I was out running a couple days ago and saw a man picking weeds out of his yard. He was pulling them out by the roots so that they wouldn't grow back again. The day after that it was beginning to drizzle a little bit and then today we had an amazing rain. I'm hoping this is the beginning to the ending of our drought. I thought back to the man picking his weeds, by pulling up the weeds by the roots ahead of time, the man saved himself a lot of time later on. It's not the weeds will never grow back, but my guess is they will not be as many or as big.
It got me to thinking about our lives. I wonder if sometimes God doesn't give us "droughts" so that we can pull up the weeds in our own lives before the rain comes. Sometimes it is easier to acknowledge our need for God in the hard times of life, then when we become busy because of all of our blessings He has given to us. So maybe that is the reason for droughts in our lives, that we can make preparations, stop the old bad habits and start good habits now when we feel more dependent on Him so that it will carry through when He has blessed us so richly that we become engrossed in what He has blessed us with, that we might not forget His goodness.
Something I love about God is His ability to bring good out of everything in our lives. Often we just have to look past what we might think is a bad situation to see the good that is there. It's not always obvious, but it's there.
"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)
Ramblings of a Happy girl
Friday, May 11, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
importance of the righteous
I've been reading a lot about the kings of Israel and Judah lately. It is so interesting how one man can make such an impact on a nation of people in his lifetime. (As a side note there is a great need to pray for the leaders of our nation because of the impact he/she makes.) For each king a reference was made for his character, whether he followed the laws of God or not and the nation followed his lead. More often than not if he did follow God's laws, the reference was something to the effect of him serving the LORD "as David had done." God Himself describes David as "a man after His own heart." Can you imagine having God say that about you?
I think it would be incredible! I believe this nation needs leaders who are righteous who will do everything the Lord commands, but I don't think it is simply up to the leaders of our nation. I think it can begin with us. It amazes me who God uses in the Bible to carry out His great plans. He chose Moses who believed himself to not be eloquent of speech to lead a nation of over a million people. He chose Jonah who was unwilling (at first and had to have a change of heart himself) to change the heart of a huge city. He chose Joseph who was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery to save Egypt and the surrounding peoples from 7 years of famine. He uses the strong and the weak to accomplish His will. Maybe we weren't put here to do anything on that grand of a scale, but I believe that the stand of the righteous is effective through Christ. Just one righteous person can make a difference, a town can do a lot, a nation can change the world.
We've been talking in class about Satan being the ruler over darkness and Christ being the light. I got to thinking that light always dispels darkness. If you light a match in the darkness, it is no longer dark in the area that the light touches. Only when the light is hidden or turned off can the darkness prevail. The same is true in our own lives.
"After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’" ~Acts 13:22 (NIV)
I think it would be incredible! I believe this nation needs leaders who are righteous who will do everything the Lord commands, but I don't think it is simply up to the leaders of our nation. I think it can begin with us. It amazes me who God uses in the Bible to carry out His great plans. He chose Moses who believed himself to not be eloquent of speech to lead a nation of over a million people. He chose Jonah who was unwilling (at first and had to have a change of heart himself) to change the heart of a huge city. He chose Joseph who was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery to save Egypt and the surrounding peoples from 7 years of famine. He uses the strong and the weak to accomplish His will. Maybe we weren't put here to do anything on that grand of a scale, but I believe that the stand of the righteous is effective through Christ. Just one righteous person can make a difference, a town can do a lot, a nation can change the world.
We've been talking in class about Satan being the ruler over darkness and Christ being the light. I got to thinking that light always dispels darkness. If you light a match in the darkness, it is no longer dark in the area that the light touches. Only when the light is hidden or turned off can the darkness prevail. The same is true in our own lives.
"After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’" ~Acts 13:22 (NIV)
Saturday, April 14, 2012
purpose of a goal
I was thinking today about the purpose of goals. It's easy to want to accomplish things when I am motivated to do them, but the moments after that initial motivation is gone, often leave a strong pull to quit. Goals however often are what help me to keep persisting even when I'm tired and don't want to keep going.
When I was in college I went to a dessert supper one time at a teacher's house who had several different speakers come talk to us. I can't remember exactly what it was about... business related. There was one piece of advice that just about every one of the speakers hit on which stuck with me. It was the idea of deciding ahead of time of what you were going to do. In essence saying, "I'm going to do the right thing regardless of the cost." It takes the decision out in the split second where it is easy to waiver and do the wrong thing.
The same thing can be applied to goals. Instead of focusing on the obstacles, time is better served focusing on how to get it done despite the setbacks. So often this is where the biggest benefits come from sticking with the goals. As I've been going through the 90 day challenge, there are moments that I struggle and muddle my way through. Since I first started reading through my Bible, I have struggled through the different feasts, and the layout of the temple and some of the other laws that are found within those first few books, but today as I was reading I came across the heart of what all those commands are getting at. It says in Deuteronomy 7:24, "And the LORD commanded us do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS, that He might preserve us alive, as we are this day." Another passage talks about "the faithful God" and about His "steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments."
Sometimes in the middle of it the goal looks pointless... Maybe we read about a law that doesn't necessarily pertain to us anymore, or we run those miles when we don't have the time or energy, or whatever else it is, but we do it... and then eventually the purpose shows up. It isn't always crystal clear at the time, but is so often rewarded when we don't give up. Many times it is the accumulation of time spent with a goal that allows that goal to reach its full potential in our lives, and what seemed pointless at the time eventually becomes life changing not because each time was perfect, but because we persisted and kept going even when it seemed easier to quit.
"The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession..." Deuteronomy 7:6 (ESV)
When I was in college I went to a dessert supper one time at a teacher's house who had several different speakers come talk to us. I can't remember exactly what it was about... business related. There was one piece of advice that just about every one of the speakers hit on which stuck with me. It was the idea of deciding ahead of time of what you were going to do. In essence saying, "I'm going to do the right thing regardless of the cost." It takes the decision out in the split second where it is easy to waiver and do the wrong thing.
The same thing can be applied to goals. Instead of focusing on the obstacles, time is better served focusing on how to get it done despite the setbacks. So often this is where the biggest benefits come from sticking with the goals. As I've been going through the 90 day challenge, there are moments that I struggle and muddle my way through. Since I first started reading through my Bible, I have struggled through the different feasts, and the layout of the temple and some of the other laws that are found within those first few books, but today as I was reading I came across the heart of what all those commands are getting at. It says in Deuteronomy 7:24, "And the LORD commanded us do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, FOR OUR GOOD ALWAYS, that He might preserve us alive, as we are this day." Another passage talks about "the faithful God" and about His "steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments."
Sometimes in the middle of it the goal looks pointless... Maybe we read about a law that doesn't necessarily pertain to us anymore, or we run those miles when we don't have the time or energy, or whatever else it is, but we do it... and then eventually the purpose shows up. It isn't always crystal clear at the time, but is so often rewarded when we don't give up. Many times it is the accumulation of time spent with a goal that allows that goal to reach its full potential in our lives, and what seemed pointless at the time eventually becomes life changing not because each time was perfect, but because we persisted and kept going even when it seemed easier to quit.
"The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession..." Deuteronomy 7:6 (ESV)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
90 Day Challenge
When you get to the end of your life, what do you hope to have done with it? Will it be a life you can look back on with fond memories? Something that leaves a legacy for your kids and grandkids to follow that will truly help them live life well? Or will it be a life lived for the moment, for the pleasure of right now... and not for the future, both in this life and thereafter? What do you hope to have done with your time?
The day I turned 24 I wrote a post about some of my goals for this year. Since that time I have ran 175 miles, started reading some things for the website (although I'm still unsure of the details for it), am planning on starting the 90 day challenge on April 1, and made approximately zero progress on the husband. (haha please know the husband one is/was in jest... while I'm not opposed to finding him... sometimes God's timing is different than my own, and instead of moping for him to get here, I would rather enjoy both now without him and then when he gets here.)
The one I want to focus on though is the 90 day challenge where I'm going to try to read the Bible from cover to cover in 90 days. If any of you would like to join I would love for you to! There are links at the bottom if you do.
I look back over my life and I see so many different factors in my life leading me to where I am. Granted it may not be the coolest life ever and I am still not anywhere near where I need to be, but life has been enjoyable. I think one of the main reasons is because of the direction of God's Word. His instruction truly does lead to the good in life even if sometimes He requires leaving the temporary pleasures alone... He does it for long term blessings. I'm convinced the more Christians dig into the Word the better off the world will be. It's hard to explain the peace that comes from following His commands. It truly is something that has to be experienced to truly understand. I hope you will join me for this challenge. Even if you can't do it in 90 days, set a goal to read it cover to cover. Through His word He will bless you, challenge you, sometimes make you uncomfortable because He wants to transform our lives. But the life transformed by Christ is the one legacies are made from. The ones that we can leave our baggage behind and move forward to what we were called to be.
The day I turned 24 I wrote a post about some of my goals for this year. Since that time I have ran 175 miles, started reading some things for the website (although I'm still unsure of the details for it), am planning on starting the 90 day challenge on April 1, and made approximately zero progress on the husband. (haha please know the husband one is/was in jest... while I'm not opposed to finding him... sometimes God's timing is different than my own, and instead of moping for him to get here, I would rather enjoy both now without him and then when he gets here.)
The one I want to focus on though is the 90 day challenge where I'm going to try to read the Bible from cover to cover in 90 days. If any of you would like to join I would love for you to! There are links at the bottom if you do.
I look back over my life and I see so many different factors in my life leading me to where I am. Granted it may not be the coolest life ever and I am still not anywhere near where I need to be, but life has been enjoyable. I think one of the main reasons is because of the direction of God's Word. His instruction truly does lead to the good in life even if sometimes He requires leaving the temporary pleasures alone... He does it for long term blessings. I'm convinced the more Christians dig into the Word the better off the world will be. It's hard to explain the peace that comes from following His commands. It truly is something that has to be experienced to truly understand. I hope you will join me for this challenge. Even if you can't do it in 90 days, set a goal to read it cover to cover. Through His word He will bless you, challenge you, sometimes make you uncomfortable because He wants to transform our lives. But the life transformed by Christ is the one legacies are made from. The ones that we can leave our baggage behind and move forward to what we were called to be.
"Turn my heart toward Your statutes and not toward selfish gain." Psalm 119:36
http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/13-bible-in-90-days this link will take you to a website that will allow you to read it on your computer, send it to your iphone or http://www.thebrooknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BibleIn90Days.pdf is the schedule if you want to read it from your own Bible.
http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/13-bible-in-90-days this link will take you to a website that will allow you to read it on your computer, send it to your iphone or http://www.thebrooknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BibleIn90Days.pdf is the schedule if you want to read it from your own Bible.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Longing for home
I was studying this week for a lesson about the last of the beatitudes in Matthew which says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Casandra Martin, who wrote the book we are using for our outline, was talking about the conflict between enemies of the cross of Christ and those who are striving to live for Him. She talked about how Jesus reminds us of home during these struggles and makes the comparison of a soldier longing for home to how we should long for heaven.
I have recently been in touch with Josh Boos, an old classmate of mine who is about to be deployed to Afghanistan, and asked him what it was like for the soldier missing home. He wrote back:
"As a soldier you go through tough times that change you; trials and tribulation on a daily basis. Depending on your job you face the ultimate sacrifice, which nobody wants to really give up but if it's necessary it happens. I have been close to death several times in the military, and it's something that is never easy. When times come like that you focus on what's going on at the time, but shortly afterwards you think of home and all the loved ones you miss greatly and usually it helps a person get through. A lot of people rely on different things to get them through but no matter what anyone says, its the memories and people from where the soldier calls home that makes him grit his teeth and keep going. As an infantryman, this is just words of hardship that one goes through. We all go away from home and long just to go back to feel the happiness and love of what we miss."
There is so much in that for application, and I'll leave most of it for you to glean from for yourself. That last sentence though sums up this thought. We are away from home, our heavenly one, and we can look around and see all the bad going on, and sometimes it is disheartening, because we are longing to feel that happiness and love that we miss. But just like the military man has the hope of one day returning home to loved ones, so we have the hope of going home one day to be with our Savior if we will fight the good fight. It's a beautiful thing.
Please remember to keep our military men and women in your prayers. I know from personal experience it is easy to let them slip out of mind, but they are fighting for our freedom and have done more for our lives than we will ever know. Thank you to those who have served.
"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." ~ 2 Timothy 2:3 (NIV)
I have recently been in touch with Josh Boos, an old classmate of mine who is about to be deployed to Afghanistan, and asked him what it was like for the soldier missing home. He wrote back:
"As a soldier you go through tough times that change you; trials and tribulation on a daily basis. Depending on your job you face the ultimate sacrifice, which nobody wants to really give up but if it's necessary it happens. I have been close to death several times in the military, and it's something that is never easy. When times come like that you focus on what's going on at the time, but shortly afterwards you think of home and all the loved ones you miss greatly and usually it helps a person get through. A lot of people rely on different things to get them through but no matter what anyone says, its the memories and people from where the soldier calls home that makes him grit his teeth and keep going. As an infantryman, this is just words of hardship that one goes through. We all go away from home and long just to go back to feel the happiness and love of what we miss."
There is so much in that for application, and I'll leave most of it for you to glean from for yourself. That last sentence though sums up this thought. We are away from home, our heavenly one, and we can look around and see all the bad going on, and sometimes it is disheartening, because we are longing to feel that happiness and love that we miss. But just like the military man has the hope of one day returning home to loved ones, so we have the hope of going home one day to be with our Savior if we will fight the good fight. It's a beautiful thing.
Please remember to keep our military men and women in your prayers. I know from personal experience it is easy to let them slip out of mind, but they are fighting for our freedom and have done more for our lives than we will ever know. Thank you to those who have served.
"Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." ~ 2 Timothy 2:3 (NIV)
Sunday, March 18, 2012
don't quit
A couple weeks ago my family and I went to Austin for the Boy's State Basketball Tournament. One morning my mom, sister, and I skipped out on the morning session and went to visit a friend of our cousin. Her current interest is in photography, but she used to be a master seamstress I believe is how they referred to her. She has written several books and done some really incredible things. I was telling her about this quilt I am working on and how some of the edges didn't match up, slightly embarrassed because I knew she is good at what she does, and I know how some of my projects don't go quite according to plan. As I described some of the things that were going wrong she said something to the effect of "Oh yeah, I've done that too." Then she gave me a tip on how to fix it.
It's crazy how some of the simplest moments can have a profound effect on your life. There is a poem that says, "The great were once as you." I can't help but think that maybe the "greats" in this life are not the ones necessarily with the most talent, but rather the ones who persevered when things didn't go their way. The ones who keep learning and striving to improve. It's not that they never fail... it's that they don't quit.
I think the same can be true in our spiritual lives as well. It's important to keep in mind that while we are striving for perfection we can't obtain it on our own. We'll fail. And maybe we fail because we haven't been trying at all. The beauty is that God is on our side, and He wants us. He knows our past. He knows that we haven't been perfect or maybe that we haven't even cared to begin with, but He still wants us to turn to Him. His love is incredible and He wants us to keep going. To not quit... Maybe even to start. The question is will we?
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised." Hebrew 10:35-36 (NIV)
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Precious in the sight of the Lord
"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints."
Psalm 116:15
Mom was talking about this verse the other day. She was thinking back on all the babies being born recently, and how the parents were anxiously awaiting their arrivals. She talked about the planning and the preparations, how they prepared a room for their new baby, and couldn't wait for them to get there. Then she drew the comparison to the verse mentioned above. The saint's death is their birth into heaven, and Christ is up there preparing a place and awaiting our arrival. What a thought!
It's easy to get caught up in life. Right now I am making a quilt for my nephew's room, dabbling in signs, trying to stay focused on a few projects instead of letting my mind (and money) wander into the many, many fun things there are to create, my sister's senior track season has started... haha the list can go on and on and on and it's easy to forget what I am here for or rather Who I am here for. God has blessed me with so many things, but His main desire is that I live for Him for a lifetime... that I be with Him for an eternity. He's preparing a place. He wants us all there. Where is my focus?
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