What is your mind focusing on right now?
The overwhelming rush of negative thoughts, depressing emotions, your faults, fears that force you to live in a constant state of anxiety, stressful circumstances.....
Or on the blessings, joy, peace, and love that surround us if only we would open our eyes to all the Lord has to offer and clear our minds of the chaos.
I have a hard time with this....and I am sure I can say accurately...we all do.
I have spent the majority of my life focusing on my faults, and my shortcomings, and my failures, and my weaknesses, and my stressful situations. Thankfully God has been working on this over the last few years, and has been digging up the roots of insecurities and fears in my life and creating a strong, confident woman....but a human woman who still deals with thoughts...a human woman with ADHD who deals with many overactive thoughts bombarding my mind at a constant intense speed. So I can very much relate to someone who has to fall at the feet of their Heavenly Father often, and beg for a renewal of the mind!!
This came to my heart and mind tonight while talking with a friend about the war that rages in our minds.
FOCUS ON THE FATHER....NOT YOUR FAULTS.
Because His word says:
"MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS."
2 Corinthians 12:9
And
"I can do all things through Christ who gives us strength."
Philippians 4:13
Also
"May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 1:11-14
So
DON'T GIVE UP!!
We can get through this! We just have to daily CHOOSE to allow the promises of the Lord to take control over our thoughts, and kick the Devil's butt at the boxing match in our mind! And you know I love to use my muscles any chance I get!! LOL....however, this is just mental muscles that I need to daily allow God to develop in me so that I can stand firm in my faith!
I love Joyce Meyer's book Battlefield of the Mind, and I am going to start reading it again! I highly recommend it if you are dealing with overwhelming thoughts pulling you into dark pits that seem far out of reach of the Father's hands....
Thankfully He is there at the call of His name. Call on Jesus today. Allow Him to be your strength in this daily battle of mindsets!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
An Encouraging Story
While I was at a teacher's orientation this week, a man who works at our central office read the following inspiring story to us...and yes it took everything within me not to cry in front of hundreds of new colleagues. Yes, I am a big cry baby...lol.
I asked for a copy of it so I can share it with you...get the tissues ready. And if you don't cry, don't make fun of me for crying! I wish I knew the author, so I could give credit...but I hope you find encouragement today!
One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality...I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God," I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around," He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?
"Yes," I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came fro the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo."
"In the second year, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." He said.
"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...BUT just six months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall."
"It had spent five years growing roots."
Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He said to me, "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?"
"I would not quit on the bamboo. Neither will I ever quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others," He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come," God said to me. "You will rise high!"
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes," He said. "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU. He will never give up on you
Never regret a day in your life.
Good days give you happiness.
Bad days give you experiences;
both are essential to life.
KEEP GOING...
Happiness keeps you sweet
Trials keep you strong
Sorrow keeps you human
Failures keep you humble
Success keeps you glowing
BUT ONLY GOD KEEPS YOU GOING!
I asked for a copy of it so I can share it with you...get the tissues ready. And if you don't cry, don't make fun of me for crying! I wish I knew the author, so I could give credit...but I hope you find encouragement today!
One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality...I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God," I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around," He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?
"Yes," I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came fro the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo."
"In the second year, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." He said.
"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...BUT just six months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall."
"It had spent five years growing roots."
Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He said to me, "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?"
"I would not quit on the bamboo. Neither will I ever quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others," He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come," God said to me. "You will rise high!"
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes," He said. "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU. He will never give up on you
Never regret a day in your life.
Good days give you happiness.
Bad days give you experiences;
both are essential to life.
KEEP GOING...
Happiness keeps you sweet
Trials keep you strong
Sorrow keeps you human
Failures keep you humble
Success keeps you glowing
BUT ONLY GOD KEEPS YOU GOING!
Friday, August 13, 2010
calm your soul...
There is just something about laying by the pool or out on the beach that takes the weight of the world off your shoulders…although being blonde haired/blue eyed/and having skin whiter than the Cullen family; doing this WITHOUT SUNSCREEN is NOT recommended!
But...as a child of God, we can have this PEACE AT ALL TIMES!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and you minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
No matter what you are going through right now...the peace of God is there for you. Just call out to Him...He can find you even in your darkest moment (He's got perfect night vision). And His peace will calm your soul. His Spirit will comfort you and renew you. Jesus can restore joy and laughter back into your life, and allow you to walk in strength and confidence!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
TODAY'S THREAT! BE AFRAID...BE VERY AFRAID!
First of all let me start by saying how blessed I am with wonderful family and friends; no matter where I have been in my life (OH,FL,NC) God has placed numerous amounts of amazing people in my life...given that I am very much a needy people person, this is the biggest blessing to me. Whenever I think of it, it overwhelms me with the amount of love and support I have surrounding me at all times. To all of you: THANK YOU!
My BBFF was again just giving me some wonderful, much needed encouragement just now. And I am sure she wants me to grasp this concept so much that if she was standing next to me she would have wanted to literally beat it into my head...although she can't because she knows I am stronger than her with my massive muscles concealed in this short 5 foot frame of mine. But...anyways: she was wishing that I could really see in myself what other's see in me.
Why can't we?
I was just thinking about this earlier today while I was in a Science workshop for my new 2nd grade teaching job. The very tiny trainer had given this astronaut costume she was wearing to another teacher to put on as she was demonstrating an idea we can utilize in our classrooms; the other beautiful, very petite woman made a comment something along the lines of "Oh, I am not your small size, and I won't fit into this." To which the very small trainer replied, "Oh, I am like twice your size!" This is what we do...focus on only the negative in ourselves, yet are very aware of all the positive attributes that make up all those amazing people around us....you know, the ones we will never compare to...THIS IS SO STUPID!!!! WHY DO WE DO IT????? And yes, as my sons would say, Mommy that is not a nice word--but it is the truth! It is stupid--point blank. And we need to stop doing that right now in Jesus name and realize our own self worth!
"I WILL PRAISE YOU, FOR I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE" Psalm 139:14
So many of us can quote this verse, yet so few of us believe it, accept it, nor live it.
Shockingly, I am going to make this short and sweet.
I AM AN AMAZING CHILD OF GOD!
AND YOU ARE TOO!
BELIEVE IT IN JESUS NAME! AND LET US WALK IN THAT CONFIDENCE....OR I WILL BEAT YOU DOWN WITH THOSE MUSCLES I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT! AMEN! LOL.
My BBFF was again just giving me some wonderful, much needed encouragement just now. And I am sure she wants me to grasp this concept so much that if she was standing next to me she would have wanted to literally beat it into my head...although she can't because she knows I am stronger than her with my massive muscles concealed in this short 5 foot frame of mine. But...anyways: she was wishing that I could really see in myself what other's see in me.
Why can't we?
I was just thinking about this earlier today while I was in a Science workshop for my new 2nd grade teaching job. The very tiny trainer had given this astronaut costume she was wearing to another teacher to put on as she was demonstrating an idea we can utilize in our classrooms; the other beautiful, very petite woman made a comment something along the lines of "Oh, I am not your small size, and I won't fit into this." To which the very small trainer replied, "Oh, I am like twice your size!" This is what we do...focus on only the negative in ourselves, yet are very aware of all the positive attributes that make up all those amazing people around us....you know, the ones we will never compare to...THIS IS SO STUPID!!!! WHY DO WE DO IT????? And yes, as my sons would say, Mommy that is not a nice word--but it is the truth! It is stupid--point blank. And we need to stop doing that right now in Jesus name and realize our own self worth!
"I WILL PRAISE YOU, FOR I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE" Psalm 139:14
So many of us can quote this verse, yet so few of us believe it, accept it, nor live it.
Shockingly, I am going to make this short and sweet.
I AM AN AMAZING CHILD OF GOD!
AND YOU ARE TOO!
BELIEVE IT IN JESUS NAME! AND LET US WALK IN THAT CONFIDENCE....OR I WILL BEAT YOU DOWN WITH THOSE MUSCLES I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT! AMEN! LOL.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
It's All About You, Lord
You are my everything, Lord
You are my breath of fresh air after drowning in chaos
You are my strong wind of motivation
You are my better than chocolate on an emotional day
You are my strength, making me like a lily in a ditch standing tall,
beautiful, and bold
You are my uplifting moment found in the middle of a hot bubble bath
You are my knight in shinning armor always there to rescue me
You are my favorite song to dance to
You are my peace in unbearable moments
You are my comfort like the perfect pair of flip flops when you need them
You are my whispers of hope found in the dark
You are my direction, my lighthouse, always guiding me back to You
You are my calm in the storm
You are my positive outlet
You are my grace when I have fallen or lost my way
You are my joy that causes me to sing praise to You
You are found in the hug of a best friend
You are found in the laughter of children running barefoot in rain puddles
You are found in an encouraging txt from a loved one
You are found in the power of the oceans waves
You are found in holding the chubby little hand of your child
or holding the strong hand of someone who adores you
You are found in unexpected miracles
You are found in flower surprises
You are found in family vacations and fishing trips
You are found in moments of desperation or moments on the mountain tops
You are found in a fun competitive game of volleyball with a church family
You are found in new adventures
You are found in the rainbow among the dark storm clouds that gives us
hope to move on
You are found in the worshiping of a young boy while listening to
his mp3 player
You are found in the quiet moments
You are my everything, Lord
You are my breath of fresh air after drowning in chaos
You are my strong wind of motivation
You are my better than chocolate on an emotional day
You are my strength, making me like a lily in a ditch standing tall,
beautiful, and bold
You are my uplifting moment found in the middle of a hot bubble bath
You are my knight in shinning armor always there to rescue me
You are my favorite song to dance to
You are my peace in unbearable moments
You are my comfort like the perfect pair of flip flops when you need them
You are my whispers of hope found in the dark
You are my direction, my lighthouse, always guiding me back to You
You are my calm in the storm
You are my positive outlet
You are my grace when I have fallen or lost my way
You are my joy that causes me to sing praise to You
You are found in the hug of a best friend
You are found in the laughter of children running barefoot in rain puddles
You are found in an encouraging txt from a loved one
You are found in the power of the oceans waves
You are found in holding the chubby little hand of your child
or holding the strong hand of someone who adores you
You are found in unexpected miracles
You are found in flower surprises
You are found in family vacations and fishing trips
You are found in moments of desperation or moments on the mountain tops
You are found in a fun competitive game of volleyball with a church family
You are found in new adventures
You are found in the rainbow among the dark storm clouds that gives us
hope to move on
You are found in the worshiping of a young boy while listening to
his mp3 player
You are found in the quiet moments
You are my everything, Lord
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