God doesn't care about the numbers

God doesn't care about the numbers on the scale, He cares about how you see yourself.
God doesn't care about the numbers in your bank account, He cares about what you do with those funds.

So many times we let numbers discourage us, because we see them as something tangible. For example, working all week in the gym and then getting on the scale only to lose a pound or two(or nothing at all). We let those numbers decide whether or not we are happy instead of taking those small victories be our driving force. Are the numbers great, why yes of course, but if we let the numbers control our feelings, there are going to be times when we are upset. He knows your heart, He knows how hard you are trying, the numbers will be there when He's ready. Same goes for the other example above...You work a 40+ hour week and still find months when you don't feel like you have enough to do what you want or enough to put some away for a later date. When you are faithful with the day to day things, God will bring the big picture into view in time. Bottom line: He knows your heart and He is always faithful. Don't get discouraged, remember how much He loves you and how He sees you!!

When you are making a change, its not always something that happens over night. Change is a day to day to process, but we live in an instant society. We know how hard we are working and we feel like we need to see that change instantly. It's hard, but important to remember, that God honors our patience and our hard work. He knows our hearts and why we are doing what we do, in His time everything will fall into place.

One last thought....I love Natalie Grant and this song has been ministering to me this week. So many times we put on a mask at work, at church, at the store, because we feel like we must live up to what others expect of us or want us to do. We keep "the real me" hidden except for just a few precious trusted friends, because we've been hurt or not accepted in the past. I'm so thankful that He sees the real me and knows my heart even when I fail and come up short, He knows why I started in the first place. He not only sees the real me, but He loves the real us. (Let that sink in......)

The GPS

Last Thanksgiving, I finally broke down and got a GPS. Well yesterday I was driving home from Nashville and thought I would play with it. It kept telling me to go a different direction then the way I was used to taking. I ended up going the way I wanted to, but then realized why it told me to go a certain direction. The GPS knew the quicker route, with less traffic, and headache. I arrived at my intended destination, but not as fast as I probably would have if I had listened to the GPS. My way had a lot of red lights(stops along the journey).

How many times do we do this with God? He tells us which way to go and we sit there and ponder. We question His way, because its not the way we are used to. His way may not make sense at the time, but it always ends up with less heartache, less headaches, and is quicker in the end. His way doesn't always have all of those stops that we tend to complain about on our journey.

I can't say that I've always chosen His way. Thankfully, He's allowed my way to end up at the chosen destination, but with a few stops along the way. I'm learning though, that seeking His way first, can lead to less frustration and less days spent questioning why me? After all He promised that His plans were for our good, not to harm us, and to bring us a hope and a future.
Have a blessed week sweet readers!

Shells after the storm

So for the last week, I've had this dream/vision of God and I playing in the sand. With all the snow we have been having, I just wrote it off at first of just dreaming of warmer weather:-) Each time He and I were playing in the sand, and I always tried to bury "things" and He just kept smiling. So after a few nights of this, I asked for an explnation. So many times when we come to God we try to "bury" things(how you really feel, what happened during the day, what you want etc.), when He knows our hearts. He just wants us to be honest with Him and to tell Him how we really feel. He's not surprised by our feelings, He's not surprised when we get upset and have a fit or a pity party(For me, He's started asking now did that make things better...of course the answer is no). When we take our "things" to Him instead of burying them, He gives us what we need to deal with what's going on. He gives us the strength to handle what's coming, and the rest to be able to stand. The picture above was taken two years ago at Christmas. During that trip, there were some storms and a red tide that followed. Walking along after the storm passed, I saw this collection of shells that had emerged. So many times we bury things just like these shells, things we would rather not deal with, or let Him deal with(mostly because its going to be uncomfortable and it may hurt), things that we just do not want to think about, things that for a time seem hidden. Then a storm comes, and just like the red tide/storm uncovered these shells, sometimes things come out in our storm because we have not taken care of those emotions. True healing begins when you let Him take the cover off of your heart and let Him do what He needs to do. Does it hurt? YES, but in the end you become stronger. Then when the next storm comes along, the enemy doesn't have a chance to uncover anything you buried, because He's taken care of it all.   

Wise Man vs. Foolish Man

 Matthew 7:24-27
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

I remember singing the wise and foolish man song growing up, but this week I saw something I hadn't seen before when I read these verses. The foolish man that is referred to, is one that has heard His word and doesn't put it into practice. It is not referring to someone who has never heard the truth. How many times do we read or hear a scripture and think wow, that's just what I needed? How many times do we put that word into action? Words like...no weapon formed against you shall prosper, as a man thinks in his heart so is he, When you pass the through the waters they will not sweep over you. Faith is more than just listening or reading the scripture, it's putting it into practice which is easier said than done. Just something to think about.

Even when it talks about the wise man, He doesn't say if the storms come, but when. Life isn't going to be easy, some days will be harder than others. Sometimes there will be rain and it will seem like everything is coming againist you, but if you'll put His word into practice...trust Him even when you can't see what's coming next, remember that you are the righteousness of God in Christ, you are the Head and not the tail...He's going to give you the strength to stand. The storm will end and you will still be standing, a little stronger even.

What about me?

I love Joyce Meyer and this is one of my favorite things she does. It has stuck with me in more ways than one and always seems to step on my toes every time I see it.  What about me? It's a question most of us ask on a daily basis. We see others getting ahead in life, sliding through the day without really doing their part, making life harder on others instead of easier. It's hard when you hold your peace, you give 110%, there comes a time when you want to just scream, "What about me?". The flesh wants to be noticed and wants what it is due. The flesh wants someone to say thank you and to realize what you do. Guess what, the flesh always wants something. The best thing is God knows that. It's taken me awhile to get to this point and some days I fail at it miserably. My thoughts get on a roll with what the flesh wants and before long I'm feeling discouraged and having my own little pity party. Its not easy to say no to the flesh, but then again He never said it would be. So many times we wish for things to be easier, but I think He keeps it at a certain level because otherwise we would think we could do it without Him. It's time we start letting Him move some mountains out of our way, instead of wasting time climbing them. (Some mountains were never intended for us to climb.) So as you can probably guess, this what about me question has plagued me for awhile. It's been a constant battle this year and some days I've lost. Some days I've let the pity party win instead of facing it with the truth of His word. On days when you don't feel like you are good enough, remember that you are a child of the Most High. He loves you more than you love yourself and He made you to be you(not the person you are comparing yourself too). On days when you feel like you like you just can't go on, remember that He promised to fight your battles for you. On days when it feels like the world is against you, remember that He is always for you. On days when  you feel misunderstood, remember He knows your heart. Get the picture? Some days you are going to be stronger than others, but it's time we as Christians started tapping into the power that is already in us. It's time we stop letting the pity parties win and remember that His plans are for our good, to bring us a hope and a future. He knows when your spirit needs encouragement and when it is your flesh wanting it. Ask Him for what you need/want, He knows your heart anyway. Trust Him to provide just what you need when you need it. What about me you ask, What about Him He said? He really is the only One that matters.

Growth-what I've learned in just the last 2 days

This has been a learning week. Growth is a good thing, sometimes you get it right, sometimes you don't. Learning from the times you don't is growth. So here are just a few things I've learned in just the last two days.

• Quit thinking poorly of yourself. We would be less discouraged if we would start speaking more positive thoughts about ourselves. (i.e. if you are trying to lose weight, be careful what you say about yourself and the change you see/don't see. Remember the word says "As a man thinks in His heart so is He).
• The enemy hates when you start getting stronger. Look out, he doesn't want you walking in what God has planned for you.  The enemy is smart too, those discouraging thoughts are his(so don't think them!!) (Yes easier said than done, but I'm finding I'm getting quicker recognizing it each time)
• Keeping the peace isn't easy when it involves people. God never promised it would be, but do what you can and He'll do the rest.
• Sometimes God let's us make a mess out of things or at least feel like we have, so that we can see how He puts it all back together. You are not Humpty Dumpty and God is not all the Kings horses and men. He can put you back together when you feel broken.
• Passion can sometimes blind you to the process in things. Passion is a great thing, especially when you are doing what He has called you to do. Nevertheless, remember that not everyone can see your passion and not everyone knows what He's told you to do.
• You are the only YOU!! Quit comparing yourself with others and letting others compare you to other people. Don't feel like you have to do things just the same one someone else does. God made you unique, and you are a piece in the puzzle that doesn't look like anyone else. There is a part you have to play that no one else can play. There are people to reach that only you can touch. Love yourself how He loves you and things really will fall into place. When He is all that matters, the other stuff tends to not look so big anymore.

As the old saying goes, I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. I'm a lot stronger than I used to be, I know who I am in Him, and I know what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm not perfect, but He is. I'm learning there is a point to everything that happens and I'm learning to be transparent enough to share what He's teaching me through it all. I'm learning to pick myself back up and keep running the race. There is a plan in place that only He can see and I just have to trust Him:-) Remember precious reader, He knows your heart and He knows why you do what you do! Have a blessed weekend!!!

Being Busy

Isaiah 30:21 (New International Version, ©2010)

²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Have you been so busy lately that you haven't been able to hear Him whisper" This is the way walk in it."? He's not going to leave you in the dark about what to do next, but He's not going to give out neon signs either. Being busy is not a bad thing, but make sure those things keeping you busy are also bearing fruit.