Almost all girls have dreamed of that special someone who is going to come and sweep them off their feet. That guy who is going to take their breath away and love them unconditionally and despite their flaws and insecurities. Almost all girls have dreamed of that perfect relationship in which you can be completely at ease with one another and totally yourself. Someone who understands you and someone you trust and share your dreams, your hurts, your joys and your life with. I know that I have ....
I am 27 years old and unmarried. I have no significant relationship to speak of and all the time my family and my friends ask "Aren't you tired of being alone?" "Dont you want to find your husband and get married?" "I could never be as happy as you if I were 27 and not married" "No offense, but I don't want to be single when I am your age!" I can relate to these expressions .... At some time in my life, I have felt all of these things. But..... here is the peace that I have.
I am in love with my God. I am in love with my Savior. He is my special someone! He has come and swept me off my feet. He has taken my breath away (lots of time) and He loves me unconditionally despite my flaws and insecurities. I can be completely myself around Him and He knows me and is fond of me just the way I am. I cant do anything to make Him love me anymore and I cant do anything to make Him love me anyless. He knows all of my fears, my hopes, my dreams, my insecurities. He laughs with me and cries with me and dreams with me. He takes every step with me. That is the true love of my life! He has helped me learn to love myself ....
So, when people say to me, "Aren't you tired of being alone" or "I could never be happy if I were 27 and single" I smile and tell them of my love. I tell them of the Jesus who has my heart! I have learned to be happy and content with Him! Its a love I can't and don't want to live without!
I have no doubt that God has chosen that special someone for my life. I have faith that when He is ready, I will know who that person is. But I want to focus on the love of my Savior. I want to learn what He is teaching me. I want to understand what I need to learn and how I need to grow to be ready for that "special earthly someone." My focus is on Christ. My love is Christ. His love is more real and more powerful than anything I can ever imagine! His love is more pure and his friendship the one I cherish the most. So I wait, I trust, I cry, I laugh, and I LOVE MY GOD!
God Loves you my friend! His love is all you need. Learn to be content with that love and learn to wish for nothing beyond the life He has given you. Look for the lessons he is teaching and focus on Him. He is faithful and He is working ..... in you and your future husband/wife! He has your best interest at heart. He is working in the life of your loved one. He is preparing you and them for the next step. Be patient and wait until God is ready. Focus on Him. Trust in that love. He is ALL you need.... His love is the best love. Savor that. Cling to that.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Forgiveness.....
I am not really sure how to title this entry or even how to start this post. I had a conversation a couple of months ago with some amazing friends (LOVE YOU GUYS!) about salvation and whether someone is "truly" saved or if it is just a show or just a spur of the moment emotion.....
It all started with a conversation I had with my mom about a co-worker. Mom and I were talking about this co-worker who claimed to be Christian but was repeatedly breaking one of the ten commandments. When confronted with their sin, this person said that they didn't need to worry about it because God would forgive them.
Now I don't know which commandment and honestly I don't really care.... sin is sin. What I am interested in focusing on is the idea of repentance and forgiveness.
I have been thinking about this alot lately.
The idea of constantly screwing up and falling short of the holiness God desires and having to time and time again go and seek forgiveness from our Father. How do you know if you are truly forgiven? What is the measure of authenticity?
After much prayer and much thought and conversation, the first important thing to know is that forgiveness is between you and God. Only the two of you know the state of your heart and mind. Second, you must ASK for forgiveness which implies that you have sinned and that you RECOGNIZE that sin as a barrier in your relationship with God. You must admit and understand that what you did was wrong. Finally, after admitting your sin and asking for forgiveness you can receive the forgivenss that God offers.
The offer is always there... ALWAYS! God is constantly ready to hand you forgivenss and wipe your slate clean. He wants you to ACCEPT his forgiveness. But, before you can, you must recognize that you have sinned. Not only must you recognize the sin, but you must realize that it is wrong and ASK for forgiveness.
This brings me full circle to my original quesion of salvation.... If someone is saved and if someone has accepted Christ into their life the focus should not be on the shortcut to heaven.....In other words, the ultimate joy and happiness in life comes from knowing and having a personal relationship with God. When you desire that, you don't look for shortcuts and ways to justify your sinful behavior as mom's co-worker did. Instead, you constantly turn to the Lord and admit your flaws and ask for forgivenss. You seek opportunities to be obedient and look for ways to serve and bring glory and honor to Christ Jesus!
Let me just say that behaving sinfully may result in short-term fun but real joy and real happiness comes from trying to lead a pure and righteous life. That "fun" from sin is temporary and empty. The joy from living with the Lord is real and full! Look to walk with the Lord and be obedient to the life He calls us to lead. Admit your sin and ask for forgivenss. Accept His forgiveness and give thanks to Him for His Grace and unfailing love!
Dont take that for granted!
Father God, Thank you for your Son. Thank you for His sacrifice on that cross. Lord, I admit to you that I am a sinful person. Place conviction on my heart that I might know when I have sinned and turned from You. God, help me to fight the weakness of my flesh. God I praise you for your forgivness and thank You for that gift that You extend to me. God, my desire is to be in constant relationship with You. Lord, I want my thoughts and my obsession to be You! Lord, help me to stay focused on the real and complete joy that comes from knowing and serving You! God I love you with my heart and soul! Thank you for loving me. --Amen
It all started with a conversation I had with my mom about a co-worker. Mom and I were talking about this co-worker who claimed to be Christian but was repeatedly breaking one of the ten commandments. When confronted with their sin, this person said that they didn't need to worry about it because God would forgive them.
Now I don't know which commandment and honestly I don't really care.... sin is sin. What I am interested in focusing on is the idea of repentance and forgiveness.
I have been thinking about this alot lately.
The idea of constantly screwing up and falling short of the holiness God desires and having to time and time again go and seek forgiveness from our Father. How do you know if you are truly forgiven? What is the measure of authenticity?
After much prayer and much thought and conversation, the first important thing to know is that forgiveness is between you and God. Only the two of you know the state of your heart and mind. Second, you must ASK for forgiveness which implies that you have sinned and that you RECOGNIZE that sin as a barrier in your relationship with God. You must admit and understand that what you did was wrong. Finally, after admitting your sin and asking for forgiveness you can receive the forgivenss that God offers.
The offer is always there... ALWAYS! God is constantly ready to hand you forgivenss and wipe your slate clean. He wants you to ACCEPT his forgiveness. But, before you can, you must recognize that you have sinned. Not only must you recognize the sin, but you must realize that it is wrong and ASK for forgiveness.
This brings me full circle to my original quesion of salvation.... If someone is saved and if someone has accepted Christ into their life the focus should not be on the shortcut to heaven.....In other words, the ultimate joy and happiness in life comes from knowing and having a personal relationship with God. When you desire that, you don't look for shortcuts and ways to justify your sinful behavior as mom's co-worker did. Instead, you constantly turn to the Lord and admit your flaws and ask for forgivenss. You seek opportunities to be obedient and look for ways to serve and bring glory and honor to Christ Jesus!
Let me just say that behaving sinfully may result in short-term fun but real joy and real happiness comes from trying to lead a pure and righteous life. That "fun" from sin is temporary and empty. The joy from living with the Lord is real and full! Look to walk with the Lord and be obedient to the life He calls us to lead. Admit your sin and ask for forgivenss. Accept His forgiveness and give thanks to Him for His Grace and unfailing love!
Dont take that for granted!
Father God, Thank you for your Son. Thank you for His sacrifice on that cross. Lord, I admit to you that I am a sinful person. Place conviction on my heart that I might know when I have sinned and turned from You. God, help me to fight the weakness of my flesh. God I praise you for your forgivness and thank You for that gift that You extend to me. God, my desire is to be in constant relationship with You. Lord, I want my thoughts and my obsession to be You! Lord, help me to stay focused on the real and complete joy that comes from knowing and serving You! God I love you with my heart and soul! Thank you for loving me. --Amen
Getting Paid What you Deserve
So, I am reading this book right now title "What's so Amazing about Grace?" by Philip Yancey. I just started it and already LOVE the lessons and the points that he makes. I encourage ALL of you to pick up a copy and read it some day.... Its a great book.
So, I was reading the other day about getting "paid" what you deserve... Sounds good right? If we work 8 hours, we want to be paid 8 hours. We DESERVE it. If we put in 10 hours and someone else only puts in 4 we DESERVE more money and more recognition. Certainly, thats what we like to think.....
Now, lets stop to consider for a second the "dues" that we have paid in life.... How does our time compare to God's time? How does our sacrifice compare to God's sacrfice? Worded differently, what do we REALLY DESERVE!?!? Kind of puts a different perspective on it huh?
If we were "paid" on merit what a dismal, horrible, sad life we would live! What would happen if God said, "I only want people to get what they desrve - nothing more, nothing less?" Got the butterflies in your stomach? Feel good about your "paycheck." Won the lottery? NOT ME! I would be poor and homeless....
Guess what, God doesn't demand perfection for a relationship with Him. He doesn't require us to be "perfect" before he Loves us. I am so thankful that God doesn't say that to me... He doesn't say that to ANY of us if we seek Him and recognize Him as Savior.
Instead, He gives everything we DON'T deserve..... forgiveness, love, mercy, grace, second chances, third chances...........two thousand chances. The gospels tell us that He died for US and because of the "price" He paid, our dues are free!
Think about that.... all your sins wiped clean! All the burdens you carry lifted. All the trash cleaned up! How AMAZING! He cares about you enough to pay the price for you.... A price so extravagent it would bankrupt you or me..... Now that is GRACE!
I got what I didn't deserve. I deserved a Pinto and He gave me a Porsche!
Father God, I love you so much! Thank you God for sending your Son Jesus to dies for Me! Thank You God for loving me and accepting me, imperfect and all. God thank you for NOT giving me what I deserve but instead, accepting me exactly as I am.... God help me grow and draw close to You! Lord, I live my life for you... I love you and my prayer is that this life that you have blessed me with, brings joy and honor and glory to You! -- Amen
So, I was reading the other day about getting "paid" what you deserve... Sounds good right? If we work 8 hours, we want to be paid 8 hours. We DESERVE it. If we put in 10 hours and someone else only puts in 4 we DESERVE more money and more recognition. Certainly, thats what we like to think.....
Now, lets stop to consider for a second the "dues" that we have paid in life.... How does our time compare to God's time? How does our sacrifice compare to God's sacrfice? Worded differently, what do we REALLY DESERVE!?!? Kind of puts a different perspective on it huh?
If we were "paid" on merit what a dismal, horrible, sad life we would live! What would happen if God said, "I only want people to get what they desrve - nothing more, nothing less?" Got the butterflies in your stomach? Feel good about your "paycheck." Won the lottery? NOT ME! I would be poor and homeless....
Guess what, God doesn't demand perfection for a relationship with Him. He doesn't require us to be "perfect" before he Loves us. I am so thankful that God doesn't say that to me... He doesn't say that to ANY of us if we seek Him and recognize Him as Savior.
Instead, He gives everything we DON'T deserve..... forgiveness, love, mercy, grace, second chances, third chances...........two thousand chances. The gospels tell us that He died for US and because of the "price" He paid, our dues are free!
Think about that.... all your sins wiped clean! All the burdens you carry lifted. All the trash cleaned up! How AMAZING! He cares about you enough to pay the price for you.... A price so extravagent it would bankrupt you or me..... Now that is GRACE!
I got what I didn't deserve. I deserved a Pinto and He gave me a Porsche!
Father God, I love you so much! Thank you God for sending your Son Jesus to dies for Me! Thank You God for loving me and accepting me, imperfect and all. God thank you for NOT giving me what I deserve but instead, accepting me exactly as I am.... God help me grow and draw close to You! Lord, I live my life for you... I love you and my prayer is that this life that you have blessed me with, brings joy and honor and glory to You! -- Amen
The Simple things
So the topic for today: The simple things. I just love my life! I am learning each and every day that life has little to do with the big events and the life changing opportunities. Life is lived in the everyday moments.... Its the simple things. Think about it.....
Rainstorms over the ocean, gentle breezes, children laughing, late night talks with your best friend, laughing until you cry, smiling til your face hurts, late night drives with the windows down, catching up with an old friend, singing in the car, picnics in the park, reading a good book, card games, long walks, quiet time, family time..... Thats where life is lived! These are the moments that we often take for granted. God is teaching me to just slow down and enjoy the little things....
When I reflect on those little things.... I recognize that each one is an gift from God placed in my life to bring joy and happiness. Its these moments that I find myself daydreaming about throughout my day. Its these moments and these memories that I remember and cling to.
Its in these moments that I grow close to those I love so dearly. Those little things and those silly memories help shape and define the relationships with my family and friends that are so important to me! When I think about the relationships in my life its the day to day committment and the day to day blessings that ultimately make the difference! Its spending time just enjoying the small things....
My life is AMAZING! I praise God for just His awesome blessings.... Life is GREAT and life is lived in those simple moments.
Father God, Thank you for my many blessings! Thank you Lord for just the amazing happiness that comes from enjoying the little things in life! God thank you for those gifts! Help me to recognize them each day.... I pray that I never take them for granted and always find time to really enjoy those moments and memories. Lord I love you and I pray that in all things my life brings glory and honor to You. Amen
Rainstorms over the ocean, gentle breezes, children laughing, late night talks with your best friend, laughing until you cry, smiling til your face hurts, late night drives with the windows down, catching up with an old friend, singing in the car, picnics in the park, reading a good book, card games, long walks, quiet time, family time..... Thats where life is lived! These are the moments that we often take for granted. God is teaching me to just slow down and enjoy the little things....
When I reflect on those little things.... I recognize that each one is an gift from God placed in my life to bring joy and happiness. Its these moments that I find myself daydreaming about throughout my day. Its these moments and these memories that I remember and cling to.
Its in these moments that I grow close to those I love so dearly. Those little things and those silly memories help shape and define the relationships with my family and friends that are so important to me! When I think about the relationships in my life its the day to day committment and the day to day blessings that ultimately make the difference! Its spending time just enjoying the small things....
My life is AMAZING! I praise God for just His awesome blessings.... Life is GREAT and life is lived in those simple moments.
Father God, Thank you for my many blessings! Thank you Lord for just the amazing happiness that comes from enjoying the little things in life! God thank you for those gifts! Help me to recognize them each day.... I pray that I never take them for granted and always find time to really enjoy those moments and memories. Lord I love you and I pray that in all things my life brings glory and honor to You. Amen
My Joy
So, I think the thing that is most on my mind right now is just the awesome faithfulness of God ..... Have you ever been in a situation where you were for sure it would not turn out the way you wanted. You know what I am talking about.... when every door shuts and there doesn't seem any way out?
Well, let me just say that God is good, scratch that ....God is AMAZING! I was faced with such a difficult week and such a difficult situation and convinced that it wasn't going to end the way that I desired. It seemed like all the avenues were dead ends..... I just turned to God and prayed. I cried and I prayed and I just lifed it up to Him and completely surrendered the situation to Him. I asked others to pray and ultimately that God's will be done.
The end result was exactly what I had prayed for! EXACTLY! God was so faithful and so incredible. He just tore down walls and barriers and opened so many doors. I am just amazed at how he worked in this situation! It is just another amazing example of his faithfulness and his love!
The other amazing thing about this week is just sense of peace and unshakable joy that was in my heart. I kept reflecting back to Paul and his letter to the Phillipians. On the surface I was exhausted and sad and unhappy with the situation but directly below all those crashing waves and all those external circumstances there was such a peace and such and unwavering joy! That joy and that peace was definitely God and His presence and His strength in my life.
That joy and that peace and that strength that were His is what got me thru. It was what I focused on. Its what I am SO SO greatful for. It what all of us should focus on in good times and bad. God is so amazing. He was there to help me ths week. He is there always. I just want to focus on that and give him all the praise for not only the outcome of the situation but just my own committment to serving Him and Loving Him withall my heart and soul! There is absolutely nothing I can do or want to do without Him!
I could talk for so much more but for now.... I say goodbye. I encourage you to just praise God for the ways that he is working in your life and I urge you to recognize that joy and peace that is in your heart for personally knowing and serving Him!
In Him.
Well, let me just say that God is good, scratch that ....God is AMAZING! I was faced with such a difficult week and such a difficult situation and convinced that it wasn't going to end the way that I desired. It seemed like all the avenues were dead ends..... I just turned to God and prayed. I cried and I prayed and I just lifed it up to Him and completely surrendered the situation to Him. I asked others to pray and ultimately that God's will be done.
The end result was exactly what I had prayed for! EXACTLY! God was so faithful and so incredible. He just tore down walls and barriers and opened so many doors. I am just amazed at how he worked in this situation! It is just another amazing example of his faithfulness and his love!
The other amazing thing about this week is just sense of peace and unshakable joy that was in my heart. I kept reflecting back to Paul and his letter to the Phillipians. On the surface I was exhausted and sad and unhappy with the situation but directly below all those crashing waves and all those external circumstances there was such a peace and such and unwavering joy! That joy and that peace was definitely God and His presence and His strength in my life.
That joy and that peace and that strength that were His is what got me thru. It was what I focused on. Its what I am SO SO greatful for. It what all of us should focus on in good times and bad. God is so amazing. He was there to help me ths week. He is there always. I just want to focus on that and give him all the praise for not only the outcome of the situation but just my own committment to serving Him and Loving Him withall my heart and soul! There is absolutely nothing I can do or want to do without Him!
I could talk for so much more but for now.... I say goodbye. I encourage you to just praise God for the ways that he is working in your life and I urge you to recognize that joy and peace that is in your heart for personally knowing and serving Him!
In Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)