that is a book in the Bible, right? I'm pretty sure it is... So, what part of James do you want me to read?" And I kept sitting with my eyes closed listening for His answer. All I saw was a line of 1's running in front of me. So I thought, "OK...Is it 1:11? 11:1? 1:1?" And He said, "Just get your Bible and see."
So, I got my Bible, found James, and quickly discovered that there are only 5 chapters in it. There is no such thing as James 11. So, I knew He had to be sending me to James 1. I started with James 1:11, and nothing in it really jumped out at me. So, I kept reading, and when I got to James 1:12, I stopped dead in my tracks. It says, "Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him." This verse spoke directly to me! I am definitely enduring trials right now, and God led me right to a place in Bible that tells me that not only can I endure it, but there is something really good waiting for me on the other side! I never made it past that verse during the rest of our prayer time. I just kept reading it over and over again, soaking up the awesomeness of what it said and what I had just experienced!
This is the first time I have experienced something like this while I was praying. God gave me some very important advice and encouragement that will help me get through this situation I'm dealing with, but I think He showed me something even more important than that. He showed me how important it is to just shut up and listen! Prayer definitely has to be a two-way conversation, and I just never have prayed in a way that really allowed me to listen to Him before today. But, I can promise you I will be taking time to truly listen to Him a LOT more from now on!
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