This is more of a remembering entry for me about my baptism weekend so I can look back and remember all the good things that went on. Just in case I need it in my life. :) I was pretty nervous up til the day of, which means I was nervous all the week before. It was a beautiful weekend for a baptism, so beautiful that I could not stay inside my apartment today (day after) at all.
Saturday Day: My parents and little brother came down around noon and we spent the day at my big brother's house so I got to play and hold my nieces and nephews for most of the day until I had to go to the church at 4:30. I jumped with them on the tempoline some and played a card game with my littlest nephew. I also got to hold and see my littlest niece smile a lot at me.
Then 4:30 came and I had to go to church. I met people in the worship center and then went into the prayer room and up the stairs and got ready to be baptized. Then when I got ready the worship team prayed over me and I did cry a little because just having the spotlight makes me anxious especially even at important times like this. Then before I knew it, it was done and over with. Well, the water part at least. I, of course, stayed for church along with my family. The sermon was about "What's God up to when we are suffering?" The songs that we sung were: The Lion and the Lamb, It is Well with my Soul, Cornerstone, and Great Are You, Lord.
When church was over, we went out to eat at "Flying Fish". Of course, after we got done eating the parents and little brother had to leave. Before we left to go eat, I got to see and talked to some of my friends that I invited to come. Got to talk to one friend outside, with the sunset behind us, on the church ground (which mean the world to both of us, aka God means the world) and only the two of us. It means a lot to because we haven't been able to do that for a long time. It felt like old times again. Just thanked my friend for coming, even though they were a little late, and they went on to hang out with other people.
Sunday Day: I slept in late because I was tried from everything that went on the day before and my emotions got the best of me and made me tried too. Got up at around 8:30. I waited for another friend of mine to get done serving at church and then we went out for coffee afterwards at a new place on the Bentonville square. We spent about a hour and a half talking there.
Then we spilt our ways and went to do other things. I came home needing to fold my clothes but instead I wanted to be outside on another beautiful almost 70 degree weather day. I got my Bible and Bible study and went to the park and just set out in God's Creation and study my Bible lesson for this week. The funny thing was that it was on how to get Godly Wisdom when needed most and I know I have a bad time with remembering to ask for it everyday so it was a good and deep reminder. I thought it was an especially good reminder after giving my life over to Him again and the day right after that.
I also took a few pictures of me being outside and just the outside to remember the day. They turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. I look pretty confident in the selfie I took of me. Then, of course, I had to go back to my apartment and hit reality again. I had supper and got ready for the night and work week to start again. Overall, I had a baptism weekend that I will love to remember for the rest of my life. I need to compare the two baptisms some other time on here because they were different, for real.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Remembering My Grandma
I don't know why this memory is hitting me so hard right now and it all started last night while I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep. I haven't wrote a lot of entries about how I felt about my grandma passing away this past August because honestly I didn't know what to write or how to put it into words plus I was busy. I was looking and starting a new job during that time plus I just got let go at my other job so things were just really busy at the time. Now that I look back on the moments I had with her, there are things I remember and love.
The one memory out of a lot of memories that I had with her but the only one at the nursing home that I had with her would be during one visit when we went out on the back porch and talked. I, of course, remember all those times I went a visited her in the memory loss unit of the home but that was hard to start with. There was one time we went to the back porch because she loved nature so much. It could be flowers, birds, and really anything. You could see a difference when she was in that small apartment room of her and stuck there, then going outside on the porch with us when we were there.
I remember that day where I could tell she was getting bad at remembering things and things wouldn't last long. She kept asking questions to figure things out and I think she barely remember who I was. There was still that smile on her face because her daughter was there visiting and she was outdoors near flowers and birds. If I remember right too, I want to say it was Spring but it might have been Fall but either way there were birds singing in the background. I remember exactly where each of us was sitting or near the spots we were sitting.
My mom (her daughter) and my grandma was sitting beside each other and the chairs were facing the doors but were backed up behind the railing of the porch. I was sitting on the side or a little off to the corner across from them on a chair. My mom was talking about how she should help grandma plant some flowers in those flower boxes on the railing and to see if she could get permission from the staff at the home to do that. That memory stuck with me for some reason and maybe it is because that is how the women in my family have been raised.
We have either been taught to love children or the outdoors or both in the simplest of ways. It isn't just something that someone gets into the habit of or at least that is how I think of it. It is something that is really past down from generation to generation. My mom is all about the flowers, birds, helping the environment, gardening, and anything else you can think of that has to do with the outdoors. All of my grandparents were like that. They might have showed it in different ways but in their own way they loved being outdoors. I am just thankful I got that habit passed down.
Just another thing that has been past down to me that I know for sure is my degree and dream. I want to be a homemaker and I love anything to do with Family and Consumer Sciences just like my other grandma (dad's mom). Who I am is really because of my family and I wouldn't be who I am today without them. I remember as a little child, how I took things for granted and complained about work. When I say work I mean working in the garden or getting up at 3:00 in the morning to go fishing or work on an unfinished house, which I had to do 2 times in my life. Now I wouldn't trade those times for anything and would love to do more of those things more.
All these thoughts are just thoughts to show that I am growing up and seeing what was and is important in life. I was a fool not to see these things before it was all too late on some things. Don't take life for granted because you are not in charge of it and you have no idea when it will end for anyone.
The one memory out of a lot of memories that I had with her but the only one at the nursing home that I had with her would be during one visit when we went out on the back porch and talked. I, of course, remember all those times I went a visited her in the memory loss unit of the home but that was hard to start with. There was one time we went to the back porch because she loved nature so much. It could be flowers, birds, and really anything. You could see a difference when she was in that small apartment room of her and stuck there, then going outside on the porch with us when we were there.
I remember that day where I could tell she was getting bad at remembering things and things wouldn't last long. She kept asking questions to figure things out and I think she barely remember who I was. There was still that smile on her face because her daughter was there visiting and she was outdoors near flowers and birds. If I remember right too, I want to say it was Spring but it might have been Fall but either way there were birds singing in the background. I remember exactly where each of us was sitting or near the spots we were sitting.
My mom (her daughter) and my grandma was sitting beside each other and the chairs were facing the doors but were backed up behind the railing of the porch. I was sitting on the side or a little off to the corner across from them on a chair. My mom was talking about how she should help grandma plant some flowers in those flower boxes on the railing and to see if she could get permission from the staff at the home to do that. That memory stuck with me for some reason and maybe it is because that is how the women in my family have been raised.
We have either been taught to love children or the outdoors or both in the simplest of ways. It isn't just something that someone gets into the habit of or at least that is how I think of it. It is something that is really past down from generation to generation. My mom is all about the flowers, birds, helping the environment, gardening, and anything else you can think of that has to do with the outdoors. All of my grandparents were like that. They might have showed it in different ways but in their own way they loved being outdoors. I am just thankful I got that habit passed down.
Just another thing that has been past down to me that I know for sure is my degree and dream. I want to be a homemaker and I love anything to do with Family and Consumer Sciences just like my other grandma (dad's mom). Who I am is really because of my family and I wouldn't be who I am today without them. I remember as a little child, how I took things for granted and complained about work. When I say work I mean working in the garden or getting up at 3:00 in the morning to go fishing or work on an unfinished house, which I had to do 2 times in my life. Now I wouldn't trade those times for anything and would love to do more of those things more.
All these thoughts are just thoughts to show that I am growing up and seeing what was and is important in life. I was a fool not to see these things before it was all too late on some things. Don't take life for granted because you are not in charge of it and you have no idea when it will end for anyone.
Friday, February 26, 2016
My "Suffering" Testimony
If you have been keeping up with my blog, just a little bit, you will know that my church has been on the topic of suffering for this past month and it is a good topic because the way they teach it is: God is there with you through the suffering and here are the different ways He is with you and good reasons why. It has made me thinking about the kinds of sufferings that I see around me and little and big sufferings that I have been through myself. I mean we live in a world of sin and suffering whether we like to admit it or not. I love that one night during the sermon there was a baby crying in the service and sirens going off outside and it was only a couple reminders of the different suffering in the world.
I am making a big choice tomorrow night at church and I just thought I needed to share my "suffering" testimony if that is what you can call it. It kind of explains why I am doing what I am doing. I will say that in a strange way my "suffering" testimony started when I moved to AR but that is understandable for me. It is the first time that I had been so far away from my family and without their help for a long time. I had to make almost every choice on my own and it also doesn't help when you move to a place for a certain reason but that is a whole other story that won't be told on here.
I will admit that the first full year here in AR was probably my worst. There is nothing like trying to fit in with a group of people that you have nothing in common with. There is also nothing like moving to a place where don't know anyone at all. I was trying to fit in to this business group of people and they were nothing like me at all. They all talk smart and serious and then here is me who hangs around kids all day for my job. Slowly, I felt like God was pulling me in another direction but it was hard for me to let go and trust Him.
There were nights that I would get into my car after hanging out with that group and just start crying and yelling at God because I had no idea what was going on. I had no idea what the feeling that I was feeling was. This was all new to me and hard. I had no one around me to talk about it with because everyone else had been year for quite a few years before me. Then I notice that God started to bring people into my life that just moved here or moved here not to long ago and things got better. I started to relate to a lot more people and not only were those people new too, they also had close to the same interests as me and for that I was grateful.
That was how my first year in AR went and then I had seasons of suffering and non suffering here and there as the years went on up til now. I lost my jobs a couple of times and had to learn new things there and go through them again, which is never easy. Then, while in AR, I lost the last two of my grandparents and a grandpa like friend to me. Not only did I lose them, I had to watch them go through sickness and hurt. I regret still to this day not seeing them as often as I should have. With those things going on, I knew my parents were hurting too and I couldn't be there for them because my jobs were taking up so much of my time and energy.
Then there was this one job that I went through suffering every single day when I was working there because of where I worked. I worked with abused children and it doesn't get anymore suffering then that. When you see those children like I did and know why they are like that you just want to hurt someone so bad and sometimes they are so smart and cute that you just wonder why someone would do that to their child. I tried to hold it together for the longest time but it finally got to me and to where I wasn't being supported or encouraged that I had to quit. It was just so hard seeing those children so behind developmentally and hearing cuss words come out of their mouths and seeing how they could defend themselves and throw fits because they had to to keep safe.
Then seeing the babies, the newborns, at a shelter because their parent was on drugs with them and just things like that were horrible. Just seeing them not trusting any human bring because of what was done to them. There were some children that came in so dirty and head full of lice. Some so much that we had to cut their hair short to get rid of them. I still shake when I think of them. That job right there gave me a whole new meaning of suffering and of what love really is. I think a lot of time we take those 2 things for granted and think they are little things that will never happen to us but we are so wrong. Why do you think God gave to this earth to save us?
Looking into the eyes of those children even night while rocking or patting them to bed, made me see God more and more. Holding them while they were throwing their fits, while they were hitting me across the face, cussing me out, biting and pinching me, and even kicking me made me think of us and God a lot. Is that really how we treat God sometimes? Like that is the question that would cross my mind a lot while working there. Yet, still, He puts up with us and cared enough to die on the cross for our sins. There was a lot of soul searching that came with that job and I think that is where all of this started.
Something else that really gets me is that no one else really seemed to see the children or the situations like that. It just seemed like they saw the children as children and didn't care. They seemed to be too busy with other things that they didn't care about the children like they really should have. I know it isn't a perfect world and other things need to be done but still they could have make it look like their top thing on their "list" especially the little ones that couldn't defend for themselves. The little ones that needed a voice to speak up for them and yet that was all I was doing.
Sorry, kind of got on my soapbox there for a bit but so far I think that is my biggest suffering story of my life. Now don't get me wrong. I also suffer from Anxiety, another kind of suffering, and have for most of my life and I finally got a handle on that here in AR and got it under control but nothing compares to the children. As you can see, suffering comes in a lot of different ways, both big and small. Each of us has a different way of handling each suffering but there is one things to remember: "It isn't God that gives us the suffering, it is the world. It is, though, God that gets us through the suffering and makes us better then ever before. It is Him that turns rocks into diamonds and ashes into beauty."
I am making a big choice tomorrow night at church and I just thought I needed to share my "suffering" testimony if that is what you can call it. It kind of explains why I am doing what I am doing. I will say that in a strange way my "suffering" testimony started when I moved to AR but that is understandable for me. It is the first time that I had been so far away from my family and without their help for a long time. I had to make almost every choice on my own and it also doesn't help when you move to a place for a certain reason but that is a whole other story that won't be told on here.
I will admit that the first full year here in AR was probably my worst. There is nothing like trying to fit in with a group of people that you have nothing in common with. There is also nothing like moving to a place where don't know anyone at all. I was trying to fit in to this business group of people and they were nothing like me at all. They all talk smart and serious and then here is me who hangs around kids all day for my job. Slowly, I felt like God was pulling me in another direction but it was hard for me to let go and trust Him.
There were nights that I would get into my car after hanging out with that group and just start crying and yelling at God because I had no idea what was going on. I had no idea what the feeling that I was feeling was. This was all new to me and hard. I had no one around me to talk about it with because everyone else had been year for quite a few years before me. Then I notice that God started to bring people into my life that just moved here or moved here not to long ago and things got better. I started to relate to a lot more people and not only were those people new too, they also had close to the same interests as me and for that I was grateful.
That was how my first year in AR went and then I had seasons of suffering and non suffering here and there as the years went on up til now. I lost my jobs a couple of times and had to learn new things there and go through them again, which is never easy. Then, while in AR, I lost the last two of my grandparents and a grandpa like friend to me. Not only did I lose them, I had to watch them go through sickness and hurt. I regret still to this day not seeing them as often as I should have. With those things going on, I knew my parents were hurting too and I couldn't be there for them because my jobs were taking up so much of my time and energy.
Then there was this one job that I went through suffering every single day when I was working there because of where I worked. I worked with abused children and it doesn't get anymore suffering then that. When you see those children like I did and know why they are like that you just want to hurt someone so bad and sometimes they are so smart and cute that you just wonder why someone would do that to their child. I tried to hold it together for the longest time but it finally got to me and to where I wasn't being supported or encouraged that I had to quit. It was just so hard seeing those children so behind developmentally and hearing cuss words come out of their mouths and seeing how they could defend themselves and throw fits because they had to to keep safe.
Then seeing the babies, the newborns, at a shelter because their parent was on drugs with them and just things like that were horrible. Just seeing them not trusting any human bring because of what was done to them. There were some children that came in so dirty and head full of lice. Some so much that we had to cut their hair short to get rid of them. I still shake when I think of them. That job right there gave me a whole new meaning of suffering and of what love really is. I think a lot of time we take those 2 things for granted and think they are little things that will never happen to us but we are so wrong. Why do you think God gave to this earth to save us?
Looking into the eyes of those children even night while rocking or patting them to bed, made me see God more and more. Holding them while they were throwing their fits, while they were hitting me across the face, cussing me out, biting and pinching me, and even kicking me made me think of us and God a lot. Is that really how we treat God sometimes? Like that is the question that would cross my mind a lot while working there. Yet, still, He puts up with us and cared enough to die on the cross for our sins. There was a lot of soul searching that came with that job and I think that is where all of this started.
Something else that really gets me is that no one else really seemed to see the children or the situations like that. It just seemed like they saw the children as children and didn't care. They seemed to be too busy with other things that they didn't care about the children like they really should have. I know it isn't a perfect world and other things need to be done but still they could have make it look like their top thing on their "list" especially the little ones that couldn't defend for themselves. The little ones that needed a voice to speak up for them and yet that was all I was doing.
Sorry, kind of got on my soapbox there for a bit but so far I think that is my biggest suffering story of my life. Now don't get me wrong. I also suffer from Anxiety, another kind of suffering, and have for most of my life and I finally got a handle on that here in AR and got it under control but nothing compares to the children. As you can see, suffering comes in a lot of different ways, both big and small. Each of us has a different way of handling each suffering but there is one things to remember: "It isn't God that gives us the suffering, it is the world. It is, though, God that gets us through the suffering and makes us better then ever before. It is Him that turns rocks into diamonds and ashes into beauty."
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Understand But Then I Don't Understand
Have you ever been in a situation that lasted year after year and you understand why you have to go through it but don't understand why things are going the way they are? I'm in the middle of one like that right now. I understand that what is going on is good but why can't I do something about it. It is so hard to deal with it and it will get you down and tried but if you care enough you have to stick with it.
You don't know what or how to feel? You want to talk and tell but you don't want to mess things up. You would hold onto everything you have with your life and you have been through too much to let the things go. To take that chance and risk. I don't want to say that I am the only one trying under the things going on but I feel like I am. I want to be happy but it is so hard when you feel like you are not been seen different then any other person.
That is the part you don't understand. Time and time again you have been there in the moments for a person and then you ask for something from them but then they are too busy to do it. I understand that they want to get higher up in the world but just for once can they see who is right beside them. Yeah, I'm sure they see their family and friends but yet there more people that care for them. It would be nice if every once in awhile they would do something for that person that feels left out even if it is something as simple as writing them an email without having them write first or even saying hey when they see them.
It is like I use up all the strength that I have some times to get the courage to go up and talk to them but yet it does no good. I see no difference. I ask myself am I really making a difference in their life but holding on to dear life or is it just making it worse. Yes, I have gotten better at letting go and not being so demanding or annoying like I was at the start but it is just too much to ask to have some friendly responses back. I get so upset at times and so drained out of energy after going up to them. Some days it does take everything I have and I feel like I get nothing in return.
I know that is not what friendship/relationships are about. You are suppose to like/love the other person no matter how they treat you but at the same time there needs to be better feedback more then just likes and emails back. There needs to be time taken out of whatever they are doing or thinking or talking about to at least say hey. Like I said at the start of this entry, I understand what the whole thing is about and how important it is but sometimes they need to open up their eyes and see what is right in front of them.
They might be blaming the person and saying that they are hiding, when really it is them that have no idea what is right in front of them. It can be plain as day or simple as day and they see won't see what is happening or should be happening. I don't want to give up and I'm not going to. I'm going to keep fighting until I know for sure what is going on or what the other person is thinking but til then I will just be sleepy everyday of my life.
I also know that it might be one of God's Ways and Things that He is holding off until a certain time and that is fine but that doesn't give any excuse for not thinking it is hard. Even waiting on God's prefect timing is hard at times. I would rather not understand it and let it be a surprise by God but yet again it is so hard to wait. Plus let's just say when I got into what is going on, I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I knew every second was going to be focused on something else besides me but I'm still not giving up because I am the determined and stubborn type. Just sayin'.
That is the end of my rant. Sorry about that. I finally had something to write about that had strong feelings behind it so I did. Girls, don't think of yourself as anyone less if people don't pay attention to you. If they want to focus on something else let them and go live your life like it should be lived. I will admit, I have done that and it didn't turn out good at all. It really got me down but now I don't care and I usually laugh it off but there are times like now it gets to me and I have to get over it in my own special way.
You don't know what or how to feel? You want to talk and tell but you don't want to mess things up. You would hold onto everything you have with your life and you have been through too much to let the things go. To take that chance and risk. I don't want to say that I am the only one trying under the things going on but I feel like I am. I want to be happy but it is so hard when you feel like you are not been seen different then any other person.
That is the part you don't understand. Time and time again you have been there in the moments for a person and then you ask for something from them but then they are too busy to do it. I understand that they want to get higher up in the world but just for once can they see who is right beside them. Yeah, I'm sure they see their family and friends but yet there more people that care for them. It would be nice if every once in awhile they would do something for that person that feels left out even if it is something as simple as writing them an email without having them write first or even saying hey when they see them.
It is like I use up all the strength that I have some times to get the courage to go up and talk to them but yet it does no good. I see no difference. I ask myself am I really making a difference in their life but holding on to dear life or is it just making it worse. Yes, I have gotten better at letting go and not being so demanding or annoying like I was at the start but it is just too much to ask to have some friendly responses back. I get so upset at times and so drained out of energy after going up to them. Some days it does take everything I have and I feel like I get nothing in return.
I know that is not what friendship/relationships are about. You are suppose to like/love the other person no matter how they treat you but at the same time there needs to be better feedback more then just likes and emails back. There needs to be time taken out of whatever they are doing or thinking or talking about to at least say hey. Like I said at the start of this entry, I understand what the whole thing is about and how important it is but sometimes they need to open up their eyes and see what is right in front of them.
They might be blaming the person and saying that they are hiding, when really it is them that have no idea what is right in front of them. It can be plain as day or simple as day and they see won't see what is happening or should be happening. I don't want to give up and I'm not going to. I'm going to keep fighting until I know for sure what is going on or what the other person is thinking but til then I will just be sleepy everyday of my life.
I also know that it might be one of God's Ways and Things that He is holding off until a certain time and that is fine but that doesn't give any excuse for not thinking it is hard. Even waiting on God's prefect timing is hard at times. I would rather not understand it and let it be a surprise by God but yet again it is so hard to wait. Plus let's just say when I got into what is going on, I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I knew every second was going to be focused on something else besides me but I'm still not giving up because I am the determined and stubborn type. Just sayin'.
That is the end of my rant. Sorry about that. I finally had something to write about that had strong feelings behind it so I did. Girls, don't think of yourself as anyone less if people don't pay attention to you. If they want to focus on something else let them and go live your life like it should be lived. I will admit, I have done that and it didn't turn out good at all. It really got me down but now I don't care and I usually laugh it off but there are times like now it gets to me and I have to get over it in my own special way.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Stay With God
This is the way that I have learned this exact verse but I found another way that I really love it and I will explain way in this entry:
"Wait for the Lord;
be strong and takeHEART
and wait for the Lord."-Psalms 27:14 (NIV)
. Don’t quit.
"Wait for the Lord;
be strong and takeHEART
and wait for the Lord."-Psalms 27:14 (NIV)
This is the verse and way that I like this verse:
"Stay with God!
TakeHEART. Don’t quit.
I’ll say it again:
Stay with God.-Psalms 27:14 (MSG)
There are some differences to these verses even though they mean the same thing. To me, one version is nicer then the other. I know that is funny to say and think about but when you are, maybe, leading someone to Christ, you might need a version like that and more self explanation. For me, The Message version is great at doing that.
Let's start with the first sentences. "Wait for the Lord" and "Stay with God!" "Wait for the Lord" is a command, which I know we need at times but it sounds like you should just wait on the Lord and not do anything. It sounds like God might strike you down with things that you need but He isn't that kind of God. Where "Stay with God" is more of the comforting type of wording. It also sounds like God is right beside you through everything that you are going through to get where He wants you to be. You are not doing it by yourself.
The 2nd sentences are: "be strong and take heart" and "Take heart. Don't quit". I liked the "be strong and take heart" because it is telling you to be strong in the times of need while you are waiting God. "Take heart" also means be confidence and don't give up while waiting on God. I know that "take heart" is in both of the versions so it is important because of what it means.
I also like what the Message version says, "Don't quit". I love that encouragement especially with "Stay with God". It is kind of like, "be strong". It is about having confidence. It is saying, "stay with God and don't quit what you are doing because as long as you stay with God things will turn out the way He has planned them for you and nothing could be better then that." We might not know what those things are while we are on this earth but we always know that there is a reward for us in Heaven that we are going towards and that we are promised. That is another reason that we shouldn't quit and be strong in the mean time.
These verse has always been one of my favorites because it has always gotten me through the hard times and even not so hard times. I mean this verse could be used for the good and the bad. For the good because you don't want it to stop and you are with God no matter what is happening in life and we need the same thought process when we are in the bad times. God is with us through those times and He will get us through them, we just have to stay with God and there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
I will say too, though, that the word "stay" is a lot nicer during a hard time, then the word "wait" is. If I was told to "wait" during a hard time, I would bounce back at the person telling me to do that but if I was told to "stay" then my response would be different and I would say, "I'll try". The second version is just more comforting to me and I like to be comforted when I'm having a hard time or really any time at all. If I need a reminder, then I need it or would whether have it nice and comforting. I will admit, though, there are times that I need a "slap in the face" kind of words and verses. It depends on how stubborn I am in the situation.
Just remember: "Stay with God and do not quit, no matter what you are going through. He is always there comforting and helping you."
Stay with God.-Psalms 27:14 (MSG)
There are some differences to these verses even though they mean the same thing. To me, one version is nicer then the other. I know that is funny to say and think about but when you are, maybe, leading someone to Christ, you might need a version like that and more self explanation. For me, The Message version is great at doing that.
Let's start with the first sentences. "Wait for the Lord" and "Stay with God!" "Wait for the Lord" is a command, which I know we need at times but it sounds like you should just wait on the Lord and not do anything. It sounds like God might strike you down with things that you need but He isn't that kind of God. Where "Stay with God" is more of the comforting type of wording. It also sounds like God is right beside you through everything that you are going through to get where He wants you to be. You are not doing it by yourself.
The 2nd sentences are: "be strong and take heart" and "Take heart. Don't quit". I liked the "be strong and take heart" because it is telling you to be strong in the times of need while you are waiting God. "Take heart" also means be confidence and don't give up while waiting on God. I know that "take heart" is in both of the versions so it is important because of what it means.
I also like what the Message version says, "Don't quit". I love that encouragement especially with "Stay with God". It is kind of like, "be strong". It is about having confidence. It is saying, "stay with God and don't quit what you are doing because as long as you stay with God things will turn out the way He has planned them for you and nothing could be better then that." We might not know what those things are while we are on this earth but we always know that there is a reward for us in Heaven that we are going towards and that we are promised. That is another reason that we shouldn't quit and be strong in the mean time.
These verse has always been one of my favorites because it has always gotten me through the hard times and even not so hard times. I mean this verse could be used for the good and the bad. For the good because you don't want it to stop and you are with God no matter what is happening in life and we need the same thought process when we are in the bad times. God is with us through those times and He will get us through them, we just have to stay with God and there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
I will say too, though, that the word "stay" is a lot nicer during a hard time, then the word "wait" is. If I was told to "wait" during a hard time, I would bounce back at the person telling me to do that but if I was told to "stay" then my response would be different and I would say, "I'll try". The second version is just more comforting to me and I like to be comforted when I'm having a hard time or really any time at all. If I need a reminder, then I need it or would whether have it nice and comforting. I will admit, though, there are times that I need a "slap in the face" kind of words and verses. It depends on how stubborn I am in the situation.
Just remember: "Stay with God and do not quit, no matter what you are going through. He is always there comforting and helping you."
Saturday, February 20, 2016
What is Strength from God?
"How did you get your strengths? God created you with them. You are, "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). Then He allows life experiences to develop your strengths ever more."-Holley Gerth
"A strength is a personal characteristic that can be used on behalf of God in service to others. Usually they're present throughout our lives but can be enhanced through experience or training. Strengths are part of who we are while skills are more about what we do."-Holley Gerth
"Jesus is the source of our strengths and He's also the one who enables us to live in them each day."-Holley Gerth
"God is out greatest strength-and the One who enables us to live out all the other strengths He's places within us."-Holley Gerth
Sorry there is only four quotes from Holley Gerth in this entry. I just wanted to get it out of my draft box because I have so many drafts in there to write. I needed to get rid of one easy one and this one was it.
"A strength is a personal characteristic that can be used on behalf of God in service to others. Usually they're present throughout our lives but can be enhanced through experience or training. Strengths are part of who we are while skills are more about what we do."-Holley Gerth
"Jesus is the source of our strengths and He's also the one who enables us to live in them each day."-Holley Gerth
"God is out greatest strength-and the One who enables us to live out all the other strengths He's places within us."-Holley Gerth
Sorry there is only four quotes from Holley Gerth in this entry. I just wanted to get it out of my draft box because I have so many drafts in there to write. I needed to get rid of one easy one and this one was it.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Please Listen to My Heart-A Poem
Please Listen to my Heart
Daddy, there are times that I can't
find the words to speak. There are
times I just don't understand. There
are times that I struggle and suffer
but yet You are listening.
The things that I care about and worry
about are the things that need to be said
in my heart. I don't know how to put them
into words that shows my feelings. My
deep desires will be found in my heart too.
Please listen to my heart.
The closer I grow with you and allow You
in my life. The more my heart does the talking.
Those people and things that my heart is
talking about also mean a lot to me and I
really care about them. The more talking
my heart does, the more I truly give over to
You.
When I want you to listen to my heart it's
because I know I can't say the words that
does justice. It is something I don't want
to take lightly. You are the God that we
are suppose to take everything to, even
the hardest things. Please listen to my heart.
By: Tiffney Wilson (Feb. 2016)
I really do miss writing poems off and on but the strange thing is I write them when I feel them. Isn't that what poems really are? I haven't felt them a lot lately. Maybe, in a good way, I could do some poems on suffering since my church is doing a 8 week sermon on that topic. We'll see.
Daddy, there are times that I can't
find the words to speak. There are
times I just don't understand. There
are times that I struggle and suffer
but yet You are listening.
The things that I care about and worry
about are the things that need to be said
in my heart. I don't know how to put them
into words that shows my feelings. My
deep desires will be found in my heart too.
Please listen to my heart.
The closer I grow with you and allow You
in my life. The more my heart does the talking.
Those people and things that my heart is
talking about also mean a lot to me and I
really care about them. The more talking
my heart does, the more I truly give over to
You.
When I want you to listen to my heart it's
because I know I can't say the words that
does justice. It is something I don't want
to take lightly. You are the God that we
are suppose to take everything to, even
the hardest things. Please listen to my heart.
By: Tiffney Wilson (Feb. 2016)
I really do miss writing poems off and on but the strange thing is I write them when I feel them. Isn't that what poems really are? I haven't felt them a lot lately. Maybe, in a good way, I could do some poems on suffering since my church is doing a 8 week sermon on that topic. We'll see.
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Won't Know I Am in Love
I was going to write an entry about how until I get with the right guy and go out a few times that I won't know I am in love but then I thought about it and that doesn't make sense especially if that guy is a friend of yours. I'm not saying mine is just yet but then again how do we know. I think it is funny that I am writing this entry the day before Valentine's Day because I also promised I wouldn't be so emotional this year but I guess emotional is better then depressed like I have been in the past around this time of year.
God has given more then I deserve through everything even my closet friendships girls and guys. He has given the encouragement that I needed to get through tough things and to keep me going when I felt like I wanted to give up. That's not all through that He has done. God has also written some life stories that I never will forget and hope that I don't have to forget ever. I thought about all of this because I went to a friend's bridal shower this morning and she shared how her and her soon to be husband met. I will say that it sounds a lot like some of my stories or hope to be stories.
I want my love story to be like hers and it is strange but as I think on some of them that I have now depending on who God has for me they might be. We can never put God in a box like we do most of the time. I love the part where she said, "Even though we went to the same college, however many acres, we didn't meet until it was time and during some job trips." She also said and I also love this, "God must of had some healing and teaching for both of us to go through until we met each other and got married." I feel like that could be my ever after someday.
I have and do feel like God has used my time in AR, these 4 years, to heal and give me the experience of a lifetime that otherwise I wouldn't have if I got married when I wanted to or thought I want to. I look at my friends that married young whether in high school or college and I think if I got married then I wouldn't have the experiences and lessons that I have had know. I really believe that God is preparing me for the perfect guy/husband. God is doing that to my future husband too. Like now, I really feel like going back to school and getting a better paying job is one of the many steps in my readiness for marriage along with getting rebaptized and setting my goals straight again.
I have finally understood what love really is by loving and continuing to love God through it all. Marriage and not marriage. Holy and not so Holy. I also got to wonder if all girls have an idea who their husbands might be before they even talk about it to each other or if I'm the only strange one. I want to wait and am waiting for God's prefect Timing until He says, "Go" but if any women or man knows it is hard to especially when you think you know but yet at the same time you know both of you have more to do before that time comes.
I was all wrong about "won't know I am in love" because I will but it will take time before it all comes together but for now I just need to live in the moment and enjoy the story that God is making of my life. If I can, support all the people around me even the guys because we never know, if one of our guy friends will be the one. It is neat to look back on my story and see so far what God has done though for me and the people in my life. This Valentine's Day I am finally okay with being content with God being my Love even if I wonder when will "my day" will come about. Girls, we can wonder that but we CANNOT FORGET WHO OUR TRUE LOVE is and that is GOD HIMSELF. All of this that we go through too only make us stronger and better women for the man God has planned to put in our lives.
God has given more then I deserve through everything even my closet friendships girls and guys. He has given the encouragement that I needed to get through tough things and to keep me going when I felt like I wanted to give up. That's not all through that He has done. God has also written some life stories that I never will forget and hope that I don't have to forget ever. I thought about all of this because I went to a friend's bridal shower this morning and she shared how her and her soon to be husband met. I will say that it sounds a lot like some of my stories or hope to be stories.
I want my love story to be like hers and it is strange but as I think on some of them that I have now depending on who God has for me they might be. We can never put God in a box like we do most of the time. I love the part where she said, "Even though we went to the same college, however many acres, we didn't meet until it was time and during some job trips." She also said and I also love this, "God must of had some healing and teaching for both of us to go through until we met each other and got married." I feel like that could be my ever after someday.
I have and do feel like God has used my time in AR, these 4 years, to heal and give me the experience of a lifetime that otherwise I wouldn't have if I got married when I wanted to or thought I want to. I look at my friends that married young whether in high school or college and I think if I got married then I wouldn't have the experiences and lessons that I have had know. I really believe that God is preparing me for the perfect guy/husband. God is doing that to my future husband too. Like now, I really feel like going back to school and getting a better paying job is one of the many steps in my readiness for marriage along with getting rebaptized and setting my goals straight again.
I have finally understood what love really is by loving and continuing to love God through it all. Marriage and not marriage. Holy and not so Holy. I also got to wonder if all girls have an idea who their husbands might be before they even talk about it to each other or if I'm the only strange one. I want to wait and am waiting for God's prefect Timing until He says, "Go" but if any women or man knows it is hard to especially when you think you know but yet at the same time you know both of you have more to do before that time comes.
I was all wrong about "won't know I am in love" because I will but it will take time before it all comes together but for now I just need to live in the moment and enjoy the story that God is making of my life. If I can, support all the people around me even the guys because we never know, if one of our guy friends will be the one. It is neat to look back on my story and see so far what God has done though for me and the people in my life. This Valentine's Day I am finally okay with being content with God being my Love even if I wonder when will "my day" will come about. Girls, we can wonder that but we CANNOT FORGET WHO OUR TRUE LOVE is and that is GOD HIMSELF. All of this that we go through too only make us stronger and better women for the man God has planned to put in our lives.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Please Listen to My Heart
I was going to write on my blog about children because I had a big day with my toddlers and learned a lot of new things but I decided to write something on here because thoughts were hitting me more for this one then my children's blog. I can always go back to that one some other time and write about today somehow on it. This topic is just fresh on my mind right now and when I have deep thoughts I need to write them down if you haven't noticed yet.
I got this title "Please Listen to My Heart" one night as I was praying to God this week. This week has just been a blessing to me in the biggest way possible, yet I have no words to explain it. I guess you could say there is where the title come from but really it wasn't. The title came from a prayer request that I had a feeling for but didn't quite have the words for because I didn't know all that was going on. Ever get that way? Ever get to where you know you should pray for someone or something but you don't know the words so you just pray "Please listen to my heart"? Sometimes I do that when it gets really bad for me or when I want to pray for certain things bad but don't know what to do say.
I think it is strange that I get this thought and topic during the week of Valentine's Day. I was also going to turn it into a poem and I still might sometime this month. I also think it is strange that my church is going over struggles and how to see God in the struggles during this time of year but I know that it is very much needed and there is no better quote to pray then the title of this entry. All this to say that I have been through struggles and I know people that are going through struggles and a lot of them. Sometimes for seasons at a time. I am blessed that I only have to face struggles every 2 years it seems or that is the most I had to so far while I know some people who had to face them for 3 years and still are facing them.
I would say my biggest struggle would had to be working with abused children for 2 years while watching my grandma (last grandparent) pass away slowly. To be honest with you all, I'm not completely over that because I still have some anger issues with people but I am better then I was 3 months ago. I'm growing better everyday. I will also say that I have my day to day struggles at work, once a week, a whole month and so on but it is only because God is making us stronger in Him. I just think back on the people that I know that have been through a lot more then me and still are and I pray for them when I can. Some have sickness that will take years to remission from and there is always that scare that it might come back.
Some people like missionaries could get death threats, called bad names, and having people give them a way to kill themselves, yet here I am thinking I have the biggest struggles at times when really I don't. I know my struggles are big in God's eyes but in human's eyes especially mine, they should be little compared to some of the struggles that I know are going on. I do feel that God put me in a season of two years to see what real struggle was like and what He could do there for me and for the children that I was taking care of for Him. I could say and I do sometimes to people if you haven't seen a abused child then you haven't see struggle at all especially if you haven't seen an abused child with bad anger issues, really bad tantrums, or really developmentally behind.
As I am seeing in other people's lives, and it could even be their family living situations, that is a struggle for them so they want out somehow. It makes me see how blessed I really am but yet it makes me wonder how can I really pray for them and are my prayers making a difference in their struggles. Honestly, the only words I know how to pray when I feel like that about people is: "Please Listen to My Heart, O God". There are some things I wouldn't even image myself in as a mom or just as a person. I know some pretty strong people but I have also watched them grow in their relationship with the Lord and I can see a major difference.
God does use those struggles to get us closer to Him. We might not like it but it is life. I like how my pastor said it last Saturday night: "It is man who gives us the suffering because it is a sinful world, but it is God who turns that suffering around for the good for us." There are some other quotes from my pastor I would like to put in this entry:
-"When we suffer, we don't always see the whole picture."
-"When Hell breaks lose, you might be doing something right."
-"Worship God for who He is, not for what He gives."
-"God is all sovereign."
Remember this: God can take away things to teach us things too. I believe He took away my 1st preschool teaching job to show me what true suffering was while working with abused children. Now I am back being a preschool teacher and not just a helper or assistant but a lead teacher for the toddlers. That right there should show you that after you go through a little bit of suffering, then good things will come out of it. We just need to get through the hard things first (aka get through the storm).
I got this title "Please Listen to My Heart" one night as I was praying to God this week. This week has just been a blessing to me in the biggest way possible, yet I have no words to explain it. I guess you could say there is where the title come from but really it wasn't. The title came from a prayer request that I had a feeling for but didn't quite have the words for because I didn't know all that was going on. Ever get that way? Ever get to where you know you should pray for someone or something but you don't know the words so you just pray "Please listen to my heart"? Sometimes I do that when it gets really bad for me or when I want to pray for certain things bad but don't know what to do say.
I think it is strange that I get this thought and topic during the week of Valentine's Day. I was also going to turn it into a poem and I still might sometime this month. I also think it is strange that my church is going over struggles and how to see God in the struggles during this time of year but I know that it is very much needed and there is no better quote to pray then the title of this entry. All this to say that I have been through struggles and I know people that are going through struggles and a lot of them. Sometimes for seasons at a time. I am blessed that I only have to face struggles every 2 years it seems or that is the most I had to so far while I know some people who had to face them for 3 years and still are facing them.
I would say my biggest struggle would had to be working with abused children for 2 years while watching my grandma (last grandparent) pass away slowly. To be honest with you all, I'm not completely over that because I still have some anger issues with people but I am better then I was 3 months ago. I'm growing better everyday. I will also say that I have my day to day struggles at work, once a week, a whole month and so on but it is only because God is making us stronger in Him. I just think back on the people that I know that have been through a lot more then me and still are and I pray for them when I can. Some have sickness that will take years to remission from and there is always that scare that it might come back.
Some people like missionaries could get death threats, called bad names, and having people give them a way to kill themselves, yet here I am thinking I have the biggest struggles at times when really I don't. I know my struggles are big in God's eyes but in human's eyes especially mine, they should be little compared to some of the struggles that I know are going on. I do feel that God put me in a season of two years to see what real struggle was like and what He could do there for me and for the children that I was taking care of for Him. I could say and I do sometimes to people if you haven't seen a abused child then you haven't see struggle at all especially if you haven't seen an abused child with bad anger issues, really bad tantrums, or really developmentally behind.
As I am seeing in other people's lives, and it could even be their family living situations, that is a struggle for them so they want out somehow. It makes me see how blessed I really am but yet it makes me wonder how can I really pray for them and are my prayers making a difference in their struggles. Honestly, the only words I know how to pray when I feel like that about people is: "Please Listen to My Heart, O God". There are some things I wouldn't even image myself in as a mom or just as a person. I know some pretty strong people but I have also watched them grow in their relationship with the Lord and I can see a major difference.
God does use those struggles to get us closer to Him. We might not like it but it is life. I like how my pastor said it last Saturday night: "It is man who gives us the suffering because it is a sinful world, but it is God who turns that suffering around for the good for us." There are some other quotes from my pastor I would like to put in this entry:
-"When we suffer, we don't always see the whole picture."
-"When Hell breaks lose, you might be doing something right."
-"Worship God for who He is, not for what He gives."
-"God is all sovereign."
Remember this: God can take away things to teach us things too. I believe He took away my 1st preschool teaching job to show me what true suffering was while working with abused children. Now I am back being a preschool teacher and not just a helper or assistant but a lead teacher for the toddlers. That right there should show you that after you go through a little bit of suffering, then good things will come out of it. We just need to get through the hard things first (aka get through the storm).
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Starting to Budget
I think God has really encouraged me to start learning about budgeting for real this time. I think He has shown me that by lowering my money status. I will be honest with you all. God has taken me out of my comfort zone by making me learn about budgeting. I have always had enough money to feel comfortable about where I was financial but since this past summer that status has changed and I have been freaking out a lot and stressing over it a lot. I am pretty good at saving money but it still worries me enough to where I don't spend a lot when I am low on money.
I have had to ask family members and friends about how to set up a budget, how to spend on some things, and other things. Now, yes, I have learned how to shop cheaper and how to look for sales and so on. I was taught that in college in my homemaking classes but back then, I was stubborn enough to think that I will never need to use them but now I look back and see that I do really need to use them. It even gets worse when you get married. I keep thinking that it is hard while being single but it will even be harder when you get married. As a single, you have one bank account and one person to worry about but of course, when you get married you have two people to worry about.
I have really been blessed not to worry about college debt because I went and worked for my college debt so I'm thankful for that because it would make things even harder for me to understand. Comparing my single account and seeing married people's account is a big difference and something that gives me anxiety. I was never good at math or numbers so I don't know if I can handle two people's money. I think that is also why I am so scared to start budgeting because it does take time to plan and think but with everything else in life it is so hard to take the time to do it.
You really have to search for the cheapest stores, plan meals and events, and so on. You can't just go and have fun. I'm learning you really have to think and research about it. I know I get my worry about my money from my grandma and I am very careful with it because of her and I am thankful for that but it really gets me anxious. I keep thinking if I can't do it by myself then how can I do it for two people. I really think and believe that that is something God is working on in me and getting me ready for marriage. I know if He doesn't fix that problem now, then it will be a stressful thing for me in marriage.
I hate to say this but it could make my marriage really stressful if I don't understand it now and work on it now. Getting low on money like where I am now or feel like where I am now, it is a good thing even though I don't think so sometimes. It is hard to see in the present right now, but it is good that God is trying to teach me these things. I am also thinking about what I want to see and use in the future too. Do I want to use only debt cards or credit cards or both? Do I want to use checks and cash and no kind of cards?
But here I got to thinking, debt cards can be dangerous because it is easy to get your account number. Credit cards can get you in debt if you don't pay them off but then again if you make sure to pay them off they are better then debt cards. There are advantages to use credit cards especially online but you have to know how to use them and make sure to pay them off. It is easier to use credit cards because if people get you number you don't lose anything like you would on a debt card.
I'm also learning about how if you do any payment plans like car, land, or house payments or loans. I'm learning the longer you are taking to pay them off the more you are paying. The quicker you pay it off, the easier it is for you and the more money you save. Money things and accounts are so hard to understand and keep track of but I am trying to understand it all so I can have a better life and marriage because I don't want my future husband to see me stressed all the time. I need to help with the money. I could just let my future husband deal with the money but then again, do I trust him? :)
It is strange how God has given me job that I like and can handle right now, yet He is teaching me how to handle money. I think He has given me a low paying job right now so I can learn all these things. In a way, I need to worry just a little bit because that is how I learn the big things. I know that is funny but that is the truth.
I have had to ask family members and friends about how to set up a budget, how to spend on some things, and other things. Now, yes, I have learned how to shop cheaper and how to look for sales and so on. I was taught that in college in my homemaking classes but back then, I was stubborn enough to think that I will never need to use them but now I look back and see that I do really need to use them. It even gets worse when you get married. I keep thinking that it is hard while being single but it will even be harder when you get married. As a single, you have one bank account and one person to worry about but of course, when you get married you have two people to worry about.
I have really been blessed not to worry about college debt because I went and worked for my college debt so I'm thankful for that because it would make things even harder for me to understand. Comparing my single account and seeing married people's account is a big difference and something that gives me anxiety. I was never good at math or numbers so I don't know if I can handle two people's money. I think that is also why I am so scared to start budgeting because it does take time to plan and think but with everything else in life it is so hard to take the time to do it.
You really have to search for the cheapest stores, plan meals and events, and so on. You can't just go and have fun. I'm learning you really have to think and research about it. I know I get my worry about my money from my grandma and I am very careful with it because of her and I am thankful for that but it really gets me anxious. I keep thinking if I can't do it by myself then how can I do it for two people. I really think and believe that that is something God is working on in me and getting me ready for marriage. I know if He doesn't fix that problem now, then it will be a stressful thing for me in marriage.
I hate to say this but it could make my marriage really stressful if I don't understand it now and work on it now. Getting low on money like where I am now or feel like where I am now, it is a good thing even though I don't think so sometimes. It is hard to see in the present right now, but it is good that God is trying to teach me these things. I am also thinking about what I want to see and use in the future too. Do I want to use only debt cards or credit cards or both? Do I want to use checks and cash and no kind of cards?
But here I got to thinking, debt cards can be dangerous because it is easy to get your account number. Credit cards can get you in debt if you don't pay them off but then again if you make sure to pay them off they are better then debt cards. There are advantages to use credit cards especially online but you have to know how to use them and make sure to pay them off. It is easier to use credit cards because if people get you number you don't lose anything like you would on a debt card.
I'm also learning about how if you do any payment plans like car, land, or house payments or loans. I'm learning the longer you are taking to pay them off the more you are paying. The quicker you pay it off, the easier it is for you and the more money you save. Money things and accounts are so hard to understand and keep track of but I am trying to understand it all so I can have a better life and marriage because I don't want my future husband to see me stressed all the time. I need to help with the money. I could just let my future husband deal with the money but then again, do I trust him? :)
It is strange how God has given me job that I like and can handle right now, yet He is teaching me how to handle money. I think He has given me a low paying job right now so I can learn all these things. In a way, I need to worry just a little bit because that is how I learn the big things. I know that is funny but that is the truth.
Friday, February 5, 2016
Bettering Yourself-Part 2: Full Armor of God
The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For your shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.[e] 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should."-Ephesians 6:10-24
Here are 3 things that I get from these verses:
-We are in a spiritual warfare. (Verses 10-12)
-world system
-Flesh
-Devil
-enemies of all believers
-We fight with spiritual weapons. (Verses 13-17)
-We fight with spiritual prayers. (Verses 18-20)
When this was bring taught through a sermon I was thinking about how at the start of the year I wanted to better myself for Christ and these verses really explains it all. This is the way to do it! Putting on that full armor of God will, hopefully, keep you safe from spiritual warfare. Now that doesn't mean you won't have any, but when you do you will know how to handle it and handle it right. I know I need some practice at more some more the the things on like:
-The Truth (I could always read the Bible more)
-True Peace of God.
-I could have more faith at times too.
My Favorite verse out of these verses is: verse 18 because it is about prayer and I am really big on that. Things do happen when you pray and talk to God about them and they happen for your good whether you like it or not. Prayer is the strongest weapon of any sort that we can and do have as Christians.
I would also look these verses up in The Message version because it is easier to understand and more straight forwards.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Working for God
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. 9. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him."-Eph. 6:5-9
How to be a Spiritual Worker?
-Know Your Boss (AKA God).= Vision
-Verse 5
-Answers our prayers. "Give us our daily bread" by workers.
-All Work is Heart Work.= Character
-Verse 6-7
-Do I love this job? to Do I Love Jesus?
-You need to ask these questions when you get to where you do not want to work there anymore. If you don't like working there, then it is not where Jesus wants you. He wants you to move on to some place else.
-Serve all (AKA admin., co-workers, helpers) with Dignity.= Humility
-Verse 9
-Your Work Matters to God.= Reward
-Verse 8
-Your work doesn't only matter to the people around you but also to God. In my job, I love it when parents say, "thanks" or encouraging words towards me. I know I am working for them and that they are loving it but then I think about God and I remember who gave me the talents and why. Then I think of it as it is no big deal.
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