Obedience

Anytime I wanna blog, its out of my own personal time with God and its usually like this big long thing I learned from scripture and all that will take me forever to explain.

But right now…there is so much in my head, but one thing sticking out…and it comes from bits of whats all in my head at the moment.

But, Pat Miller came and spoke to us Off The Wallians today, about Isaiah 58, and about being a rebellious people. and Recently, I asked God that if there is anyway in me that I need to work on, to reveal it to me. Cuz i know there is, and im just thinking through a lot at the moment and definately need to just give so much more of myself. but right now what im realizing…is that i am not being faithful, or obedient to the urgings i so often get in my head.

i wonder why financially im lacking trust…and so forth…but it is said that if you are faithful in the small things, God will give you more….responsibility and blessing I believe. Well, its become clear, that its what seems to be so minute, and little that I am not being obedient in. I ignore the little voices in my head that tell me to do something…to go serve…to say something…to do something i don’t necesarrily want to do cuz im just being lazy. i am ignoring those. and until I start being obedient in those little things, I will remain in whatever state it is that I am in, I don’t even know. I want to grow, I want to be a good discipler, a worshiper, all things I am slacking in and need desperate growth, but im not being obedient in the small, so im a bit complacent and lazy.
not good.

So plain and simple. I need to be obedient in the small things. In the simple urgings. It is not about me, or what I want to do in a moment, but about what God is doing to encourage and build His people, His church. Not about me at all, yet so often I live like it is.
Forgive me LORD.

Thank You for YOUR Love, and Mercy, and Faithfulness, even when I lack so much.
Thank You.

“You are good, you are good when there’s nothing good in me….”

check out PSALM 103. My prayer and cry, is to “Bless The LORD, O my soul, with all that is within me…”

Prayer

James 1: 2b
”…you do not have, because you do not ask.”

I was challenged earlier this week to meditate on a few passages that were read on Sunday and preached on, and i am jsut now doing that…but I was reading over a passage in James. and this part of verse 2, stuck out to me.

What am I asking of God? What am i praying for? Are they my own lust and passions, or are they pleasing to God?

So i was thinking about the first question…and what I am entering into the Throne Room of God when I pray…(which im realizing how sucky my prayer life really is, and how so often when we become focused more on ourselves how our prayer life hinders from that deeply).  But so often when i hear this question, my first response is  “i want You, God.” and it just hit me….’duh, I already have Him!” so why am I asking Him, for Him when He has already blessed me with His Holy Spirit!

So I ask again, what am I asking of God? I think weekly the answer to this question can change. But at this moment in time, I want to be confident in Him, in me. I desire confidence, so that He can most glorified and praised in my life, because confidence is a thing i lack quite often. But my heart’s desire is to Prasie God, and bring Him glory, and if I am confident (but not prideful) in His work in and through me, of course He will receive honor and praise!

and of course there are other requests as usual….but i leave you with this question…

Are your prayers/requests to God, genuine, from your heart? Or are you just repeating what you hear other people praying for?

Vulnerability

Vulnerable: ‘capable or susceptible to being wounded or hurt, open to moral attack, criticism…’

Many people are fearful of this word. I would be one of those people. Many people who are fearful of vulnerability, are ones who care too much of other people’s approval. I am one of these people. Many people who are fearful of vulnerability, are people who have insecurity. I am one of these people. Many people who are fearful of vulnerability and never are vulnerable, lack intimate relationships and live in insecurity.

Here is a letter I just wrote to insecurity itself.

“Insecurity I hate you. You make me physically sick. You break deep bonds in my relationships. You make me feel like food shoved down a garbage disposal. I feel worthless and unwanted in your presence. Insecurity you ruin who I really am. You ruin my close friendships. You make me think that it is all my fault. That I can never do anything right.
Insecurity you are a monster. You are deceitful yet powerful. You prey on the bruised and broken. You are full of shame and conceit. you live deep under the roots of anything you can latch onto and rot it until it’s all in pieces and dead.
Insecurity you are evil. I hate you. You ruin everything i have and am.

Insecurity you are unwanted, despised and broken. You think you have power but in the eyes of God you are but a fly under a fly swatter, dead. You try to lie and ruin God’s creation and work but you will not win. Have you not read Revelation? When Jesus returns and reigns and all evil will be thrown away forever. Your included in that evil. You will be destroyed, never to live again. Have you not heard of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross? How He has redeemed and forgiven me from my sins and saved me from an ending like yours? I will not be thrown away like you, or even by you. Because of God who is rich in mercy, I have value, that you envy. I have confidence that you hate. I have power through God’s Holy Spirit that you cannot conquer. I am victorious, which you know nothing of.

You may fool me for a little while, but I know better. I know your fate. My God is greater. He will never leave me nor forsake me. He is my pride and joy. My identity. You on the other hand, I choose to ignore….so good bye.'”

 

Trust God and rely upon God.

“I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Psalm 91:2

Proclaiming the Goodness of God.

PRAISE THE LORD!

When was the last time you praised the Lord? How often do you praise the Lord?

God can always be praised in our lives, His praise can always be on our lips.

Our lives praise Him when we walk in the gifts and talents He has given us. When we are true to our personality and charachter. When we take care of our bodies. When we love ourselves and those around us. When we are enjoying fellowship with people. When we are spending time with Jesus and in his word and in prayer. when we are singing, dancing, playing skillfully, laughing, smiling, crying. When we sit and listen to a hurting person. When we share His word. When we take time for people. When we bring a smile to someone’s face. When we enjoy His creation (nature and weather)….this list could go on and on…

The point is, God is praised in our lives. All to often we are not conscious of praising God with our lives, with our lips. But we are, and we can.

 

Psalm 145
”I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.  Every day I will praise you
   and extol your name for ever and ever. 
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
   his greatness no one can fathom. 
One generation will commend your works to another;  they will tell of your mighty acts. 
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,  and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works,  and I will proclaim your great deeds. 
They will celebrate your abundant goodness
   and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 
The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
   slow to anger and rich in love. 
The LORD is good to all;
   he has compassion on all he has made. 
All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
   your saints will extol you.
They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
   and speak of your might, 
so that all men may know of your mighty acts
   and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
   and your dominion endures through all generations.

   The LORD is faithful to all his promises
   and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD upholds all those who fall
   and lifts up all who are bowed down. 
The eyes of all look to you,
   and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
   and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 
The LORD is righteous in all his ways
   and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
   to all who call on him in truth.  He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
   he hears their cry and saves them. 
The LORD watches over all who love him,
   but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
   Let every creature praise his holy name
   for ever and ever. “

 

Psalm 148
”Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens,  praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels,  praise him, all his heavenly hosts.  Praise him, sun and moon,
   praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens
   and you waters above the skies. 
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
   for he commanded and they were created. 
He set them in place for ever and ever;
   he gave a decree that will never pass away. 
Praise the LORD from the earth,
   you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, 
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
   stormy winds that do his bidding, 
you mountains and all hills,
   fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
   small creatures and flying birds, 
kings of the earth and all nations,
   you princes and all rulers on earth, 
young men and maidens,
   old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
   for his name alone is exalted;
   his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. 
He has raised up for his people a horn(king),
   the praise of all his saints,
   of Israel, the people close to his heart.

   Praise the LORD. “

 

Psalm 150
” Praise the LORD.
   Praise God in his sanctuary;
   praise him in his mighty heavens. 
Praise him for his acts of power;
   praise him for his surpassing greatness. 
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
   praise him with the harp and lyre, 
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
   praise him with the strings and flute, 
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
   praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

   Praise the LORD. “

 

God can and should be praised everywhere, at everytime.

Absolutely In Love with Jesus

“…and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.”   Psalm 30:11b-12

I love worship. Plain and simple. It is a lot of my heart. And recently the idea of serving God, loving God, obeying God…etc with a WHOLE HEART has been coming up and impressed upon me.

I have been listening to Starfield in my car this past week and this one song called “Absolutely” just keep speaking to my heart and is where I feel my heart is and has become my PRAYER.

“Lover of my soul, I want to tell you
Only you have all of me
I cannot contain, my adoration
I’m in love so desperately

No one is as lovely as You are
And there is no one else who has my heart

Jesus, You have me completely
Every breath that I breath I am absolutely in love
Jesus, I am Yours forever
All of my surrenders
I am absolutely in love with You

Down upon my knees, I’m lost in worship
Humbled by Your majesty
What is there to say, but how I love You
Thank you for forgiving me

No one is as lovely as You are
And there is no one else who has my heart

Jesus, You have me completely
Every breath that I breathe I am absolutely in love
Jesus, I am Yours forever
All of my surrenders
I am absolutely in love

All I am is Yours
Only Yours”

Walking with People

What does it mean to walk with someone? I don’t mean physically…cause that’s too easy to answer. But I mean in the Christian walk.

I have been thinking this week about where my role is in discipleship. Because honestly, I don’t have words to say very often, I don’t how to respond a lot…etc. But recently I just feel like God is telling me to just walk beside and to walk with the people He has brought into my life.

When I think of walking beside people, my mind goes to the 23rd Psalm.

A psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, 
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
   for his name’s sake. 
Even though I walk
   through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows. 
Surely goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
   forever.

 

To me, what I feel is the best way to walk with and beside someone in discipleship,and in life with relationships; is to just be there. to listen. to speak when you know you need to speak. to be honest. to laugh with them. to cry with them. to let them know you care and are there. to PRAY for them and with them. to share your story, your life with them. to challenge them. to go on the same eating plan as them so they are not alone….

It is the little things that matter.

I am one who at times will question whether I am really making a difference, or am really helping someone or am even really being there for them, being a friend…but one thing that I am constantly being reminded of…even when I don’t have words to say or don’t have a clue of how to help someone my heart cares for, PRAYER is enough. BEING there is enough. LISTENING is enough. because I know that, that is and has been enough for me. and I know that God can and will use anything, anyway, and anyone. We just need to TRUST in HIS POWER, and HIS WISDOM, and HIS COMFORT…

What hinders you?

The past couple of months I have been on this kick with the word UNHINDERED. Mostly in a corporate worship setting is where the focus has been on being unhindered. But recently it has hit me, that I cannot be unhindered in corporate worship until I learn to be unhindered in my daily life. From the littlest things leading to the bigger things. There are so many things and areas that hinder me in my everyday life, physically, emotionally and spiritually and they are all connected in some way. My heart’s desire and my prayer is to become unhindered in my life. In my worship…which my worship is my life. And through that, the more my walls will be broken down, and a life of unhindered-ness and of embrace for and in the LORD Jesus Christ will be alive and lived to the fullest. For His glory.

Psalm 34 has become a life (verses) passage for me this past wee while. To me, it is just my heart’s cry in so many areas, as well, as it says all that God is and all He has even done in my own life. So I leave you with Psalm 34.

“I will extol the LORD at all times;
   his praise will always be on my lips. 
My soul will boast in the LORD;
   let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 
Glorify the LORD with me;
   let us exalt his name together.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
   he delivered me from all my fears. 
Those who look to him are radiant;
   their faces are never covered with shame. 
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
   he saved him out of all his troubles. 
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
   and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;
   blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 
Fear the LORD, you his saints,
   for those who fear him lack nothing. 
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
   but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Come, my children, listen to me;
   I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 
Whoever of you loves life
   and desires to see many good days, 
keep your tongue from evil
   and your lips from speaking lies. 
Turn from evil and do good;
   seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
   and his ears are attentive to their cry; 
the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
   to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
   he delivers them from all their troubles. 
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
   and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles,
   but the LORD delivers him from them all; 
he protects all his bones,
   not one of them will be broken. 
Evil will slay the wicked;
   the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 
The LORD redeems his servants;
   no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.”