Sunday, March 20, 2011
God is amazing
Okay, so I know we all know this.... BUT IT'S SO TRUE!! I have been thinking a lot about my husband lately and how much I am blessed to have him. God has given me such a great man to fall in love with and be with forever because we both have sought after God's heart. Now, I don't know him or who he is or what he looks like. I don't know his name, his likes or dislikes. His pet peeves, what makes him happy. I don't know what he's been through or what we're going to go through together. All I know is that I am so deeply, intensely, genuinely, passionately, severely, profoundly, extremely, completely in love with my God and my husband. I'm so overwhelmed with emotion and feeling about both of them, I could scream, shout, dance, whatever! As long as everyone knows that I'm taken by the men in my life that I am so happy to have just for me! Sigh........ AHHHHHH!!!! I can say.... I am in love. :)
answering to God
Recently, different conversations I have had with different people have been telling on what the world is actually thinking and believing. I mean, I am almost positive that there are certain things that I think too that probably aren't right and when I know what those are I guarantee the Holy Spirit will tell me.
Anyway, those different people that I talk to have shared with me about looking around them and seeing what others are doing and feeling pressured to do the same. This could be anything! Not just the "normal" things that pop in our heads. But, if you REALLY think about it, who are we answering to at the end of it all? Are we going to be compared by the people around us when time passes and we are called home? Not at all. God is the ultimate judge of how we were able to show the world His love. I am very much to blame as well when it comes to comparing myself with others.
But, what to do from here on out? Change. Obviously, it's much easier said than done but it's possible. With God's help, anything is possible. Referring back to Him and allowing Him to take control of our thoughts, feelings, and desires is very difficult to do so but when we do, our thoughts, feelings, and desires change because He is the focus of them. I could say, "Stop it! Stop comparing yourself to others!" But, I would be a hypocrite because I do the same thing. I know that I am going to be praying that God take those away from me. I pray for you as well that you are able to do so. The way to change this is to pray and leave it for God. He can take care of that for us. We just need to believe and trust that He will. So, instead of comparing and "answering" to everyone else.... listen to God. Who cares what they think?! God is ALWAYS going to be there.... those people? May not be. If they believe and turn themselves over to the One true God, then you will see them forever... but even then, no one will care because it's all about serving Him in the end. I love all of you out there that read about God and are trying to live your life for Him. And those who are not... I love you too. I pray for both groups of people, that in the end we remember that answering to God is what will happen in the end and that we will be ready when it does.
Anyway, those different people that I talk to have shared with me about looking around them and seeing what others are doing and feeling pressured to do the same. This could be anything! Not just the "normal" things that pop in our heads. But, if you REALLY think about it, who are we answering to at the end of it all? Are we going to be compared by the people around us when time passes and we are called home? Not at all. God is the ultimate judge of how we were able to show the world His love. I am very much to blame as well when it comes to comparing myself with others.
But, what to do from here on out? Change. Obviously, it's much easier said than done but it's possible. With God's help, anything is possible. Referring back to Him and allowing Him to take control of our thoughts, feelings, and desires is very difficult to do so but when we do, our thoughts, feelings, and desires change because He is the focus of them. I could say, "Stop it! Stop comparing yourself to others!" But, I would be a hypocrite because I do the same thing. I know that I am going to be praying that God take those away from me. I pray for you as well that you are able to do so. The way to change this is to pray and leave it for God. He can take care of that for us. We just need to believe and trust that He will. So, instead of comparing and "answering" to everyone else.... listen to God. Who cares what they think?! God is ALWAYS going to be there.... those people? May not be. If they believe and turn themselves over to the One true God, then you will see them forever... but even then, no one will care because it's all about serving Him in the end. I love all of you out there that read about God and are trying to live your life for Him. And those who are not... I love you too. I pray for both groups of people, that in the end we remember that answering to God is what will happen in the end and that we will be ready when it does.
love
I've discovered lately that too many people put emphasis on the fact that love is expressed only through sex. It's not. I actually feel sad for those who believe this. Love is something that is expressed by the way we treat each other, by the way we SHOULDN'T treat other, and as Josh Harris puts it, "by self-control, patience and even words left unsaid." Love is not a one-size fits all kind of program. It's shown in various forms. God expresses His loves in more ways than I will ever be able to recall. One way, at least for me, that God shows His love for me is when I sit and I am just listening and He talks to me the way that I have known my Earthly father to talk with me. He shares with me His love for me and His plans for my life (not necessarily in detail). I feel comfort when things are horribly wrong; I feel happiness when I have done nothing but enjoy His creation; I feel love when I need someone to hold me. He is everything to me. Notice He does not express His love in the superficial ways that many humans think that love needs to be expressed. He is the best way to find out what Love is all about.
For me, loving God is loving others before myself. Serving them the way that He has called me to serve. I will screw up. There is no getting around it. But, showing them who God is by the way I react, or treat them, or care for them, even giving them the best of whatever it may be, and I take the second hand. An example of the last is something simple even, taking the back seat and giving them the front seat of the car. Not giving yourself the best. Newsflash, you already have the best. You are just able to show others what that is by the way that you love them. It's amazing the response that you may get when someone notices. Now remember, you don't want them to notice something YOU did.... it's what God is doing. You are just being used to show who He is. When someone says, "You are such a sweet person for doing that." I just reply, "Thank you." I always thank God that they were able to see Him through something so simple. You never have to "go big or go home." You can show God through the little things and people will be just as impressed.... with God. Being humble is what Jesus did. He was on this Earth to put Himself below others. He was a humble man. He did not proclaim it, He just was. He referred back to God when someone commented on Him. It wasn't Him, it was God. I know that if He had the choice, He would not have died on the cross for us. I mean, He did pray that it be taken away from Him if there was another way. But, because He chose to follow God, He did as God asked. He loved God so He loved us to die for us. THAT is Love.
For me, loving God is loving others before myself. Serving them the way that He has called me to serve. I will screw up. There is no getting around it. But, showing them who God is by the way I react, or treat them, or care for them, even giving them the best of whatever it may be, and I take the second hand. An example of the last is something simple even, taking the back seat and giving them the front seat of the car. Not giving yourself the best. Newsflash, you already have the best. You are just able to show others what that is by the way that you love them. It's amazing the response that you may get when someone notices. Now remember, you don't want them to notice something YOU did.... it's what God is doing. You are just being used to show who He is. When someone says, "You are such a sweet person for doing that." I just reply, "Thank you." I always thank God that they were able to see Him through something so simple. You never have to "go big or go home." You can show God through the little things and people will be just as impressed.... with God. Being humble is what Jesus did. He was on this Earth to put Himself below others. He was a humble man. He did not proclaim it, He just was. He referred back to God when someone commented on Him. It wasn't Him, it was God. I know that if He had the choice, He would not have died on the cross for us. I mean, He did pray that it be taken away from Him if there was another way. But, because He chose to follow God, He did as God asked. He loved God so He loved us to die for us. THAT is Love.
I Kissed Dating Goodbye
Okay, so I've been reading "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris. It's such a great book! However, I did realize that the title is not quite what he means. So, when I read through it, "dating" made much more sense to me. One of the main ideas that he portrays in his book, is how many people have you given yourself to? It does not necessarily mean physically. But, emotionally as well. How many people have you invested your time in instead of investing your time in God? So instead of "dating" people, date God!
I am learning that the person that I am supposed to be with will never ask of me something that God does not see fit. He will love me the way that God loves me (and obviously in the best way he can). He will encourage my walk with God even if that means, that he needs to be on the sidelines waiting for the right time that God (coach) puts Him in to play the game. I have asked myself.... are you trying to satisfy yourself? Are you trying to let God handle ANYTHING? Is He the center of the decisions you make or an afterthought? With potential relationships, are you making sure that God is the focus and not the relationship at hand? What is the motive? I do want a husband and children........ someday. Right now, since I do not have either, I want to serve God the best way I know how. I want to obey Him when He calls me to do something, or even asks me in such a way that only I can understand. People on Earth will never understand your relationship with God. And honestly, they're not supposed to. It's your relationship with God. They need to have their own. However, if you (I) live my life out to please God, then nothing else matters. Those people have seen a difference in the way that I choose to live because God IS my life. I am so thankful that they see that. I thank Him that He has been able to show Himself even through the crap I do. This is a great witness. Even living your life out in a way that is pleasing to God, is a great witness to the magnitude of His mercy and grace and love. So are you choosing to live a life for the One who saved yours? Or give your life away to anyone or anything to please your gratification? I know which one I want to choose and I know which one I will fall into sometimes. But, picking yourself up and repenting and regaining that is the life of a Christian. I pray you do the same.
I love this idea because we are supposed to be living our lives out FOR God so why not invest the time that you have in the person that is going to be with you for eternity? I started looking at my life and the men that I've invested my time in (not many, but there are still a few) and how those people helped me prevent giving my WHOLE heart to someone that I will love with everything I am. Not just my husband, but my God! I have allowed people and things to get in the way of the one true thing in my life. Now, how have you done? What have you invested your time in that has prevented you from growing closer to God?
I am learning that the person that I am supposed to be with will never ask of me something that God does not see fit. He will love me the way that God loves me (and obviously in the best way he can). He will encourage my walk with God even if that means, that he needs to be on the sidelines waiting for the right time that God (coach) puts Him in to play the game. I have asked myself.... are you trying to satisfy yourself? Are you trying to let God handle ANYTHING? Is He the center of the decisions you make or an afterthought? With potential relationships, are you making sure that God is the focus and not the relationship at hand? What is the motive? I do want a husband and children........ someday. Right now, since I do not have either, I want to serve God the best way I know how. I want to obey Him when He calls me to do something, or even asks me in such a way that only I can understand. People on Earth will never understand your relationship with God. And honestly, they're not supposed to. It's your relationship with God. They need to have their own. However, if you (I) live my life out to please God, then nothing else matters. Those people have seen a difference in the way that I choose to live because God IS my life. I am so thankful that they see that. I thank Him that He has been able to show Himself even through the crap I do. This is a great witness. Even living your life out in a way that is pleasing to God, is a great witness to the magnitude of His mercy and grace and love. So are you choosing to live a life for the One who saved yours? Or give your life away to anyone or anything to please your gratification? I know which one I want to choose and I know which one I will fall into sometimes. But, picking yourself up and repenting and regaining that is the life of a Christian. I pray you do the same.