No Pressure...

　
#20  Why should I let pressures of Life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its problems? (20 cans for Success)

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Pressures of life tends to be a big part of anyone’s life. It is the small naggin’ waves that seem to not be large enough to rock the boat. It makes me think of spending time in the ocean. The waves would come in, making you step back but not knock you down. Further more, after spending a lot of time in the water, your body tires and soon it is evident that the waves had an effect on you.

I have noticed that I can identify when the big trials and storms hit me. I am sure that everyone can admit that your body tenses, emotions increase. You cling to hope and your faith in God knowing it will get you through it. The big waves of life tend to knock you down, tumble and beat you up, and sometimes take the breath from you. I understand life is not easy, but because the hard things of this life are temporary and are preparing for us an eternal glory. I seem to miss seeing that the little everyday items are doing that too.

I have noticed they take more from me than the big struggles. I figure this to be true because I tend to deal with these little struggles by myself. Recently, I found myself pressured to the point of tears. Saying to my friend… “I can’t say it is one big thing but many little things.” If I was only dealing with behavior of the children in my home, I know that would have been nothing different than I deal with everyday.

It was the addition of remodeling my kitchen, being stretched between children’s needs and activities, making decisions on a new car, planning a remodel on the attic, work, bills, lack of sleep…. UrGH!! Funny how that makes me stressed just writing a uncompleted list. Whooo! Deep breaths….

Focusing on the scripture in John 16, I realize that I have been conditioned to lay my big burdens at Jesus feet and let Him take them, clinging tight to Him through it. But holding onto the little tasks to deal with on my own. Being hit and battered by them over time. This scripture is proof that I have it wrong.

Jesus is telling us that there will be pressures but He has taken care of it with defeating darkness at the cross. He did say pressures not storms or trails. That would be anything that forces against you, big or little. Take a second to think of what is pressing against you… He has overcome that for you.

I know for myself I am going to need to place those little burdens at his feet too. It’s not as though He is not a big enough God to deal with these things too. It is just I need to condition myself that all of my life needs

to be handed to Him. Just think we can give Him the bad things and in return He gives us peace….

Perseverance

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Perseverance…. continued steady belief or efforts, withstanding discouragement or difficulty; persistence. Steadfastness.

I think of this word… perseverance… God gave it to me to focus on this year of 2011. Only 4 months into the year, I sit here knowing the amount of things that I started.. I have promised to myself, that I was going to get done, and stick with. And already have become discouraged to continue with.

I started the new year, encouraged to drop my extra weight now that I have started medicine to correct my thyroid problem. I could feel my clothing getting lose, the exercising and eating good foods was making me feel the best I ever have. However, this morning when I woke up I realized that I had went right to my old ways.

It is not that I don’t want to feel good, or even drop my weight to get healthy. It is because a shift in my families schedule made it harder to get to the gym… then came the excuses… then discouragement. My weight has been a battle all my life. And the lack of perseverance has made this journey a losing fight.

In all God wisdom, He has known that this is a word that I have been lacking in my live. It is so interesting to me that there is so much I can do easily… but the things that are hard for me are REALLY HARD!!! I know that the only way I will be able to complete this race is to be willing to fight through it knowing I have God, my father, helping when I fall…

My encouragement has come from a couple of inspiring men.  Here are their stories….

　
Derek had a loving father that started the race with him, and was committed to finishing it with him. God does the same with us. He will never set us out into a journey that He is not willing to take with us. To lift us up when we fall or to encourage us when we need it the most.

These two stories, have brought tears to my eyes each time I have watched them. The perseverance these men had is outstanding. I seem to think when I hit a small bump in the road, I hit a mountain. When all God wants is for me to keep stepping forward through the trail and be willing to finish the race.

God didn’t send me this far to start a race,  He sent me to finish it.
　
　

Peace.. In all this STRESS!?!

I learnt as a new Christian that having peace was the way to tell that you were in God’s will. Many times I have had peace in the storms, and with answered questions. The presence of God’s peace is where I would like to be at all time. It is as though there is a loving arm wrapped around you.. Loving, protecting, … and trust me, nothing else matters.

I recently had a new reality… it was STRESS!! Go with me on my journey…

I can admit that I have been really good about stress management ever since I have become a Christian. I know when to lay my burdens down, manage my time and to say “NO”. When I feel stressed, I step back to analyze my life to see what is causing it. Then take the steps to remove it. However, this time it came slowly and silently….

I had been needing to purchase a new vehicle for about six months. My trusty Aztec was needing a little repair, also our family of six could not ride all together because of it only having five seats. The Windstar van that I bought a couple of years back was getting closer to failing each time I drove it. It was a ticking time bomb…. Tick tick.

I started looking for vehicles, but each time my stomach started turning and I would give up. The nausea and headaches didn’t seem to be very apparent until the day that I lost reverse in the van and knew that I had to get a different vehicle, I couldn’t postpone it any longer.

Over the time, I had asked God for direction and confirmation, I keep hearing God say, “ I will let you choice.. I will help you provide for it.” So I would start the mission of looking at vehicles, confident and excited. To find myself, depressed and sick to my stomach.

At one time I thought that I was not trusting God, but I had no reason not to. When I purchased the Aztec, it was handed to me and paid in full by God. And that time I wasn’t even looking for a new vehicle because I knew I couldn’t afford it and didn’t want to strain the family budget. Trusting God was not the issue…

Each time I sat in the van, which was a purchase that I did. I didn’t care what God thought.. I am sure that I didn’t even ask. I bought it because of wrong reasons, and bought it even thought the salesman was trying to talk me out of it. Duh!! But that only shows how strong my motivation for buying it was. After signing the agreement, I felt bad each time I would drive it, I was not confident that it would get the family to destinations and each time I drove it something else went wrong with it.

I started along time ago doing my homework… I knew what type of vehicle that I would need for the family, I knew that the budget I needed to stay in, I researched different types and looked and prayed often. But that was not enough for me to gain the peace I was looking for. I keep hearing God say.. “it’s time and I am going to back your choice.” My stress level was to the point that it was very apparent. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what was going on with the God’s and my relationship. I knew that there had to be lack of trust or obedience. All that came to me was more STRESS. I just knew I couldn’t buy it without the peace. I knew that I didn’t want to buy another version of the van.

Sitting with my stomach turning, God so softly whispered to me.. “You asked me to forgive you for your actions in buying the van, now it is time to forgive yourself.” How could I forgive myself??… I was mad, embarrassed, and frustrated at myself for doing such a foolish thing. I can admit I festered on the advice that God had given me, for a few days, that is until I got tired of being stressed.

In my own way… I forgave myself. That is not without chewing myself out and telling myself how disappointed I am. But forgiveness came… And the peace settled in.

I never knew that I was carrying stress around for such a long time. I never would of thought it was because I held on to my stupid action, so tightly and would not let myself of the hook and forget about it. The stress was effecting other parts of my life. The decision to forgive myself lifted so much weight off and cleared the fog from my eyes. I smile today with a vehicle that I had asked God for, to every detail. Knowing the best part of it is the PEACE…


After thought: I challenge you to think about the bad choices that you have made and see if you are still holding on to them. God will forget our sins if we ask Him to, and never look back. We need to take and do the same for ourselves.
　
God Bless

Matthew 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Obedience… OUCH!!!

When I started the road being a mother, I decided that there was two things that I focus on teaching my sons as they grew up. The first would be respectful and the other obedience. I found out quickly it is a lesson that I needed to learn also. Here is my journey…

The funniest thing happened the other day... I was joking with my oldest son that I read in the bible that I have permission to "spank " him anytime. I then showed him Proverb 29:15. Which reads as follows: The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left undisciplined brings his mother to shame. The funniest part was that he went to his bible to find the same verse... He thought that I had a special version of a mom bible. But after discovering every bible in the house said the same thing, he decided that it was not fair.

The reality about that is God asks that of all of us. The scripture Isaiah 1:19-20 (RSV) proves that to us. It states…If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

I know for myself, I am hardheaded some of the times… ok… for the ones that know me better… most of the time, I like having my way. It’s easy for me to see why we should be obedient to authority. If my boss asks me to do something outside of my job description, I tend not to put up a big fuse. However, God has asked some things of me that is not so easy. I always enjoy when God asks of me the things I like to do, that are in my confront zone. However, I don’t like when He asks of me to do things that are not.

I think of my boys when it is time to do chores. They dance around the subject the best they can, they make every excuse to accomplish the task at hand, and spend more energy avoiding then doing. But when they are done, there is a sense of accomplishment and the reward is present. Sadly, that seems to reflect me sometimes when God calls on me.

I want to say that I find myself being willing… until it comes to doing. I guess that is where the reproof comes in. I know that teaching my children there is a reward in the obedience seems to be difficult. And there was a time that the rod was appropriate as a consequence. I am sure that God feels the same way about me, and I know that I have gotten my bottom spanked a few times because I didn’t listen to God’s directions.

I look back on the times that I clearly trusted God and did what He said even though, I was tested in strength, in courage and ability. I didn’t lack of anything, because where I needed help He was there to fulfill the need. I can say, when I have been obedient to God’s request no matter how crazy the task was at hand… I had success, with the glory of God and I am reaping the rewards still to this day.

Even knowing all that, it seems to be hard at times to say, YES!. But I realized that it is a lack of faith that keeps me from running towards the task, screaming… YES!! YES!!. Faith is our trust in the ability and love of our heavenly Father. Trusting that He will not lead us in the way of destruction. I know that I would never ask my children to do anything that would lead them into harm. Why would my heavenly father lead me wrong?

Obedience is wrapped around faith. Faith is trusting in the unseen. It really all comes down to taking the steps forward, with the blindfold on, knowing that your heavenly Father is going to protect and guide you, and remove any obstacle that is in your way. Arriving at the destination that when the blindfold is removed you will reap of the goods of the land…

My prayer is that our hearts will be open to trusting when we can not see or understand. That the words of our heart will be, Yes!! to all of God’s directions and requests. Let us be faithful as God is faithful to us. Let us stand in victory over all that asked of us. And May God forgive us for the time times that we were disobedient. Thank you God for the love you have for us, that are not worthy. In Jesus name I pray.. Amen

Be aware of your disobedience, and say YES!!! to God. Close your eyes and take the first step, the ones to follow will be much easier. I am positive that you will reap the benefit at the end of the journey.

God will never ask of you for something that He is not willing to supply you with.

May God Bless you always…

A Pep Talk for You

Sometimes I find myself down, lost, unmoved and overall… blah. I still have my faith, my heart is still madly in love with our creator, and personally wishing for some kind of fireworks… but in actuality it is just… blah.

It reminds me of pep rallies that I would attend in high school. Even though I was missing a portion of class time, the events were not on my list of enjoyment. But nevertheless, as the band started to play, the cheers rose from the crowd and the excitement grew, I found myself cheering the team on in support. My heart was enlightened, a smile on my face and the confidence abound that our team would be the victors.

I find playing on the team for Christ, we also need our pep talks on occasion too.

In Ephesians chapter one, you can just imagine Paul with a mic in hand, delivering this address with the song, “We are the Champions”, playing from the pep band….

Ephesians 1:1-3 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

I praise our coach, for He is the one that has given to us. What would we be without his leadership?


1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Our heavenly coach loved and picked us from the beginning. He had us in mind before He even made us, because he wanted each one of us on His team.

1:7-8 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.

He sent His son to cleanse us and prepare us to be a asset to the Holy team. He overlooks our past failures and dedicated His abilities to strengthen us.

1:8-12 With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Even though we don’t understand the ways of the game, He has reveled to us His ways and the rules to follow to success and be victorious.

1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

When you were picked for the team, you had a choice to join or not. Because you had the confidence in what was presented to you and you placed on the jersey, God promised you a trainer to help in your development. With this trainer you are guaranteed a victory and your rewards will be grand.

1:15-19 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

When I heard that you joined the team, I have not stopped rooting for you. I ask your coach to teach you all that He knows. I ask you to understand the treasures that are given to you because you are a part of the team. And the precious resources that are now in your hands. The victory is guaranteed by this power.

1:19-21 That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Your coach has won the greatest battle of all time, He has the trophy and glory seated at His right hand. He has the ability to defeat any of the lesser competition. There is no greater than He, for now and forever.

1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

God has picked his team from the trainers, coaches, and players. He has placed all of us into positions to accomplish the Victory of the game. Now go train, get fit by the restoring of your mind and body. Prepare for the meeting of your competition, fore you are placed on the greatest of all teams and have all the resources needed to have God’s glorious victory.
Go Team Go!!!

With God, we are nothing less than the Champions…

Many Hats of a Single Mom

I wear many hats… as an employee, a daughter, a friend, a single mom. That list could go on and on. I believe though the most hats I wear has to be when it comes to me being a single mom. Here is my journey…

I became a single mom at Christmas time of 2001. My boys were two and four years old. It was as though I packed my bag with a new amount of hats that I would be wearing over the next years. As any single parent knows, there is many roles that are needed to be filled.

Cook, maid, teacher, disciplinary, judge, nurse, chauffer, comforter, head of house and bread winner. I am sure that there is even a lot of two parent homes that do those roles alone also. However, I have found that there is one hat that has been very hard for me to wear. It is the daddy cap.

This cap seems to be too big, no matter how I try to distort it. It seems to always be to big to fill. When I place it on, I turn into the character that is spilt down the middle - female on one half and male on the other. I battle with the fact that I am trying to raise my boys, as a woman acting like a man. And said like that makes it sound very frightening.

I have many of times horse played with my boys, just as boys do. Then wondering if I am actually showing them how to be a man, or if I am showing them how to treat a woman. The daddy cap is tricky one. In our case, the boy’s biological father has is absent in their life. They have seen him on a couple occasions and get a rare phone call. But they don’t have him to model being a man after.

I have been told that a woman can not raise a boy, by more than one person. Statically it is proven that majority of boys don’t succeed in single mother homes. It humbles me to know that I can not do it by myself. It has been shown to me time and time again that I am not equipped. But I know who is and I rely on Him to fill the hat that I can not. His name is Jesus.

I giggle because the story sounds so defeated, but I know better. First, God is our father. Even when our earthly one is absent. The love that God shows to my children is unimaginable. As their mother I can not even love them as much as God does. I have seen my children receive His love, His peace, His comfort. When I first was handed this cap, I had a strong argument with God. I yelled at Him, saying, “why , would you put me in this position, if I can never wear the hat.” He said to me, “it is not for you, it is for me to wear.”

It has not always been easy for my boys and I. But God never said it was going to be easy. Nevertheless, God has delivered in all of our needs. Isaiah 54:13 states All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace. How can I ask anything more than that?

Without being bias, my boys are growing into very respectful, honest, trustworthy young men. I have been blessed by wonderful male mentors for the boys through coaches. Overall, the boys are learning a lesson from their loss of an earthy father, which will mold them into the fathers that they will be in the future.

In my journey, I am so happy that God told me to hand Him that daddy cap. It makes it so much easier to wear the bouquet of motherhood.

Why did I ask?!?

My prayers ask God to show me the way, who I am and what my purpose is… Every prayer has a plea for an answer. Then when He tells me what I have begging for… sometimes I say “Why did I ask!?!.”
Here is some of my journey…

Have you ever been so determined to have God answer a question to get an answer that you were not expecting? This has happened so many times in my walk with God.. . I have been removing things from the life that are distractions, like playing City Ville on Face book, long endless phone calls, and washing dishes. Dishes?!? Yes, dishes, I found that buying a cheap disposable plates saves me a lot of time in a day. LOL The wasted time has been consciously transferred into time spent with God. The presence of God is where I find a lot of my questions answered.

I can omit freely that I have been desiring a marriage relationship for awhile now. Lately, the big question has been, “ God when will you grant me a husband.” I was sitting the other day realizing that it has been 9 years since my ex husband and I separated. It has not been always an easy road but I always believed that God has always had me in the right place. Since my recent trip on the dating path, my desire had been getting stronger.

As the time passes, I have found myself asking the question even more. The answers that God has given me have not been my life mate in front of me. That would be way to easy….

God has showen me how my health needs improving. He has showed me that our relationship, the most important, is a demonstration of a marriage and it needs some work. Then the big one… He told me, what is wrong with me and the things I need to work on. WHAT?!? I asked for a partner not a mirror to look into.
I wonder why I even asked… Now I need to work on my health, become more intimate with God, AND work on ME.

As so often, my stubbornness perks up in me. I stomped my feet saying, I have been working on me for 9 years. I think that is enough. As God replies “Yes, and stubbornness is one of the things you need to add to your list to work on.”

In my walk with God, He has not always answered the questions the way that I wanted Him too. Actually, it was very rare that it happened that easy. I have gotten YES, NO and here is something BETTER as an answer. But, no matter which one, a time to wait, a sacrifice that needed to happen, or a lesson that needed to be taught has been attached to it. Nevertheless, every time I received exactly what I needed… at the right time and being matured in the process.

Even though, I have not enjoyed some answers, the waiting, or the self reflection, I have come to realize that God has my best interest in mind. Knowing that it is important that I must take the time for the things God has presented to me. To be obedient to his requests. And in some odd way knowing that He is preparing me for something great.

What have you been asking God for? Are you getting the answer that you have been looking for? Do you have faith that God has the perfect plan? Is God able?

Ephesians 3:19- 20 (Amp) 19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] [unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! 20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--

Do you dare ask???