"The Lord told Joshua, 'Don't be afraid and don't panic: Take the whole army with you and march against Ai!' See I am handing over to you the king of Ai, along with his people, city and land." Joshua 8:1
Do you remember the story where we find the Lord instructing Moses to send out men to inspect the promised land? They were to "seek out their enemies and develop strategies to defeat them". "God was going to allow them to possess the promised land but first they had to defeat and drive out some of their enemies in order to conquer and possess the land."
This morning I was reminded of the 10 spies whom came back with bad reports. They reported to Moses that the land was indeed flowing with milk and honey, "but the inhabitants are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large". They reported that their enemies made them seem like grasshoppers. But, Joshua and Caleb had a different report. Caleb spoke up to say "Let us go up and occupy it, for we are well able to conquer it." Numbers 13:30b The Israelites responded with unbelief. They cried and murmured against Moses and Aaron. They did this so much so that Joshua and Caleb went to drastic measures to put their attention back on God. They tore their garments and told the people that the land is exceedingly good land and that "if the Lord delights in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us- a land that is flowing with milk and honey". See Numbers 14: 6-8.
The measures that Joshua and Caleb took put them in a position to be stoned. Can you imagine both their faith and the fear this could have produced? I am at awe of their courage and their faith in our God. Today we struggle with believing God just as the Israelites did back then. God has made promises to each of us and we often doubt Him. With those promises come some action on our parts. We have to develop our own strategies of how we are going to defeat the devil when he comes to try to steal, kill and destroy. We have to go through some battles, some setbacks, some "this wasn't suppose to be this way or this wasn't suppose to happen to me" in order to get to that door of opportunity!!
But this bible story reminds me to not be afraid and to believe God! Often times we are standing right at the door of our blessings from God but because of our past or our unbelief we miss out because we are simply too afraid. Or God has allowed us to open the door and step in but we are too afraid to walk in it!! You know what we are afraid of? We are afraid to trust God, to take Him at His word that He's got us. That He's in this with us!! We are afraid of change. We are afraid of the unknown. We are afraid that God just might bless us with that thing we have been praying and waiting for. We are afraid that we might not know how to handle the fullness of His blessing. But ladies let me speak to you and myself that we are more than able to handle whatever the Lord sees fit to bless us with. We are more than capable of walking through any door, inhabiting any land/position He places us in because we armed with The Word of God! We are more than conquerors and we have been promised an abundant life!! And since He has been so kind to hand it to us, let us be grateful and enjoy it with trust in Him.
WALK BOLDLY AND CONFIDENTLY IN THAT THING!!!
Blessings,
Liz
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
A Backsliding Heifer...
You backsliding heifer!! These are the words that I could hear in my mind, not that God was condemning me, for I know that He will convict me but yet I heard this voice in my head. Perhaps it was my own guilt that made my mind call to memory my pastor so famously talking about God calling Israel a "backsliding heifer". Sounds like such harsh words... And then the intriguing part is I was thinking about blogging about this very subject last night and on my way to work this morning but I kinda dismissed the thought thinking maybe that's just not a good idea. BUT, I read a post on FB by my aunt talking about this very thing and felt it must be meant for me to address this, not for just you, but for me too.
You see I have felt like a backsliding heifer. Hard to admit to you. But the truth is we all will at some point in our christian journey. I have made decisions that I knew were not right. I have done things that I know are not honoring to God. We have all done some things that brings dishonor and/or shame, guilt. But I refuse to stay in that backsliding position! I refuse to give the devil my joy. I refuse to wallow in a pity party over my sin! And you should refuse too. Just because we profess christ does not make us perfect. It does not mean we will do things perfectly. It does not mean we will instantly stop all of our wrong habits. But it does mean we have a pruning process to go through. We have some tests to take and if we don't pass the first time, He gives us another chance to get it right. He offers us forgiveness.
My Pastor's message this past Sunday was entitled "They that wait". I have an issue with waiting. I can do good for a while and then comes the POW- a distraction or temptation... and before you know it I can find myself back into old habits. I feel like Paul when he says "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." Romans 7:15,18-19,25b ESV
Have you ever felt this way? Maybe you feel this way now? If so, I know how you feel. You get discouraged. You feel like a failure. You feel like "I'll never get it right", "I'll never do things the way God wants me to". My aunt said something that caught my attention when reading her FB post. She said "When He wants her to change fully and truly none of her old habits can stop her. He is not a God of force and when He is ready He will deliver her from all that". She has no idea how her words touched my soul, how her words helped to renew my hope, my confidence in God. We keep fighting a battle that has already been won. I realize that I have got to get my prayer life in order. I'm praying Lord please deliver me from me. Deliver me out of my sinful desires. Deliver me from my mess. Give me a heart for you Lord. Don't give up on me Lord cause I need you like I need my next breath (This is what Tank really needed to have said in his song lol). We forget that God is not a God of force. He is a God of choice. So it is my prayer that you and I will choose more wisely. I hope that we will choose to deny ourselves what we know is not beneficial to us. I Corinthians 10:23 says "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive". I pray we find what's beneficial to us. I pray that we learn to be a women that wait on the Lord because there is hope. In Ezekiel 37:23 it says "They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backsliding" so reads the Word of God. He says He will save me and you from ALL of our backsliding. So we have to hang in there. My Pastor said on Sunday that David was not crying out to God in pity (Psalm 27:1, 13-14). David was crying out to the ONLY ONE he knew that could help him. Cry out to God. I am.
You see I have felt like a backsliding heifer. Hard to admit to you. But the truth is we all will at some point in our christian journey. I have made decisions that I knew were not right. I have done things that I know are not honoring to God. We have all done some things that brings dishonor and/or shame, guilt. But I refuse to stay in that backsliding position! I refuse to give the devil my joy. I refuse to wallow in a pity party over my sin! And you should refuse too. Just because we profess christ does not make us perfect. It does not mean we will do things perfectly. It does not mean we will instantly stop all of our wrong habits. But it does mean we have a pruning process to go through. We have some tests to take and if we don't pass the first time, He gives us another chance to get it right. He offers us forgiveness.
My Pastor's message this past Sunday was entitled "They that wait". I have an issue with waiting. I can do good for a while and then comes the POW- a distraction or temptation... and before you know it I can find myself back into old habits. I feel like Paul when he says "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." Romans 7:15,18-19,25b ESV
Have you ever felt this way? Maybe you feel this way now? If so, I know how you feel. You get discouraged. You feel like a failure. You feel like "I'll never get it right", "I'll never do things the way God wants me to". My aunt said something that caught my attention when reading her FB post. She said "When He wants her to change fully and truly none of her old habits can stop her. He is not a God of force and when He is ready He will deliver her from all that". She has no idea how her words touched my soul, how her words helped to renew my hope, my confidence in God. We keep fighting a battle that has already been won. I realize that I have got to get my prayer life in order. I'm praying Lord please deliver me from me. Deliver me out of my sinful desires. Deliver me from my mess. Give me a heart for you Lord. Don't give up on me Lord cause I need you like I need my next breath (This is what Tank really needed to have said in his song lol). We forget that God is not a God of force. He is a God of choice. So it is my prayer that you and I will choose more wisely. I hope that we will choose to deny ourselves what we know is not beneficial to us. I Corinthians 10:23 says "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive". I pray we find what's beneficial to us. I pray that we learn to be a women that wait on the Lord because there is hope. In Ezekiel 37:23 it says "They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backsliding" so reads the Word of God. He says He will save me and you from ALL of our backsliding. So we have to hang in there. My Pastor said on Sunday that David was not crying out to God in pity (Psalm 27:1, 13-14). David was crying out to the ONLY ONE he knew that could help him. Cry out to God. I am.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Ladies, how are you dressing or UNdressing yourself?
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~
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~
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
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Pass the Test!
He said "I'm interested in you. I'm divorced; I have signed the papers but she refuses to sign". Her first thought is "Whoa, what am I to do? Do I run or do I take it one step at a time"? Decisions, decisions. We are all faced with them everyday, all through out the day. My cousin, a minister recently wrote a post on facebook about "purpose". It really touched me and spoke to me. A couple of weeks ago my Pastor preached a sermon on "Don't get into big of a hurry". Little did I know that all this food I had been receiving then would be the very source to give me strength and courage that I needed later. There's a scripture that reads "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" (Ecclesiates 3:1 ESV) And boy have I found this to be true. There is also a scripture that says "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it". (1 Corinthians 10:13)
I was hesitant to write about this subject because it is really touchy. But I said maybe, just maybe it will help someone out or myself by simply writing and letting it flow. Some of us have been in this situation as described above, some have not and may never. But just in case you do or are now I want to chat with you. We often look at situations in life from an emotional stand point more than spiritual. We have to take a step back and view this picture in full detail. We have to set our emotions aside. We have to say it's going to be me and God to work through this thing. We have to go to the Word. We have to study and meditate on it. I pulled out some old devotionals from a daily singles devotional I get through email. What I re-read gave me the answer clear as day that I already knew about a situation.
Ladies, we can not play with fire. One lady sent in the question can she date someone who is separated but the divorce is not final yet. Her question intrigued me because I can see the trap that satan has already set. Trap: (He is separated but legally still married). The devil will get inside our mind and our emotions will run haywire if we don't take them captive and give them to God. We will start to justify why we feel we can do what we want to do and believe it's okay. But that is not how it works when we are christians. As christians we are called to not be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. So just because the thought comes well I can get away with it if I do this, don't entertain it! Let it go! Run away! Because whatever is of God is good and holy; we won't have to second guess it. I've said it before and I say it again, God does not bless mess! Now he can turn our mess into a MESSAGE. But we need to choose to look for and take the escape route he gives. It's a choice and not easy but can be done. For his word says "I can do all things through him who gives me strength".
In this devotional one of the responders (a male) said this: (Catch it now) "Can you? Yes. Should you? No. It does not matter how far along the divorce proceedings are or how coincidental the reunion was, or how much you enjoy one another's company, the man is still LEGALLY married. Carrying on an dating relationship with a married man is emotional adultery." To me, carrying on a communicating relationship can lead to emotional adultery.
He also gave the example of Joseph from Genesis 39:6-7. His master's wife pursued him but Joseph RAN! He fled from her and God rewarded him by blessing him. But what's also awesome in that story about Joseph is not only did God bless him for being faithful, he also blessed his family. Read the story if you haven't.
My mom often tells me just pass the test. We have to honestly and deligently sit back and evaluate things from a spiritual perspective because if we are not careful sin will creep in and take control over us; this is when we find ourselves in things that have spiraled out control when we finally realize or eyes are finally open. And in order for us to pass the test, we must first realize that there is a test and what the test is. Then we have to be woman enough to make the right choices so that we can pass and get a A+ from God.
So as Mary Mary says "Sometimes in order to get what you never had you have to do something that you never did". So girls, let's stay prayed up for each other and ourselves that we will be able to pass the test and flee from the temptations we are faced with. Lord help us to be more patient and wait on you and your PERFECT timing so that when it's our time to receive we will be blessed and we will have your favor. Now, go on out there and get your blessing girl! :-)
I was hesitant to write about this subject because it is really touchy. But I said maybe, just maybe it will help someone out or myself by simply writing and letting it flow. Some of us have been in this situation as described above, some have not and may never. But just in case you do or are now I want to chat with you. We often look at situations in life from an emotional stand point more than spiritual. We have to take a step back and view this picture in full detail. We have to set our emotions aside. We have to say it's going to be me and God to work through this thing. We have to go to the Word. We have to study and meditate on it. I pulled out some old devotionals from a daily singles devotional I get through email. What I re-read gave me the answer clear as day that I already knew about a situation.
Ladies, we can not play with fire. One lady sent in the question can she date someone who is separated but the divorce is not final yet. Her question intrigued me because I can see the trap that satan has already set. Trap: (He is separated but legally still married). The devil will get inside our mind and our emotions will run haywire if we don't take them captive and give them to God. We will start to justify why we feel we can do what we want to do and believe it's okay. But that is not how it works when we are christians. As christians we are called to not be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. So just because the thought comes well I can get away with it if I do this, don't entertain it! Let it go! Run away! Because whatever is of God is good and holy; we won't have to second guess it. I've said it before and I say it again, God does not bless mess! Now he can turn our mess into a MESSAGE. But we need to choose to look for and take the escape route he gives. It's a choice and not easy but can be done. For his word says "I can do all things through him who gives me strength".
In this devotional one of the responders (a male) said this: (Catch it now) "Can you? Yes. Should you? No. It does not matter how far along the divorce proceedings are or how coincidental the reunion was, or how much you enjoy one another's company, the man is still LEGALLY married. Carrying on an dating relationship with a married man is emotional adultery." To me, carrying on a communicating relationship can lead to emotional adultery.
He also gave the example of Joseph from Genesis 39:6-7. His master's wife pursued him but Joseph RAN! He fled from her and God rewarded him by blessing him. But what's also awesome in that story about Joseph is not only did God bless him for being faithful, he also blessed his family. Read the story if you haven't.
My mom often tells me just pass the test. We have to honestly and deligently sit back and evaluate things from a spiritual perspective because if we are not careful sin will creep in and take control over us; this is when we find ourselves in things that have spiraled out control when we finally realize or eyes are finally open. And in order for us to pass the test, we must first realize that there is a test and what the test is. Then we have to be woman enough to make the right choices so that we can pass and get a A+ from God.
So as Mary Mary says "Sometimes in order to get what you never had you have to do something that you never did". So girls, let's stay prayed up for each other and ourselves that we will be able to pass the test and flee from the temptations we are faced with. Lord help us to be more patient and wait on you and your PERFECT timing so that when it's our time to receive we will be blessed and we will have your favor. Now, go on out there and get your blessing girl! :-)
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Being a Mother
Being a mother has been my greatest joy besides my salvation. I always dreamed when I was a little girl growing up of becoming a wife and mom of twins (twins- can you believe that?? what was I thinking lol) and having the pretty house that we can all call home; we'd be happy. Many of you may can relate I'm sure to having your own dreams. Today I am not married, I don't have twins and I don't quite have my dream home yet. But I am proud to say that I am a devoted mother to my one son. We have a roof over our heads, food in our fridge and clothes both on our back and in our closets and we call it home. We are happy, in fact we have joy! Happiness comes and goes, but joy, that gift stays!
When I was pregnant I drove a car and all I could think of was I have to get me a "mom vehicle"! This will be too small. I have to drive the mom car so I can feel like a mom. Can you relate? Well, things happened and allowed me to get the vehicle that I wanted. But, let me tell you what I soon learned after giving birth to my son. That car didn't and does not make me a mom. Carrying my son for 9 months, going through labor and delivering him by the grace of my God did! Loving him before I even knew what he looked like did. Falling in love the moment I heard his first cry did. Waking up in the middle night did. Nursing him EVERY two hours faithfully and then some did! Making sure it's my face he sees when he wakes up and my face he sees when he falls to sleep did. Our mothers are a gift from God.
I love my mother more than I can ever express in words. That lady showed me what it means and how to be the mother and woman that I am today. It's not an easy job but it is the BEST job! My mom showed me and continues to show me what hospitality is, what caring about someone else's needs feels like. She did not send us to church, she took us to church. She made sure we had everything we needed and then some. If you know me, then you know I call her one fly grandmother :) and she is. I thank God for my gift.
This Mother's Day if your mom is still here, let's make sure to let her know how much we love her and appreciate her. Happy Mother's Day to each of you!
God Bless,
~Liz~
When I was pregnant I drove a car and all I could think of was I have to get me a "mom vehicle"! This will be too small. I have to drive the mom car so I can feel like a mom. Can you relate? Well, things happened and allowed me to get the vehicle that I wanted. But, let me tell you what I soon learned after giving birth to my son. That car didn't and does not make me a mom. Carrying my son for 9 months, going through labor and delivering him by the grace of my God did! Loving him before I even knew what he looked like did. Falling in love the moment I heard his first cry did. Waking up in the middle night did. Nursing him EVERY two hours faithfully and then some did! Making sure it's my face he sees when he wakes up and my face he sees when he falls to sleep did. Our mothers are a gift from God.
I love my mother more than I can ever express in words. That lady showed me what it means and how to be the mother and woman that I am today. It's not an easy job but it is the BEST job! My mom showed me and continues to show me what hospitality is, what caring about someone else's needs feels like. She did not send us to church, she took us to church. She made sure we had everything we needed and then some. If you know me, then you know I call her one fly grandmother :) and she is. I thank God for my gift.
This Mother's Day if your mom is still here, let's make sure to let her know how much we love her and appreciate her. Happy Mother's Day to each of you!
God Bless,
~Liz~
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