Do You Trust Me?--- (The enemies Lies)

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock in whom I take refuge. He is my shield." Psalm 18:2

I wish I had this lesson learned completely. I wish I could say, "There, done with that one, moving on!" But with fear, I just cannot do that. Why is that?
Why is fear always present?
There is much to fear in this world it seems.
Clearly fear was something people have always dealt with because the in the Bible there is much to say about it, inadvertently it's written between lines when verse upon verse speaks of the Lord's protection. Clearly, there is much fear in this world. Right?

Which of course explains why the enemy uses fear so often to cripple believers. Whether it be fear of the assurance of salvation, where he takes us down ludicrous bunny trails such as infant baptism saving , and questions such as, "can you lose your salvation?"  Which the Lord clearly addresses when He tells us only  are we not known by the Father if we blaspheme the Holy Spirit, (not just deny but REJECT Him) (Peter denied but was saved, Judas rejected and died in his sin) To clarify, the only way you are not saved is if you do not accept Him as your way to salvation. You reject His salvation.

The other trail of fear the enemy walks us down is the subtle ways he sets traps for us...(1 Timothy 3:7) And I believe many of these traps are traps of our thinking. We get paralyzed by fear that is trapped in our thinking, and we shut up, close up and quit our moving with and towards Christ because we believe the lie and allow ourselves to be completely chained by fear.
That is why life with Christ is called Freedom! Christ sets us free from our captivity of sin, and fear. ( Fear of death) Hebrews 2
The other lie we believe from the enemy about fear is that "we can control situations." What do I mean by this?
God says, trust Him, fear God, and enjoy safe pasture. (Psalms)
Satan says, "You can have control! And this is where you are safe, when your always in control." Do you know where my trying to be in control left me? Up all night, scared to death at every noise, anticipating danger on every corner. My trying to be in control, left me PARANOID. Anyone else ever felt this way?
You thought that doing things YOUR way would be freeing, but coming to find out, it's really a prison? A prison of trying to fight for safety, fight for peace, striving for rest and anxiously hoping for some relief, some day.
This is NOT how Christ intended us to live.
HE died so we could hand HIM our fears, are cares, and our Need to be in CONTROL. He took our fears to the grave with Him so we could live in His freedom, and enjoy HIS safe pasture.
Remember when you were a kid, providing you had a safe home, and you knew that your parents were taking care of you needs, and you could go outside, play and enjoy? You could rest, because you were not in control.
SO it is with Jesus. When I try to control, manipulate and construct my circumstances to fit just how I want them to, do you know where I end up? Nowhere. And not only do I end up nowhere, I also end up fatigued.
I am so fatigued, and then the enemy can have a hay day in my mind. I am too tired to even begin to fight the enemy, and the enemy knows it.
Jesus fights for us. He is not just our victor, He is our shield, (Psalm 18:2)  and my advocate.

 "It is better to take refuge  in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes." Psalm 118:8,9

The trust in the Lord clearly outweighs whatever "benefit" the enemy tries to cleverly wrap in the package of deceit labeled "control." I do not know best.
I did not form the earth, the skies and the heart of man. I do NOT know what is best. SO why O why do I consider even for a moment to trust myself, or anyone else but God?
I shall not. I will not. I refuse.
My trust is in the Lord. So I confess my SIN of staying, living and focusing in on my fears (meditating on them) and lay down my desires to be in control. The opposite of fear is trust, and if I am focusing on my fears I am essentially telling the Lord, "I do not trust you." Really? I am going to tell all sufficient God that I do not trust Him? This is what I repent of Lord!

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone O Lord make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

"He brought me out into a spacious place, He rescued me because He delighted in me." Psalm 18:19

It would make sense that Satan would tempt us with what our flesh in its fleshly sinful state desires. In our flesh we want to refuse the exclusive way that says "only one way to God and God given life, abundant life. (i.e..safe life, peace and thriving existence)." This takes us laying down our pride, our control. We strive and long to be in control, but we are not. Even when we think we are, and this is the real lie. The enemy temps us with something that doesn't really exist. The enemy temps us with a proposed (fake)  life of peace brought on by human control. Such a state does not even exist. The only REAL peace is the peace we find as we give UP control, and render ourselves to the gracious, GRACE-filled hands of the Lord. Never have I been more at peace, then when I placed myself under His control. In His safe pasture, Under His care.
I can run outside, enjoy creation, raise my children and be comforted even in sorrow because I know there will be a time when the tempter will be no more, and sadness will disappear like snow in the spring. The tears I've cried will never again fall, and the sadness that plagues the heart of man because of sin will be gone.
That is why I can rejoice and sing, for even while I know there are trials, sadness and frustration in this world, the ONE who saves me and walks me through those difficulties now, is also clearing the way for the future where those things no longer even exist. Joy for today, hope for tomorrow, peace EVEN in sadness and life with out end. ( Eternity) That is what I get when I hand Jesus my fear, and I give up control. That is what I get when I tell the Lord that Yes, I do indeed trust Him. That I will NOT lean on my own understanding and that I will take Him at His world. He will not leave me nor forsake me. I guess I found my niche'. :)
Control is not a prize for us to win. It's an idea we lay down at the foot of the cross. All you get when you live for man's control, is death. (not to mention fear until you die) No more false reality my friends. Live today, surrender now, and enjoy His safe pasture.

Thank you Jesus for the cross. For grace, and for taking care of me. Amen.

The Truth About Submission

"I love submission." Said no one ever.
I am learning something however that life without submission to God is a road that leads to nowhere.
If I desire my life to have purpose, meaning, and something that resembles more than just "barely getting by" then I must submit to His ultimate authority.
I like to know where I am headed. (daily speaking)
I like to be leading the charge so to speak. And yes, I like to be in control.
That was the power struggle we faced from the beginning. Eve wanted control. She wanted to be able to decide what tree she ate from, and the tempting reality of "knowing good and evil" felt like a step in the right direction to Eve.
I my friends, am no different.
I like to feel like I am the one who calling the shots. I decide when I go and when I stay, I decide who I help and who I avoid. I decide. It's my choice.
O the rebellion of my heart.
Something that lies deep inside of the need to be in control is pride. Fear also rests there.
Pride is predominant though because when I call the shots, and good results, I can take the glory. My will. My way. Thank me!
Not exactly the humble heart that God desires, or considers usable.
There is no pride in submission. Because submission at it's core says, "I don't know best." Submission says through no words at all that we do not know best, and we do not have what it takes to lead the charge and do it well. (with the best success for all people involved)
It's not just us we are needing to be concerned about. When we take matters into our own hands we affect others. We affect lives of people who are all around us. When we make bad choices because "we know best" it's affecting other people as well. Eve's choice affected Adam.
My choices affect my family.
If I refuse to submit to the Lord, I develop bad habits that affect my family. I am walking around in fear, which in turn models fear based thinking to my children.
If I refuse to submit my pride can be evident to others, and it can push others away from Christ. Neither of those are good things in terms of Kingdom speaking, or otherwise for that matter.
Last night as I was contemplating all that I am writing now, I made note of this:
God does have amazing plans, perfect plans for all man kind. But man will rarely surrender to that plan. Why? There are many reasons I suppose. One being, it's scary to not know. But that is where trust comes in.
But there is such arrogance in my needing to be in control. I call the shots. I make the deals. There is no submission in this way of thinking. There is no consideration for the Makers desires in this. It's all about me. And then, as I said above, when something goes well, (nothing happens without His permission) I take the glory.
God is sovereign friends. He does allow things to go well for us to bless us.
This is something I want you NOT to miss though. Listen in.

We do receive blessing from the Lord. We are called "blessed" because we trust or fear the Lord many times in Psalms. Tell me this: Is there self sufficiency in trust? Not when your trusting in the Lord. No. He asks me to lay aside me self-trust based thinking, and take up the trust that submissively follows the Lord because we know what about the Lord? HE is faithful. He is ALL powerful. He is completely sufficient in meeting ALL our needs. He conquers. He wins.
And yet, I think somehow I can do better than Him? I can pull one over on Him and control any given situation? Do I think I can manipulate God by my careful planning? Far be it from me my friends. But my actions do speak otherwise! I have tried to just this in many situations. And Lord Jesus, I repent!  Blessing comes when we trust Him because the life lived in complete faith in Jesus is a blessed life! Peace floods in and joy. Regardless of the outward circumstances. And this, is a blessing!

No works will last, or truly prosper in the Kingdom sense except for those that are done by the Spirit, for the Spirit, and IN the Spirit.
Life without the Spirit is really just a fake, cheap imitation of what life really can and should be.
My life should be so wrapped up in Christ you cannot even see me.
My days are His.
My times are His.
My words are His.
My thoughts are His.
My hopes and dreams rest submissively in His all sufficient ability.

I ought to be like Abraham, who offered His son to the Lord, not because the Lord needed it, because Abraham was supposed to obey. And Abraham did obey. He obeyed because He reasoned that God, in His all sufficiency could not only provide, but also raise the dead. (Hebrews 11:18,19) (Noting also that God never asks us to do difficult things without our ultimate good at hand. He is always working FOR us. Not against us.)

Is that how my life speaks to others? Is that how I feel my response is? I submit.
Reminding myself there is no pride in submitting. SO I can take no pride in the fact that I submit to the Lord, because the sheer act of submission says, "I have nothing to offer."
I bring nothing to the table but my sin.
God's grace covers all.
God's sufficiency works for me on my behalf.
I willingly accept this grace, and I humbly place myself under His control and reign because I want for myself, what He wants for me.
No pride or control in this.
It's all His. The first breath. The last breath. And everything in between.
Blessed are you who fear the Lord  because in your trust and fear you rest secure. Your present, your future, and your sins of old forgotten.
There can be no pride in what you did not do. I do nothing on my own. I can do nothing of value on my own. This is not self demoting, it's a complete and total recognition of my need for the ALL sufficiency of God. It's total acceptance of what my life ought to be with Christ.
Excitement ensues. I am excited now for what the Lord will do with me, for me and if I am so blessed, through me.
Who I was is gone. Who I am in Christ, by Christ, for Christ, through Christ is what matters.

Fear and Ignorance

Some days, I get afraid.

Some days I choose to avoid things, places and people because I get afraid of those circumstances, and  what could happen in those places. Those are the days I have taken my eyes off of Jesus.

"You did not receive a Spirit that makes you a slave to fear.." Romans 8:15

I have Jesus so I don't have to be afraid. I don't have to be afraid because He is bigger than he who is in the world, (the devil and all his demons) and those whom the devil influences to do horrible things.

If I stare at the circumstances and situations that this world has to offer, I will be paralyzed by fear. "What could happen?" "What might someone do?" These are the things that plagues almost every mothers mind after she hears of another school shooting, or some other tragic hit on humanity. 

Fear paralyzes us. 

Ignorance also paralyzes us. Not in the same as fear though. Ignorance allows us only to go so far in our thinking. It allows us to live in a world of lies. It also allows us to be afraid of everything. 

Those who are in Christ, are told, we do not have to fear, because the One we serve, is bigger than all we fear. But what about those who do not serve the One who is bigger than all we fear? What of them? (my mind wonders..) What do they do when their afraid?

They probably do something nice for themselves that helps them to take their minds off the fear of the darkness and things that they can't explain or rationalize.  

Those who do not fear the ONE an only One who can demolish every fear and stronghold, are in fear of the very One who keeps us out of fear.

Ignorance is bliss. Right?

It's easy to slip into a place of ignorance, and ignorance can appear or feel like bliss, but at the point of death, ignorance goes from bliss, to deadly. If we are not sure of what we are sure of, then we are not sure of anything at all. 

So you know not what you think for sure about where you go when you die? Do you think you will care when your' dying? I cared. I cared when things got scary. I cared when answers were no where to be found, and fear arose on every side. In the blackness of the questions that could not be answered, I cared.

I cared when people I cared for died. That's when I cared.

OKAY. Now the hope.

Hope in Jesus cancels out fear. He is bigger than my fears. He's bigger than what I fear, and whom I fear. He  starts by calming my fears, which creates the ability to see more clearly, He shows me His strength, which creates trust, and He shows me that He is in control, which helps me trust the plan, even when I don't understand.

Accepting His death, validity of it, is hand in hand with accepting our need for it, and the need is called sin. Sin creates need. Sin also breeds more sin. Which breeds more of what we fear.

It's a vicious cycle, but most of us will remain ignorant until it's too late.

What will it take for our nation to wake up from the slumber...( a statement not a question) 

"I tell you my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear, (revere, respect) : Fear Him who after the killing of the body has the power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him. Are Not five sparrows sold for 5 pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs on your head ARE NUMBERED. Don't be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows."  Luke 12:4-7

It is amazing to me how we run from the One who can save us. Someone has a lifeboat, and our ship is sinking, but we refuse to admit that the ship is sinking, or that we have need for a lifeboat. What will it take for us to admit we need the lifeboat? Will we ignore the water pouring into our nostrils? Will we look away or try to focus on other things as our lungs take in water? Will we say, "I got the last word" when we lay on the ocean floor dead? 

What's it going to take for us to see we need Him. What this world needs is Jesus. 

      

It's Not Our Job To Change People (even bombers)

We all have difficult relationships don't we? How do I know this? It's simple. Relationships are difficult! All people everywhere, are different, and unless you are completely like minded with all people, there will be a day, you and I will cross paths with someone we will find difficult to get along with at all times.
So what about the people you don't really know, but they for lack of better terms, "drive you crazy?!" What about those people? People that are in leadership, or people who get their name in the news because of the bad things they've done to other people? How do you respond when those people hit a raw nerve in you and send your anger flaring? Do you act like a traveler who lugs his heavy bags around with him, a scavenger who collects things in bags? Do you sling the bag titled "anger" or "resentment" over your should and lug it around until you decide what to do with it?
Might I suggest a solution?

I know a guy, One who offers to carry our burdens for us. This offer is on the table any day, any time.

I have been know to lug around things that I am not proud of carrying. I have the habit of releasing burdens, but then picking them back up again because I forgot I already gave them up to the Lord.

If it's out of my control to make change, (other than spreading around joy and a positive attitude) then I need not try and carry around the struggle. I give the struggle over to the One who conquers sin and death, and offers me a better way of life. Jesus.

Jesus tells me that He will not only carry my burdens, He will give me rest.

So the next time I feel anger, resentment, frustration or fear even creep up inside of me, the second I realize I have uncovered old feelings towards a person or a situation, I need to once again, hand them over to He who is greater than this whole world.

Bottom line friends: It's not our job to change people. That is HIS job. We pray. We give people over to the Lord in our prayers and we live there until He says something different.

Hate breads hate. Prayer is a good antidote for hate. Loving those who hate us is impossible in our power. Praying for those who hate is only possible through Jesus. Praying for those who set bombs off, or abort babies or take your "hard earned money away in taxes," or make choices for your country that are contrary to the convictions the country was first founded on....yes, praying for these types of things are EXACTLY what we are to do. Prayer is our best offends, and defense. It clothes us with strength, and it arms us with responses that are pleasing to the Father.
Prayer calms and soothes our anger. I cannot stay mad when I pray, Jesus simply calms me like no other person can or ever could.

There will be people who adamantly oppose you. Pray for them. There will be people who are rude, or ridicule you. Pray for them. There will be people who make you feel crazy. Pray for them. There will be people who you wish you could change. YOU can't. But, HE can. So pray for them. Pray HIS will be done in their lives. And then let God take of the rest.

The other antidote for frustrations is asking God to help you see what He needs to change in YOU. Focusing  on others can actually breed more frustration. Focusing on the work God is doing in our own hearts and lives causes us to realize we are ALL sinners in need of Savior. ALL of us is sinful. There is NOT one of us who is perfect. None of us have "arrived" in our sanctification process.

God's work is to work on us. Lets ask Him how He wants to use us, grow us up, change us and make us into better versions of ourselves. This comes with more and more dependence on Him. And less and less focus on others, and how they "bug" us.

If we want to stop the cycle of frustration, we should stop pointing out other's flaws. Ask God to gently shape and direct you so you can be a better witness. Be a better friend. A more loving, honest, truthful friend. A better mother, a more patient wife. It's not our job to worry about trying to be someone else's "Holy Spirit." Let the Holy Spirit do His job, and we can follow His direction.

If the Holy Spirit wants to use us, He will show us how He wants to use us. There will not be a doubt in this. If the Lord has a job for us, He will tell us what it is, and we will know that it's from Him. Our job is to believe on the One He sent. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Love God. And love others.

AND PRAY!!!!

Pray for abortion doctors. Pray for your foes on Facebook. Pray for your countries leaders. Pray for your family. Pray for those you struggle with. And pray for your own personal growth. Prayer is the answer for all things. And HE WILL answer those prayers in His perfect, flawless timing and sovereignty. God is good. All the time. Always.

Let Me Introduce You To Life --(Dear Friend)

Dear Friend,

I've seen you struggling for some time.

There is pain in your eyes.

Perhaps it's from a desire that is unmet, or a need you have.

The pain could run really deep, but I don't know you well enough yet to know for sure.

I don't know a lot about your past, but I see your present is less than what you expected it would be.

Maybe you are dissatisfied? Maybe you have been cut down by just too many people and you gave up trying to figure "it" out anymore. But regardless, the deep sighs I hear you let out have got me wondering how you really are.

I have a friend I want you to meet, I think you'd be perfect for each-other. I think He would really lift your spirits. I think He could help you change your outlook on life in general. I think He could inspire you, and I think He could eventually save your life. 

Maybe you feel fine. Maybe you don't feel like you need saving, and I think my friend hears this a lot, but it's better to have an honest friend you can talk to about life than go through life shut-up and alone.

My friend, the one I want you to meet, He's really really strong. He builds things! He makes things from absolutely nothing. He is also so wise, I always go to Him when I've got a question, even if it's a small one. Nothing is too insignificant to talk to Him about. He is always willing to listen. He's a writer too. I heard you like to read, and He has authored the single most popular book in the world. It's full of wisdom for every day life, and maybe you would enjoy it. I read it as often as I can because every time I do, I learn something pretty amazing.

My friend has a really flexible schedule despite the fact that He has a really big job. He is a CEO of the biggest company ever. He actually helps people all over the universe. He's kind of like superman. :)

He is really good at reading my thoughts and telling me exactly what I need to hear, He is always honest. He never lies to me. I've never once had Him fail me. He always shows up. He never cheats. He never says one thing, but does another. He always keeps His promises.

Did I mention He's beautiful?  I love just staring at Him. It's true, I'm sort of infatuated with Him, but He is not prideful because of His greatness, rather, He is the most humble being you will ever meet. I'm learning a lot from Him. Even though He's much older than me, I don't feel like He ever looks down on me. He is by far the most forgiving being you will ever come into contact with. He will never chew you out, yell, or leave you. I have never once been abandoned by Him. I've known about Him for a long time, but we got close when I decided I take a "chance" and invite Him in. I'm so glad I did. I never look back and say, "I wish I wouldn't have asked Him in my home."

This friend I have, He is so generous! He loves to give good gifts. He is always lavishing me with wonderful blessings. He helped me meet my husband, and He was in charge of things when each one of my children was born. He kind of runs the show, but now a lofty way, in a way that makes me feel so safe. I've never doubted He was doing what was best for me, even if I didn't totally understand all the time, I trusted Him. He is constantly reminding me to trust Him. He gave me a gift too that is always with me, He gave me my own personal councilor. How cool is that? He gave me someone I could talk to ALL THE TIME. And He lives with me. So i'm always covered when I've got something I really need help with, or instruction on. He lets me know if I've crossed boundaries with others, and need to apologize, and He does it in a very loving way.

I have never been so loved as I am by my friend I want you to meet. 

Do you want to me to introduce you to Him?

His name is Jesus.

His is the author of life. The Giver of Life and all that is good, and He is really excited to meet you.

Let me know when your ready...

GOD bless your day, I think He may camp outside your door until your ready, He's faithful like that. 

Love, 

Your friend.

Shall We Talk About Success?

In all sincerity, doesn't it seem like life is going to go on forever?
It  does feel that way! It's hard to imagine that "we" will ever die. It's hard to believe that some day, at some point I will in fact take my last breath.
It's hard to "see" what we cannot see. It's hard to imagine what we cannot fathom.
We know life is fragile. And we know it's temporary, why then to do we keep striving for better and living for more if it's just going to end soon?
Depressing thoughts? Nope. Just the way my mind works through things!
These days will end.
This time your in will not last forever. Your strength will not last forever, nor will your ability to go and be and do. What then?
Is our peace based on, or wrapped up in our ability to be self sufficient or reliant? Is our hope based on the fact that we still have "time" in our future for exciting things to happen? Or is our peace and hope based and built upon something or rather, someone ETERNAL.
Hebrews 13:8 says this about our Lord,
"He is the same yesterday, today and forever."

Nice to know isn't it? That Jesus never changes. Never fades, and never get's too old to function on our behalf?
Our bodies are in fact temporary, and they do fade. They fade slowly till the end!
This is why the world craves things that promise them "younger life." Older men trade in their older wives for younger upgrades, people climb all kinds of success ladders so that they feel accomplished in their accomplishments. And of course we buy, buy, buy our way to promised happiness. This is all in the name of "enjoying life as long as you can.." All in the name of "youth."
Live while you can right?
Wrong.
What is wrong with this thinking? Other than being completely selfish, it's not really gratifying. AND, it fades.
No one but Jesus is eternal. And so wouldn't it makes sense to base your life upon the one person that we for sure lasts and lasts?
Many people try their hardest to disprove, or discredit the validity of the Word. They do this because they want very badly to show that the "foolishness of Christ" is wrong, so they can chase after their own desires and wishes. They do this because they cannot shake the shadow of the truth that is always there no matter what they do.
I remember many days before I gave up trying to do things myself, on those days I would often hear voices of truth, and would do my best to shake them. So I could go on spending my money as I pleased, partying as I wanted to and I could do whatever my flesh desired. I could live for me.
But there was one thing I could not shake, the reality that there was a person who promised to LOVE me no matter what. A person who promised to stick by me no matter what. A person who said He would never leave me nor forsake me. There was a person who promised me that if I would take a leap, and place my trust in Him, He would catch me. And if I ever slipped and fell down after going my own way again, He'd meet me down in the dirt and pick me back up again.
He truly is the only ONE who lasts, and lasts.
The only pleasure we can experience day in and day out with fail.. He is always there in the power of His word, through the guidance of HIS Holy Spirit, and through the gentle words The Father speaks to us.
We are children, who need direction.
10 years ago if you had asked me how I felt about humbling myself and surrendering "my will," I'd say, "your a nut job." (seriously)
But now, as I have tasted the truth, and the reality of the truth, I recognize there is NO other way for life without end, and a life that has real purpose. A life with purpose is something the world tells us that we can achieve on our own. "Do enough." It says. "Get enough people to know your name." "Your name in lights," "Power, and influence so you can do "good" for the masses."
Christ tells us if we are do anything good, it must be done THROUGH HIM.
" All our acts of righteousness are as filthy rags.." Isaiah 64:6b

And the only acts that will be "imperishable" are the ones done in the Spirit. (with His guidance)

Have you heard this?  The only "works" that last are the works that are done IN HIS strength, for HIS glory, for HIS purpose as HE uses us. God wants us to do our best for His Kingdom and for His glory. He wants us to play out our gifts and abilities to the best of our God given ability to live in such a way that says, "I live for the fame and Glory of the King of Kings!"
Not exactly a popular opinion these days.
But just for a moment, consider that the self sufficient ways of the world are not right. Consider for a moment that the Bible is true. Now what?
What does one do?
If what I have shared challenges you in any way, I would ask you to stop, think and pray. Pray to an unseen, (but felt) God. Pray to the ONE who knew YOU before you WERE.
There is no, "what if's" with Jesus. He is certain. I never wonder if I am where I am supposed to be. I always know I am because I know if I'm not supposed to be where I am, He'll move me! :) :) :) I love this about HIM!!!
Jesus is the only eternal, never fading, always present source that never fails to fulfill, and never fails to uphold, uplift and instruct. He will NEVER leave you hanging. He will never say, "Sorry, your not relevant enough for me anymore..." "Your too old." OR "You are yesterdays' trash."
The world is cruel. It will use you, dry you up and spit you out. I loves you as long as your beautiful and then it's over you. Have you ever saved tabloids? The famous people in a decade old "People' magazine, no longer even exist in the celebrity world. And we dare to think we are any different?
Nope. We are not. We are the same.
That is why life with Christ is such an amazing gift. Your purpose is never lacking as long as your alive in Christ! Chase after Him, and watch as He makes a life unfold in front of you that you never could have imagined for yourself.
The promise He gives us is peace while we walk this earth, and assurance of heaven after death.
Either way, we are all going in the dirt, but where your soul goes after the dirt covers your body is dependent on who you put your faith in THIS life.
If you trust in the world and all it's "joys" now, you will have received it all up front.
If you place your trust in the Lord, the joy has only begun.
To me the choice is clear...what do you think?

The Food War--- Clean eating vs. not so clean

From about the age of 12, I realized one simple thing: I did not like my body, therefore I would change it. Perfect! I thought...If I don't eat, I lose weight! What a great thing!
SO began my career of the food war.
I was a  combat solider at this point, well trained in the art of control, and the learned skill of fighting off temptation, and you guessed it, I'm completely in control.
uh-oh.
That's not how it's supposed to be is it?
In the past few years the Lord has taken me from death to life in my thinking towards my body, and food, and I sincerely thank Him for this. But there is new war waging in the world right now isn't there...
It's the whole new movement of "clean eating.." And this is not in and of itself a bad thing. I like to eat whats good, healthy and organic. But I came to a place last week where I realize I was obsessing. Yes. Believe it or not, control freak that I am, I was spending a lot of time and energy thinking about WHAT myself and my family were and would be eating.
"life is more than food." rang in my head. And I was born not to live enslaved to a particular way of eating.

"But food does not bring us near to God, we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.." 1 Corinthians 8:8

What that verse says to me is this, eat it if you feel peace about eating it, don't eat it if you don't, but it does not bring you closer to God either way. We need food of all kinds to survive, and on some certain occasions, Doritos may be essential for your survival. (seriously)
It's hard to not want to get caught up with the health movement, because I grew up eating healthy, and I love healthy food. But I should not spend all my time and energy agonizing over the food I put in my body. Eat according to what you know is good for you, don't obsess over it, and allow yourself some room to splurge once and awhile.
It's so easy to go down the road of "great, i'll eat what I want, but I exercise like a maniac to make up for the food I ate that I wished I hadn't eaten." Ok, exercise is good too. Making rules for yourself that say what is OK for you and what is not, may be dangerous. I once made a rule for myself that anything under a certain number of calories burned, was not an acceptable workout, and back on the treadmill I'd go. Boy, that sounds fun doesn't it? Yikes.
No, God wants me to be in shape, I do think that He encourages health from the inside out, but putting myself in the bondage and chains of "what a good workout is" is not His idea of freedom in Christ.
Running is fun for me, but when I set rules for myself that I refuse to let myself break, the joy of running disappears instantly.

It matters not what you are, vegan, gluten free, sugar free, clean eater, organic, or chocolate lover, the reality is this, if you feel it drawing you AWAY from Christ, it's a problem. If you feel it's something you enjoy but is not an obsession that I would say your doing things right. If it's getting in between you and Jesus, it's got to go. The problem is, is that we have to eat to survive, so only God can create a healthy view either way.

If you avoid certain places because of the food they will serve you, you may have a problem. But if you know that today you eat, and tomorrow you'll eat what you usually eat, no worries, I'd say your OK.
Man made rules can be bad if they begin to take center stage in your thinking.
Man made rules can be acceptable if they are there, but  are just sitting on the sidelines in your thinking.
All my life I have made "rules to live by" for myself. And I have to believe I am not alone in this.

SO here is my convictions that I will share with you, I need balance in all things. Healthy food is good, but it is not GOD. Exercise is good, but it is not GOD. Cleaner foods are to be enjoyed, not obsessed over, (this creates fear of eating not clean things) and also, fear is not from the Lord.)
It's interesting to me because even in Jesus' time there was disputes over if food was "clean" or not, it was over different types of meat and such and this is what sparked Paul to say what he did in the verse I listed above. Really, there is nothing new under the sun, and I do believe if Paul were here today he would say the same thing to us.
I heard it said that we will not hear "Well done good and faithful servant, you ate really clean all your life.." when we enter heaven.
It's a little ouchie isn't it? TO hear this? I mean, we spend a lot of energy focusing on what we put in our body and clearly it is said in the Bible that it doesn't matter what goes in but rather what comes out our mouths...

"What goes into someones mouth does not defile them but what comes out of their mouth that is what defiles them." - Matthew 15:11

Perhaps we should be focusing less on what we chew on, and chew more on where our thoughts are taking us that eventually comes out our mouths in all kinds of profane ways.
Instead, I should be thinking about how to build others up, rather than accuse their eating habits, (and mine) in my heart and head.
Really, who cares anyways right?!

Do what makes your body feel strong, and pray through it the whole time. Dedicate each meal to God as one that you are thankful for, and be a blessing to others around you with the energy you get from that food. This is how it was intended, food for the body, not the body for food.
There's more to life than food, that's why there's food. Get it? Me too...

The Mom Pride----Fertility

Before I was told that my third child should be my last, I was convinced that I was born to have babies. My first two children were easy to conceive, and I many times joked that "I get pregnant every time I have a glass of wine." How this must of hurt some women who were finding it difficult to get pregnant.

I would look down on people who only had one child, and I would pat myself of the back for being such a good young mom. Pride. It lived there between the lines of all my thoughts.

God got a hold of my attitude one day when I realized, "it's taking a long time for me to get pregnant again!" And so began the process through which God opened my eyes up to the reality and struggle of desiring a child but not being able to do anything about it in my own power. I was slowly realizing that the easy way in which I was able to conceive my first two children had NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. And everything to do with God.

How many kids you have, or want to have, is not really in your hands. If God wants you to have 5 kids, you will, if God says 3 is enough for you, then this is how it is. He will lead you if He has different plans outside of natural conception, but in reality, babies are conceived because God breaths life into your womb. It's not because you "did all the right stuff." It's not because you deserved it, it's because of His grace.

There is a sense of pride that comes to a woman when she can get pregnant easily. There is a sense of failure that comes when you can't. There is a sense of our identity that gets wrapped up in how many kid we have, and we begin to feel as though perhaps we have it figured out when we are able to have as many as we want. And we tend to look down on people who  out of "selfishness" chose to have less children than you have. Children are such a blessing after all right?
And they are! BUT, the attitude that can sometimes accompany bigger families, haunted me for a while.

I have since come to terms with that fact that I am loved by a faithful God who lovingly determines all things in our lives. Even the number of children we have. If He allows it, pregnancy will happen. If he does not allow it, it will not. God's allowing or not allowing does not depend upon man's desire or effort, but rather on His sovereign will. He knows what will make you look most like Him. If you need five children to help you become more like Jesus, He will give you five. Or, if you are like Sarah, and it was one special child given through miraculous circumstances that makes you look more like your creator, than He will do this too. He knows what you need.

I realize it's not easy sometimes to accept the reality that you do not have control over the size of your family, because God works through even the strongest of barriers that man can put up. I read a blog of a woman who conceived two children after her husbands flawless vasectomy, and then in contrast  women who did everything within their human ability to get pregnant but were not able to. God is God. We are not. We can take pride in only one thing, His ability. His abilities surpass our deepest desires. He is Lord over all.

I no longer consider my children something that I can take pride in. I love them and I cherish the fact that I have them. God gave them to me to take care of, and point them towards Him, and in the process of raising them He is using each of them to refine me. The ways He grows me each day because of them is amazing to me. And I am thankful. I can take none of the glory for how they turn out because everything good in me that I give to them is because God gave it to me. It's His gifts and abilities and I just dish it out to my children in proportion with the way He gives it to me.

So the next time you see the woman with five kids in target, and you feel a sharp pang of, "why hasn't GOD given that many to me," or you mother, with the five kids see a mother with just one child out shopping, do not let yourself say, "must be nice..."
Whatever God has given you, be thankful. If you are in longing for more, tell Him, ask Him, align your heart with His, chase after His ways and wait for His perfect answers and timing.
IF you never see the second pink line appear on the test, know that this is because God is your Father who knows what is best. If you take a test each year that has two lines, thank God also for this.

There is no pride that belongs in the mother except pride in the fact that you have a God who is doing what is best for you. Keep your heart constantly buried in His truth. Align your thinking with His. Fix your eyes on Jesus and rest in Him to find contentment wherever you are on the road of life.
Do not judge another mother under any circumstances and mother's in waiting, rest in His perfect timing. Waiting is hard, but His grace is completely sufficient.
We are to walk this life hand in hand with Jesus, knowing He will NEVER lead us through anything that is not for our betterment and good. This in includes fertility and lack there of.