Thursday, January 27, 2011

How to Endure the Battle


EPHESIANS 6: 9-20

9 You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.
 
A Fight to the Finish


10 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong.

11 So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.

12 This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

13 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.

14 Truth, righteousness,

15 peace, 

16 faith, 

17 and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. 

18 In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

19 And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I,

20 jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Breathe, Think, then... Post

I love Facebook and Twitter... Lord knows that my husband thinks so (ok, yes, I do!).

With Twitter, you can see a glimpse of someone's heart, but with Facebook, you can see the whole, gosh-darned, wide open thing. Having said that.. and not commenting on OHHH SOO many status posts, lately... I would like to share this:

“It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, 

God’s job to judge, 

and my job to love.” 

--Billy Graham

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Here and NOW

One of my favorite pastimes is reading blogs... I follow several other bloggers, but I will admit that there a few blogs that are an everyday read for me. One is written by my friend, Jaime (well, I like to think of her as my friend). She blogged yesterday about the weird world of blogging. She spoke about how we monitor ourselves sometimes or have concerns of sharing to much about the reality of our homes, daily family life, and how we respond to what life brings along. She was absolutely right.. I find myself wanting to share something, but then wondering if it's too "real and ugly" to put out there and have others actually see my struggles, not just my epiphanies and times of rejoicing. 


Sooooo..... here it goes-
My husband and I are in the middle of a storm. A Hurricane Katrina sized storm... We are enduring the most trying times that either of us have ever faced. Now let me just say this, our marriage is the one thing that has not only grown stronger, but has developed deep roots of commitment and satisfaction. The past eighteen months have brought struggles in health, finances, being physically separated because I needed to be in Texas, and a few other situations that I cannot share at this time. As I write this today, we are DEPENDING on the Lord to not only provide for each day and make things right, but also intervene on behalf and work miracles. We are standing on His Word.. acting in Faith.. and praying without CEASING


I have no doubt that my Father in Heaven will make a way where there seems to be NO WAY. During this time, our hearts have been broken, we have cried many tears, spent much time on our knees, and even asked the question, "Why us? Why all of this at once?" My husband and I listen to the Casting Crowns song, Praise You In This Storm, over and over again. We know we have one another and we have our families and friends that are continually lifting us in prayer, but we have to make a daily choice to praise God and worship, no matter what reality appears to look like. 


I have chosen to share our life with you because I know that we are not alone. It seems as though everyday we hear of someone else who is going through a struggle and my heart always breaks for them. As Christians, we are called to encourage one another and do what we can to meet the need in others lives. I hope that reading this helps you to reach out and share your needs with others. I read a Facebook post today from my friend, Lee Roy, it stated: 

The easiest way to get discouraged: get alone and think only about yourself. Reaching out is good for you. 



So here I am friends.. reaching out. I am here for you. Email me, call me, send me a comment. I want to pray for you, encourage you, and do anything that I can to help you through whatever you are facing right now. And remember, there is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother Proverbs 18:24

Saturday, January 1, 2011

First Things First

I've been going back and forth ... Should I make a list of resolutions? Or should I just be resolute in my decisions?  Wait just a second.. that's the same thing, isn't it? After all of the trials that 2010 brought along, I am sooooo ready for a new beginning, a new day.  Let the pain stay in the past and I will press toward the what God has in store!

Well, I've been mulling over the things that I'd like to do differently this year.. the things I want to be purposeful in doing...  So here it goes: (once it's in print, it adds much more to the commitment, right)

One- I am going to follow through and keep up with my Bible Reading Plan (for goodness sake, I have it on my ever present iPhone! How hard should this be.. close the Facebook app, open up the Bible app, and READ!)

Two- I will work at letting words come out of my mouth that build others and myself up, encourage, and show the faith that I claim to have.. I will not let my words tear others down.

Three- I will let the light of Jesus shine in me and through me. I will not be a stumbling block to others, but rather a stepping stone in other's journey.

Four- I am purposing to be the wife, mother, daughter, and friend that shows forth God's love to the ones that I hold dear. I will pray for them and encourage them. I will be my husband's biggest cheerleader, not his worst critic.

FiveI am going to get this bootie moving, get healthy and get fit! So that in the months to come, I will have energy and strength.  I've been way too tired this year and I want to finish what I began in 2010.

Six-  I am going to give of my time (although I don't have much free time these days, but if it's not a sacrifice, it's not as worthwhile, right?)! Let me make a difference in someones life.. please, Lord, use me.

I'm sure there are more.. I am also certain that there will be days that I'll have to come back to this post and remind myself of the things that I wanted to be purposeful in doing.. but I pray that when December 31, 2011 comes around, I will have accomplished more than I let fall by the wayside.  Won't you join me in making a difference in the lives around you.. in becoming more of what God has called for you to be?