My computer is crashing so we'll see if I can keep up with this from my phone. The entries might be a lot shorter though. Another child story. Last night at my job I had quite the experience that I haven't had for awhile there. One of the children started to go crazy and I mean that in the nicest way possible.
This child started to throw things at a staff because the child wanted something that he couldn't have. I took the child to another room so he could calm down bit he didn't for awhile. He was talking in jabber and running up and down the hall. Back and forth to the bedroom. I finally got him to sit down where I could hold him and take to him.
I got him to sit down and I started asking questions like "why are you acting this way", "why are you mad", and none of them worked. I finally told him that he was safe at this place and it seemed like that madness just turned off like that. He was nice and calm for the rest of the night.
Then at bedtime he wouldn't go to sleep and he kept looking at the lighted stars on the ceiling so we got to talking about what was in the sky. There was a moment that I got to tell him about God and how He is up there in the sky watching over him and keeping him safe too. That God is always keeping him safe no matter where he goes. It didn't seem like he understood but you never know with little children. I just thought it was strange that he could go from hyper to calm in just a few seconds but that's normal at my job with the children.
Just in my mind I like to think of it has a evil spirit inside of him but Drs and other people have other ideas. You never know with my job what it could be all you can do is pray for these children and help them while they are with you.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
God Keeps Me Safe
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Diamonds in the Rust
"In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father." - Matthew 5:16
When the light shines in a diamond, it usually shines up and out of the diamond. As people of God, we should look up to God and let our light shine out to people.
There are 4 things that we should look at for a good diamond. There are: the cut, the color, the clarity, and the carrot. They are 4 words that start with the letter "c".
When the light shines out of us, we should have 4 cs shining out of us. There are: character, caring, compassion, and costly. I will give you one or two verses to go with each word.
Character
-Philippians 2:14-15
There are 4 things that we should look at for a good diamond. There are: the cut, the color, the clarity, and the carrot. They are 4 words that start with the letter "c".
When the light shines out of us, we should have 4 cs shining out of us. There are: character, caring, compassion, and costly. I will give you one or two verses to go with each word.
Character
-Philippians 2:14-15
-"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."
Caring
- Matthew 10:42
- Matthew 10:42
-"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
-Matthew 25:40
-"And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"
Compassion
- 1 John 3:18
- 1 John 3:18
-"Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions."
- Romans 12:9-10
-"Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."
Costly
- Matthew 10:37-39
- Matthew 10:37-39
-"If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."
Being a diamond in the rust will cost us. My job costs me. It's not just moms. If we are passionate about our jobs or whatever it is that we are doing then it should be costly. When we have a relationship with God, our lives should cost a lot.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Spending my 20s Serving God
I was challenged by a friend to make a list of things I want to do while I am single and free and I did. It turned out to be mainly serving God, children, and traveling by myself plus some races to run here and there, which is great. Those are the things I am most passionate about right now. Here are the things:
-The Color Vibe Run
-The Joplin, MO Run
-Go to the big 3 countries in Central America
-Start to write and publish a book
-The Glow Run
-Be involved with Opaertion Christmas Child by handing out the Christmas shoeboxes
-Start my own children's home or nannying business
I got to thinking about this today. Just strange that everything I want to do and/or get done has to do with serving God. People say that the 20s are the times to be free and serve God the way you want to or the way He leads you to. I believe that because once you are married you have other things to focus on and do. In your 20s, you can be focus on God and who you are in Him. Sometimes, especially, today I was wondering what it would be like if I had plans and goals like this for all of my life. How would that feel? Just serving and living for God. Would I be content with that? Would I want to go to other countries after these 4 and would I want to do fostering or a children's home by myself as a single parent? That would be the life, I think. I'll do these plans and then see how I feel afterwards. How neat would it be if I could write a book and then another one and just go around speaking on those books?! Not only talk about the books but talk about children too and what I have been through and done with children, whether in the States or in other countries. How they are the same and difference?
I'm learning a lot now about myself and the children I work with and probably still will be for awhile yet but that is how I like it. I want to share it with the world too. That is one of the many reasons I do this blog.
-The Color Vibe Run
-The Joplin, MO Run
-Go to the big 3 countries in Central America
-Start to write and publish a book
-The Glow Run
-Be involved with Opaertion Christmas Child by handing out the Christmas shoeboxes
-Start my own children's home or nannying business
I got to thinking about this today. Just strange that everything I want to do and/or get done has to do with serving God. People say that the 20s are the times to be free and serve God the way you want to or the way He leads you to. I believe that because once you are married you have other things to focus on and do. In your 20s, you can be focus on God and who you are in Him. Sometimes, especially, today I was wondering what it would be like if I had plans and goals like this for all of my life. How would that feel? Just serving and living for God. Would I be content with that? Would I want to go to other countries after these 4 and would I want to do fostering or a children's home by myself as a single parent? That would be the life, I think. I'll do these plans and then see how I feel afterwards. How neat would it be if I could write a book and then another one and just go around speaking on those books?! Not only talk about the books but talk about children too and what I have been through and done with children, whether in the States or in other countries. How they are the same and difference?
I'm learning a lot now about myself and the children I work with and probably still will be for awhile yet but that is how I like it. I want to share it with the world too. That is one of the many reasons I do this blog.
Friday, April 25, 2014
The Narrow Road
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."-Matthew 7:13-14
This verse means the world to me right now when I feel like there are 3 or more roads that I could take. It seems like every choice has at least 3 roads whether it has to do with career, friendships, or just everyday things. I have never noticed what this verse really means until now.
"Enter through the narrow gate" means just go down the road God has for you. That I get but it is so hard to tell which one is which. Like the next sentence says, "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that lead to destruction". Do I want to enter the wide gate with so many choices that I could pick the wrong choice and go down the wrong path? How can I stop myself from going down to destruction? It says, "many enter through it". Is that because they don't trust God with their lives? Is it because they don't listen with their Spirit? Is it because they want the easy way out instead of the hard way out?
"Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life". What does that mean? It means that you can only make one out of those 3 choices because only one choice can lead you to the life that is worth living for. For many people, it is a hard path but worth living. Most people are scared to take that path because it is hard and you really do have to trust God with your all. You have to stick with it all the way no matter what times you have. You might seem weak or you might seem like you are not being used in the way God wants you to be used but in a way you are because God put you there. Life with God is not always easy because He wants us to depend on Him.
"Only a few find it" because only a few are looking for it. Only a few really want to be that close to God. They want a true relationship with Him. They want to live for Him and with Him. The people that don't find it are missing out because it is a wonderful way to live. It is a wonderful peace and comfort in knowing that no matter what happens in life you will always have someone with you. When I think of the phase "only a few find it", I think of the missionaries, the church people like pastors, church admin., and so on but really it is whoever will serve Him where they are at. We don't need to have a fancy job, we just need to be willing to serve Him where we are at.
I love to paint the picture in my head of a narrow road of my life with small gates that I need to walk through when God is ready for me to change plans in my life whether it be graduating college, changing jobs, going on different mission trips, letting go of people/friends, or moving place to place. Each one is a gate on the narrow road God has placed before me. Of course, when you let go of people it is like closing a gate but then God opens a more narrow one for you to walk through maybe with another person or friend.
It is more about the way of our hearts, not where we are. That is why only a few find it because only a few really gets the understanding of The Way. It's not what we have or do but who we are in Christ. The path is in our hearts, not out in the world. It comes from the inside to the outside. When you see that in people, it will draw you not only to them but to God as well no matter what situation you are in.
Challenge: Go through the small gate and on the narrow road.
Prayer: Dear Daddy, Help to to listen to You and follow you on the narrow road you have for me in life. I want to be closer to You then to this world. I want to focus on You and who You meant for me to be instead of what this world has for me. This world has so many gates but You have one gate (aka one purpose) in life for me to walk to and through, please help me to see that gate when I get to it and keep walking through the gates when it is time.
In Christ's Love, Amen
This verse means the world to me right now when I feel like there are 3 or more roads that I could take. It seems like every choice has at least 3 roads whether it has to do with career, friendships, or just everyday things. I have never noticed what this verse really means until now.
"Enter through the narrow gate" means just go down the road God has for you. That I get but it is so hard to tell which one is which. Like the next sentence says, "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that lead to destruction". Do I want to enter the wide gate with so many choices that I could pick the wrong choice and go down the wrong path? How can I stop myself from going down to destruction? It says, "many enter through it". Is that because they don't trust God with their lives? Is it because they don't listen with their Spirit? Is it because they want the easy way out instead of the hard way out?
"Small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life". What does that mean? It means that you can only make one out of those 3 choices because only one choice can lead you to the life that is worth living for. For many people, it is a hard path but worth living. Most people are scared to take that path because it is hard and you really do have to trust God with your all. You have to stick with it all the way no matter what times you have. You might seem weak or you might seem like you are not being used in the way God wants you to be used but in a way you are because God put you there. Life with God is not always easy because He wants us to depend on Him.
"Only a few find it" because only a few are looking for it. Only a few really want to be that close to God. They want a true relationship with Him. They want to live for Him and with Him. The people that don't find it are missing out because it is a wonderful way to live. It is a wonderful peace and comfort in knowing that no matter what happens in life you will always have someone with you. When I think of the phase "only a few find it", I think of the missionaries, the church people like pastors, church admin., and so on but really it is whoever will serve Him where they are at. We don't need to have a fancy job, we just need to be willing to serve Him where we are at.
I love to paint the picture in my head of a narrow road of my life with small gates that I need to walk through when God is ready for me to change plans in my life whether it be graduating college, changing jobs, going on different mission trips, letting go of people/friends, or moving place to place. Each one is a gate on the narrow road God has placed before me. Of course, when you let go of people it is like closing a gate but then God opens a more narrow one for you to walk through maybe with another person or friend.
It is more about the way of our hearts, not where we are. That is why only a few find it because only a few really gets the understanding of The Way. It's not what we have or do but who we are in Christ. The path is in our hearts, not out in the world. It comes from the inside to the outside. When you see that in people, it will draw you not only to them but to God as well no matter what situation you are in.
Challenge: Go through the small gate and on the narrow road.
Prayer: Dear Daddy, Help to to listen to You and follow you on the narrow road you have for me in life. I want to be closer to You then to this world. I want to focus on You and who You meant for me to be instead of what this world has for me. This world has so many gates but You have one gate (aka one purpose) in life for me to walk to and through, please help me to see that gate when I get to it and keep walking through the gates when it is time.
In Christ's Love, Amen
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Being Raised Country is a Blessing
Most people would say I'm more of a small town girl, which I would have to agree with because I was raised in a really small town and graduated from that small town but I was also raised in the country for the 1st 4 years of my life and those were the best years ever plus some summers after those 4 years until high school came along. I've heard somethings and just living in a "big" city makes me realize how blessed I am to be from a small town. Not that I would have said it back then while living there but now I do.
I have had city folks say to be before and I quote, "A donkey actually does say "hee-haw" and "I have only seen horses in cages and zoos." I have some family that are from the city and I love them too death so I know there is more out there then the country or small towns and I have traveled around some. Those two phases just caught me off track when I heard them though. I understand if you have never seen a horse or a donkey and never heard them make noise but in a cage in a zoo for horses. For this small town girl, that is just wrong.
Of course, God has been opening up my eyes to the city life and the more He does that more I notice it is not for me at all. Where's my country where I can enjoy God's Creation without a worry? I don't know what I will do for the rest of my life because I don't want to live out in the country alone but I sure don't want to live in the city all my life. It is already getting to me. I think back on my moments as a child and how I was truly blessed to have those fun but yet different moments back then.
I will tell you and could tell you more stories. This small town/country girl has gathered eggs from the chickens, milked the cows, traded those two things with people or helped, walked in the woods, played in the mud pond and cow pond, taking horseback lessons, riding a horse in the beautiful state of Montana, fished and camped every summer when I was little, build a house out of sunflowers and morning glories, and a lot more. I'm sure I have been on a tractor a time or two. Right then, I just sounded like a redneck or a country girl but you know what I'm proud of it. Yes, I will be the old style mom and wife that teaches manners and have my children play outdoors but there is nothing wrong with that. I have and love to sew. I could go on and on. God has blessed me with a life I don't intend to trade even if I got the chance to. God has also blessed me with experiences that I will never forget in my lifetime and that many people do not get to experience espically in today's world.
I'm that strong, stubborn country/small town girl and I intend to stay that way but maybe get a little more country like throw hunting in the mix of things. I'm country and I like it that way. It is a blessing when you know how many people have no idea what that life is like. It is a spical kind of life and really that could be taken both ways depending on who is reading this and that is fine with me. I know I am!
I have had city folks say to be before and I quote, "A donkey actually does say "hee-haw" and "I have only seen horses in cages and zoos." I have some family that are from the city and I love them too death so I know there is more out there then the country or small towns and I have traveled around some. Those two phases just caught me off track when I heard them though. I understand if you have never seen a horse or a donkey and never heard them make noise but in a cage in a zoo for horses. For this small town girl, that is just wrong.
Of course, God has been opening up my eyes to the city life and the more He does that more I notice it is not for me at all. Where's my country where I can enjoy God's Creation without a worry? I don't know what I will do for the rest of my life because I don't want to live out in the country alone but I sure don't want to live in the city all my life. It is already getting to me. I think back on my moments as a child and how I was truly blessed to have those fun but yet different moments back then.
I will tell you and could tell you more stories. This small town/country girl has gathered eggs from the chickens, milked the cows, traded those two things with people or helped, walked in the woods, played in the mud pond and cow pond, taking horseback lessons, riding a horse in the beautiful state of Montana, fished and camped every summer when I was little, build a house out of sunflowers and morning glories, and a lot more. I'm sure I have been on a tractor a time or two. Right then, I just sounded like a redneck or a country girl but you know what I'm proud of it. Yes, I will be the old style mom and wife that teaches manners and have my children play outdoors but there is nothing wrong with that. I have and love to sew. I could go on and on. God has blessed me with a life I don't intend to trade even if I got the chance to. God has also blessed me with experiences that I will never forget in my lifetime and that many people do not get to experience espically in today's world.
I'm that strong, stubborn country/small town girl and I intend to stay that way but maybe get a little more country like throw hunting in the mix of things. I'm country and I like it that way. It is a blessing when you know how many people have no idea what that life is like. It is a spical kind of life and really that could be taken both ways depending on who is reading this and that is fine with me. I know I am!
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Little Thoughts
Have you ever had one of those weeks or days when you just have the little thoughts in your heads that you think about and that you might even pray about when you get home if you can remember them after a long day? I've had a lot of those this week and it is just the start of it. What is neat about it is everyone of them are thoughts I can and want to do and right now looks possible. I just have to remember to pray more deeply about them. I'll tell you the little thoughts that I have had these past few weeks and then tell you what has happened.
One thought and this was the first one was that I wanted to keep looking at the boundaries in the Bible but my Bible study about Boundaries is over. It is one of those things where it seems interesting but you know you need the accountabity to keep doing it. I thought or God put the thought of some girls in my mind that I could do it with and it could be turned into a small Bible study group. I have 3 girls in mind and I've asked everyone of them so we'll see. It would be neat if I could get that started, even if it was with one out of the 3 girls or every so often with all 3. I've been wanting to lead or start a Bible study by myself for about a half a year now at the most.
Then this weekend things were going on at church that made me thinking how I wanted to be able to share The Word with other people, more or less, international people and see lives changed. While I was sitting in the park this morning, this international lady came up and started talking to me. She loves writing and taking pictures like I do. We traded phone numbers and went on our way. It is a God moment because I haven't been at the park for so long and I just decided to go last night when I wake up because it helps me to calm down before the day starts. I hope and pray I can get a real friendship out of that. She said "Hi" first but I jumped up because it scared me. I was writing my prayer out so I was focused on that.
Then the next thing was I got to make a donation to a ministry that I've seen grown from the start. It is the little thoughts and things that count and make you the person that you are or that God wants you to be. It is strange because I took an international Bible Study before Christmas but I felt strange going into their houses and felt like none of them was for me but then this other person showed up randomly 3 months after the class and we could have things to talk about. Everything is in God's timing and I think that is what He is showing me here again although He has shown me a lot of times. We all need that reminder that He has things under control if we give it to Him and forget about it.
I do tend to try to have control of things and when I do they don't work. The moment in the park was just a reminder to let go and Let God. I say that because I prayed hard last night about a situation of mine that I want to let go and let God have control because I know it is for the better but it is hard espically when I care for the situation. It should be the more I care the able I am to let go so God can care for it. That situation, I still believe, will come true someday if I ever truely let God have it all, not just half or a little of it. I didn't think about it this way in the moment of meeting the new friend but that could be true. THANK GOD FOR HIS TIMING AND FOR HIS VOICE SPEAKING TO ME!
One thought and this was the first one was that I wanted to keep looking at the boundaries in the Bible but my Bible study about Boundaries is over. It is one of those things where it seems interesting but you know you need the accountabity to keep doing it. I thought or God put the thought of some girls in my mind that I could do it with and it could be turned into a small Bible study group. I have 3 girls in mind and I've asked everyone of them so we'll see. It would be neat if I could get that started, even if it was with one out of the 3 girls or every so often with all 3. I've been wanting to lead or start a Bible study by myself for about a half a year now at the most.
Then this weekend things were going on at church that made me thinking how I wanted to be able to share The Word with other people, more or less, international people and see lives changed. While I was sitting in the park this morning, this international lady came up and started talking to me. She loves writing and taking pictures like I do. We traded phone numbers and went on our way. It is a God moment because I haven't been at the park for so long and I just decided to go last night when I wake up because it helps me to calm down before the day starts. I hope and pray I can get a real friendship out of that. She said "Hi" first but I jumped up because it scared me. I was writing my prayer out so I was focused on that.
Then the next thing was I got to make a donation to a ministry that I've seen grown from the start. It is the little thoughts and things that count and make you the person that you are or that God wants you to be. It is strange because I took an international Bible Study before Christmas but I felt strange going into their houses and felt like none of them was for me but then this other person showed up randomly 3 months after the class and we could have things to talk about. Everything is in God's timing and I think that is what He is showing me here again although He has shown me a lot of times. We all need that reminder that He has things under control if we give it to Him and forget about it.
I do tend to try to have control of things and when I do they don't work. The moment in the park was just a reminder to let go and Let God. I say that because I prayed hard last night about a situation of mine that I want to let go and let God have control because I know it is for the better but it is hard espically when I care for the situation. It should be the more I care the able I am to let go so God can care for it. That situation, I still believe, will come true someday if I ever truely let God have it all, not just half or a little of it. I didn't think about it this way in the moment of meeting the new friend but that could be true. THANK GOD FOR HIS TIMING AND FOR HIS VOICE SPEAKING TO ME!
Sunday, April 20, 2014
God's Love and Power on the Cross
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
-Romans 8:31-39
I felt like I needed to write something "Eastery" since everyone else was. :) I love these verses as the "Easter" verses. I grew up in church where all they would talk about was the Easter story and don't get me wrong that is great to hear but we need another way to apply it to our lives. I feel like these verses gives us that way. For me, at this point in my life, they make it more real to me. This was the sermon I heard last night during my church service and they made me think.
Jesus died on the cross for us to take away our sins but yet God won't blame it on any of us but on himself. Nothing can take that Love away from us. We will go through hardships, famine, danger, and we do face death all day long and more but through Christ's Love we are conquerors. If that is not enough to get us to believe then it goes on to say, neither the present or future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth can keep us from Him. I like what my preacher said last night, "Paul is trying to get us to realize God's Love for us by giving examples but Paul knows that is not possible so he ends with saying, "nor anything else in all of Creation." That means nothing at all can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When you need to feel God's Love through the thick and thin, these are great verses to go back to and remember that no matter what God sent His Only Son to save us, sinners. God can pull us through anything with His Love if only we will believe in Him and again goes back to trusting in Him. WE CAN'T MEASURE HOW WIDE OR DEEP HIS LOVE IS FOR US BUT ISN'T THAT AWESOME!? HIS LOVE IS THAT BIG AND THAT FOREVER GIVING LOVE! IT HAS NO HUMAN BOUNDARIES, ONLY GOD GIVEN BOUNDARIES! Boundaries so BIG that Jesus had to go to a cross and nail the human boundaries there and get "new" ones.
Just think: God got rid of the old boundaries (the ways of the Old Testament) that weren't working in the lives of His people and placed new boundaries (The WAY of the New Testament) in their lives after Jesus died on the cross. WOW! When you put it like that, that means a lot!
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Come+Trust=Changed Life
If there was a equation to explain God's Sovereignty, this one would be it! I also have some verses to prove it too and to really look at plus some examples in my life from this past week. We (my small community group) was studying God's Sovereignty this past Sunday and I saw it non-stop this past week. Funny how God does things like that sometimes. He is testing you to see what you learned.
Here are some verses about God's Sovereignty:
-"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is anything to difficult for me?"-Jeremiah 32:27
-"And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm."-Mark 4:39
-"While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; why bother the teacher anymore?" But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe." And taking the child's hand, He said to her, "Little girl, I say to you arise."-Mark 5:35, 36, 41
In those verses God is telling us that He can change lives for the better through the hardest of things if there is a need for that. We just have to go to Him, Seek Him, and Ask Him and Trust (believe) that He will do it for our good whether we think it is or not. His good can be and is different from our good a lot of times. Sometimes God uses the bad to lead us to Him and his ways espically when we won't pay attention to His Soft, still voice.
God changed a lot of lives just by these verses. He changed the man's lives that were in the boat because even the sea and wind obey Him. He changed the little girls's life by letting her have life again and changed that father's life and the lives around Him because they saw that miracle happen. I would like to think that the people did not go home living the same lives has they did before Jesus did those miracles. That was God's Sovereignty at work.
Now think about how God's Sovereignty has worked in your life. Has He brought you back from the "dead"? Has He changed your life in ways you can explain? It brings the dead to life again! He has power over our lives! How awesome is it to think about that! If we just give our lives to Him, He will show us the way to go. If we just go to Him and trust Him with everything then He will change our lives for the better. It reminds me that God is in control. He always was and He will always be. God has control over everything-Creation, people, evil spirits, and so on.
To tie it into Easter, Jesus went to God (His Father) in the Garden before going to the cross. Jesus prayed to God, "Please take this cup from me but if it is Your Will let it be done." That was the deepest, saddest moment for Jesus and even though He had power over death He died on that cross for us because He Loved us that much. Sometimes as people, we don't see God's Sovereignty until the hardest of times when really we should go to Him and trust Him everyday to do something to change our lives for Him.
Here are some verses about God's Sovereignty:
-"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is anything to difficult for me?"-Jeremiah 32:27
-"And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm."-Mark 4:39
-"While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; why bother the teacher anymore?" But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe." And taking the child's hand, He said to her, "Little girl, I say to you arise."-Mark 5:35, 36, 41
In those verses God is telling us that He can change lives for the better through the hardest of things if there is a need for that. We just have to go to Him, Seek Him, and Ask Him and Trust (believe) that He will do it for our good whether we think it is or not. His good can be and is different from our good a lot of times. Sometimes God uses the bad to lead us to Him and his ways espically when we won't pay attention to His Soft, still voice.
God changed a lot of lives just by these verses. He changed the man's lives that were in the boat because even the sea and wind obey Him. He changed the little girls's life by letting her have life again and changed that father's life and the lives around Him because they saw that miracle happen. I would like to think that the people did not go home living the same lives has they did before Jesus did those miracles. That was God's Sovereignty at work.
Now think about how God's Sovereignty has worked in your life. Has He brought you back from the "dead"? Has He changed your life in ways you can explain? It brings the dead to life again! He has power over our lives! How awesome is it to think about that! If we just give our lives to Him, He will show us the way to go. If we just go to Him and trust Him with everything then He will change our lives for the better. It reminds me that God is in control. He always was and He will always be. God has control over everything-Creation, people, evil spirits, and so on.
To tie it into Easter, Jesus went to God (His Father) in the Garden before going to the cross. Jesus prayed to God, "Please take this cup from me but if it is Your Will let it be done." That was the deepest, saddest moment for Jesus and even though He had power over death He died on that cross for us because He Loved us that much. Sometimes as people, we don't see God's Sovereignty until the hardest of times when really we should go to Him and trust Him everyday to do something to change our lives for Him.
Friday, April 18, 2014
The Stop Light Prayer
Here is the prayer that I promised yesterday and hopefully, there is not one written out there like this one if it is then I'm sorry but this one did just come out of my mind that moment at the stop light:
Daddy,
Every time I look at a stop light please help my remember 3 things.
RED is for remembering to stop and pray for every little thing.
YELLOW is for slowing down and waiting patiently for Your Leading.
GREEN is for "Go" when it is Your Timing, not mine.
Help me to know the difference between the 3. If it is on the color that I need to use with a
person, let me know. Match a person with the color of the light or even put a person on my
mind that I could pray for when I go pass a stop light.
I challenge you to do this prayer or a prayer every time you are at a stop light. I know in the city it can be a lot of times but I'm sure there are people somewhere or something in our lives that could use us praying for them over and over if even if they don't say so.
Daddy,
Every time I look at a stop light please help my remember 3 things.
RED is for remembering to stop and pray for every little thing.
YELLOW is for slowing down and waiting patiently for Your Leading.
GREEN is for "Go" when it is Your Timing, not mine.
Help me to know the difference between the 3. If it is on the color that I need to use with a
person, let me know. Match a person with the color of the light or even put a person on my
mind that I could pray for when I go pass a stop light.
I challenge you to do this prayer or a prayer every time you are at a stop light. I know in the city it can be a lot of times but I'm sure there are people somewhere or something in our lives that could use us praying for them over and over if even if they don't say so.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
At the Stop Light
Have you ever stopped at a stop light and thought about it more then just lights on a wire telling you what to do? I had a moment this week (Tuesday) that was funny when it happened but as I kept thinking about it that day and this week and see what God is telling me to do I see it was no accdient at all.
I was half a hour late coming back from the denist. I had my appointment time set at 9:00 but didn't get in until about 9:30 and of course I was complaining in the back of my mind because I had someplace else to be. Well, after what happened at the stop light that was a God moment keeping me back for that long. I was driving home from my appointment and took the exit that I usually take to my apartments and next thing I know there was someone that I knew driving past me and stopping at the stop light on down the road. I thought nothing of it but when I turned and went to that same stop light, it was green for the both of us so we couldn't stop, but I noticed if we would have stopped I would have been right by that person I knew.
I won't tell you the whole story about this person but we don't live that far away from each other yet we don't see each other at all. This person has been on my heart lately too just to pray for and wondering what's up. I was thinking how neat it would be if we actually got to stop. This is the 2nd stop light in 2 months that this has happened so I swear next stop light it will be red. :) When I got back to my apartment and all that day and the day after I was thinking about how God has used that moment or will use that moment in my life. Then it hit my when I was thinking about being pro-active in my friendships and job and just life in general.
The lights on the stop light can mean different things in our walk with Christ. It is funny because I can see this in the friendship that I'm in right now of the person I passed at that stop light.
Red-Stop and Pray
Yellow-Slow down or wait even if it does take 5 years or a week. You could be on yellow for a long time. Just think if we sat at a yellow light for a long time that would get boring and we would start to doubt like we do in life.
Green-Go when God tells you to go.
I want to write my own "Stop Light Prayer" and maybe I will but I just wanted you all to know how God has been working in my life this week. If that isn't enough. He gave me a chance, yesterday, to help this friend out with something that means a lot to the friend. Now my only question is: When and How? It is like I was praying, "God, if I can help this friend out let me know" and I know I prayed it awhile back. It is like God answering now, "You can help the friend in this way. Now, Go and Support."
I was half a hour late coming back from the denist. I had my appointment time set at 9:00 but didn't get in until about 9:30 and of course I was complaining in the back of my mind because I had someplace else to be. Well, after what happened at the stop light that was a God moment keeping me back for that long. I was driving home from my appointment and took the exit that I usually take to my apartments and next thing I know there was someone that I knew driving past me and stopping at the stop light on down the road. I thought nothing of it but when I turned and went to that same stop light, it was green for the both of us so we couldn't stop, but I noticed if we would have stopped I would have been right by that person I knew.
I won't tell you the whole story about this person but we don't live that far away from each other yet we don't see each other at all. This person has been on my heart lately too just to pray for and wondering what's up. I was thinking how neat it would be if we actually got to stop. This is the 2nd stop light in 2 months that this has happened so I swear next stop light it will be red. :) When I got back to my apartment and all that day and the day after I was thinking about how God has used that moment or will use that moment in my life. Then it hit my when I was thinking about being pro-active in my friendships and job and just life in general.
The lights on the stop light can mean different things in our walk with Christ. It is funny because I can see this in the friendship that I'm in right now of the person I passed at that stop light.
Red-Stop and Pray
Yellow-Slow down or wait even if it does take 5 years or a week. You could be on yellow for a long time. Just think if we sat at a yellow light for a long time that would get boring and we would start to doubt like we do in life.
Green-Go when God tells you to go.
I want to write my own "Stop Light Prayer" and maybe I will but I just wanted you all to know how God has been working in my life this week. If that isn't enough. He gave me a chance, yesterday, to help this friend out with something that means a lot to the friend. Now my only question is: When and How? It is like I was praying, "God, if I can help this friend out let me know" and I know I prayed it awhile back. It is like God answering now, "You can help the friend in this way. Now, Go and Support."
Monday, April 14, 2014
Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Well, I' trying to stay up to see the blood moon so I'm writing to keep busy. Hopefully, it will make sense and everything will be spelled right. This entry can be a very agrueable one because people have their different ideas about why but this is a view that I learned lately to answer this question and it is a good way to at least think about if not agree with it. Just letting you know this entry is going to try to answer that question in a human way but then we are going to look at a charactertic of God that maybe will be able to show us why He lets some bad things happen in the next entry.
Question is: Why Does God Let bad things happen to good people?
We all ask this question when something bad happens to us or even to other people whether friends or just random people like in another country or in the same city but we never met them. Let me give you one good answer and it is a positive answer and way to look at things. The answer is: That helps God lead you to where He wants you to go. That seems to get your attention, because as humans, we tend to look to God more in our times of trouable. It shouldn't be that way but it is.
I could share my examples on this entry and I think I will. This entry, kind of, goes with my last entry too because God loves to do things in order in our life. He is a God of Order not of Chaos. The turning point of my life or the main turning points at least is when God took people and things away from me. It is sad how we need to even let God do that sometimes because we are just too stubborn to listen to Him the 1st time like most children are to their parents.
I remember the first big life changing thing God did for me was taking my Grandpa away. I could think on and on about all of these things and little details but these are the big changes. My grandpa passed away about 5 years ago while I was in my 2nd year of college. I was having a hard time picking a major because I thought my dream was always to be a teacher but God's dream was for me to get my FACS degree with a child development degree on the side. I was fighting with that for a long time and then, I think it was the summer after my grandpa passed away I finally decided to change it the next Fall semster plus honestly my math class was hard too another bad thing. LOL!
The second big life changing thing God did for me was taking my Grandma away my college senior year. It was in April of my senior year of college. She got sick the Oct. or Nov. before that April with brain cancer. She had passed out on her floor at home and the drs. found it. We never knew anything was wrong with her. She was healthy to us but then all of the sudden she was in the hosptail. I remember my Grandad giving me a watch for my graduation present and saying that Grandma would have been proud of me (you) and also something along the lines of Grandma wanted you to have this watch. My Grandad also said that Grandma would have been proud of me because of the job I found after graduation. He said that at the 4th of July party that summer after I graduated at my aunt's house.
The third big life changing thing God did for me was taking my Grandad away. That happened just 2 years or will happen 2 years ago this coming Oct. I think. He passed away and then I lost my preschool teaching job and got the job where I am at now and loving that job to pieces. You know what I think my Grandad would be even prouder of me today then he was with my preschool teaching job because my job was almost like his in a way. It is all about helping people and keeping people safe. I believe that God let my Grandad pass to see if I would let go of my first job to find another job but I didn't do that so God told me that I needed to go in not a very nice way.
All this to say that: God can use the bad things in our lives for the good things that He wants for our lives. We might not see the reason right then and there. I didn't during there 3 events in my life but I look back now and they only made me stronger because I knew I had to be strong for a lot of different reasons. All of these people would wanted me to be strong and I had to be strong for my nephews and nieces. Those were the main two reasons but they showed me who I can really be for them. Like with my grandma, she was a homemaker and stay at home mom and I will never forget that and someday when I have that job I will remember her and become want she was or part of her. That is what makes me strong are the memories of who these people were. I know my grandpa was the Hunter and Farmer for the family and my grandad was the WWII Vet for the family. I will never forget the war stories he told us kids. They were so interesting!
Why does God let these bad things happen to us? What gives Him the right to do those things? Find out in the next entry coming by this Saturday.
Question is: Why Does God Let bad things happen to good people?
We all ask this question when something bad happens to us or even to other people whether friends or just random people like in another country or in the same city but we never met them. Let me give you one good answer and it is a positive answer and way to look at things. The answer is: That helps God lead you to where He wants you to go. That seems to get your attention, because as humans, we tend to look to God more in our times of trouable. It shouldn't be that way but it is.
I could share my examples on this entry and I think I will. This entry, kind of, goes with my last entry too because God loves to do things in order in our life. He is a God of Order not of Chaos. The turning point of my life or the main turning points at least is when God took people and things away from me. It is sad how we need to even let God do that sometimes because we are just too stubborn to listen to Him the 1st time like most children are to their parents.
I remember the first big life changing thing God did for me was taking my Grandpa away. I could think on and on about all of these things and little details but these are the big changes. My grandpa passed away about 5 years ago while I was in my 2nd year of college. I was having a hard time picking a major because I thought my dream was always to be a teacher but God's dream was for me to get my FACS degree with a child development degree on the side. I was fighting with that for a long time and then, I think it was the summer after my grandpa passed away I finally decided to change it the next Fall semster plus honestly my math class was hard too another bad thing. LOL!
The second big life changing thing God did for me was taking my Grandma away my college senior year. It was in April of my senior year of college. She got sick the Oct. or Nov. before that April with brain cancer. She had passed out on her floor at home and the drs. found it. We never knew anything was wrong with her. She was healthy to us but then all of the sudden she was in the hosptail. I remember my Grandad giving me a watch for my graduation present and saying that Grandma would have been proud of me (you) and also something along the lines of Grandma wanted you to have this watch. My Grandad also said that Grandma would have been proud of me because of the job I found after graduation. He said that at the 4th of July party that summer after I graduated at my aunt's house.
The third big life changing thing God did for me was taking my Grandad away. That happened just 2 years or will happen 2 years ago this coming Oct. I think. He passed away and then I lost my preschool teaching job and got the job where I am at now and loving that job to pieces. You know what I think my Grandad would be even prouder of me today then he was with my preschool teaching job because my job was almost like his in a way. It is all about helping people and keeping people safe. I believe that God let my Grandad pass to see if I would let go of my first job to find another job but I didn't do that so God told me that I needed to go in not a very nice way.
All this to say that: God can use the bad things in our lives for the good things that He wants for our lives. We might not see the reason right then and there. I didn't during there 3 events in my life but I look back now and they only made me stronger because I knew I had to be strong for a lot of different reasons. All of these people would wanted me to be strong and I had to be strong for my nephews and nieces. Those were the main two reasons but they showed me who I can really be for them. Like with my grandma, she was a homemaker and stay at home mom and I will never forget that and someday when I have that job I will remember her and become want she was or part of her. That is what makes me strong are the memories of who these people were. I know my grandpa was the Hunter and Farmer for the family and my grandad was the WWII Vet for the family. I will never forget the war stories he told us kids. They were so interesting!
Why does God let these bad things happen to us? What gives Him the right to do those things? Find out in the next entry coming by this Saturday.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
God Puts Life in Order
I'm doing this entry from my phone because my computer is being dumb but I still want to write today. I'm writing in a park with the wind in my hair and the sky cloudy. I've spent all morning looking for a place to write outside. I feel like my day has been a mess so far. Nothing is in order for me but have you wondered if it is in order for God. He has given me these words to write while driving around.
Some days our life just seems to be cluttered and not in order. Do you ever wonder why? Maybe it's because we do what we want and are not looking to God for His Ways and miracles? We get to caught up in the everyday things that we forget to look at Him.
I had a friend tell me this past month that she prays everyday and ask God to order her day. That got me thinking how easy would our days be if we would remember to ask God to have our day and order it. Lay it out before us and give us the strength and wisdom and energy we need just for that day because His mercies are new every morning. I also notice myself when I pray that in the morning, I'm more in tune with God so hopefully I can see His moments and miracles for me. Maybe because of that I can change a child's life.
This past week I know I let a lot of moments pass by that I shouldn't have with some certain children because I didn't have the patience or energy or wisdom to think on the spot for them. I went home worrying and crying because I knew I could have handled it better with God but things seemed to happen fast and get cluttered easily. I want to help the children and if you know me personally I have a hard time letting children pass me by without helping them. I would take each of them home with me if I could. I get easily attached to them when I start helping them.
Some days I think okay God is this the child you have for me today. Friday was so good because I got to see one of my children come back for vacation and he was really happy. He loved all the staff he said but he was just hyper and full of excitement. That gives me hope and let's me know that when I do order by day by God's plan not my own plans will turn out good for those who Love Him.
God has the plan all ready set out before us for our lives. We just need to keep seeking Him and trust that He has a good order of things. He brings order to everything just look at the story of Creation and since it is Palm Sunday look at the story to the cross and Easter after the cross. Lay the old order down and pick up the order God has for you. That's what I'm trying to do. He is changing me in ways I never thought possible (aka short haircut). It's hard but will be worth it when we see our Heavenly Home.
Challenge this Easter week: God knows what we need to get through certain things so why are we scared to let Him order our day and once we get that let Him do our week and then if we really trust Him why not our whole life.
Some days our life just seems to be cluttered and not in order. Do you ever wonder why? Maybe it's because we do what we want and are not looking to God for His Ways and miracles? We get to caught up in the everyday things that we forget to look at Him.
I had a friend tell me this past month that she prays everyday and ask God to order her day. That got me thinking how easy would our days be if we would remember to ask God to have our day and order it. Lay it out before us and give us the strength and wisdom and energy we need just for that day because His mercies are new every morning. I also notice myself when I pray that in the morning, I'm more in tune with God so hopefully I can see His moments and miracles for me. Maybe because of that I can change a child's life.
This past week I know I let a lot of moments pass by that I shouldn't have with some certain children because I didn't have the patience or energy or wisdom to think on the spot for them. I went home worrying and crying because I knew I could have handled it better with God but things seemed to happen fast and get cluttered easily. I want to help the children and if you know me personally I have a hard time letting children pass me by without helping them. I would take each of them home with me if I could. I get easily attached to them when I start helping them.
Some days I think okay God is this the child you have for me today. Friday was so good because I got to see one of my children come back for vacation and he was really happy. He loved all the staff he said but he was just hyper and full of excitement. That gives me hope and let's me know that when I do order by day by God's plan not my own plans will turn out good for those who Love Him.
God has the plan all ready set out before us for our lives. We just need to keep seeking Him and trust that He has a good order of things. He brings order to everything just look at the story of Creation and since it is Palm Sunday look at the story to the cross and Easter after the cross. Lay the old order down and pick up the order God has for you. That's what I'm trying to do. He is changing me in ways I never thought possible (aka short haircut). It's hard but will be worth it when we see our Heavenly Home.
Challenge this Easter week: God knows what we need to get through certain things so why are we scared to let Him order our day and once we get that let Him do our week and then if we really trust Him why not our whole life.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
God Gives Us the Desires of our Hearts
"God will give you the true desires of your heart, not your emotions and only He knows those true desires so look at and follow Him."
I've been learning the differences between getting the desires of our hearts and listening to our emotions. There is a big difference and it is easy to tell but yet hard to do. At times, it could be hard too because sometimes we could not understand our desires or our emotions does not go with the desires that God has for us and in the way He could be leading us. We might not know that the desires of our hearts are really the desires until much later. Our emotions are so strong that they could take us over without us knowing it. We could look to them as a guide leading us the wrong way. Instead of looking to God to lead us the right way.
When we look to our emotions as our guide, we take our eyes off of God. Now, don't get me wrong it is okay to feel and have the emotions. It is just how we handle them is the problem. We will sin out of a certain emotion like anger or will we give that anger to God and let Him teach us what He needs to to make us stronger for Him. Emotions can be good for us because we can learn a lot about how God made us and what He wants from us.
Emotions are tricky too. You have to sit down and think about them. There are a lot of emotions. We aren't just angery or happy or sad or excited but there is a whole list of them when you take the time to think and look at them. Why do I feel this way? What made me feel this way? How can I solve this problem or situation to make me feel another way?
God gave us emotions to feel and be different from all His other creations but He also gave us desires of our hearts. He gave us a path to follow for Him. We can get so mad sometimes because our desires do not match up with God's desires for us but we know that He knows us better then we know ourselves. There is a verse that says, "God will give us the desires of our hearts if we will trust in Him". It is true. God will line up our emotions and desires if we seek Him in everything. If we look to God for everything and trust in Him then things should fall into place. Yes, it might not be easy at first but things you really want (desires) are not easy to get because then they wouldn't be worth anything to you. It means more if you have to work for it and trust more. Desires are like the things you are passionate about and love to do. You are passionate about those things in your hearts because you love them and sometimes even what to make a difference in that way.
I always like to think about it like emotions are those things in our mind and head that we can only feel for a little time but the desires are what we feel in our hearts where God lives. Desires are the things we cannot stop feeling no matter how hard we try to not feel them.
CHALLENGE: Look to God for the desires of your heart. That feeling in your heart. Don't look at your emotions. Those feelings in your mind and if you find yourself looking at emotions turn them over to God. He will fix them the way they are suppose to be.
I've been learning the differences between getting the desires of our hearts and listening to our emotions. There is a big difference and it is easy to tell but yet hard to do. At times, it could be hard too because sometimes we could not understand our desires or our emotions does not go with the desires that God has for us and in the way He could be leading us. We might not know that the desires of our hearts are really the desires until much later. Our emotions are so strong that they could take us over without us knowing it. We could look to them as a guide leading us the wrong way. Instead of looking to God to lead us the right way.
When we look to our emotions as our guide, we take our eyes off of God. Now, don't get me wrong it is okay to feel and have the emotions. It is just how we handle them is the problem. We will sin out of a certain emotion like anger or will we give that anger to God and let Him teach us what He needs to to make us stronger for Him. Emotions can be good for us because we can learn a lot about how God made us and what He wants from us.
Emotions are tricky too. You have to sit down and think about them. There are a lot of emotions. We aren't just angery or happy or sad or excited but there is a whole list of them when you take the time to think and look at them. Why do I feel this way? What made me feel this way? How can I solve this problem or situation to make me feel another way?
God gave us emotions to feel and be different from all His other creations but He also gave us desires of our hearts. He gave us a path to follow for Him. We can get so mad sometimes because our desires do not match up with God's desires for us but we know that He knows us better then we know ourselves. There is a verse that says, "God will give us the desires of our hearts if we will trust in Him". It is true. God will line up our emotions and desires if we seek Him in everything. If we look to God for everything and trust in Him then things should fall into place. Yes, it might not be easy at first but things you really want (desires) are not easy to get because then they wouldn't be worth anything to you. It means more if you have to work for it and trust more. Desires are like the things you are passionate about and love to do. You are passionate about those things in your hearts because you love them and sometimes even what to make a difference in that way.
I always like to think about it like emotions are those things in our mind and head that we can only feel for a little time but the desires are what we feel in our hearts where God lives. Desires are the things we cannot stop feeling no matter how hard we try to not feel them.
CHALLENGE: Look to God for the desires of your heart. That feeling in your heart. Don't look at your emotions. Those feelings in your mind and if you find yourself looking at emotions turn them over to God. He will fix them the way they are suppose to be.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
One Year and Writing
This is not really a big thing and then again it is. Today marks the 1st year from me starting this blog (April 9th was my first entery). I usually don't keep up with things like this up to but espically not after a year so let's see if I can do it for a least another it. It is funny because right now I could write a week's worth of enteries on here but I'm so busy the rest of this week and all of next week so we'll see when I get time to write another real entery. I might have to stay up late one night to do one.
I'm glad I found this way to help me release my stress, thoughts, and dreams. It is not being used for what I planned for it to be used for (aka missions, ideas for missions, and etc.) but for the better hopefully. Letting women and people see that everyone is the same and we all of struggles that we go through and maybe some advice to help out or at least encouragement. I'm printing every one of these enteries out and putting them in a binder hoping that someday I can make a book out of them if God is willing. The binder is already full I might have to start a 2nd one for the 2nd year. We'll see. I can tell you that the next few enteries are going to be about rest, peace, clutterness/order, seeking God, and emotions. That is what God is teaching me right now and as you see I have a lot planned already like I said. Might not get to all of them before I forget what to write but I will get to most of them. Promise! I have a lot of verses that might go along with them. Did you know that God speaks a lot about boundaries and our emotions in the Bible? Very interesting!
I want to thank you for all who has been reading this and keeping up with my life. I encourage you to please share this with your friends and comment more on the days ahead. I would love to hear people's thoughts and ideas on things and it might even give me more to write about. Thanks again.
I'm glad I found this way to help me release my stress, thoughts, and dreams. It is not being used for what I planned for it to be used for (aka missions, ideas for missions, and etc.) but for the better hopefully. Letting women and people see that everyone is the same and we all of struggles that we go through and maybe some advice to help out or at least encouragement. I'm printing every one of these enteries out and putting them in a binder hoping that someday I can make a book out of them if God is willing. The binder is already full I might have to start a 2nd one for the 2nd year. We'll see. I can tell you that the next few enteries are going to be about rest, peace, clutterness/order, seeking God, and emotions. That is what God is teaching me right now and as you see I have a lot planned already like I said. Might not get to all of them before I forget what to write but I will get to most of them. Promise! I have a lot of verses that might go along with them. Did you know that God speaks a lot about boundaries and our emotions in the Bible? Very interesting!
I want to thank you for all who has been reading this and keeping up with my life. I encourage you to please share this with your friends and comment more on the days ahead. I would love to hear people's thoughts and ideas on things and it might even give me more to write about. Thanks again.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Being Reassured
I have an entery that I want to write about rest and that will make more sense with this one but I wanted to write this one first so I wouldn't forget what happened yesterday. Be on the look out for another entery soon!
Have you ever needed to be reassured that where you are in a moment in life was the right place at the right time? Yesterday, I was and it all happened by little things and moments that made me feel speical and different. Also, like someone else gets me or would get me if they would just give me the chance. I came back from a weekend from my parents' house all rested up and ready to start the week. Who knew a Monday could be filled with reasurrance moments? I came back rested up from the weekend knowing if anything it was going to be a loooooooong Monday and it was but you know little speical moments can help you break up a day when you get 3 or more in one. That is what happened to me.
First moment, I was looking at some of my friends' Facebook profile and I found a status that said a lot about this friend. I have been feeling like this friend would understand or if not just be there to listen to me if they gave me the chance with their life. That status reassured me that I was right about that. This friend's story and my story plus personailties and passions could not be more the same then they already are. I just got to know a little more about this friend and kind of what they were like has a child and it is strange how our stories match up when I'm feeling like no one would understand me if I really shared the start of my life story but this friend might. Now if only I would get the chance to talk to this friend more then I do now. That would be great! It gave me some hope and to tell me to not give up on it.
Second, we had a staff meeting at work last night and for the 2nd meeting in a row I got in the drawing for employee of the month but didn't win it. It was nice, though, to know that at least 1 or 2 people were seeing the work that I was doing and it gave me the encouragement to keep doing it. One of these days I will get it! That is not the most important thing though to me if you know me. The most important thing is giving the children what they need and I'm doing that or at least trying to do that even if it is putting my personal life on hold for awhile. Oh! I also got a gift for being there for a year so that was neat too.
Third, after the staff meeting one of the admin. people came out into the hallway while I was walking some people out and gave me a gift for no reason at all or that is what I would like to think of it as. I know, though, after what this person said that people have been watching me working hard while we were short handed and liked the work I was doing. The person told me that there is still a "Santa" in April but I've noticed that this person was down there a lot looking in and watching me to see how I was handling the children. Inside the card it said, "Thank you for your commint to the preschool".
I'm not the kind of person who will be all big and up front about what I'm doing so people will notice me. I've never been that kind of person. Most of the time when they tell me I'm doing a good job I just act like it is no big deal but deep down depending on how hard the job is it can be a lot and getting something can mean even more. Sometimes I even complain about people not showing that appicatation for me but God showed me here that they are watching me when I least accpet it and I don't always get what I deserve but I can if I would just humble myself and do it for Him and not for me.
It is funny how I have been spending more time with God, talking and listening to Him and all this has happened but by no chance is it just out of the blue. God is doing something in my heart and in my future with this. I just have to Trust Him with it. Things will come about when it is time the way God wants it to come about. I will write more about why I think that in the next entery or two. We'll see when I get time and if I can combine two thoughts if not then there will be a random entery and then the one that kind of goes with this one.
Have you ever needed to be reassured that where you are in a moment in life was the right place at the right time? Yesterday, I was and it all happened by little things and moments that made me feel speical and different. Also, like someone else gets me or would get me if they would just give me the chance. I came back from a weekend from my parents' house all rested up and ready to start the week. Who knew a Monday could be filled with reasurrance moments? I came back rested up from the weekend knowing if anything it was going to be a loooooooong Monday and it was but you know little speical moments can help you break up a day when you get 3 or more in one. That is what happened to me.
First moment, I was looking at some of my friends' Facebook profile and I found a status that said a lot about this friend. I have been feeling like this friend would understand or if not just be there to listen to me if they gave me the chance with their life. That status reassured me that I was right about that. This friend's story and my story plus personailties and passions could not be more the same then they already are. I just got to know a little more about this friend and kind of what they were like has a child and it is strange how our stories match up when I'm feeling like no one would understand me if I really shared the start of my life story but this friend might. Now if only I would get the chance to talk to this friend more then I do now. That would be great! It gave me some hope and to tell me to not give up on it.
Second, we had a staff meeting at work last night and for the 2nd meeting in a row I got in the drawing for employee of the month but didn't win it. It was nice, though, to know that at least 1 or 2 people were seeing the work that I was doing and it gave me the encouragement to keep doing it. One of these days I will get it! That is not the most important thing though to me if you know me. The most important thing is giving the children what they need and I'm doing that or at least trying to do that even if it is putting my personal life on hold for awhile. Oh! I also got a gift for being there for a year so that was neat too.
Third, after the staff meeting one of the admin. people came out into the hallway while I was walking some people out and gave me a gift for no reason at all or that is what I would like to think of it as. I know, though, after what this person said that people have been watching me working hard while we were short handed and liked the work I was doing. The person told me that there is still a "Santa" in April but I've noticed that this person was down there a lot looking in and watching me to see how I was handling the children. Inside the card it said, "Thank you for your commint to the preschool".
I'm not the kind of person who will be all big and up front about what I'm doing so people will notice me. I've never been that kind of person. Most of the time when they tell me I'm doing a good job I just act like it is no big deal but deep down depending on how hard the job is it can be a lot and getting something can mean even more. Sometimes I even complain about people not showing that appicatation for me but God showed me here that they are watching me when I least accpet it and I don't always get what I deserve but I can if I would just humble myself and do it for Him and not for me.
It is funny how I have been spending more time with God, talking and listening to Him and all this has happened but by no chance is it just out of the blue. God is doing something in my heart and in my future with this. I just have to Trust Him with it. Things will come about when it is time the way God wants it to come about. I will write more about why I think that in the next entery or two. We'll see when I get time and if I can combine two thoughts if not then there will be a random entery and then the one that kind of goes with this one.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Care For Vs. Care About
Do we care for people or care about people? Do those two things look different? The answer is: Yes, they do and I'm still learning how the look it. I can start by giving you all some ideas and maybe the meaning of it. I looked up the words "for" and "about" and this is what they mean or at least one verison of what the words means.
Care means "serious attention, caution, or soliuitude" or "a cause of object of worry, concern, and anxiety".
For means "intended to belong to or be used in connection with".
About means "of concerning or in regaud to". It could also mean "connected or associated with".
When you care for people or a person, it means that we are to be used in connection with them. It means that we have to be connected with them and know them very well. We have to get into their business and be with them everyday. That is what we think "care for" means anyways. We think we should do that but really God is doing that already for them if they believe. If not we should show them a God that care for them and wants to belong and be connected to them. We can be that way towards or spouse or family members and even friends but sometimes we are that too much. We try to fix problems and situations when really we should just stay out of the way and let them handle it on their own if they want to.
When you care about people or a person, it means you are concerned, of, or in regaud to that person. You associate your feelings towards them and help them with the resources you have because you are concerned for them. You don't care for them because then they might start depending on you. This is when you want to take care of people because really don't want to get close to them. You can about them enough to help them out by giving them something but not enough to listen to them.
To me, "caring for" a person is much more deeper then "caring about" a person. I care for my family and close friends but I care about the children I work with and see in other countries and even some of my friends just depends on how close we are.
Does this make sense? I hope so. Would love comments on this one? Thanks.
Care means "serious attention, caution, or soliuitude" or "a cause of object of worry, concern, and anxiety".
For means "intended to belong to or be used in connection with".
About means "of concerning or in regaud to". It could also mean "connected or associated with".
When you care for people or a person, it means that we are to be used in connection with them. It means that we have to be connected with them and know them very well. We have to get into their business and be with them everyday. That is what we think "care for" means anyways. We think we should do that but really God is doing that already for them if they believe. If not we should show them a God that care for them and wants to belong and be connected to them. We can be that way towards or spouse or family members and even friends but sometimes we are that too much. We try to fix problems and situations when really we should just stay out of the way and let them handle it on their own if they want to.
When you care about people or a person, it means you are concerned, of, or in regaud to that person. You associate your feelings towards them and help them with the resources you have because you are concerned for them. You don't care for them because then they might start depending on you. This is when you want to take care of people because really don't want to get close to them. You can about them enough to help them out by giving them something but not enough to listen to them.
To me, "caring for" a person is much more deeper then "caring about" a person. I care for my family and close friends but I care about the children I work with and see in other countries and even some of my friends just depends on how close we are.
Does this make sense? I hope so. Would love comments on this one? Thanks.
Friday, April 4, 2014
God Does Work in a Path
I mean my title in the best of ways too or maybe it is me who is never settled with anything because I know it isn't where God wants me to be yet. I just got a question from a friend last night and she asked, "How can people be so consistant in their Faith?" How are you suppose to answer that? I've been thinking about it since I woke up this morning and another friend gave me chapters in the Bible to look at. They were John 14 and 15.
I just think it is strange because I never thought of it that way and here is God getting ready to change me again. I feel like I'm backing away from my job in a good way. I don't have to be the "main" person there hopefully within the next week there will be 3 workers instead of just 2 workers. Yet God has me busy again I feel like. I feel like He is saying, "Ok, you get to calm down on this job but I'm giving it two more things to do outside of your job." It is so strange too because it is keeping my mind away from the other things that were bothering me months before which is good, I guess.
The thing God is giving me to do is to help 2 girls that I have come in connection with and are my friends with their "problems". One I just met through my Bible study and she just moved to AR not to long ago and the other one has been my friend for 2 years now or about but is going through a hard time. I feel like I have people around my age that I can help and live life with but it is crazy because some of the things I'm going through or just been through and I'm having a wiser girl help me get through it too. It is like a line and that is how God works. He touches one person's life to touch another person's life and I see that now.
My friend that I use to work with it kind of going through the same things I am or was like it happened one after the other almost. To be honest, I'm scared I will mess up and not do or say what God wants me to. All I can think about now is being there for both of them and maybe that is all they need right now is just a listening ear, not someone to tell them what to do. It is crazy because it is at a time where I am really busy with my family every other weekend it almost seems like but yet these two girls have their mornings or lunches free too so it kind of works out there too.
I'm just starting to see how God does work in a row or pattern or path whatever you want to call it. I feel like mine might be hard but yet again I'm on the right one with the right people to encourage me, right job, and the right people to help and that makes my heart happy. I can even try out some of my boundaries if need be or learn about some new ones at the same time. That problem that I thought was a problem is not anymore. I think I just need to let it go and focus on what God put in front of me and if it is meant to be God will bring it back around and to the surface when everyone is ready. I wish I could put it more into words but then it wouldn't be God's Doings if I could.
I feel like I'm helping women now more then children but I know I'm not. In a way, it is good that I'm helping women too because I might go into helping women and their children someday. You never know! God is never settled but that is a good thing because it keeps you depending on Him and that is what He wants. Close to His Heart, His Beautiful Girl!
I just think it is strange because I never thought of it that way and here is God getting ready to change me again. I feel like I'm backing away from my job in a good way. I don't have to be the "main" person there hopefully within the next week there will be 3 workers instead of just 2 workers. Yet God has me busy again I feel like. I feel like He is saying, "Ok, you get to calm down on this job but I'm giving it two more things to do outside of your job." It is so strange too because it is keeping my mind away from the other things that were bothering me months before which is good, I guess.
The thing God is giving me to do is to help 2 girls that I have come in connection with and are my friends with their "problems". One I just met through my Bible study and she just moved to AR not to long ago and the other one has been my friend for 2 years now or about but is going through a hard time. I feel like I have people around my age that I can help and live life with but it is crazy because some of the things I'm going through or just been through and I'm having a wiser girl help me get through it too. It is like a line and that is how God works. He touches one person's life to touch another person's life and I see that now.
My friend that I use to work with it kind of going through the same things I am or was like it happened one after the other almost. To be honest, I'm scared I will mess up and not do or say what God wants me to. All I can think about now is being there for both of them and maybe that is all they need right now is just a listening ear, not someone to tell them what to do. It is crazy because it is at a time where I am really busy with my family every other weekend it almost seems like but yet these two girls have their mornings or lunches free too so it kind of works out there too.
I'm just starting to see how God does work in a row or pattern or path whatever you want to call it. I feel like mine might be hard but yet again I'm on the right one with the right people to encourage me, right job, and the right people to help and that makes my heart happy. I can even try out some of my boundaries if need be or learn about some new ones at the same time. That problem that I thought was a problem is not anymore. I think I just need to let it go and focus on what God put in front of me and if it is meant to be God will bring it back around and to the surface when everyone is ready. I wish I could put it more into words but then it wouldn't be God's Doings if I could.
I feel like I'm helping women now more then children but I know I'm not. In a way, it is good that I'm helping women too because I might go into helping women and their children someday. You never know! God is never settled but that is a good thing because it keeps you depending on Him and that is what He wants. Close to His Heart, His Beautiful Girl!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Spending Time with God is Important
This isn't going to be a very long one. Hopefully though, I can fit 2 long ones in this weekend sometime. I just wanted to let you all know where I am in life and what God has made me see again. Isn't it strange how we get off God's Track and we don't even know it or think it is that important until we get back on it? I have had that feeling this week.
Last week at work got to me because it was Spring Break and it seemed like everyone was on it but a few people. We are short-handed to start with and it was just stressful. I broke down crying at church Saturday night and then came home and had a crying fit instead of being with my friends after church. I haven't broke down crying in church for awhile. In fact, I can't remember the last time I did. It has to be in the first year that I moved to AR at least. After church, I did stay in my car and talked to a friend for a little bit after church about what was bothering me until I calmed down enough to drive home.
I discovered something Sunday after a good night's rest that I needed to start doing again. That something was getting back into God's Word or at least doing devos. again like I use to. I had a jounal of devos. I did every morning about this time last year and I guess in the year as it went on I stopped doing them. I read a little of them just flipping through some of the pages and I felt like the devos were right what I needed so I thought to myself I should get started back on these every morning.
I took the challenge this week and it has made such a different. It been a busy week at work with everything going on but at the same time I've had enough strength, courage, and energy to get through everything and still have some left over, which is strange. Nothing changed at work if anything it only get worse but looking to God before I went to work made all the different. It is strange but great that something as little as a devo can get you looking to God for the rest of the day. I even found myself saying when things did get crazy, "God help me through this" or "I need patentice, Daddy". God really does hear those little prayers I learned this week. Sometimes more then our long, wordy prayers.
I'm just doing a lot better and all it took was doing some devos and resting in God before the start of the day. My work is getting easier because of this. Now let's see how this can help my friendships out. It also helps to have a friend check on you the first 2 days of the week to see how you are doing and how your day went. That was nice too. It has been awhile since I have had a friend that did that. It just gives me the reassuance that someone does care and that maybe if it doesn't seem like I'm on the right path now. I'm at least getting there slowly but surely. Things take time to heal and I just have to respect that and give it to God again and again. It wouldn't hurt if we as humans could see that and do that every once in awhile. It would make life a lot easier and joyful for us now and in the long run.
Last week at work got to me because it was Spring Break and it seemed like everyone was on it but a few people. We are short-handed to start with and it was just stressful. I broke down crying at church Saturday night and then came home and had a crying fit instead of being with my friends after church. I haven't broke down crying in church for awhile. In fact, I can't remember the last time I did. It has to be in the first year that I moved to AR at least. After church, I did stay in my car and talked to a friend for a little bit after church about what was bothering me until I calmed down enough to drive home.
I discovered something Sunday after a good night's rest that I needed to start doing again. That something was getting back into God's Word or at least doing devos. again like I use to. I had a jounal of devos. I did every morning about this time last year and I guess in the year as it went on I stopped doing them. I read a little of them just flipping through some of the pages and I felt like the devos were right what I needed so I thought to myself I should get started back on these every morning.
I took the challenge this week and it has made such a different. It been a busy week at work with everything going on but at the same time I've had enough strength, courage, and energy to get through everything and still have some left over, which is strange. Nothing changed at work if anything it only get worse but looking to God before I went to work made all the different. It is strange but great that something as little as a devo can get you looking to God for the rest of the day. I even found myself saying when things did get crazy, "God help me through this" or "I need patentice, Daddy". God really does hear those little prayers I learned this week. Sometimes more then our long, wordy prayers.
I'm just doing a lot better and all it took was doing some devos and resting in God before the start of the day. My work is getting easier because of this. Now let's see how this can help my friendships out. It also helps to have a friend check on you the first 2 days of the week to see how you are doing and how your day went. That was nice too. It has been awhile since I have had a friend that did that. It just gives me the reassuance that someone does care and that maybe if it doesn't seem like I'm on the right path now. I'm at least getting there slowly but surely. Things take time to heal and I just have to respect that and give it to God again and again. It wouldn't hurt if we as humans could see that and do that every once in awhile. It would make life a lot easier and joyful for us now and in the long run.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
April is Child Abuse Awearness Month
"Every Child Deserves a Home". That's my favorite song by the Christian group "Newsong" and another one of my favorite song is "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood. Either way you look at it and I have had both views, it is a really sad thing. It upsets me most of the time when I get the children I do and find out why I have them. I have challenged myself just this morning to pray every day for the abused children and all 4 weeks of this month for a different organzation in my state for a week so that would be praying for 4 organzations. I already do pray off and on for the children that I work with and that really need it but this month it will be for all children.
Here are the two of my favorite songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQjObgmNbmE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LraOiHUltak
It is strange because one of my children's birthday is today so I will be going into work "partying" it up for him. What a way to start a month like this! Birthday parties always get to me at my job because you may never know if it is their 1st one and they can be 4 year olds and never had one. Just think what if you didn't have one. Anyways, if you can please join me in this awearness of abuse. It is crazy to think that where I live in Northwest AR there has been over 200 abuse cases already in 2014. I know we don't have enough organzations to cover all of that but yet we have 5 that I know off. This is my passion and I will live honestly be passionate about it until I die whether here in the states or overseas helping orphanages over there. PLEASE TAKE THE CHALLENGE AND PRAY FOR THIS CHILDREN! Thanks.
Here are the two of my favorite songs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQjObgmNbmE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LraOiHUltak
It is strange because one of my children's birthday is today so I will be going into work "partying" it up for him. What a way to start a month like this! Birthday parties always get to me at my job because you may never know if it is their 1st one and they can be 4 year olds and never had one. Just think what if you didn't have one. Anyways, if you can please join me in this awearness of abuse. It is crazy to think that where I live in Northwest AR there has been over 200 abuse cases already in 2014. I know we don't have enough organzations to cover all of that but yet we have 5 that I know off. This is my passion and I will live honestly be passionate about it until I die whether here in the states or overseas helping orphanages over there. PLEASE TAKE THE CHALLENGE AND PRAY FOR THIS CHILDREN! Thanks.
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