Things Above

Colossians 3:12
New American Standard Bible  
¹² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

When you consider the "things above", what do you think of?

Peace?
Joy?
Love?
Grace?
God seated on a brilliant white throne?
Jesus seated at God's right hand?
Images of a city more beautiful than anything that you've seen before?
Angels flying about? 

Even Little Things Need To Be Forgiven

Psalm 86:5

New International Version (NIV)  ⁵ You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call on you.

 

How easily we can forget to forgive the little things that happen in life.  The biggies are always on our minds and tend to stick around long enough to begin with, but those little things that can be buried and then resurface one day could potentially end up having a more severe impact.  You wouldn't think so, would you?

 

I try so hard to immediately forgive when I think that a wrong has been done to me.  It could be completely unfounded, but if I feel that I've been wronged then there is something that needs my attention.  When I have let little things sit and just fester, unknowingly fester sometimes, they tend to pop-up when least expected.  And when I step out of the moment and take a look at what is moving me to anger or resentment, it amazes me how (in tracing things back) something that I would scoff at being an issue actually was the seed that festered and then turned into a jungle-sized series of issues.

 

One thing that I have learned in my 30+ years is that it is so vital to forgive immediately!  Does it hurt the person that may or may not have wronged you? No.

 

Forgiveness is actually a practice that God wants us to do so that we don't hurt ourselves.  We are the one that end up hurting, angry, resentful or seeking revenge.  The other person may not even know that there are those feelings stirring. They may be going along in life all hunky-dory...which then ends up pouring fuel all over the situation in our minds.

 

Forgiveness frees us from all of those feelings. It allows us to continue in life without something pulling on our attention and giving relationships negative energy & actions. Without forgiveness it is very easy for bitterness to settle in and make it's home in your heart.

 

People who live a life filled with bitterness tend to have a number of health issues...and typically their heart is the main organ affected.  Really, is there anything that anyone has done that makes it a good thing for one's heart to be sick?  It's just not worth it!

 

"Oh you must not have had a serious wrong done to you."

 

Uh, yeah...a pretty serious one that is extremely personal.  And yet after 10 years of allowing it to have a negative impact on my life, I called up the individual and addressed the issue. God had allowed me to come in contact with them a week prior to this...HE knew that I was going to need that phone number. 

 

I wasn't looking for an apology. I was looking for freedom from the past. It was my opportunity to let that person know that my life had paid a price and that despite all the things I had gone through and felt in those years, I forgave them.  They didn't need the forgiveness...I needed to release it. 

 

Since that moment, I can look back and not have any negative feelings. Not one. There is a sigh, if you will, that comes over me...a peace. It's amazing and I believe that it is God's grace over my life.  But oh, just to be freed of the past...free from pestering thoughts or memories...Free!  There is nothing like it.

 

If you have things that have haunted you for days, weeks, months or even years...Let Them Go!  Even if you can't say it to someone's face or over the phone, just say it out loud.  Ask God to heal what has been hurt or wronged in your life.  Stop allowing whatever it is to have any power in your life.  He'll help you do it. You just have to allow Him to.

 

Forgiveness is something that I have to practice constantly in my marriage too. I have watched as people hold onto little irritations and allow them to grow until they can't stand to be in the same room as their spouse. It's so easy to do...and it's so destructive in a marriage. There are things that my husband does that absolutely drive me up the walls...and I know that he could say the same about me.  But in letting go and forgiving, even without saying so to him, I find that I will focus on the good traits that God has put within him. Those are the things that I need to focus on to keep our in a state of loving and not resenting.

 

And once you forgive, don't start dwelling on thoughts or trying to take that forgiveness back. Remember, forgiveness brings you freedom. That thing that you let go of can only bring negativity into your life. It is a lesson that I am also teaching to my girls...so that they will learn young to let go of things that will only hurt their lives.

 

God forgives us and showers us in love. And once He forgives, it is as far as the East is from the West...they never touch. It goes on forever.

Killing The Negative & Building On The Possitive

Philippians 4:8

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

 

When all the world is spinning around us and it seems practically impossible to focus...focus on the good around you. There is always something good that can be held onto, cherished and focused on in the midst of chaos.

For instance, our family has been going through ridiculous financial issues over the past 4 years. Every year our income has shrunk and things have gotten tighter and tighter.  There have been days when I simply curl-up, cry and pour out my heart to God because I can't handle the stress that comes along with it all.  Those moments are so terribly hard for me to get through.

Then, once I've allowed all of that negative energy to vacate my being, I remember that there is so much to be thankful for. There is a roof over our heads, my children are not going hungry, there are no hospital visits because we have good health, our clothes are still all intact, we are not on the corner begging for money or food...just one of those things is enough to be thankful for. 

Something as simple as good health should be held up high and cherished.

Simply getting to tuck my girls in at night and kiss their precious little faces...how many parents have been robbed of that?

When I feel completely overwhelmed I look outside, really look, and see how amazing God's creation is. Taking time to be in awe and amazement at the detail in every little leaf, mountaintop, bird in the sky, all of it pulls me out of the funk that can so easily ensnare me. 

God has given us treasures all around to focus on, meditate on, be grateful and thankful for.  Those precious moments that can so easily be overlooked and passed-by are nuggets that are full of value.

Don't let the world and all of the stresses in it rob you of those nuggets.  Think about all of the good moments that God has blessed you with.  How many times has your life been spared? How many times has help come out of nowhere when you've needed it? When was the last time that you really gave thanks for the little things in life?

In the midst of whatever you are going through find something that you can be thankful for...hold onto it and give thanks to your Creator for it. God moves mountains in the midst of praise and thanksgiving. He can take the stresses of our daily coming and goings and turn them into air.  Nothing in the world compares to the peace that He gives so freely...we just have to embrace it. 

Choose to think on the positives. Don't let the negatives rule your life. That is not the life that God wants for you...but He's not going to shift your focus. YOU have to.

 

Sharing God's Amazing Works

Psalm 78:4 &7
New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders.

⁷ So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles
    and obeying His commands.

Lately I have been spending more time sharing accounts with my daughters of amazing things I have seen God do.  It is so easy to go through the day without reflecting back on the grace and mercy that God has had in my life.  But that is not what I want to do.  I want to be conscious of each and every moment that I have seen His hand move in my life.  There have been so many of them.

 

This morning I got to hear amazing news of a woman I have been praying for over the past few years.  She has been healed of brain cancer!  I knew that she was going to go to a service this morning where Mario Murillo was going to be preaching.   My family has been blessed to call him a family friend and has seen God use him in mighty ways with miracle healings happening during the services.  It would be safe to say that I have been waiting a long time for this day to come...and I just knew that today was going to be the day that Mary received her healing!  And PRAISE GOD she did!  And tomorrow she has an appointment to do blood work...boy are those doctors are going to be perplexed!

 

So this is now another testimony that I get to share with my daughters of how even when doctors say that a woman should have been dead MONTHS ago, GOD is the one in control of when her time is up.

 

My little Grace loves for me to tell her the story about how Jesus healed my lips when I was little.  It's a story that I try to keep in the forefront of my mind because it was the one time that I got to see the hands of my Savior. 

 

I was just about 4 years old and had run smack dab into the corner of a wall.  My grandmother was watching me when it happened. She had tried to calmed me down and put me in my bed to take a nap...all the while my lips began to swell.  While I was sleeping I saw two nail scarred hands reach out to me and touch my lips.  When I woke up there was no swelling, no bruising....no evidence that my run-in with the wall had ever happened.

 

When I saw my mom she was anxious to see the damage that my grandmother had told her about.  To her surprise I told her, "Jesus touched my nips!" (yeah, I called my lips "nips" back then) 

 

That is something that I will never forget. It's a moment in my life that I have held on to and reminded God about.  I remind Him more or less to remind myself how merciful He was to give me that treasured moment to hold onto.  Because of that one little moment I know that my God is always aware of where I am in life and of exactly what I need.  And He always supplies exactly what I need!

 

So, part of my resolution for the 2013 year is to continually tell stories of the amazing things that God has done in my life and in the lives of my friends and family.  I know that in doing this it will only help to build their faith as they learn to lean on God and trust Him.

 

There are so many stories...accounts of healings from cancerous tumors, accidents that miraculously were avoided, financial blessings that came out of nowhere...

 

God is SO good.  He is SO faithful. And there is NOTHING that He can not do in our lives! 

Focus On The Positive In Life

Philippians 4:8 Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁸ For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

 

If I allow myself to dwell on the domino effects that our country is in the midst of, then I will lose my God given peace and spiral into terror.  With two little girls to guide, inspire and raise, that is just not a position that I can be in.  I have to show them that even when things are not going along the path that we want them to, there is still power to focus on the positive and turn things around when we keep GOD the center of our lives.

 

Today I am choosing to do exactly what God's Word instructs me to do.  I decided to take a walk this morning and focus on all of the beauty that God has created around me.  There is wonder all around, even in the simplest thing as leaves.

 

So here are some photos I took while wakling and talking with God this morning.  Enjoy :)

 

"You Get What You Ask For"

How many times have I heard the phrase, "be careful, you get what you ask for"?  Probably more times than a politician tells lies in their career.  Okay, maybe not that many times.  Have you ever stopped to reflect and realize just how true that statement really is?  Unfortunately it tends to be in the negative sense though.

Our words literally frame the world that we live in.  We have the power to create change simply by believing the words that we speak!

God created the heavens and the earth by speaking it into existence. (Genesis 1:1-31) "And God said..."  You will find that at the beginning of each moment of creation.  THAT IS POWERFUL!

Take it a little bit further...
Genesis 1:26 (NIV) ~  Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

If we are made in the likeness of God, which I absolutely am going to say we are (I mean, GOD said we are, so I'm not going to argue with Him), then it stands to reason that when we speak the words that are expressed have the power to confirm, change, direct or even create realities in our lives.  If this were not true then there is no need for any of the blessings that are spoken over people...why would you speak a blessing if there was no power in the words that were spoken? 
 

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) ~  The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

So often I have found negative words come flying out of my mouth.  Words that discourage, that bring doubt of abilities, that stifle rather than encourage, empower and foster belief in what is seemingly impossible to attain. 

Have you ever watched a toddler stand and begin to take steps?  Those wobbly little legs move forward even though they may crumple and that child may meet the ground quickly.  A child is born with the determination to get whatever it wants.  To go after something that catches its' eye.  You don't have to encourage them, although we tend to for each step, there's a drive that is built in to achieve what they put their little minds to. 

Yet that same determination can be stifled by the words that are spoken into their lives by parents, teachers, friends...they begin to doubt in their ability to accomplish the impossible.  Even worse, the words spoken into their life can become the chains that constrict and choke out the dreams they once had.

This lesson of the power of our words is one that I am attempting to teach to my young girls...and they are not enjoying the lesson when the negative is pointed out.  When words are spoken out of frusteration or anger, the negative that they speak gets brought into reality. (when I can make it happen)  When they speak possitive words into each other's lives, or into the situation, I praise them and try to help bring those words into reality.  They are learning that the blessings are BY FAR a greater value than the cursings (negative words).

I challenge everyone that reads this:
Take charge of the words that come out of your mouth. Choose them wisely. Speak blessings and encouragement into your life and the lives of those around you.  Do this and see the impact that is made simply by the words that you are speaking daily.

A Moment To Just Reflect

This morning I decided that I needed a moment for just me...out of the confines of my home. (It's my daily office after all, not an escape) Usually a morning escape includes some dear friends, "The Momma Crew" as I like to refer to us, but this morning it needed to just be a solo venture.

There has been so much going on in the lives of those that touch my life...I just needed time to sit, reflect and sift through it all. There have been several cancer diagnoses, deaths, job changes bringing the move of a very dear friend from The Momma Crew, the verge of kindergarten & 1st grade completions...just so much that takes an emotional toll.

It's been so long since I could just get a moment alone without family duties and work knocking on the door.  Before the past several months I would have thought that I could take it all on without a problem...instead I have found myself randomly in tears as thoughts pop up.

My body has been trying to process and I have been ignoring it...and in the process I have been concerning my darling kiddles.  How does one explain that Momma us just an emotional mess to a 5 & 7 year old? 

The silver lining in all of my emotional turmoil is that it has caused me to spend so much more quality time with God. Crying, talking, singing and reflecting on Scripture have become tender moments that I have spent with my God & Savior.

Do I have all the answers? No.

BUT I do have an assurance that it was all foreseen and that God has a way of turning things into amazing testimonies of His grace and love.  When I look back on moments in my life and people who have touched it, there has always been a larger purpose to every twist and turn.  And it has always been far different than what I first perceived it to be.

When it boils down to it, even in my "ME" moments, God/Jesus/The Holy Spirit is at the center of it all. HE is my core and walks every step of the way with me...I can't imagine the void my life would have if I had to walk it without Him.

I feel better now...perhaps I'll go bake something.  :)

Giving In The Desert Moments

2 Corinthians 9:7-9
(New International Version)

⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

⁹As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."

A lot of people get funny when they are hit with the topic of giving an offering and/or tithing at their church. You typically can hear a pin drop. We are SO tied to our money. I think that people make the mistake at looking at it as the "church" wanting to just get their hands on people's money. And I understand how they can get caught-up in that. Really, I can.

But here's what I've experienced...when I haven't been faithful in my tithing in the past, my financial world has gone literally bonkers. I mean it. Who would have thought that when you don't give just a 10th of what you earn...just a 10th...that your finances could actually go completely awry? We're talking going from being in a financial balance with a family income of almost $4,000/mo. to not being enough to get caught up on credit cards and student loans...thus resulting in a bankruptcy filing. Oh yeah, let's just say that I've learned my lesson. It's a lesson that I never want to have to repeat again.

Here's how it started out...there has always been some credit card debt, but it was basically manageable. I didn't like it, but it was slowly coming down. Then Charming & I got married and two months later found out that we would become parents that coming December. Shocker! We also were hit with the news that Charming was a Type 2 diabetic a month later. Another shocker! It was just about this time that we stopped tithing. The first time either of us had ever stopped tithing in our lives. Mistakes were made trying to keep an online business going...didn't work out well and only got us further into debt. Couple that with the purchases for new things for our little one that was on the way and it equalled even more debt. That debt machine was in full force and wasn't stopping. We become late on a couple of payments and the interest rates went from 6% to 26%! By this time we were about 2 1/2 years into our marriage...and trying to pretend that our world wasn't financially falling apart. We were completely in denial.

Long story short, in December 2008 we completed our bankruptcy...and a huge weight was lifted. And a promise was made that no matter what we were going through, we weren't going to pull back on our tithing. We need God's protection over our finances, especially with the way that this economy is today. And in that scripture above you see that we are called to fulfill an action...and in our fulfilling that action, it allows the promise that God made to be put into motion.

See the promise? Right there in verse 8? I love that promise.

Some might get the wrong impression that since we started our tithing again that things have been easy for us. Nope. They haven't been easy...but we've been able to meet our financial obligations every month. It may be tight, it might be a bit uncomfortable, but we have always had what we need to cover the bases. Most of the time I look at the month's obligations and wonder just how we're going to squeak by, but we always do. We give our tithes and offerings now with a joyful heart. And we have seen that God has been faithful in fulfilling His promise to us.

In a state where we lead the nation in unemployment, Charming has been blessed with a job and been shown favor in it and I have been able to get an evening part-time job (even though it fluctuates)...I call that God's favor and His provision. We've known too many people that are looking for work and can't seem to even get an interview anywhere...yet we have been able to. Our bank accounts have been stretched and we have been faithful in our giving even when we look and see that there wouldn't be enough to meet other obligations between checks. Yet, somehow in a way that only God can, our money seems to stretch and stretch to cover everything. It hasn't been easy and there are times when I think, "There's no way that we can give any more", yet we look at eachother and we give above our tithe...and we give happily because we know that somehow God is going to make everything work out.

The floor has been paced, praying & praise has been something that I do in the still of the night (12am-2am) almost nightly and I have seen God move on our behalf. I have seen Him honor His promises...every time. And I find peace in His presence. That peace is priceless. Especially during the desert moments. I thank God for His faithfulness, His grace and His mercy. When everything starts billowing and looks chaotic, I know that in the midst of it all God is right there to hold our hand and walk us through it.

Pressing Onward With Praise

Life is interesting. Really, it is. It seems like everyone that I know/run into has some sort of crazy going on right now. Jobless, mortgage problems, insane issues with their families...there just seems to be a lot of things flying at people right now. It's almost like Life is in a revolt process.

Throw politics into the mix and that's just a whole other slew of nuttiness and stress that errupts.

In my life, things aren't horrible or completely out of control...they're just a bit difficult. In 6 years of marriage, my hubby & I have lived with inlaws the entire time. Yeah, that means that we've had about a month's worth of days of just being our own little personal family in a house for 24 hours at a time. That's a bit nuts. It's not what we planned, by any means, it's just what we've had to walk thru together.

Through this I have had to remind myself that we could have been going down a much more difficult road...we could be one of the families living out of their cars or at a shelter. The fact that we have been blessed to have family that had the room for us to raise our children in a home and not in the condition of basically being gypsies is something that I try to keep in the front of my mind. It's a huge item to be greatful for...even though it comes with frusteration at times...

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In The Still Of the Night

Have you ever had one of those nights where you just can't fall asleep? ...I mean, you're dog-tired but your mind is just spinning with all sorts of issues. Well, last night was one of those nights for me. I'm desperate to have a change in my family's living arrangements, but I don't want other people raising my kiddles. In fact, that was a promise that I made to myself before I ever even got married. There was no way that daycare or grandparents were going to end up raising my babies!

Come on, I didn't give birth to these two darling little girls so that I could just hand them over to someone else to spend most of the day with...I had them because I want to raise them. I want to be the one calming them, breaking up the fights, possitively reinforcing them, building their self confidence, teaching them about the Lord, encouraging their creativity...I want to raise my kids!

Now, to make a difference in our living arrangement it seems that I may have to go against one of the most important promises that I ever made to myself. AND I'm NOT happy about it! It's not that I don't like to work...in fact, my Charming thinks that I'm an obsessed workaholic. I'll work overtime without even thinking twice about it if it's presented to me. And in attempts to get hired around town, I have yet to have a callback for any interviews in over 12 months! So please don't think that I'm not willing to work...I'm hoping that something works out so that I don't have to leave them in a daycare situation. In fact, I'm hoping that maybe I can drum up some business as a freelance drafter even if I finally get hired somewhere else.

The thing that bothers me is it's just the simple fact that I can not stomach the thought of leaving my girls with others for the majority of their day...or switching off with Charming and not seeing him except for possibly 2 days a week. He gets home from work and then I leave for work...passing eachother in the driveway. What kind of marriage is that?! So, last night as I battled to fall asleep, I finally decided to just get up, grab my bible and head for the couch. I spent time reading through Proverbs and Psalms, the book of Ruth...my old hangouts in times of frustration. And I found solice in one particular passage.

 It just so happens that it's Proverbs 31:10-31...everyone talks about being a "Proverbs 31 Wife", but have you ever really read through it? I'll tell you, I found myself saying, "Yes! That's the type of woman I want to be!" Not just thinking that I want to be a godly wife, but thinking I want the type of outcome that is stated in this passage. And then another passage that drew me in was Psalm 91. I haven't read it in probably close to 8 years. It just stirred a rejoicing in me and a comfort and peace. Something that I needed so badly as 2AM reared it's ugly head.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (New International Version)

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. ¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. ¹² She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. ¹³ She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. ¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. ¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. ¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. ¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. ²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. ²² She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. ²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. ²⁶ She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. ²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ²⁹ "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." ³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. ³¹ Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Psalm 91 (New International Version)

¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ² I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." ³ Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

⁵ You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, ⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

⁸ You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. ⁹ If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge- ¹⁰ then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. ¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ¹² they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ¹³ You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. ¹⁵ He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. ¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

The Purpose of The Valleys

"God wants to build our faith in the valleys. We love the mountaintops...but in the valleys we build our faith. When we come face to face with a dark valley, we get on our knees." ~ The Purpose Driven Life

This quote taken from The Purpose Driven Life stared me in the face every time I went into the kitchen during the month of March. I would glance over at it, read it and then not really take the time to contemplate it's truth.

Whenever life is at it's "best" and there doesn't seem to be anything that urgently needs "fixing", it seems like my prayer life is far less active. Why is that? How come I'm not praying and giving thanks as much during the "rosey" times in life? And what a shame that is...

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A Platform Of Praise

It started off as an introduction for the gathering of tithes and offerings...but ended up being something so much more than that. (and it took over the entire service) Our Pastor's wife, DeDe Vigil, happens to be a great speaker/teacher, but also stands as our Praise & Worship Leader at Victory City Church. Pastor DeDe was going to simply create an introduction for our time of Tithes & Offerings...and I am so grateful that her introduction was not just an introduction. It actually became the message for our entire service with the offering taking place at the end of the service.

She pointed out how so many of us live our lives in a state of complaint... "I hate my job." "I don't have enough money." "Agh, my marriage is just so hard." "I can't control my kids." "I'm stressed." "My health is terrible." There are so many things to complain about in life...and then we wonder why God hasn't stepped in and corrected it for us. But we tend to be the biggest blockade with all of our complaining.

Ever noticed how God never seems to move when you spend so much time complaining? I certainly have been guilty of complaining and whining about how things are not the way I would like them to be...and I am desperately going to try to change that.

The word JUDAH means Praise... And who was in charge of praise in heaven? Lucifer was the angel that God gave the position of guarding & leading praise and worship at God's throne. Talk about responsibility! And when God cast him out of heaven there was a very large void left to be filled.

The word LEVI means To Join... The tribe of Levi held the position of high honor...they were the ones in charge of presenting the offerings to God in the Holy of Holies. If you were not a Levi priest and you went into the Holy of Holies then that step in was the last step that you took. It was a sacred place...a place where man and God came face to face. They were our representatives, prior to Jesus, to join God's people in worship by presenting the sacrifices at the alter.

Ever wondered why we always put things up on pedestals?
Why we applaude and rain praise onto others?
We were created to praise and worship.

God created us to fill the void that was left in heaven...and when we praise and worship God, there is an amazing feeling that comes over you. I mean, when you just take the time to tell Him thank you for even the smallest things...and find yourself appreciating the things that you are provided and given...well, just try it and see the difference that it begins to make in your life. There is always something in our lives that we can express thanks for. Some days it just may be that the sun is out...or for a friend in our life.

As Pastor DeDe says, God moves in praise...it's the fuel that opens up our lives for God to move in the areas that are lacking or needing change. Praise allows us to change our atmosphere and cause emotions and mountains in our lives to become mole hills that God easily overcomes. Praise gives us clear perspective on the things that are happening in our lives.

There is so much for me to praise God for... For food in my stomach; the clothes on my body; my health; my husband, kids & family; for the friends in my life that inspire and uphold me; a roof over my head; the strength to deal with each day; my husband's job in this crazy economy; for taking me through hard times when I didn't see the way out; for giving me dreams to chase after and obtain; for being my peace when everything around me becomes insane... FOR SIMPLY BEING GOD.

THE CHALLENGE...find anything or everything that you can be grateful for. Thank God for it...and see what happens in your life and being. You just might be surprised.

I have looked around at others so many times and wondered why on earth they didn't have to struggle at times...why they hold more change in their bank accounts...why they seem to just get everything they want...and all the time leading lives that just don't bring any sort of praise or glory to God in any way, shape or form whatsoever. So when Pastor DeDe shared this Psalm, I could identify...and see that no matter what, praise deserves to be given to God...having Him in my life is more valuable than anything else.

Psalm 73 (New Living Translation)

A psalm of Asaph.

¹ Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. ² But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. ³ For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. ⁴ They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. ⁵ They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. ⁶ They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. ⁷ These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! ⁸ They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. ⁹ They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. ¹⁰ And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. ¹¹ “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”

¹² Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. ¹³ Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? ¹⁴ I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. ¹⁵ If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. ¹⁶ So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! ¹⁷ Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

¹⁸ Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. ¹⁹ In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. ²⁰ When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning. ²¹ Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. ²² I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. ²³ Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. ²⁴ You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. ²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. ²⁶ My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. ²⁷ Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. ²⁸ But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

Restlessness ~ Breaking The Yoke

My Pastor, Chris Vigil, was wrapping up his series this past weekend and just really hit home a point that is incredibly true. The scripture that he referred to was Genesis 27:39-40 where Abraham is replying to Esau’s request for a blessing (as he gave his birthright away to his brother).

Genesis 27:39-40
(New American Standard Bible)

39Then Isaac his father answered and said to him,
”Behold, away from the fertility of the earth shall be your dwelling,
And away from the dew of heaven from above.
40“By your sword you shall live,
And your brother you shall serve;
But it shall come about when you become restless,
That you will break his yoke from your neck.”

I have read this scripture so many times before, but it never really hit me until this past Sunday…

View Complete Posting: Breaking The Yoke

Monday Mornings

Doesn't starting this posting with such a lovely flower just make a Monday a little bit better right off the bat? I mean, this gorgeous flower brings beauty to the beginning of what is typically a rather gloomy day in most people's eyes. (Thank you San Diego Zoo for housing such a lovely bloom) Instant grace and peace right there in that delicate flower.

Every Monday it's the same thing for me... "Errrrg. It's Monnnnndaaaaaay. Is it over yet?" Sunday night I start going through the motions of going into another Monday. Another start to another week that will most likely be very close to the same as the several before it. Time to get a menu for dinners roughly figured out, decide if I want to start the week off with laundry duty or not, think of something special to do with the girls one of the days...yeah, it's time to face another Monday. But then this scripture popped into my head:

Lamentations 3:22-23 (New Living Translation)
²² The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. ²³ Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

So here is the sigh of relief that I utter, "Aaaaahhhhhhhhh." Even on Mondays, God's mercy is there and He will provide me with all that I need to get through it. And Lord knows that I need His help every Monday morning. And every single day besides.

Why Monday is the stinker of the week, I don't know...it just always has been. It's a mental thing, I know. Therefore I am making a new "mental thing" about Mondays...

It's the beginning of a new week full of possibilities. I will not dwell on what may go wrong, but be hopeful of all that will go right. Maybe this one little change in facing my "Monday Morning Blues" will pull the blues right out of my Monday.

The Purpose of The Valleys

"God wants to build our faith in the valleys. We love the mountaintops...but in the valleys we build our faith. When we come face to face with a dark valley, we get on our knees." ~ The Purpose Driven Life

This quote taken from The Purpose Driven Life stared me in the face every time I went into the kitchen during the month of March. I would glance over at it, read it and then not really take the time to contemplate it's truth. Whenever life is at it's "best" and there doesn't seem to be anything that urgently needs "fixing", it seems like my prayer life is far less active. Why is that? How come I'm not praying and giving thanks as much during the "rosey" times in life? And what a shame that is.

One evening, as I was washing the dishes and listening to my in-laws play Wheel Of Fortune with my little kiddles, I finally took the time to look over, read and think about what that simple statement meant. It was SO true. The times in my life when it seems like I can't control events that unfold, I sprint to the foot of God's throne and pray like there is no tomorrow. Up until I had my own family, it wasn't always like that. My prayer life was consistent, my devotional time was firmly set for 10p-11p every night and it seemed like I was constantly communicating with God.

These days it seems like I rush through my prayers and don't give thanks as much as I should for all of the little things that I have. (although I have been making more of a conscious effort to give thanks) Faith building never seems to be fun...seriously. But it's not when everything is going so peachy-keen that my faith is tested and strengthened. It truely is when I look around and feel like there is no other place to go but to God for help. And the help always seems to come in at the 11th hour...just when I want to throw my hands up and say, "forget it!" But God always comes through...even though it is usually not in the manner that I would have liked Him to work things out. He still has always taken care of me. And for that I am eternally greatful.

He is my Rock and my Shield for all time. That does not mean that I look forward to the valleys though, but I do understand their purpose.

Confession: I still love the mountaintops. :)