Are you breathing or suffocating??

Life is so full of things; things that bring joy, things that bring hurt, things that give us hope, things that haunt us. I know a million thoughts run through my mind a day; sometimes it seems like in a few seconds. I mean literally I can be driving down the road and wonder sometimes how I even made it to my destination. Sometimes I can be on the phone or sitting at church and so many things run through my head that it seems like a conversation that is so real, I wonder if the person sitting next to me or in front of me heard it. Do you ever feel like this?

If we allow him, satan will invade our mind by taking over our thoughts; that's why we have to wear the helmet of salvation at ALL times. We have to "take every thought captive to obey Christ". (See 2Corinthians 10:5) We have to make a conscious choice to NOT believe His lies. We have to "lead every thought and purpose away" (AMP)to God. Bring it up against His truths, what He promises us, who He says that we are. I wrestle with this more than I like to admit. I find myself sometimes listening to him belittle me for my past failures, for things others have done to me that have left me bruised from hurt, which in turn makes me feel like I'm no longer good enough. Have you felt this way? Are you feeling this way right now?

You see this is the trick of the devil. In John 10:10 it says "The theif (satan) comes only to steal, kill and destroy". He comes to steal our joy, happiness and peace. He comes to make us believe that we are not worthy to receive love or to even give love. He wants us to be stuck in our pits. He wants us to fall into the sin of self pity, and it's okay if we do fall into it. But guess what... God will lift us out of the pit, if we allow Him to.

If we don't give in and surrender to Him, we will suffocate! We will suffocate from the negative thoughts, the past failures, the broken hearts, the shame... you name it, whatever it is that has a stronghold on you. But God, does not want us suffocating like this! He wants us to LIVE and LOVE. Jesus came so that we can have life and have an abundant life filled by His provisions of love, joy and peace. He didn't promise that we would have an easy road on this journey, but He did promise He would never leave nor forsake us. That promise right there alone should give us comfort and allow us to breathe freely.

I hope you ladies are having an awesome week; if it's been one of those long ones just know it will get better. Mine was interrupted with my sick baby at the beginning of the week but he's all better now. Sometimes we need God to interrupt us as Lysa Terkeurst would say :)

Blessings,

~Liz~

Love is...

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. {1Corinthians 13:4-8}

My Pastor's sermon on Sunday was about Love. It was right on time too. He came from 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now abide faith hope love, these three; but the greatest of these is love". Love a simple four letter word and to some its just simply that: "a word". When I read this I imagine Paul writing a love letter so to speak to you and me. He wants to open our eyes to see how we can easily fall into the trap of temporary things to fill us. I love this chapter 13 in 1Corinthians because it helps keep me grounded and focused on truth. As we get ready to celebrate this Valentine's Day let's not get so focused on the chocolate, flowers and edible arrangements. Instead let's focus on the true meaning of love. Loving God and accepting His unconditional love for us. Let's show kindness to someone. Give someone a smile. Pray for our neighbor. Do something unexpected to help someone out who may be going through a rough patch right now. What I'm trying to get at is, let us not focus on what we can get out of or from someone. Let's be the example of love that Christ is. I love when Paul states that "Love BEARS all things, BELIEVES all things, HOPES all things, ENDURES all things. Love NEVER FAILS." Love is love; it's constant, love is considerate. Love is there through the good and the bad. I've been doing a study by Renee Swope that teaches about "finding love that won't fail even when I do" (A Confident Heart). You and I will fail sometimes; we will make mistakes. But God already knows our hearts inside and out; He examines our hearts; therefore He knows us completely. He still loves us just the same. We have to be satisfied with Him first. He already paid the ULTIMATE price to show His unconditional love for you and me. I'm so glad that I have come to know Him for myself and have an understanding of His love just for me. I hope you have too, if not, it's not too late for you too, to taste and see that He is good and He does give living water so that we will never have to thirst again.

Now don't get me wrong I do love me some chocolate :). But I'm just not focused on all that like I used to be. I feel like love is an action word and it takes more than one day set aside by man to show true love. I hope all you ladies have a wonderful Valentine's Day. And may my God feel your hearts with His true love.

Blessings,

~Liz~