This is a very raw post for me to write. God spoke very clearly and direct to me this morning when He was correcting me, yet again.
Over the past couple of days I have spoken a word here or there, really without even thinking about it, but as soon as I said it the Lord has had something to say about it. This morning I was texting my sister and when she had to go into a prayer meeting and my first response was "prayer is overrated" in a very sarcastic way. (Just to let you know prayer is a very important part of my life and I know that without prayer I could not do the things the Lord has asked of me to do.) But before I hit the send button the Lord spoke and said "that's enough."I know that I was joking and being sarcastic but the Lord didn't see it that way. Then He reminded me of all my other comments that I have made that have not been uplifting or honoring to Him or others.
The past two weeks have been really tough with my three kids. I know it is just a stage and I think the devil probably has a hand it it, because I'm stepping out in faith and speaking what the Lord has given me to speak. Just the other day I was speaking to a friend and was telling her about my week and used the word "hell" to describe my week and the Lord spoke and said "you don't have any idea what hell is really like."
Last week the Lord woke me up at 4am to give me some words to speak for the Women's Retreat I'm speaking at, and the next morning I put my facebook status as "Really God was 4am that necessary?"(As a sarcastic comment) Later that day my brother-in-law commented "yes it was". The Lord spoke and said "you get to talk to me whenever you want, so I get to talk to you whenever I want."
Now I didn't mean anything that I said, it was all sarcasm or just how I felt in the moment, but the Lord didn't see it that way. My words are suppose to be honoring, uplifting and a blessing to my Heavenly Father and others. In all of three of those instants they were none of the above. Even when I am joking around or in a bad mood my words need to be honoring to God.
Matthew 12:34b"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."
I want my words to reflect what is in my heart, even during hard times. I know my Lord has blessed in so many ways and He loves me with an unconditional love; He doesn't deserve me to speak unpleasant words even sarcastically.
Matthew 12:36 "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken."
When I stand before God I want to hear that my words uplifted people and people were blessed by what I said. I don't want to hear that I made others stumble or sin because of my words. I want to hear that I honored God with all that I did and said. I DO NOT want to hinder anyone or anything because of my words.
Proverbs 16:23-24 "A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Lord please help me to use pleasant words, so I may help bring healing and not hurt. Help me to guard my mouth and make sure the words that I use are uplifting and honoring to you and to the others around me. Please show me and take away anything that is not pure in my heart so I may speak from my heart and know that only goodness, kindness and blessings come from the words that I speak.
April 26, 2011
April 22, 2011
For Us...
This morning in my quiet time I read Luke 22 & 23, My Savior's death story. Even though I know this story and have heard this story over and over since I was a kid, I still get tears in my eyes when I actually take the time and really reflect exactly what happened all those years ago.
God's Son came to earth and lived a perfect, holy life. Isaiah describes Jesus' death this way "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done NO violence, NOR was any deceit in His mouth" Is 53:9. Jesus never sinned although He was tempted in every way, but He was still put to death. And the death of His one and only son was God's plan all along. Is 53:10 "Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life a guilt offering..."
The moment God sent His son to earth, He knew the death that His son would have to endure for us and He still sent Him and He let Jesus take the sins of the world upon His shoulders. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus knew what was coming and He was in agony over what was about to happen. He even prayed to his father "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42. Right there Jesus says, I don't want to do this, but I will submit to my Father and His plans. And that is exactly what He did. Jesus submitted to His Father's will so we would be saved by His blood.
I think two of the most beautiful events that happened during Christ's suffering were first when one of the disciples struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear and Jesus reached over and healed the servant's ear. This was a man that was about to arrest Jesus and take him to the high priest and Jesus decided to heal him (paraphrased from Luke 22:49-51). Jesus healed his enemy, He didn't have to and no one probably even expected Him to; everyone may have been even a little shocked when He did. The next most beautiful thing to me is when Jesus asked "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" Luke 23:34. Jesus just asked that His Father would forgive the sins of the people that were just about to kill him. In the face of death, Jesus loved those men and He wanted them to turn from their wicked ways so He would see them in Heaven. This is the real heart of My Savior Jesus Christ. In the midst of His hurt and His pain He is healing and praying for others.
In our eyes did they deserve God's mercy? UM NO! But God doesn't give us what we deserve. God has made a way so we may dwell in His house forever. So we may see loved ones that have gone before us. So we may meet King David, Noah, Ruth, Paul and so many others. Our God is so good and His heart for us is so pure.
On that cross Jesus bore the sins of the world. A man that had never sinned had the world's sin, all of the sins that had been committed and all the sins that will be committed, were on our Savior's shoulders.
Today as we reflect on that horrific day all those years ago let's remember the heart and soul of the Son of God that hung their and died so that you and I might live. His heart was for the lost, forsaken, sinful, broken...US!
God's Son came to earth and lived a perfect, holy life. Isaiah describes Jesus' death this way "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done NO violence, NOR was any deceit in His mouth" Is 53:9. Jesus never sinned although He was tempted in every way, but He was still put to death. And the death of His one and only son was God's plan all along. Is 53:10 "Yet it was the Lord's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life a guilt offering..."
The moment God sent His son to earth, He knew the death that His son would have to endure for us and He still sent Him and He let Jesus take the sins of the world upon His shoulders. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus knew what was coming and He was in agony over what was about to happen. He even prayed to his father "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42. Right there Jesus says, I don't want to do this, but I will submit to my Father and His plans. And that is exactly what He did. Jesus submitted to His Father's will so we would be saved by His blood.
I think two of the most beautiful events that happened during Christ's suffering were first when one of the disciples struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear and Jesus reached over and healed the servant's ear. This was a man that was about to arrest Jesus and take him to the high priest and Jesus decided to heal him (paraphrased from Luke 22:49-51). Jesus healed his enemy, He didn't have to and no one probably even expected Him to; everyone may have been even a little shocked when He did. The next most beautiful thing to me is when Jesus asked "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" Luke 23:34. Jesus just asked that His Father would forgive the sins of the people that were just about to kill him. In the face of death, Jesus loved those men and He wanted them to turn from their wicked ways so He would see them in Heaven. This is the real heart of My Savior Jesus Christ. In the midst of His hurt and His pain He is healing and praying for others.
In our eyes did they deserve God's mercy? UM NO! But God doesn't give us what we deserve. God has made a way so we may dwell in His house forever. So we may see loved ones that have gone before us. So we may meet King David, Noah, Ruth, Paul and so many others. Our God is so good and His heart for us is so pure.
On that cross Jesus bore the sins of the world. A man that had never sinned had the world's sin, all of the sins that had been committed and all the sins that will be committed, were on our Savior's shoulders.
Today as we reflect on that horrific day all those years ago let's remember the heart and soul of the Son of God that hung their and died so that you and I might live. His heart was for the lost, forsaken, sinful, broken...US!
April 6, 2011
NOT an Excuse...
Last Thursday my mom was sick and she asked me if I could fill in for her as the Director of Cubbies? (Cubbies is the preschool part of the Awana program at our church) After some coaxing on her part, I finally said yes; after all I knew that she really didn't have anyone else who could step in for her and I still find it hard to say no to my mommy. I had also been the Director 5 years ago, so I pretty much knew what I was doing. So I put on my smiling face and dug deep for some exciting energy and went for it. It was a good night, almost everything went as planned and the kids seem to have fun (that's what really counts). As the evening was coming to an end and we were packing up to leave one of the leaders came up and said you should become the Director next year (after this year, my mom is stepping down as the Director). I just smiled and said no, I have 3 little kids and it would just be too much to do this every week. Then we all left and I went home to bed :)
Well on Sunday morning I was in the middle of worship at church at the Lord spoke "Don't you ever use your kids as an excuse again as to why can't serve Me." To be honest I had totally forgotten about my response until the Lord brought it up. The Lord also reminded me of a verse that my brother and recently sent me.
Psalm 127:3-5
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They will not be ashamed
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.
This caught me so off guard, because I didn't even think twice about what I said. I also know that this is not the first time I have done this. So right there in the middle of worship I had to repent and ask for the Lord's forgiveness.
Children are a gift from the Lord and they are not to be looked upon as a burden or a reason to not serve the Lord, especially when He tells you to serve. I know that I am not called to be the Cubbies Director as of right now. I feel like God is giving me a different path than that, even though there is a need, I don't feel it is my job to fill it. And now I realized that I should have said just that, instead of using my children as the excuse.
I know as a mother of 3 small children it can become a bit challenging to find a place to serve that works well with your family, but that doesn't mean you can't. If God has laid something on your heart to do then He will make a way for you to do it and He will give you the strength that you need. Phil 4:13 – I can do all this through him who gives me strength. All you have to do is be ready and willing to be used.
If you are feeling overwhelmed with just the thought of serving here are a few ideas that came to mind, but you need to take some time and pray to make sure you are doing what the Lord wants you to do before diving in to something: Invite a young mom or young wife over to coffee; start a blog (you will be surprised how many people will read it); babysit some else children so they can have a date night; host a small group at your house; volunteer in your child's class at school or at church. I know these things seem simple and its not like you are reaching thousands of people, but numbers isn't what matters. You serving the Lord is the only thing that matters! Even if you are only reaching one person it counts. Let me tell you that one person, could lead to another person, which could lead to another person and another and another and so on. Just start by being obedient to what the Lord has for you and He will take care of the rest!
God has a plan for you! He wants to use you; are you ready to be used? No more excuse, especially not your children!!!
Romans 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.
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