Christmas has got to be my favourite season of the year. My son and I set up the Christmas tree this afternoon. We listened to music, hung decorations, wrapped tinsel around EVERYTHING! Our stairwell looks ridiculous!
But we had fun. It was so awesome to see my son's excitement. Naturally he's most excited about getting presents and has been asking God to pass messages on to Santa for him. Funny :)
One of the things I do love about Christmas is giving gifts. I'm a real gifts person and always go overboard. My children so do not need all this stuff, but I find it hard to resist.
It got me thinking about God's ultimate gift to us at Christmas. Man - when you really break it down - it is AMAZING what he did for us.
He sent his only son (and himself too, I guess) down in the form of a baby... the most vulnerable thing on earth. He easily could have arrived as a full grown man, but he chose to grow up in this world, to put himself fully into our shoes.
That just blows my mind. His love for us is astounding. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for his ultimate sacrifice.
God, you are so good. Thank you for this Christmas gift. May we always be blown away by your grace and love.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Remembering Him
I wrote an article a couple of years ago entitled, "Everything Else Can Wait."
I was talking about how easy it is to get caught up in the busyness of life. I'd get to the end of my day and suddenly think, "Have I eve spoken to God today?"
I don't like being in that position, but I find myself here yet again. How can I put busyness before my maker? Why is it so easy to let everything else get in the way?
One of the reasons I started this blog, was to force myself to sit down each day and focus on God for a while before launching into everything else.
I want to remember him. I want to remember that he is there all day, sitting, walking, breathing, right beside me. I want to include him in everything I do. I want to build a strong relationship with the one who loves me more than anyone ever could.
Lord, I'm sorry for my distracted heart. Please forgive me and may I remember you each day and ask myself... "Have I spent anytime with the Lord today? Everything else can wait."
Do you ever struggle with this issue?
What do you do to combat it?
I was talking about how easy it is to get caught up in the busyness of life. I'd get to the end of my day and suddenly think, "Have I eve spoken to God today?"
I don't like being in that position, but I find myself here yet again. How can I put busyness before my maker? Why is it so easy to let everything else get in the way?
One of the reasons I started this blog, was to force myself to sit down each day and focus on God for a while before launching into everything else.
I want to remember him. I want to remember that he is there all day, sitting, walking, breathing, right beside me. I want to include him in everything I do. I want to build a strong relationship with the one who loves me more than anyone ever could.
Lord, I'm sorry for my distracted heart. Please forgive me and may I remember you each day and ask myself... "Have I spent anytime with the Lord today? Everything else can wait."
Do you ever struggle with this issue?
What do you do to combat it?
Monday, November 21, 2011
What is faith?
There are probably many aspects to faith, but one that I have been thinking about lately is this...
FAITH IS TRUSTING GOD WHEN REALITY BITES.
Life can suck, big time, and when it does, it is so easy to start questioning what God is doing.
I don't think he minds us doing that. David did it all the time in the Psalms.
I guess, what's important is that we remain true and solid.
We have to trust in God's character and the fact he loves. So even when he's not taking us out of our awful circumstances, we have to believe that there is a greater plan... a greater purpose that he has in mind. We have to allow him the opportunity to show his glory and his love.
FAITH IS TRUSTING GOD WHEN REALITY BITES.
FAITH IS TRUSTING GOD WHEN REALITY BITES.
Life can suck, big time, and when it does, it is so easy to start questioning what God is doing.
I don't think he minds us doing that. David did it all the time in the Psalms.
I guess, what's important is that we remain true and solid.
We have to trust in God's character and the fact he loves. So even when he's not taking us out of our awful circumstances, we have to believe that there is a greater plan... a greater purpose that he has in mind. We have to allow him the opportunity to show his glory and his love.
FAITH IS TRUSTING GOD WHEN REALITY BITES.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
To Know Him...
I was listening to a song as I was driving this morning and for the first time, I REALLY listened to the lyrics.
Do you ever make that mistake of just singing along?
I thought I'd share them with you, so you could see how awesome they are.
Take care everyone :)
TO KNOW YOU - Casting Crowns
To know you is to never worry for my life, and
To know you is to never to give in or compromise
To know you is to want to tell the world about you
Cause I can't live without you
To know you is to hear your voice when you are calling
To know you is to catch my brother when he is falling
To know you is to feel the pain of the broken hearted
Cause they can't live with out you.
More than my next breath
More than life or death
All reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to ache for more than ordinary
To know you is to look beyond the temporary
To know you is believing that you will be enough
Cause there is no life without you
More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I'm reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more
All this life could offer me, could not compare to you
Compare to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you
More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I'm reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more
Compared to you
Compared to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you
Do you ever make that mistake of just singing along?
I thought I'd share them with you, so you could see how awesome they are.
Take care everyone :)
TO KNOW YOU - Casting Crowns
To know you is to never worry for my life, and
To know you is to never to give in or compromise
To know you is to want to tell the world about you
Cause I can't live without you
To know you is to hear your voice when you are calling
To know you is to catch my brother when he is falling
To know you is to feel the pain of the broken hearted
Cause they can't live with out you.
More than my next breath
More than life or death
All reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to ache for more than ordinary
To know you is to look beyond the temporary
To know you is believing that you will be enough
Cause there is no life without you
More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I'm reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more
All this life could offer me, could not compare to you
Compare to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you
More than my next breath
More than life or death
All I'm reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more
Compared to you
Compared to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Dreams
The daily devotional I read was talking about overcoming fear.
I am still amazed by how God is constantly giving me cuddles of encouragement each day. This devotional was just what I needed as I crawled into bed last night.
Here's what really got me the most...
Basically, it was saying that we need to overcome our fears, risk the possible failure and pursue our dreams. We need to remember that God wants us to succeed.
God wants us to succeed.
It doesn't mean he's going to take all the crapiness out of our lives, but it does mean that he is standing by us, pom poms in hand, and cheering as loud as he possibly can. He wants us to follow him. He wants us to have faith in him. He wants us to succeed.
"But those who want the best for me,
Let them have the last word—a glad shout!— and say, over and over and over,
God is great — everything works together for good for his servant.
I'll tell the world how great and good you are, I'll shout Hallelujah all day, every day."
Psalm 35:27-28
Thank you, Lord, for who you are. Thank you that you love us so much. I will praise you all my days.
I am still amazed by how God is constantly giving me cuddles of encouragement each day. This devotional was just what I needed as I crawled into bed last night.
Here's what really got me the most...
Basically, it was saying that we need to overcome our fears, risk the possible failure and pursue our dreams. We need to remember that God wants us to succeed.
God wants us to succeed.
It doesn't mean he's going to take all the crapiness out of our lives, but it does mean that he is standing by us, pom poms in hand, and cheering as loud as he possibly can. He wants us to follow him. He wants us to have faith in him. He wants us to succeed.
"But those who want the best for me,
Let them have the last word—a glad shout!— and say, over and over and over,
God is great — everything works together for good for his servant.
I'll tell the world how great and good you are, I'll shout Hallelujah all day, every day."
Psalm 35:27-28
Thank you, Lord, for who you are. Thank you that you love us so much. I will praise you all my days.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Timing
I grew up on Psalty Kids Praise songs. I was playing them to my son this morning and "In His Time" came on.
It was a good reminder.
"He makes all things beautiful, in His time."
I find being patient REALLY hard... especially when it comes to my writing. But he will make all things beautiful in his time. I just need to keep doing what I'm doing and relax. I surrendered this dream to God and "he's got this." (Sorry - a little Rugby World Cup reference - I couldn't resist!)
It was a good reminder.
"He makes all things beautiful, in His time."
I find being patient REALLY hard... especially when it comes to my writing. But he will make all things beautiful in his time. I just need to keep doing what I'm doing and relax. I surrendered this dream to God and "he's got this." (Sorry - a little Rugby World Cup reference - I couldn't resist!)
Monday, November 14, 2011
On Behalf Of...
A friend of mine has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She has some tough treatment ahead of her and it's going to be a hard journey. As you can imagine, I have been praying for her... A LOT!
As I was asking for all these things on her behalf the other day, I suddenly stopped and thought, "What if she doesn't actually need the things I'm asking for?"
God knows my friend better than I do. She might already feel brave going into this, she might feel certainty that God is by her side. On the other hand, she might be worried about her kids and how they'll handle this, or she might prefer prayer for her husband.
I realized that I don't actually know exactly what she needs, but God does.
So recently I have been praying, "Lord, give her what she needs the most to get her through this."
God knows best. I need to stop telling him what to do for the people I'm praying for and just ask that he provide them with what they need.
What do you think about praying for others?
As I was asking for all these things on her behalf the other day, I suddenly stopped and thought, "What if she doesn't actually need the things I'm asking for?"
God knows my friend better than I do. She might already feel brave going into this, she might feel certainty that God is by her side. On the other hand, she might be worried about her kids and how they'll handle this, or she might prefer prayer for her husband.
I realized that I don't actually know exactly what she needs, but God does.
So recently I have been praying, "Lord, give her what she needs the most to get her through this."
God knows best. I need to stop telling him what to do for the people I'm praying for and just ask that he provide them with what they need.
What do you think about praying for others?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Trust
I've been thinking about trust a lot over the last couple of days. I believe God told me I should step into this self-publishing river and now I need to trust him.
As much as I want to sell 1000 copies today, it doesn't work that way. All good things take time and I just need to trust that they will eventually come to fruition.
I was feeling pretty down about it yesterday as I looked as this mammoth task I have in front of me and wondering if I have what it takes, but God's amazing and giving you those little pats on the back when you need them the most.
The daily devotional I read each night before bed was talking about sowing seeds and watching them slowly grow. First the seed is in the ground, then the blades start to show, after that the head pops up and eventually you get the full grain and your harvest is ready.
I'm so grateful for this timely reminder.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
As much as I want to sell 1000 copies today, it doesn't work that way. All good things take time and I just need to trust that they will eventually come to fruition.
I was feeling pretty down about it yesterday as I looked as this mammoth task I have in front of me and wondering if I have what it takes, but God's amazing and giving you those little pats on the back when you need them the most.
The daily devotional I read each night before bed was talking about sowing seeds and watching them slowly grow. First the seed is in the ground, then the blades start to show, after that the head pops up and eventually you get the full grain and your harvest is ready.
I'm so grateful for this timely reminder.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Pausing
I woke up this morning feeling a little down. I'm overtired from night after night of disrupted sleep and my husband is working extra long hours at the moment.
Things are gradually getting on top of me and today I'm really feeling it.
As my mind buzzed with everything I need to get done this week and all the things that are getting in the way of that, I felt my muscles grow taut with tension... and then a small voice ran through my brain.
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
It was enough to make my frantic thoughts and emotions pause for a second and put everything back in perspective. God knows me, he knows what I'm trying to do and he's on my side. I don't have to face this day alone, I just need to pause long enough to recognise his presence and invite him in.
Thank you that you are always there, Lord. I commit this day to you. Help me survive it with a smile on my face :)
Things are gradually getting on top of me and today I'm really feeling it.
As my mind buzzed with everything I need to get done this week and all the things that are getting in the way of that, I felt my muscles grow taut with tension... and then a small voice ran through my brain.
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
It was enough to make my frantic thoughts and emotions pause for a second and put everything back in perspective. God knows me, he knows what I'm trying to do and he's on my side. I don't have to face this day alone, I just need to pause long enough to recognise his presence and invite him in.
Thank you that you are always there, Lord. I commit this day to you. Help me survive it with a smile on my face :)
Monday, November 7, 2011
Humility
I have just self-published my first novel. It's very exciting and I've had some great feedback so far. I received a five star review on the weekend and I floated around for the rest of the day. It got me thinking though... it would be SO easy to get a swelled head. I want to avoid that feeling at all costs.
So what is humility?
The dictionary says, "A modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness."
The bible says, "Pride first, then the crash, but humility is precursor to honor." Proverbs 18:12
It also says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves," Philippians 2:3
I want to be humble in this endeavour. I want God to keep me in check. As I submit this to him then I will succeed without thinking of myself as better than anybody else.
Is there any area of your life where you struggle with humility?
So what is humility?
The dictionary says, "A modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness."
The bible says, "Pride first, then the crash, but humility is precursor to honor." Proverbs 18:12
It also says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves," Philippians 2:3
I want to be humble in this endeavour. I want God to keep me in check. As I submit this to him then I will succeed without thinking of myself as better than anybody else.
Is there any area of your life where you struggle with humility?
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Faith
I am about to self-publish my first book. I wasn't sure whether or not to take this path and so I started with prayer. I told God what I wanted and then put it in his hands. I said I'd pursue and if it was of him, then let it be a success... otherwise take it all away.
After praying this prayer, I got to thinking about taking a leap of faith, which then lead me to the story of the Israelites and how they had to step into the Jordan River before the water would stop flowing and they could pass.
"When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the Chest of God, Master of all the earth, touch the Jordan's water, the flow of water will be stopped—the water coming from upstream will pile up in a heap." Joshua 3:13
As clear as a bell, I heard God say, "Step into the river. I want you to step into the river and see what I can do."
Over the past two months I've gone from elated excitement to total doubt in my ability. Mr. Realism taps me on the shoulder and reminds me that I'm going to sell nothing. Who am I to think that I can be successful in this? But every time that thought sneaks into my head it is followed swiftly by, "Step into the river."
So that's what I'm going to do. This weekend I'm uploading my book. I'm stepping into the river of self-publishing and I am absolutely terrified. My stomach has been a ball of knots in the last 24 hours... but I have to do this. I have to trust God and step into the river.
I guess this is a good example of what faith is all about.
After praying this prayer, I got to thinking about taking a leap of faith, which then lead me to the story of the Israelites and how they had to step into the Jordan River before the water would stop flowing and they could pass.
"When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the Chest of God, Master of all the earth, touch the Jordan's water, the flow of water will be stopped—the water coming from upstream will pile up in a heap." Joshua 3:13
As clear as a bell, I heard God say, "Step into the river. I want you to step into the river and see what I can do."
Over the past two months I've gone from elated excitement to total doubt in my ability. Mr. Realism taps me on the shoulder and reminds me that I'm going to sell nothing. Who am I to think that I can be successful in this? But every time that thought sneaks into my head it is followed swiftly by, "Step into the river."
So that's what I'm going to do. This weekend I'm uploading my book. I'm stepping into the river of self-publishing and I am absolutely terrified. My stomach has been a ball of knots in the last 24 hours... but I have to do this. I have to trust God and step into the river.
I guess this is a good example of what faith is all about.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Love
Living He loved me,
Dying He saved me
Buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming,
Oh, glorious day,
Oh, glorious day
Casting Crowns
Until the Whole World Hears album
Dying He saved me
Buried He carried my sins far away
Rising He justified freely forever
One day He's coming,
Oh, glorious day,
Oh, glorious day
Casting Crowns
Until the Whole World Hears album
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Surrender
I struggle with prayer sometimes. It's not that I don't think God is listening, because I know he always is. It's just that he doesn't always answer. I'm not sure why he says yes to some prayers and no to others. My guess is, that he knows better than I do.
Over the last couple of years, I've started changing my prayer style. Rather than the "ask and you shall receive" (John 16:24) and "faith can move mountains" (Matthew 17:20) philosophy, I've begun to err towards the side of "YOUR kingdom come, YOUR will be done" (Matthew 6:10).
Surrender - it's a simple concept really. Rather than asking and expecting to receive, I've been telling God what I want and then saying, "But I know that your plans are better than mine, so Lord, I want to follow your will for my life. If this isn't of you, take away my desire."
I know God knows the desires of my heart. He loves me SO much and has the best possible life mapped out for me. If I follow his course, I am going to have a better life. It's not a guarantee that I won't hit heartache or disappointment, but it is a guarantee that I'm going to have a fulfilling life.
It's amazing how when I pray that prayer of surrender, a peace that transcends understanding always fills me. (Philippians 4:7)
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Over the last couple of years, I've started changing my prayer style. Rather than the "ask and you shall receive" (John 16:24) and "faith can move mountains" (Matthew 17:20) philosophy, I've begun to err towards the side of "YOUR kingdom come, YOUR will be done" (Matthew 6:10).
Surrender - it's a simple concept really. Rather than asking and expecting to receive, I've been telling God what I want and then saying, "But I know that your plans are better than mine, so Lord, I want to follow your will for my life. If this isn't of you, take away my desire."
I know God knows the desires of my heart. He loves me SO much and has the best possible life mapped out for me. If I follow his course, I am going to have a better life. It's not a guarantee that I won't hit heartache or disappointment, but it is a guarantee that I'm going to have a fulfilling life.
It's amazing how when I pray that prayer of surrender, a peace that transcends understanding always fills me. (Philippians 4:7)
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)