This question is for me too. This question popped up in my mind this week while reading and studying the Word.
I'm sure many have read or heard that we are to honor our bodies because we were bought with a price. But how many times do we actually take a moment to think about what we are wearing? I know we go about our days with our never ending "to do list" taking care of all that needs to be done: cooking, cleaning, laundry, homework, etc. We also come to a point where eventually we stop to decide what we are going to wear either for the present day or the next day. This is all fine and dandy and covers us so that we have a beautiful presentation by the clothes we choose to wear.
But how many of you ever wonder how are you dressing up internally??
I thought about this across this week. In the Word I found some ways that I need to dress and UNdress myself. Maybe you can relate...come, let's dive in.
I Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" 6: 20 says: "for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." First of all I need to recall to mind that I belong to God and am NOT my own. His Spirit lives inside of me, so just as I need to food for physical survival I also need food for my Spiritual survival. Keep this in mind..."What feeds me, affects me"-Lysa Terkeurst. It is my responsibility to honor Him; therefore it is also my responsibility to feed my Spirit. And feed it the RIGHT food. So by watching how I dress myself, I can honor Him.
Let's see what we need to take off first!
Anxiety---
I Corinthians 7:32 ESV "I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried (woman) is anxious about the things of the Lord." How many times do you find yourself worrying about this and that only to find yourself in a place of not being able to do anything about it. I find myself there often. And it can wear me out if I let it. Anxiety can get so bad that it can begin to wear down on you physically and mentally. Before we get there, let's cry out to the Lord to save us from our anxieties. Let us cast our cares upon Him. Let's see how we can help pour the Word into someone elses life. Let's get out of our comfort zones and learn ALL we can about pleasing the Lord.
Jealousy---
Proverbs 14:30 NLT "A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones." How many times do we look at the next woman and desire what she has all because of what she LOOKS like on the outside or how her life appears to others. Author Lysa Terkeurst made a great statement that stuck in my mind. She says something to this effect, "I am not equipped to handle what that woman has, good or bad". And this is very true. You know the saying "be kind for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle". You and I are were uniquely created by God for a purpose. It's up to us to tap into that purpose He has for us. Your life is your life. My life is my life. God made me Liz for a reason. He gave me my responsibilities for a reason. He gave me my hardships for a reason. He gave me my hurts for a reason. He allowed me to shed my tears for a reason. I can't face the woman next to me on the church pew, battle. I can't cry her tears for her. I can't climb her mountain for her. I can't go through that hurt for her. But I can do my best to walk with her, encourage her and be a shoulder to lean on when she needs it. I can look at my life and find all the good that God has blessed me with and soak in all its joy.
Fear---
My Pastor preached a sermon two weeks ago that he entitled "What's wrong with your faith?" He went on to say that it bothers God when we have fear and don't believe in Him. This struck a nerve for me. You see that is exactly what fear does. It causes us not to believe God. I realized that I had been putting a limit on what God can do for me and through me. I want so desperately to undress myself with fear. Fear holds you back from opportunities. Fear keeps you from moving forward in what God has planned for you to do a long time ago. And you know whatelse I realized? I can fear the unknown so much so more than I fear and reverence God. How? By engaging in the act on not trusting Him with my life. The very life that He created and can take at any given moment.
So after, digging in the Word and reflecting. I found some ways that can help me better dress myself.
How can dress up properly?
I need to put more trust foundation on. For Proverbs 3:5 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding." My own understanding will land me in Hell. Trust ladies.
I need a dress that's wrapped with love. God desires for us to model the way He lived while here on earth. He wants us to love everyone and live at peace with all people as far as it depends on us. "So far as it depends on us" means we have to do our part. Love others. Honor God.
I'm sorry this post is so long. I could really go on and on about this because God has really been dealing with me about this. I hope this blesses you as it has truly blessed me. So, the next time we look in the mirror before heading out the door to face the world, let's remember to dress up properly. :-)
Blessings,
~Liz~
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Laying it Down
I'm tired...
Tired of feeling like I'm the only one giving my All.
Tired of saying yes when inside I'm screaming No!!!
Tired of circling around the same mountain that's aka (also known as) No where!
I don't feel like this in every area of my life, but there is a certain area that I've given the title of "no where". And if I'm not careful, it can rub into other areas of my life and just jack my mind all up. I tend to visit it off and on every 4 months or so, sometimes I can go longer. Maybe you have a place in your own life like this?
A place or someone that you can't seem to shake off completely. You say this is it. This is the last time I'm doing this, and you really have your mind made up not to. But then times passes. You find yourself right back in that spot. And you wonder how did I get back here? Why am I here? Again? Sound familiar?
Boy does it ring a bell to me! I have some things I struggle with. I'm not proud of it but I have to admit it to myself so I can deal with it head on. You see, that's the first step, realizing that you have a problem. When I realize I have a problem, then I can go to the next step and work toward a solution. But first I have to realize and admit or in better terms, confess...
Some may be reading this and say well, if you know you have a problem then just stop already. But, hey that's easier said than done. We all have a struggle or struggles. But we don't have to stay in the struggle. That's why Jesus came. He knew we were going to make a mess of things. He knew we'd find ourselves in things that are way over our precious heads. He knew we'd one day get to a point where all we want to do is scream! And throw in the towel. He knew we'd one day feel like we are at the end of the road and stuck at no where. He knew we'd be afraid that one day we might just travel so far off the cliff to the point of no return to Him.
Ever feel that way? Well, I have. But I know my God better than that. Even though I may feel I can't change, I know a God that can do ALL things. I know a God that can restore in me what has been depleted. I know a God Who can empty me of the dead weight. I know a God who can get my heart right. Navigate me around the stumbling blocks in my path and make sure I end up on the road to the destiny that He has planned just for me. And He can for you too.
He promised us that He will never leave us. In II Chronicles 20:15 I'm reminded "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but God's". I'm so glad that this battle I face is not mine. I'm so glad to be reminded that "it's my job to be obedient to God and God's job for results".
I have to make daily choice to lay my battles/struggles down at the feet of Jesus. Just this morning on my way to work, I was thinking I just need to lay it ALL down at my Saviour's feet. I was feeling like the singer Tamela Mann as her song was playing on my radio, take me to the King. Lay me down at the throne and leave me there until I can't help but to get it right. This thing is too big for me. May I encourage you to lay that thing down as well? That thing is beyond our abilities to fix. Only the touch of the Master's Hand can handle such.
Blessings,
Liz
Tired of feeling like I'm the only one giving my All.
Tired of saying yes when inside I'm screaming No!!!
Tired of circling around the same mountain that's aka (also known as) No where!
I don't feel like this in every area of my life, but there is a certain area that I've given the title of "no where". And if I'm not careful, it can rub into other areas of my life and just jack my mind all up. I tend to visit it off and on every 4 months or so, sometimes I can go longer. Maybe you have a place in your own life like this?
A place or someone that you can't seem to shake off completely. You say this is it. This is the last time I'm doing this, and you really have your mind made up not to. But then times passes. You find yourself right back in that spot. And you wonder how did I get back here? Why am I here? Again? Sound familiar?
Boy does it ring a bell to me! I have some things I struggle with. I'm not proud of it but I have to admit it to myself so I can deal with it head on. You see, that's the first step, realizing that you have a problem. When I realize I have a problem, then I can go to the next step and work toward a solution. But first I have to realize and admit or in better terms, confess...
Some may be reading this and say well, if you know you have a problem then just stop already. But, hey that's easier said than done. We all have a struggle or struggles. But we don't have to stay in the struggle. That's why Jesus came. He knew we were going to make a mess of things. He knew we'd find ourselves in things that are way over our precious heads. He knew we'd one day get to a point where all we want to do is scream! And throw in the towel. He knew we'd one day feel like we are at the end of the road and stuck at no where. He knew we'd be afraid that one day we might just travel so far off the cliff to the point of no return to Him.
Ever feel that way? Well, I have. But I know my God better than that. Even though I may feel I can't change, I know a God that can do ALL things. I know a God that can restore in me what has been depleted. I know a God Who can empty me of the dead weight. I know a God who can get my heart right. Navigate me around the stumbling blocks in my path and make sure I end up on the road to the destiny that He has planned just for me. And He can for you too.
He promised us that He will never leave us. In II Chronicles 20:15 I'm reminded "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but God's". I'm so glad that this battle I face is not mine. I'm so glad to be reminded that "it's my job to be obedient to God and God's job for results".
I have to make daily choice to lay my battles/struggles down at the feet of Jesus. Just this morning on my way to work, I was thinking I just need to lay it ALL down at my Saviour's feet. I was feeling like the singer Tamela Mann as her song was playing on my radio, take me to the King. Lay me down at the throne and leave me there until I can't help but to get it right. This thing is too big for me. May I encourage you to lay that thing down as well? That thing is beyond our abilities to fix. Only the touch of the Master's Hand can handle such.
Blessings,
Liz
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Labels
Hello ladies! It's been a while since I've been on here. Glad to be back :-).
Today I want to talk about labels. Labels are the mean or awful names we or others will give to us. We as women tend to struggle with these, often times harsh labels, the most. We do it to ourselves and we do it to other women and here is where we find ourselves in sin of judging and condemning. And that my friends is a dangerous place to be. I'm doing an online bible study right now on the book Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst. In this book she states "Labels are awful. They imprison us in categories that are hard to escape." My how I have found that to be true. Maybe you have to?
As you know I'm a single mom. I look at being a single mom as a label; a label I will be stuck with. I often think that's what "people" think of me. But you know what I have learned? I can look at this label and break it down into what Lysa says as either reality or a lie meant to tear me down. She gave us a demonstration that I want to share with you. You can insert whatever your "label" is and determine the reality and the lie just as I did below.
1. Identify the label
The reality: I am a single mother. The lie: Being a single mom means I'll be this way forever. The truth: I am a single mother, but I don't know what God's plan is for me in the future. This does not make me any less important than a mother who is married. I am simply a mother. And a beautiful one at that :).
She then tells us to view our circumstance as a call to action, not a call to beat ourselves up mentally.
2. View the circumstance as a call to action
Being a single mom has saved my life! This is why I'm here doing what I'm doing. This is why I started this blog because I know how it feels to be here. I have struggled with it, still sometimes do. But I have accepted it as what God wants for my life right now. So, I decided I wanted to do something. Something to help another woman and this is how this blog came to be.
3. Use the momentum of tackling one label to help tackle more.
Lysa also says that "labels only stick if I let them". Did you hear that? Labels only stick if we let them stick! We should not keep doing this horrible thing to ourselves. We are making ourselves prisoners. That's why we must turn to the Lord for him to "chisel" us. Shape us into the God fearing women He created each of us to be. And He can and He will. If we let Him. Let's choose today ladies. Let's choose to be free from the prison of labels.
Blessings,
Liz
Today I want to talk about labels. Labels are the mean or awful names we or others will give to us. We as women tend to struggle with these, often times harsh labels, the most. We do it to ourselves and we do it to other women and here is where we find ourselves in sin of judging and condemning. And that my friends is a dangerous place to be. I'm doing an online bible study right now on the book Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst. In this book she states "Labels are awful. They imprison us in categories that are hard to escape." My how I have found that to be true. Maybe you have to?
As you know I'm a single mom. I look at being a single mom as a label; a label I will be stuck with. I often think that's what "people" think of me. But you know what I have learned? I can look at this label and break it down into what Lysa says as either reality or a lie meant to tear me down. She gave us a demonstration that I want to share with you. You can insert whatever your "label" is and determine the reality and the lie just as I did below.
1. Identify the label
The reality: I am a single mother. The lie: Being a single mom means I'll be this way forever. The truth: I am a single mother, but I don't know what God's plan is for me in the future. This does not make me any less important than a mother who is married. I am simply a mother. And a beautiful one at that :).
She then tells us to view our circumstance as a call to action, not a call to beat ourselves up mentally.
2. View the circumstance as a call to action
Being a single mom has saved my life! This is why I'm here doing what I'm doing. This is why I started this blog because I know how it feels to be here. I have struggled with it, still sometimes do. But I have accepted it as what God wants for my life right now. So, I decided I wanted to do something. Something to help another woman and this is how this blog came to be.
3. Use the momentum of tackling one label to help tackle more.
Lysa also says that "labels only stick if I let them". Did you hear that? Labels only stick if we let them stick! We should not keep doing this horrible thing to ourselves. We are making ourselves prisoners. That's why we must turn to the Lord for him to "chisel" us. Shape us into the God fearing women He created each of us to be. And He can and He will. If we let Him. Let's choose today ladies. Let's choose to be free from the prison of labels.
Blessings,
Liz
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