Over the past 5 years, I have learned it is imperative that I spend time with the Lord every day. And I have to do it before my day starts. If I don't then my day easily spins downward and I allow satan to whisper lies in my ears all day. For the last few months, I have been reading Jesus Calling and it speaks truth to me everyday. Today's devotion was a great reminder of why quiet time is so important. I just wanted to share it with my readers...
May 15
Spending time alone with
Me is essential for your well-being. It is not a luxury or an option;
it is a necessity. Therefore, do not feel guilty about taking time to be
with Me. Remember that Satan is the accuser of believers. He
delights in heaping guilt feelings upon you, especially when you are
enjoying My Presence. When you feel Satan’s arrows of accusation, you
are probably on the right track. Use your shield of faith to protect yourself from him. Talk with Me about what you are experiencing, and ask Me to show you the way forward.Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to Me, and I will come near to you.
Then
I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and
the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.
“For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day
and night, has been hurled down.”
—Revelation 12:10
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
—Ephesians 6:16
Submit
yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you
sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
—James 4:7–8
Showing posts with label Seasons of Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seasons of Life. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
What am I learning lately?
If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you know how much I LOVE my Jesus Calling devotional. It seems like I copy and paste a sentence or two almost everyday. God has been using this devotional to speak to me EVERYDAY!
Just take a look at the last few weeks:
Just take a look at the last few weeks:
- When you criticize or complain, you are acting as if you think you could run the world better than I do. From your limited human perspective, it may look as if I’m mismanaging things. But you don’t know what I know or see what I see. If I pulled back the curtain to allow you to view heavenly realms, you would understand much more. However, I have designed you to live by faith, not by sight. I lovingly shield you from knowing the future or seeing into the spirit world. Acknowledge My sovereignty by giving thanks in all circumstances.
As you can see - God is telling me to thank Him even when times are hard, trust Him when I don't know what to do, and that His peace is available when I feel out of control. And that's what I'm praying through. He is telling me those things daily. But I have to take the step to trust and follow Him. Just as my pastor says - being a Christian is really about being a disciple and following after Him. It's not easy. But I'm working on it.
So...what are you working on?
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Lessons Learned
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1
If you look closely in the picture above, you will see Gregory and I. We ran a half marathon together on April 29, 2011. And wow - what an experience it was. I wanted to share my lesson learned for last week with you all.
Gregory and I trained for 16 weeks to be able to run a half marathon together. This was quite the accomplishment for me. We picked the Music Marathon in Nashville, TN because we thought it would be a fun one to do together. And it sure was. There were hills and they were hard - but there is nothing like finishing that race holding hands with my best friend and soul's mate.
As we crossed the finish line, I got a flash in my head of Heaven. I know it was the Holy Spirit. We rounded a corner to see thousands of people in stadium seating. They were cheering and clapping as people crossed the finish line. I felt as if I was entering my own Heaven. And holding my husband's hand made it even more surreal.
I am so thankful for the experience. I hope to run a full marathon next. But for now, I'm thanking God for the vision he gave me. I hope my life will feel as fulfilled as I did when I crossed the finish line after all that hard work and training to get to that point. Praise you Lord. And a special thank you to Gregory for staying on my slow pace :) I love you!
Here we are about to cross the finish line...
This is from the beginning of the race - but wow...can you see how many people there are - 33,000 signed up to run. I will never forget that day!
Monday, April 4, 2011
The best job i've ever had.
If someone asked you what the best job was that you've ever had - could you answer it? I can - it's my current job at North Point for sure!
This week is my anniversary date at work. I have been on staff at North Point Ministries 4 years already. As I begin my 5th year at work here, I'd like to make a few comments. First of all, I can say with 100% confidence that I am a better person because of the investment North Point has made in me. Just to be specific - when I say I 'm a better person I mean I'm a better mom, wife, Christian, and friend than I was before coming on staff.
My story of how I came on staff:
Coming on staff was totally a "God thing." I had been in the mortgage industry and was tired of working crazy hours. So, I just submitted my resume into the hiring database. Ashley Jansen was pregnant with her first child, Hamilton, and was looking for a replacement. The role was the IT Admin Assistant to Sean Strickland. I thought this will be a easy job and I will be in the ministry so I'm interested. After applying, I ran into Ashley at GroupLink and she recognized my name. The next week I had a series of 8 interviews. I was exhausted after that and also humbled that North Point took such care in making sure they were hiring the right people for the right job. But 2 weeks later, Sean called me and offered me the job. And of course I accepted right away! I cut my pay in half - but it was totally worth it! God has blessed me WAY more than that extra money every did.
And that's the story - in the last 4 years, I worked in IT for 3 and now in Resources for 1. I loved working for Sean and I loved the IT team. But I do feel like the job I'm in now is the one I was always meant for. To be completely honest, I have found my dream job.
So, cheers to 4 wonderful years! Thank you Andy Stanley for your investment in making sure the staff is cared for. I have felt that from day one and this is definitely the best place I have ever worked.
Thank you Jesus for bringing me to work at North Point 4 years ago. I know it was all you. I love being part of a place that is spreading your name throughout the world. May everything I do here be to your Glory. I take credit for nothing - for it is all you. Thank you for growing me as a person and pulling me closer to you. I pray as time moves that we continue to get the word into as many peoples hands as possible. And also that others not us - but see you shining through. Amen.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. "Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
Thursday, March 31, 2011
How Can God Bring Good from This?
I get these daily devotionals from Proverbs 31 Ministry. Every day they are awesome. But specifically today's hit me hard. So I wanted to share with you all... ENJOY!
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Have you ever faced a personal struggle and wondered how God could possibly bring good out of it? How could Romans 8:28 apply to my hidden issues — the ones I don’t like to think about, deal with, or even admit I have?
If you would have told me 10 years ago that God could bring good out of my weight issues and food struggles, I would have seriously doubted you.I would have rolled my eyes and excused myself to the bathroom.
Bathroom stalls are great places to cry in secret.
When a soul is rubbed raw from years of trying and failing, you don’t want to hear, “eventually good will come from this.”
I wanted something to instantly fix my issues.
I wanted to stop calling myself awful names I’d never let another person call me.
I wanted to be naturally thin like my sister.
I wanted to stop crying when I walked into my closet to get dressed in the morning.
I would have cared less about some elusive, eventual good. My jeans didn’t fit. Even my sweatpants didn’t fit. I felt horrible. I couldn’t stay committed to a healthy eating plan to save my life. And I saw no hope in sight.
It’s a terrible thing to scan the horizon and see no evidence of hope.
Maybe you’ve been there with some hidden issue. Maybe you’ve been there like me with food and weight struggles. Maybe you’re there today.
Whether your issues are the same as mine or not, all of us Jesus girls have struggles. We all fall short in some way. And we all need to know more about this “good” mentioned in Romans 8:28.
But instead of a three point sermonette, I want to share with you a letter I recently received. As I read it, the mercy gates of heaven split wide open and reigned down “this working of good.”It was heaven’s salve soothing deep places in me.
It is a picture of the reality of God’s Word being true. Always true. God does work for the good… in all things… every single thing... even our most raw and seemingly impossible things… but we must know it even when we don’t feel it.
“Just want to say thank you for sharing your struggles, Lysa. I’ve had an eating disorder since August,1978. Full blown anorexia, which led years down the road to bulimia.
I became a Christian in 2002, but never could fully surrender my eating disorder to our Lord. Through your story and the advice you shared the Holy Spirit is empowering me as I never knew possible. I’ve had 7 days of no binging or purging!!!
This may not seem like a high number to you, but after 33 full years with this binge/purge addiction, this is AMAZING. Hallelujah!!
You shed such new light on scriptures that I have read, but never knew how to interpret in my life especially with regards to eating. I’ll be honest I figured my eating disorder wasn’t that big a deal to our Lord. In fact I had told myself that He made me this way so it must just be the sin I was born to deal with; so glad to know that it isn’t, and that I matter to HIM."– Melissa P.
As I read this, my tears leaked free.We don’t have to figure out how God will bring good, we just have to stay on the journey with Him and watch Him work.
May this be a glimpse of hope in the midst of your struggles as well.
“And we know (we know it even if we don’t feel it) that in all things (even the ones we can’t even fathom being used for good) God works for the good. (He works for the good. Our job is to walk with Him day by day. His job is to work the good.)
Dear Lord, thank You for this hope. Thank You that You don’t waste our tears, our struggles, or those places rubbed raw from years of trying and failing. Once we do what You’ve instructed us to do, You always do what only You can do. I know You will bring good even when I can’t see it or feel it. And what a comfort that is to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
If this devotion resonated with you, Lysa’s new book Made to Crave is just what you’ve needed. This is the message Melissa read that prompted the letter in this devotion.Click here to order your copy.
This book can also be a group Bible study by using these life-changing resources: Made to Crave Participant’s Guide and Made to Crave DVD teaching series, also by Lysa TerKeurst
Lysa will be speaking in over 40 cities this year and would love to meet you! To check for a city near you, click here.
Application Steps:
Write out your struggle on the front of a 3×5 card this week and pray for the next 5 days for God to reveal some good that could come from this. Write some of the power verses on the back of your card and meditate on these truths.
Reflections:
God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable. God comforts us to make us comfort-able. Able to comfort others with the same comfort we’ve received from Him. Is there someone in my sphere of influence who could benefit from hearing my story? Could this be some of the good God can bring from this?
Power Verses:
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)
© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Have you ever faced a personal struggle and wondered how God could possibly bring good out of it? How could Romans 8:28 apply to my hidden issues — the ones I don’t like to think about, deal with, or even admit I have?
If you would have told me 10 years ago that God could bring good out of my weight issues and food struggles, I would have seriously doubted you.I would have rolled my eyes and excused myself to the bathroom.
Bathroom stalls are great places to cry in secret.
When a soul is rubbed raw from years of trying and failing, you don’t want to hear, “eventually good will come from this.”
I wanted something to instantly fix my issues.
I wanted to stop calling myself awful names I’d never let another person call me.
I wanted to be naturally thin like my sister.
I wanted to stop crying when I walked into my closet to get dressed in the morning.
I would have cared less about some elusive, eventual good. My jeans didn’t fit. Even my sweatpants didn’t fit. I felt horrible. I couldn’t stay committed to a healthy eating plan to save my life. And I saw no hope in sight.
It’s a terrible thing to scan the horizon and see no evidence of hope.
Maybe you’ve been there with some hidden issue. Maybe you’ve been there like me with food and weight struggles. Maybe you’re there today.
Whether your issues are the same as mine or not, all of us Jesus girls have struggles. We all fall short in some way. And we all need to know more about this “good” mentioned in Romans 8:28.
But instead of a three point sermonette, I want to share with you a letter I recently received. As I read it, the mercy gates of heaven split wide open and reigned down “this working of good.”It was heaven’s salve soothing deep places in me.
It is a picture of the reality of God’s Word being true. Always true. God does work for the good… in all things… every single thing... even our most raw and seemingly impossible things… but we must know it even when we don’t feel it.
“Just want to say thank you for sharing your struggles, Lysa. I’ve had an eating disorder since August,1978. Full blown anorexia, which led years down the road to bulimia.
I became a Christian in 2002, but never could fully surrender my eating disorder to our Lord. Through your story and the advice you shared the Holy Spirit is empowering me as I never knew possible. I’ve had 7 days of no binging or purging!!!
This may not seem like a high number to you, but after 33 full years with this binge/purge addiction, this is AMAZING. Hallelujah!!
You shed such new light on scriptures that I have read, but never knew how to interpret in my life especially with regards to eating. I’ll be honest I figured my eating disorder wasn’t that big a deal to our Lord. In fact I had told myself that He made me this way so it must just be the sin I was born to deal with; so glad to know that it isn’t, and that I matter to HIM."– Melissa P.
As I read this, my tears leaked free.We don’t have to figure out how God will bring good, we just have to stay on the journey with Him and watch Him work.
May this be a glimpse of hope in the midst of your struggles as well.
“And we know (we know it even if we don’t feel it) that in all things (even the ones we can’t even fathom being used for good) God works for the good. (He works for the good. Our job is to walk with Him day by day. His job is to work the good.)
Dear Lord, thank You for this hope. Thank You that You don’t waste our tears, our struggles, or those places rubbed raw from years of trying and failing. Once we do what You’ve instructed us to do, You always do what only You can do. I know You will bring good even when I can’t see it or feel it. And what a comfort that is to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
If this devotion resonated with you, Lysa’s new book Made to Crave is just what you’ve needed. This is the message Melissa read that prompted the letter in this devotion.Click here to order your copy.
This book can also be a group Bible study by using these life-changing resources: Made to Crave Participant’s Guide and Made to Crave DVD teaching series, also by Lysa TerKeurst
Lysa will be speaking in over 40 cities this year and would love to meet you! To check for a city near you, click here.
Application Steps:
Write out your struggle on the front of a 3×5 card this week and pray for the next 5 days for God to reveal some good that could come from this. Write some of the power verses on the back of your card and meditate on these truths.
Reflections:
God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable. God comforts us to make us comfort-able. Able to comfort others with the same comfort we’ve received from Him. Is there someone in my sphere of influence who could benefit from hearing my story? Could this be some of the good God can bring from this?
Power Verses:
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)
© 2010 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Lord is MY Shepherd
Yesterday at church we heard the speaker Justin Grunewald. He works in the middle school department at Buckhead. And well, he is quite the communicator. He preached yesterday on the popular bible verses in Psalm. I have listed the verses below...
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 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.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
I would recommend you go and listen to the sermon on our website by clicking the link: Online Messages @ North Point The title of the sermon is "Promises".
Anyway, the message really got me thinking...where in my life is God not MY Shepherd? Where have I not invited HIM to lead? I will be praying through this the next few days. But just yesterday one area popped to mind-
Part of parenting is fixing meals, doing laundry, bathing, diaper changing, etc-All those things are under my control, I lead there. But do I have to? I should be asking God to lead and help me with the little teachable moments with Finn.
And what else? I'm sure there are TONS of areas. I wish there wasn't, but unfortunately it's reality. Our flesh always wants to take over.
So join me...ask God to show you where he is NOT currently your Shepherd. And then, ask him to be. Life change is on the way!
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 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.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
I would recommend you go and listen to the sermon on our website by clicking the link: Online Messages @ North Point The title of the sermon is "Promises".
Anyway, the message really got me thinking...where in my life is God not MY Shepherd? Where have I not invited HIM to lead? I will be praying through this the next few days. But just yesterday one area popped to mind-
Part of parenting is fixing meals, doing laundry, bathing, diaper changing, etc-All those things are under my control, I lead there. But do I have to? I should be asking God to lead and help me with the little teachable moments with Finn.
And what else? I'm sure there are TONS of areas. I wish there wasn't, but unfortunately it's reality. Our flesh always wants to take over.
So join me...ask God to show you where he is NOT currently your Shepherd. And then, ask him to be. Life change is on the way!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sean Strickland
I've starred at this blank screen now for the last 30 minutes not knowing what to write. Then I closed out the screen and came back to this still blank screen off and on for the last 3 days. But today I realized I need to get this post written. The world is too fast for me. I've been reflecting on a Jars of Clay song that says "To love you - take my world apart, To need you - I am on my knees, To love you - take my world apart, To need you - broken on my knees". That's how I feel right now. I just want God to take my world apart. Make it stop so I can catch up. I lost a very good friend and professional mentor to a car crash last week on Wednesday. I still find I am in shock. I've been through the visitation, funeral, and worked but yet i'm still stuck not accepting whats happened. I took this picture after Sean left North Point as a tribute to him. He was the best manager I had ever had. So he was the best boss (as the coffee cup says)....
I learned a ton from Sean. The biggest thing he taught me was that we may have personality flaws but they are not flaws. They are opportunities to grow. I am not a highly relational person (just like Sean). So he taught me how to be intentional about it. He taught me practical ways to apply this to my professional and personal life. The next biggest thing he taught me was to always put your family first. He modeled this to me which made it easy to follow. Sean loved his wife, Jana and daughter, Gabi with his whole heart. And last but not least, he always made me push for more. He would never let me settle for anything. And I know that shaped the employee, wife, mom to be, and manager I am today.
I was looking through some old emails and ichats the other day and came across a few that were pretty funny and some that were really sweet. It was bittersweet for me. I will miss him immensely, but I'm so happy to know he is chilling with Jesus right now. I really wanted him to meet my child. I pictured him and Jana coming to the hospital to visit me. I had already decided my child will call him Uncle Sean. But now, I know that I can talk to my child about his/her guardian angel Uncle Sean.
Anyway, thanks to listening to me this long post. My heart is heavy and I have a lot of healing to do. I also ask that you pray for his family. The last thing I will leave you with is a newspaper article about him. Go here and read this: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/obits/stories//2009/06/07/sean_strickland_obit.html
Have a blessed day and make sure you tell the people around you that you love them. I've lived 9,901 days today. I want my days to count, because I know that God has an ordained amount of days for me. Who knows when mine or your time is up. So make your time here on earth count!
Much love, Etc (that's what Sean called me)
(Our IT team last year at our retreat)
I learned a ton from Sean. The biggest thing he taught me was that we may have personality flaws but they are not flaws. They are opportunities to grow. I am not a highly relational person (just like Sean). So he taught me how to be intentional about it. He taught me practical ways to apply this to my professional and personal life. The next biggest thing he taught me was to always put your family first. He modeled this to me which made it easy to follow. Sean loved his wife, Jana and daughter, Gabi with his whole heart. And last but not least, he always made me push for more. He would never let me settle for anything. And I know that shaped the employee, wife, mom to be, and manager I am today.
I was looking through some old emails and ichats the other day and came across a few that were pretty funny and some that were really sweet. It was bittersweet for me. I will miss him immensely, but I'm so happy to know he is chilling with Jesus right now. I really wanted him to meet my child. I pictured him and Jana coming to the hospital to visit me. I had already decided my child will call him Uncle Sean. But now, I know that I can talk to my child about his/her guardian angel Uncle Sean.
Anyway, thanks to listening to me this long post. My heart is heavy and I have a lot of healing to do. I also ask that you pray for his family. The last thing I will leave you with is a newspaper article about him. Go here and read this: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/obits/stories//2009/06/07/sean_strickland_obit.html
Have a blessed day and make sure you tell the people around you that you love them. I've lived 9,901 days today. I want my days to count, because I know that God has an ordained amount of days for me. Who knows when mine or your time is up. So make your time here on earth count!
Much love, Etc (that's what Sean called me)
(Our IT team last year at our retreat)
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Hope
Today was definitely the saddest day of my life. I have experienced death before but to see that small grave was more than I could handle. I still haven't been able to truly process what happened today. All I know is, Brooks was and is being rocked by Jesus. What a lucky baby! To never have to experience hurt, sadness, pain at all. Brooks will grow in the presence of our Lord. As we go through this valley, I really wonder what people do that don't have Jesus. We are able to cling to the words of our Savior. I haven't been able to really finish talking with the Lord. I know that I will have to be on my knees crying out to God. I just don't understanding why he took Brooks. I know we won't know the answer until we are in Heaven asking Him. But, I do know that we can cling to the cross to get us through this tough time. When I was in Cambodia, we taught the kids about Joseph. We taught them about how no matter where Joseph was, he trusted God. So I guess I need to learn from my own lesson and trust the Lord in this valley. In this difficult time, I want to be a light to Ashly and Denny. I don't have any words to say but I can just stand beside them. I was looking around at some words for comfort and I found some amazing verses. I thought I might share them with you...
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit
Psalm 37:39
The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble
Psalm 46:1-2
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
Isaiah 40:18-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
What verses do you cling to during a difficult season?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)