What to do with all the thoughts in my head!?!

 Sometimes, especially at night, my mind is filled with so many thoughts. Some of the thoughts are my thoughts, some are not. The enemy just slides things so skillfully in my head that I don't always realize at first that it was not MY thought. 

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. — 2 Corinthians 10:5  NIV

I have done a few Bible studies on taking thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ. But, I still struggle at making them obedient to Christ. Last night God showed me something and I want to share it with you. I came upon a garden and my friend was pulling weeds. This is a great visual showing how to get rid of the thoughts that we do not want to take root in our minds. Some weeds will come back, some new ones pop up rather quickly. Therefore, it is an on going task to keep the garden looking good and producing good fruit. Words are powerful, both positive and the negative.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. — Proverbs 18:21  NIV

Do you allow weeds to grow in your garden? Pull them out - get rid of them!

Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. — James 4:7  NIV

Perfect?

     I am so far from, I can't even say perfect, so, maybe... normal? Facebook and other social media posts say, "Look, hey-I am perfect, everything is wonderful." I really am a perfectionist and didn't even realize it until a few years ago. But it's kind of ironic because that is coming from someone who truly can't even measure up. I think someone my age would have figured out by now that it is impossible to be perfect in our human state and just accept it and just do the best possible, leaning and depending on Jesus all the way! I have leaned on Jesus but at the same time trying to do it myself. Does that make sense? It's crazy to me, but that's me. So, my prayer today is to really let go and let God be God in all His power and sovereignty. He is my Lord! Thank you Jesus!

Close to God

Q: When in your life have you felt closest to the Lord?

I was listening to the radio this morning and "The River" by Jordan Feliz came on, and of course I started singing along. I accidentally said 'we're going down to the valley,' instead of 'river'. It started me thinking. What's in a valley? A river!

I really love that feeling when I'm on the mountain top worshiping the Lord! I wish I could stay there forever. But, not till heaven will that happen! As Jesus said, we will have trouble in this world, (John 16:33). And honestly, the times I have felt the closest to the Lord was when I was in a valley. Times like when my first child was still born, when my dad died, any time I'm in physical pain, surgeries etc. that's when God is really holding me up. 

Rivers usually begin small in the mountains, water from melted snow or rain. By the time the water has formed a river and reached a valley, the river is usually smooth and calm. Jesus is the living water, (John 4:14). So, next time you find yourself in a valley, go to the river, Jesus is near to you! 

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18  

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Today is Mother's Day and I want to wish all the moms and moms-to-be a happy day. Being a mom and now a grandmother is the best thing that ever happened to me. However very sad and horrible, my first child, my first daughter, Ashley was still born. The pain can still be as strong as I allow it. But God has brought healing and restoration. And I know without a doubt I will see her again someday. I never really got to say a hello. It was several years before we had our second child, another daughter! And how thankful and happy the whole family was! But those awkward Mother's Days when the pastor asked all the moms to stand was a horrible time for me. The pain was so great, should I stand or keep sitting? I didn't feel like a mom, even though I knew God looked at me that way. I was just hurting. 

The church we now attend always prays for the women who want to be a mom, whether its a healing of the womb or an adoption. The coolest thing this year was when the pastor had all of the women stand that had been prayed for and experienced answered prayer on a previous Mother's Day. What a testimony! God heals! If you are hurting this Mother's Day, I am praying for you. Hang in there. I didn't think I would ever have a another daughter, but God gave our family two more daughters after Ashley and now a granddaughter! This year my mom is not here for Mothers Day, (she left last June), and it hurts. But, God...

The sermon I heard this weekend was so good! It was a Mothers Day message. God made mothers! The qualities of mothers, our intuition, our caring, came from God. If you have time just look up the following scriptures on God's motherly character: Luke 7:12, Matt 9:36, I Thess 2:7, Isaiah 66:13.

God knows our thoughts and still loves us: Matt 23:37, Matt 9:4, Luke 5:22. God created us in His image. He created male and female. God is really not 'male'. He is so much greater than us and we cannot humanize Him or put Him in a box. He is much bigger and more powerful than we can imagine. And He loves us! The creator of the world wants a relationship with you! Keep Praying!

Genesis 1:26-27New International Version (NIV)

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

Happy Good Friday!

     Today is Good Friday and I would like to share some thoughts from a teaching from a long time ago. I wish I could remember who spoke these words to give them credit, but I cannot. Good Friday is the day we remember that Jesus was tortured to death for us so that we may live, an unbelievable act of Love! I cannot imagine such a bad day as that. And yet, as humans we think we have bad days, and we do, but hopefully not to the extent that Jesus suffered on that historic day. Jesus gives us many great examples on how to live in scriptures. I like this acronym for the Bible:

• Basic 
• Instructions 
• Before 
• Leaving 
• Earth

The day Jesus died He showed us how to handle a bad day. Do what Jesus did.

1. Forgive those who you think are causing your bad day. They probably don't even know it or realize the extent. On the cross Jesus said, "Father forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34.
2. Encourage others. Jesus encouraged one on a cross next to Him. "I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:43.
3. Take care of your family, (don't take your bad day out on them). Jesus took care of His family. "When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there,  He said to His mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then He said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27.
4. Give God your hard questions. "About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' that is, 'My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?'" Matthew 27:46

It may be Friday, but Sunday's coming! 

HE IS RISEN!!!

Prayer: Yielding to God's Will

This is a tough subject. I do not want you to think that we can get anything we want from the LORD, or that life is easy. Jesus said in this world we will have trouble, (John 16:33). However, asking the Lord for something with a right attitude can be very powerful. We are not God or even a god and cannot even think the way He does. He knows all things and knows what is best for us. We were created by Him and for Him. He desires the fellowship of our relationship. 

Matthew 6:33(NIV)  33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Years ago I wanted a particular job with a large company where my husband worked. I thought it would be perfect to work there because they paid very well with great benefits. It was a great place for my husband and the work went a long with my college major. Perfect right? So, I began praying, asking the Lord for a job there. I prayed two years! I never changed my prayer in that two years. I also never asked the Lord if He thought it was perfect or even what He thought about it. Then shortly after the two year mark it dawned on me maybe I was acting like a young child when a child just really wants something. I changed the way I prayed. I gave up. I told the Lord, "wait...I am wrong Lord. I have been praying all this time thinking about me. Lord I want Your will not mine. If it is Your will that I have this job, then wonderful, otherwise I don't want it." I received a call that week and was interviewed and offered a job--at a salary higher than my husbands! I knew this was from the LORD and He taught me a lot through the process. Now looking back on my job/careers I can see how the Lord has orchestrated many events and many blessings. 

Keep talking to the Lord!

Job 22:21(NIV) 21  “Submit to God and be at peace with him;  in this way prosperity will come to you.

God wants to talk to You!

John 10:27New International Version (NIV)

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 

God taught me this lesson about 15 years ago. My church had asked us to pray each day for a specific request for Upward Basketball. This was the first time in my life that I began having a daily quiet prayer time with the Lord. It changed my life and I believe saved my life!

At this same time I was going through a time with melanoma on my leg. (I didn't know it was melanoma. God had just told me to get the mole off.) Then, first three, then two more bumps came up on my hand. They were very strange wart-like moles. God used these to get me a referral to the doctor so I could get the melanoma removed before it spread. During this time one morning I woke up to God asking me a question. He said, "Why haven't you asked Me to remove the things on your hand?" I began to pray and answer Him. I began by asking for forgiveness for not talking to Him about my hand. I explained that they weren't bothering me at all and I was not really concerned about them. They didn't hurt or bother me. I just thought they were probably something minor that needed to be removed at some point. But, I did ask God to remove them. He said He would. 

I explained to my girls that God wants conversation with us. It's like for me as their mom, I want them to talk to me. I want them to talk to me about everything and anything, whether something bothers them or not. Our relationship with the Lord is like that too. Talk to Him about everything. Give Him time to talk back too.

When I went to the dermatologist to get the mole on my leg removed, the things on my hand were gone! I had done nothing special to them. They just gradually disappeared over a 6 week period. God is so powerful and true to His Word. 

If you do not already have a quiet time with the Lord I want to encourage you to start talking to God right now, everyday. It can change your life too!

1 Peter 5:7New International Version (NIV)

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Matthew 10:30-31New International Version (NIV)

30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.