Im gonna fix my eyes on all that you are

Life is lovely. It truly is. The degree to which we realize and embrace it depends on us. After quite the trying day emotions running high, tears,and frustrations begging me to have a terrible night. I got a real glimpse of what it means to give all your burdens to Him.

I know all too often I try to handle everything on my own but, through prayers of tears streaming down my face God showed up to ease my burden. He gave me the realization of what it truly means to give everything up to him. It means that we admit how truly utterly helpless were are without him and beg him to show up and be our strength.

HE CAN, HE WILL, HE DOES.

Its our flesh that fights against the help, its our flesh that wants to do things our way .... but laying that aside... letting our Savior step in is freeing it means we no longer labor but he does. He fights for us, He supplicates our needs how amazing how comforting. But only to the degree that we allow him too. That's the realization he laid on my heart tonight and as beautiful as it was it was also convicting because I realized how little I allowed him too ease my burdens and how deeply I need him too.

As I learn to give my burdens to God I am able to relax, smile, and enjoy my life to a greater degree.

Matthew Chapter 11 28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
When we are weak it is a blessing because it is then that Christ's power shows up in us!

In Case You're Wonderin

Acts 26:16 - But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee.
Behind everything we do their should be one motivation, one reason why we are doing whatever it is we are doing. That motivation should be to give God praise and honor and I thought it was important to make my intention for this blog known early on. Although I blog about questions I seek answers for and how God moves and directs my life path, I want the purpose of this blog to be giving Him glory.

As olympic gold medalist Gabby Dogulas said best,

Give all the glory to God, all the glory goes up to him and all the blessings fall down on us.

Its my prayer that as I seek to know the Lord more and respond to what He gives me,that I would become a part of the background and that He would shine.

Decisions....

Everyday we are faced with thousand of decisions, decisions that could potentially alter our life course. As I grow and learn more about what it means to be a Christian each day, I become increasingly aware of how my decisions affect me. Thus yearning to make the right ones.

Striving to make decisions that will honor God is a rewarding goal but, not always an easy goal. When fighting against the flesh we have an unparalleled ability to convince ourselves we are doing the right thing by justifying our actions even if they aren't biblical.

Its at this time when we have to draw near to the Father pray without ceasing and ask for wisdom. Not just any wisdom though wisdom we can use to fulfill the Lord's will. HIS WILL NOT OURS.............HIS WILL NOT OURS....

We have to wholeheartedly seek him and in doing so we must search our Bibles and seek Godly counsel.

After that all we can do is trust... trust...trust. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

And if the Lord reveals to us that we need to admit our mistakes and adjust our decisions we must act accordingly. We will solve nothing by continuing down the wrong path.

When our decisions do turn out in our favor though we must remember who is behind that and always give praise to God for our success. John 3:27 says A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.

What does comparison do for us?

Lately I've been realizing how unhealthy comparison is and what it does to my soul. Oh the feelings of inferiority. Why is it that I get so consumed with being something other than what God has perfectly created me to be?

Well the answer is simple we live in a fallen world a world that is constantly shoving thoughts down our throats of how a modern woman should look, act, dress, and carry themselves. These are mostly unrealistic thoughts much different from the thoughts Jesus has for the women, he wants us to be. And,the enemy who is always at work plotting to kill, steal and destroy the very beings God has beautifully created us to be.

What does the bible say about this though... In Romans 9:20-21 it says But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, Why did you make me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common purposes. Thats convicting for me and exactly right who are we to question how God uses and designs us.

In 2 Corithians 10:12 The bible even call those who compare unwise

Genesis 29:17 [Leah didn't compare favorably with Rachel in appearance] Leah was tender [timid or weak] eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
Genesis 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
Comparison is something we all deal with but we can choose to deal with it in the proper way or wallow in it and let it steal our JOY!

1 Corinthians 12:4-7,11,12,14-18 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. ... 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ... 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.

What is the antidote of comparison you ask? THANKFULNESS

Revelation 5:9,10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Does it get any better than that ^ SO BLESSED..... THANK YOU JESUS!

Early Mornings!

After only getting three hours of sleep last night getting up at 4:30 am was no easy task. When my alarm clock went off I dreaded the thought of moving from my bed but, anticipating seeing my sister, I pushed through the tiredness. Getting out of bed, I walked into the kitchen and announced to my dad that I would be traveling with him to Kokomo where my sister lives and he works about an hour from our home .

Upon returning to my room I proceeded to get dressed. As I put my yoga pants on my sleepy self I knew something didn't feel right. It is then, I realized my pants were on backward and if this was any precursor to how my dad would play out going back to bed was sounding pretty good.

With some encouragement from my dad about the time, I grabbed my back-pack complete with blanket and laptop and headed for my dad's car oblivious of his request for me to take the trash out. I heard him grumbling and hoped this wouldn't be the intro into a long discussion about my inability to meet his requests. However, this time things didn't take that turn and calm was restored as he took the trash to the street and returned to the car.

Boy, was that car ride short before I knew it we were at the meeting spot, my dad's place of employment, Chrysler. When my sister arrived I opened the door to get out and cold air rushed in. I thought to myself what was I thinking getting up this early. For anyone who knows me being cold and sleepy are a good way to catch me in a not so pleasant mood. But overwhelmed with the excitement of spending time with my sister I smiled when she said, "So are ya ready to go to Panera and study for four hours."

Once at Panera we got breakfast and I realized what a blessing this day was going to be. I mean how can it not be a blessing when your sister buys you a yummy Panera bagel and after all your hard-work studying you get to go see the latest addition to the family.

By latest addition I am talking about my sister's new puppy, Diesel a cute, red-haired labordoodle.

God Is So So GOOD. Its all about our willingness to trust in his plans and purpose for our lives and I'm thankful for his plan for me to spend the day with my sister.

Maybe I was apprehensive at first because of the early morning or the four hours of straight school work but despite the negative attitude that attempted to thwart God's plan.

THE BEAUTIFUL THING IS THAT NOTHING CAN THWART HIS PLANS

The LORD of Heaven's Armies has spoken--who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?" Isaiah 14:27