Saturday, July 31, 2010
This one is Yours.
It is unbelievable to me that I move back to school in a few days. Has it really already been almost two months? Wow. This has been a big summer for me. God has been teaching me so much, it hasn’t been easy but I can look back on it and say that it was good. To be honest, I still feel like I am in the middle of it, of the lessons. Since I’m moving back to school I almost feel like these lessons should come to an end just like summer has and new ones should begin. It doesn’t ever really work that way does now does it? I have been learning about what it truly looks like to trust Him. Trust in His timing, to trust in His plans. I don’t know why things happen the way they do, none of us truly do but one thing I do know is that everything happens for a reason. Things fall into place exactly the way they are suppose to and even though we can’t see it at the time, when we look back we can sometimes see how all the pieces fit together to map out our story. Each of our stories are so unique. It is evident that they are hand crafted to suit us perfectly. I have been unbelievably blessed. I have the most amazing family and such a wonderful group of friends. My family and my friends make me want to be better, they make me want to grow. They inspire me. I can feel that this year is going to be big. Yes, I am going to graduate in May and I know that is part of why I have this feeling but I think it is going to be more than that. I know that I will be challenged, stretched, taken out of my comfort zone and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Senior year. Wow. There are many more lessons to learn, more classes to take, more homework dates by the fountain, more games to attend, more people to meet and more coffee to be had. It is easy for me to get caught up in the fact that I only have a year left instead of realizing, I still have a year left. These past three years have been huge. I can only imagine all that this year is going to bring. Lord, I can’t and wouldn’t want to do this without you. This one is Yours.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Pride.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny…because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment…because you “deserve better than this.”
I cheat you of knowledge…because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing…because you are too full of you to forgive.I cheat you of holiness…because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.
I cheat you of vision…because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship…because nobody’s going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love…because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven…because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.
I cheat you of God’s glory…because I convinced you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you.
Untrue.
I’m looking to make a fool of you.God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…If you stick with me you’ll never know.
-Beth Moore
It is amazing how people can get so caught up in pride, as if they had anything to do with their accomplishments and achievements. God chooses to give us each different gifts and talents. He also chooses to use those gift and talents for His glory and to serve His purposes. When we win an award or excel at something, we need to give the credit to the one who blessed us with the ability to do those things. We as humans walk around as if we are entitled to things. The truth is, we are not entitled to anything. We don’t deserve to have things go our way, to have our plans work out or even to have good health. When things do go our way, when we are in good health, it is all by the grace of God. Living in this day and age, it is so easy to forget that. People walk around and pat themselves on the back instead of falling to their knees and giving thanks. It is incredible that God made each and every person different, there is only one you. Each of us have different gifts, I love that. Let’s use those gifts and not let pride get in the way.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny…because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment…because you “deserve better than this.”
I cheat you of knowledge…because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing…because you are too full of you to forgive.I cheat you of holiness…because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.
I cheat you of vision…because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship…because nobody’s going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love…because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven…because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.
I cheat you of God’s glory…because I convinced you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you.
Untrue.
I’m looking to make a fool of you.God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…If you stick with me you’ll never know.
-Beth Moore
It is amazing how people can get so caught up in pride, as if they had anything to do with their accomplishments and achievements. God chooses to give us each different gifts and talents. He also chooses to use those gift and talents for His glory and to serve His purposes. When we win an award or excel at something, we need to give the credit to the one who blessed us with the ability to do those things. We as humans walk around as if we are entitled to things. The truth is, we are not entitled to anything. We don’t deserve to have things go our way, to have our plans work out or even to have good health. When things do go our way, when we are in good health, it is all by the grace of God. Living in this day and age, it is so easy to forget that. People walk around and pat themselves on the back instead of falling to their knees and giving thanks. It is incredible that God made each and every person different, there is only one you. Each of us have different gifts, I love that. Let’s use those gifts and not let pride get in the way.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
One Day at a Time.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34
“O My child, have you not known the way of the Lord, and can you not trust Him now? Nothing shall befall you but that which comes from His hand. No one shall set upon you to hurt you, for your God has built around you a wall of fire.
Be content with what each day brings, rejoicing in your God, for surely He shall deliver you. He is the One who has brought you here.
His way is discernable to the eye of faith. His heart is surely your strong tower. In His affection you have security. In His love are your hope and your peace.
Do not question and do not doubt. Each day holds some small joy that shall escape you if you are preoccupied with tomorrow.
Nothing daunts your Father. Nothing can restore the past and nothing can bind the future, but today you may live in the full blessing of the Father’s smile. Hold to His words, for they are like a nail driven into solid wood. All else may seem shifting and transitory, but His Word is firm. It is a rock that shall not be moved. It is a firm place to stand.
Do not walk in the path of human reason, and resist the pressures that would project you into conjectures about the future. Live one day at a time! Simply striving to bring joy to your Father’s heart is enough to keep you occupied. For you know that He loves you, and you will find your peace as you rest in Him.”
I was reading this in a coffee shop this morning as I was waiting for a friend. I casually flipped through the pages of my devotional, looking for the one I was suppose to read next. The title of this hit me right away, “One Day at a Time.” How often do we live in the moment? I know that I am almost always thinking about what is next and what tomorrow will bring. My planner is almost a part of me. I plan things out, fit things in and look forward to those things. Once they are here though sometimes I spend the time thinking about what else is next instead of sitting there, in that moment, soaking it all up. Time flies by, I think we all can agree on that. Days can feel like weeks but then again weeks usually feel like days. In the blink of an eye a month can go by. Sometimes we don’t want to be where we are. We don’t want to drink up this moment, we cannot wait until it is over. Being somewhere uncomfortable is never easy but it is usually where we grow the most. Growing pains. We all get them, no one really looks forward to them. They hurt. They take us out of our comfort zones. I am learning that pain isn’t always a bad thing. God uses it. It has purpose. I don’t want to let the good times slip away without me fully enjoying them either. Life is too short. There are no guarantees. I need to start living one day at time, soaking up EACH moment, starting today (:
“O My child, have you not known the way of the Lord, and can you not trust Him now? Nothing shall befall you but that which comes from His hand. No one shall set upon you to hurt you, for your God has built around you a wall of fire.
Be content with what each day brings, rejoicing in your God, for surely He shall deliver you. He is the One who has brought you here.
His way is discernable to the eye of faith. His heart is surely your strong tower. In His affection you have security. In His love are your hope and your peace.
Do not question and do not doubt. Each day holds some small joy that shall escape you if you are preoccupied with tomorrow.
Nothing daunts your Father. Nothing can restore the past and nothing can bind the future, but today you may live in the full blessing of the Father’s smile. Hold to His words, for they are like a nail driven into solid wood. All else may seem shifting and transitory, but His Word is firm. It is a rock that shall not be moved. It is a firm place to stand.
Do not walk in the path of human reason, and resist the pressures that would project you into conjectures about the future. Live one day at a time! Simply striving to bring joy to your Father’s heart is enough to keep you occupied. For you know that He loves you, and you will find your peace as you rest in Him.”
I was reading this in a coffee shop this morning as I was waiting for a friend. I casually flipped through the pages of my devotional, looking for the one I was suppose to read next. The title of this hit me right away, “One Day at a Time.” How often do we live in the moment? I know that I am almost always thinking about what is next and what tomorrow will bring. My planner is almost a part of me. I plan things out, fit things in and look forward to those things. Once they are here though sometimes I spend the time thinking about what else is next instead of sitting there, in that moment, soaking it all up. Time flies by, I think we all can agree on that. Days can feel like weeks but then again weeks usually feel like days. In the blink of an eye a month can go by. Sometimes we don’t want to be where we are. We don’t want to drink up this moment, we cannot wait until it is over. Being somewhere uncomfortable is never easy but it is usually where we grow the most. Growing pains. We all get them, no one really looks forward to them. They hurt. They take us out of our comfort zones. I am learning that pain isn’t always a bad thing. God uses it. It has purpose. I don’t want to let the good times slip away without me fully enjoying them either. Life is too short. There are no guarantees. I need to start living one day at time, soaking up EACH moment, starting today (:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
