I would like to take the time to say something about friendship.
I have been very blessed in my life to have some amazing women in my life. These women walk in the same shoes as I do so to speak (or have in the past). They are all striving for a prize that cannot be measured by man. They do this while working, or staying at home. While being wives, or preparing to be wives. While raising children, or once again preparing to raise them. These women are the cream of the crop. They are called, chosen; and becoming faithful to things that the Lord requires in their lives.
I say that I am blessed to know these women because they encourage me to be a better person. They are there when I need to talk and they are not afraid to talk when I need to listen. Even if they don't agree with everything that I do or say...they are still THERE.
Even if we don't speak EVERY service for lengthy amounts of time, just seeing them across the room sometimes gives me the very strength I need.
They are strong, steady; and true friends. I get to work beside them in this life and someday WHEN we get to see Jesus I know that they will be standing there beside me. Ready to work in the next!! :o)
So to you...my friends...I say thank you. Thank you for being a friend to me and hopefully I can be a friend to you.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Walkin' Out of the Valley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tizwr1BF6mM
Sometimes when you’re in the valley you can get so comfortable that you can’t get out. You may SEE that you’re in the valley, and KNOW that you should get out; but you’ve tried to get out before…you know how hard it is and you just would rather not try.
I know what it is like to live there. You are absolutely miserable and you know because you’ve been taught how to get out of the valley; but you just don’t have the energy anymore to do the work. You are spiritually iron deficient :o)
I recently had some health issues that required some blood work to be done. You see I was having some symptoms that were making me sick and I couldn’t diagnose it on my own so I had to go see the doctor. (Literally; but I am using this experience to get across a spiritual point) The doctor ran several tests to determine what was wrong. A little bit like the candle of the Lord searching out the very inward parts of our soul. When the results came back I was extremely low on iron. He began to explain my symptoms:
Weakness, fatigue, or lack of stamina.
Shortness of breath during exercise.
Headache.
Difficulty concentrating.
Irritability.
Dizziness.
I was shocked to find that this deficiency in one little area had caused all these little symptoms. Who knew that something so simple could make so much of a difference in the way I felt and acted.
(Are you getting the picture yet?)
The same thing can happen to you spiritually. You can be lacking in an area…prayer, fasting, reading, faithfulness etc…and it can have extreme side effects. This is why if you are in the valley sometimes it is just easier to give up. You are lacking in the areas that give you the strength to fight.
What did my doctor prescribe? A supplement that I have to take EVERYDAY to replenish and maintain what I have lost. Eventually my health will be back to normal; but if I fail to maintain my supplements I will be right back in the same condition.
I was sitting and thinking about this today and it occurred to me that you have to DECIDE to do the work. You can’t just say “Oh yes…that is what I need to do and not do it”. My iron will not be assimilated by osmosis…it must be ingested!!
If you turn to the Lord and take that one step…ask Him to help you find the strength you lack…then He will meet you. I just read this today:
Psalm 34:6-7
- This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
- The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psalm 34:15
- The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
What does this mean? That if you are trying to do things right the Lord WILL hear you. One thing I keep trying to instill in my girls is that mistakes happen. Our ultimate goal is to no longer make them; but while you are learning they will happen. The key is to be like David and when you have made a mistake, fall on your face before the Lord and repent. Acknowledge what you’ve done and get up.
Several times the Lord pleaded with Israel and told them that if they would repent and TURN from their wicked ways that He would restore them. First we must repent; but then we must turn away from those old habits and desires. If we do that then He has promised to give us more than those things could ever bring. Joy, peace, happiness; and ultimately ETERNAL LIFE!!!
I could give you several examples in my own life where the Lord has dealt with me in a church service, and then blessed me abundantly; but then when I get home I automatically start the same routine. For me it’s not what you call an big bad obvious sin; but it's something that the Lord is asking me to limit my exposure to. He is asking me to quit filling my mind up with things that are not Him.
I testified a couple weeks ago about that little voice inside you that says “No No” when you’re about to do something He doesn’t approve of. It was mentioned about walking in the spirit and I thought how do you do that?? You learn to walk in the spirit by listening to that little voice and obeying it. That voice is the spirit of the Lord trying to direct you, and when you learn to listen and obey that voice (even in the little things that seem silly) you will be walking in the spirit.
Be encouraged and turn your eyes to the Lord. He will help you :o)
Sometimes when you’re in the valley you can get so comfortable that you can’t get out. You may SEE that you’re in the valley, and KNOW that you should get out; but you’ve tried to get out before…you know how hard it is and you just would rather not try.
I know what it is like to live there. You are absolutely miserable and you know because you’ve been taught how to get out of the valley; but you just don’t have the energy anymore to do the work. You are spiritually iron deficient :o)
I recently had some health issues that required some blood work to be done. You see I was having some symptoms that were making me sick and I couldn’t diagnose it on my own so I had to go see the doctor. (Literally; but I am using this experience to get across a spiritual point) The doctor ran several tests to determine what was wrong. A little bit like the candle of the Lord searching out the very inward parts of our soul. When the results came back I was extremely low on iron. He began to explain my symptoms:
Weakness, fatigue, or lack of stamina.
Shortness of breath during exercise.
Headache.
Difficulty concentrating.
Irritability.
Dizziness.
I was shocked to find that this deficiency in one little area had caused all these little symptoms. Who knew that something so simple could make so much of a difference in the way I felt and acted.
(Are you getting the picture yet?)
The same thing can happen to you spiritually. You can be lacking in an area…prayer, fasting, reading, faithfulness etc…and it can have extreme side effects. This is why if you are in the valley sometimes it is just easier to give up. You are lacking in the areas that give you the strength to fight.
What did my doctor prescribe? A supplement that I have to take EVERYDAY to replenish and maintain what I have lost. Eventually my health will be back to normal; but if I fail to maintain my supplements I will be right back in the same condition.
I was sitting and thinking about this today and it occurred to me that you have to DECIDE to do the work. You can’t just say “Oh yes…that is what I need to do and not do it”. My iron will not be assimilated by osmosis…it must be ingested!!
If you turn to the Lord and take that one step…ask Him to help you find the strength you lack…then He will meet you. I just read this today:
Psalm 34:6-7
- This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
- The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psalm 34:15
- The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
What does this mean? That if you are trying to do things right the Lord WILL hear you. One thing I keep trying to instill in my girls is that mistakes happen. Our ultimate goal is to no longer make them; but while you are learning they will happen. The key is to be like David and when you have made a mistake, fall on your face before the Lord and repent. Acknowledge what you’ve done and get up.
Several times the Lord pleaded with Israel and told them that if they would repent and TURN from their wicked ways that He would restore them. First we must repent; but then we must turn away from those old habits and desires. If we do that then He has promised to give us more than those things could ever bring. Joy, peace, happiness; and ultimately ETERNAL LIFE!!!
I could give you several examples in my own life where the Lord has dealt with me in a church service, and then blessed me abundantly; but then when I get home I automatically start the same routine. For me it’s not what you call an big bad obvious sin; but it's something that the Lord is asking me to limit my exposure to. He is asking me to quit filling my mind up with things that are not Him.
I testified a couple weeks ago about that little voice inside you that says “No No” when you’re about to do something He doesn’t approve of. It was mentioned about walking in the spirit and I thought how do you do that?? You learn to walk in the spirit by listening to that little voice and obeying it. That voice is the spirit of the Lord trying to direct you, and when you learn to listen and obey that voice (even in the little things that seem silly) you will be walking in the spirit.
Be encouraged and turn your eyes to the Lord. He will help you :o)
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