Last night I had the most intense discussion with God that I have had in awhile. Let's just say I listened more than I talked and it was deep. I'm not going to get the details on the blog, that's between me and Him, but I wanted to challenge you the way He challenged me.
What kind of journey are you on that's taking longer than it should? What are you doing now that should have only taken 11 days, but instead you have spent 40 years going around and around the same mountain. (Let me stop here and say if you are unfamiliar with the story of the Israelites, that's what I am referring to right now. Their journey to the Promise Land should have only taken 11 days, but because of their choices their journey took 40 years).
Our choices(words/actions) can turn our journey into 40 years instead of 11 days. Hear me now, God's plans are always for our good and not to harm us, but sometimes our choices determine how long we stay still(in other words how long we stay in one season).
Are you standing on the verge of a new season? The choice is yours whether you walk into that season or whether you continue to go around that same mountain. What journey are you on that should have only taken you 11 days, but it is seeming to go on forever? Ask God to show you what is holding you back, trust me He will. Then the choice is up to you, are you going to do what He says or let fear keep you on your 40 day journey?
There will be more to this later on, I'm sure. For now though, I have some choices to make, some walking to do.
Until next time,
~Melissa
**Hope this makes sense ;-)
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
The Waiting Place
God help me, but only He knows how I'm going to survive the next four months. The past two days especially have been diamond making days. I asked God on the way home, please tell me there is a blog in this. I'm frustrated and mad at myself for letting it get to this point. I'm frustrated because I feel like I am spinning my wheels at times. I'm frustrated because I'm impatient. That last one is the one that sums up the others. See God and I have had long talks already about who I am in Him, what His plans are, and some of my dreams. He knows my heart and He knows what I can do. Now the hard part comes in, reminding my heart when the enemy throws discouragement and frustration in my face what I can do and who I am. I'm going to be really honest right now, if you let what other people say about you and how they treat you cloud your view of who you are and how you see yourself, then the enemy has won. Keeping my focus has been a struggle today, but I should have realized yesterday this test wasn't going anywhere. See God is such a patient teacher, that He will give His students(aka His kids) plenty of chances to retake until we pass it. Well I'm tired of retaking, so it's time to stay focused and pass. Will I see this test again? Yep and probably next week...apparently God's ready for me to pass it now and I am too. I'm tired of feeling frustrated and letting discouragement be my focus. Things will not always go as planned, but reacting His way will keep you in His plan.
I wish I could say that after passing the test, the material wouldn't be presented again, but it will. It's not that it gets easier, it's that you get stronger with each test passed. Now why is this blog titled The Waiting Place? How many times do you know the dreams God has placed in your heart, but you stand waiting for them to come to pass? Dreams that you know you are supposed to walk out, a call that only you can do, but you don't see how it is all going to come to pass. I've realized those moments can be exciting, simply because it means God is fixing to show out and do what only He can do. The waiting place is where you learn patience(not an easy lesson!!). The waiting place is where you learn His timing has nothing to do with yours. The waiting place is where you learn to trust His timing and know that if He still has you where you are, the season isn't over yet. As long as you are willing to move when He says too, you'll know when it's time to.
Dreams are a part of you for a reason, don't let anyone take that away. God has given each person talents and gifts. He is using this waiting season to develop those talents and gifts by developing the fruits of the Spirit. You are a unique individual and He knows that. He has a reason why you are where you are, learn it and just cooperate. You'll retake the test until you pass anyway.
Different kind of blog I know, but the past two days have been diamond making days. Days when I'm just thankful to know God's got it, because my feelings want to explode, cry, and stand up for myself. Change what you can, and then let go of the rest and leave it in His hands.
As much as I want this season to pass because I am so ready to pass the test and move on, I realize that this season is making diamonds, it's sandpaper smoothing out the rough edges. It's a cookie cutter taking off the excess so to speak.
The best advice He has given me thus far, "know who I say you are, do what you can do, take care of you, and let me handle the rest."
Until next time,
~Melissa
I wish I could say that after passing the test, the material wouldn't be presented again, but it will. It's not that it gets easier, it's that you get stronger with each test passed. Now why is this blog titled The Waiting Place? How many times do you know the dreams God has placed in your heart, but you stand waiting for them to come to pass? Dreams that you know you are supposed to walk out, a call that only you can do, but you don't see how it is all going to come to pass. I've realized those moments can be exciting, simply because it means God is fixing to show out and do what only He can do. The waiting place is where you learn patience(not an easy lesson!!). The waiting place is where you learn His timing has nothing to do with yours. The waiting place is where you learn to trust His timing and know that if He still has you where you are, the season isn't over yet. As long as you are willing to move when He says too, you'll know when it's time to.
Dreams are a part of you for a reason, don't let anyone take that away. God has given each person talents and gifts. He is using this waiting season to develop those talents and gifts by developing the fruits of the Spirit. You are a unique individual and He knows that. He has a reason why you are where you are, learn it and just cooperate. You'll retake the test until you pass anyway.
Different kind of blog I know, but the past two days have been diamond making days. Days when I'm just thankful to know God's got it, because my feelings want to explode, cry, and stand up for myself. Change what you can, and then let go of the rest and leave it in His hands.
As much as I want this season to pass because I am so ready to pass the test and move on, I realize that this season is making diamonds, it's sandpaper smoothing out the rough edges. It's a cookie cutter taking off the excess so to speak.
The best advice He has given me thus far, "know who I say you are, do what you can do, take care of you, and let me handle the rest."
Until next time,
~Melissa
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The real Me
Who is it you see when you look in the mirror? Which me do you see?
You may be reading that thinking, what is she talking about, but stay with me. How many times do we let the me that others want us to be crowd out the me God designed for us to be? That is a question, I took to long to find the answer too. Only when I found the answer, did I realize it has been there all along, sometimes we just don't want to see it. We have gone on a search for our talents and gifts, only to find that we are the ones who buried them. We listen to what others have planned for us, we say yes to too much only because we want to make someone else happy, and we run around doing way too much and none of it well.
We have become good at hiding behind the mask and becoming the me that others want us to be, but at the same time inside we are stressed, lack focus, and just down right not happy. In short we are busy, not fruitful. Life is not about only doing for yourself, that is not how God planned it, BUT...he also didn't plan for us to run around doing way too much and taking care of everyone but ourselves. He never planned for us to see the gift He has given us, open it up and look at it, and then take and bury it to fit into someone else's box. God gave each one of us talents, gifts, and abilities that only we can do. There are steps only we can take, a voice only we can have, and a difference only we can make. That in short is what Jeremiah 29:11 says. It says His plans, purpose are for our good and not to harm us, that means the steps He planned for us to take, not the ones someone else laid out. (Think about that for a minute). We get ourselves in a lot of trouble by playing the people pleasing roll and forgetting about pleasing God. We work hard at stepping where others have laid out for us, having the voice they tell us to have, and making the difference they want to see us make. We forget about the me He created us to be.
I wish I could tell you I'm completely on the other side of this question, but I'm not just yet. I am however a LOT closer to where I should be than where I used to be. I still have days when I fail miserably at this. Days when I compare myself with others way too much, when I let what someone else thinks be the words I play back in my head over and over, when I follow someone else's plan instead of listening to my own heart, days when I just go with the flow. In the world we live in today, Christians have spent too long going with the flow and we need to get off of the fence. God has things planned that only you can do, people that only you can reach, mountains that only you can move....if you aren't doing it, then who is? Rest assure God's plan will always prevail, so if you wait too long, you may miss out on something.
In the parable of the talents, the one that went and buried his talent was worried what his master would think, so he wanted to play it safe. The other went and found a way to make a difference and invested the talent. What have you done with your talents/gifts today? (Think about that really...are you playing the part that someone else has designed for you or the one He has?). Look at your schedule, weed out what isn't bearing fruit, and allow God to put in some things that only you were meant to do. If you stay so busy doing only good things, you'll never be able to do God things.
One last point/thing, quit apologizing for who you are. I think we hurt God's feelings when we look at our weaknesses/flaws as something being wrong with us. He made us just the way we are, strengths and weaknesses the same. If we were nothing but strengths, how would we ever get to see God show out? Quit thinking your weakness is your fault and instead give it to Him and ask for His help. Trust me, it's a mountain He can move.
On those days when you can't see the you He made you to be, those days when the world has told you over and over again what they think of you(and trust me the devil will push repeat on those comments if you let him), on those days when you just want to cry.....run to His lap and let the tears fall. Let Him push delete on what the world has said and remind you what He says.
Walk into 2013 being the you He made you to be! The world needs the you that only you can be.
Until next time,
Melissa
You may be reading that thinking, what is she talking about, but stay with me. How many times do we let the me that others want us to be crowd out the me God designed for us to be? That is a question, I took to long to find the answer too. Only when I found the answer, did I realize it has been there all along, sometimes we just don't want to see it. We have gone on a search for our talents and gifts, only to find that we are the ones who buried them. We listen to what others have planned for us, we say yes to too much only because we want to make someone else happy, and we run around doing way too much and none of it well.
We have become good at hiding behind the mask and becoming the me that others want us to be, but at the same time inside we are stressed, lack focus, and just down right not happy. In short we are busy, not fruitful. Life is not about only doing for yourself, that is not how God planned it, BUT...he also didn't plan for us to run around doing way too much and taking care of everyone but ourselves. He never planned for us to see the gift He has given us, open it up and look at it, and then take and bury it to fit into someone else's box. God gave each one of us talents, gifts, and abilities that only we can do. There are steps only we can take, a voice only we can have, and a difference only we can make. That in short is what Jeremiah 29:11 says. It says His plans, purpose are for our good and not to harm us, that means the steps He planned for us to take, not the ones someone else laid out. (Think about that for a minute). We get ourselves in a lot of trouble by playing the people pleasing roll and forgetting about pleasing God. We work hard at stepping where others have laid out for us, having the voice they tell us to have, and making the difference they want to see us make. We forget about the me He created us to be.
I wish I could tell you I'm completely on the other side of this question, but I'm not just yet. I am however a LOT closer to where I should be than where I used to be. I still have days when I fail miserably at this. Days when I compare myself with others way too much, when I let what someone else thinks be the words I play back in my head over and over, when I follow someone else's plan instead of listening to my own heart, days when I just go with the flow. In the world we live in today, Christians have spent too long going with the flow and we need to get off of the fence. God has things planned that only you can do, people that only you can reach, mountains that only you can move....if you aren't doing it, then who is? Rest assure God's plan will always prevail, so if you wait too long, you may miss out on something.
In the parable of the talents, the one that went and buried his talent was worried what his master would think, so he wanted to play it safe. The other went and found a way to make a difference and invested the talent. What have you done with your talents/gifts today? (Think about that really...are you playing the part that someone else has designed for you or the one He has?). Look at your schedule, weed out what isn't bearing fruit, and allow God to put in some things that only you were meant to do. If you stay so busy doing only good things, you'll never be able to do God things.
One last point/thing, quit apologizing for who you are. I think we hurt God's feelings when we look at our weaknesses/flaws as something being wrong with us. He made us just the way we are, strengths and weaknesses the same. If we were nothing but strengths, how would we ever get to see God show out? Quit thinking your weakness is your fault and instead give it to Him and ask for His help. Trust me, it's a mountain He can move.
On those days when you can't see the you He made you to be, those days when the world has told you over and over again what they think of you(and trust me the devil will push repeat on those comments if you let him), on those days when you just want to cry.....run to His lap and let the tears fall. Let Him push delete on what the world has said and remind you what He says.
Walk into 2013 being the you He made you to be! The world needs the you that only you can be.
Until next time,
Melissa
Sunday, January 13, 2013
The little things can grow into a tree
Okay let's see if I can stay focused and get this typed out like He wrote it for me Friday night ;-) .
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)
How many times have you had a song come on at just the right time? Maybe it was a quote on facebook(If you follow Joyce Meyer, there are sometimes she hits me upside the head) or maybe it was a friend that called or a verse that came to mind? The world would call these coincidences, but God calls them a way out.
What were you thinking about when those God moments happened? For me, it is all of those little things. I can run straight to Him with the big things, but the little things mess me up. What do I mean by little things? Well, it may be what someone said or didn't say or maybe it was something you didn't say when you should have(How many times do we let things get to us that other people say/do and they have no clue??). Maybe it is something you know you need to do, but you just don't "feel" like it(hence guilt), maybe it is the easy road or easy fix others appear to be getting/taking and you are working hard on your end(perspective is key....remember God doesn't have a microscope).
If we don't give those little things(thoughts) to God immediately, they will start to take root. Then stress develops, frustration sets in, followed by discouragement and despair. You start to look down on yourself and keep your focus on the things that don't really matter. Before you know it the little things have grown into a tree. Honestly, when it is all said and done and we stand before God one day...He is only going to ask questions about what we did, how we responded, and what difference we made with the time we were given. (When you stop and let that sink in, it is amazing how it will refocus you...)
This is not an easy task, but I will say after God gave me this Friday night, I have thought a lot more about what I think about. I don't want to end 2013 with a lot of little things that I allowed to grow into trees. Let God push the delete button, He has amazing things in store for you this year! Things that only you can do, people only you can reach, and a word that only you can share. Stay focused on what He has called you to do. When stress comes(and it will), go to Him and tell Him all about it. Then go do something for yourself and find someone who will really listen to you(and loves you for you!). Advice from a God friend can be trusted and is true. Be thankful for those in your life, even if you don't always see them on a daily basis.
Until next time,
~Melissa
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)
How many times have you had a song come on at just the right time? Maybe it was a quote on facebook(If you follow Joyce Meyer, there are sometimes she hits me upside the head) or maybe it was a friend that called or a verse that came to mind? The world would call these coincidences, but God calls them a way out.
What were you thinking about when those God moments happened? For me, it is all of those little things. I can run straight to Him with the big things, but the little things mess me up. What do I mean by little things? Well, it may be what someone said or didn't say or maybe it was something you didn't say when you should have(How many times do we let things get to us that other people say/do and they have no clue??). Maybe it is something you know you need to do, but you just don't "feel" like it(hence guilt), maybe it is the easy road or easy fix others appear to be getting/taking and you are working hard on your end(perspective is key....remember God doesn't have a microscope).
If we don't give those little things(thoughts) to God immediately, they will start to take root. Then stress develops, frustration sets in, followed by discouragement and despair. You start to look down on yourself and keep your focus on the things that don't really matter. Before you know it the little things have grown into a tree. Honestly, when it is all said and done and we stand before God one day...He is only going to ask questions about what we did, how we responded, and what difference we made with the time we were given. (When you stop and let that sink in, it is amazing how it will refocus you...)
This is not an easy task, but I will say after God gave me this Friday night, I have thought a lot more about what I think about. I don't want to end 2013 with a lot of little things that I allowed to grow into trees. Let God push the delete button, He has amazing things in store for you this year! Things that only you can do, people only you can reach, and a word that only you can share. Stay focused on what He has called you to do. When stress comes(and it will), go to Him and tell Him all about it. Then go do something for yourself and find someone who will really listen to you(and loves you for you!). Advice from a God friend can be trusted and is true. Be thankful for those in your life, even if you don't always see them on a daily basis.
Until next time,
~Melissa
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Radical and Radiant
Well I welcomed 2013 dealing with the crud, I'm just now starting to feel like myself and I have blogs to catch up on!
2012 ended with reminding me that His plans are not always mine, but in the end His plans always win. Regardless of what happens, He did promise to work everything out for my good in the end. Sometimes that sickness that is so inconvenient forces us to take some much needed me time etc. When I look back over the last month though, one word came to mind....fear. Without going into a lot of details, I have let fear lead for too long. How do I know it is fear? Because when I got quiet enough, the verse from 2 Timothy kept shouting back at me. Fear can cripple you if you let it. Fear tells you, you can't do it. Fear tells you to keep your mouth shut, when you need to open it. Fear keeps you down to where people see you as a doormat. Fear doesn't see you. Faith on the other hand sees the you that God sees. Faith knows what you can do and believes in you, even when you don't believe in yourself. Faith will never look at the clock when you are trying to talk either. Faith will also tell you when it is time to deal with something, when fear will tell you to just keep quiet. That's a blog for another day....so not a confrontation person, but basically told God about something last night that He better either take it away or give me peace NOW! I'm finding patience isn't the hard part, it is how you are while you are being patient(peaceful/calm or full of anxiety?) Hmm....
Now on to the title of the blog....Middle of December He gave me those words for the upcoming year, but it was only until the year got started that I knew what He meant. As Christians, we have been silent too long. We have sat by while the world moves forward and just let it happen. We have allowed things we once saw as harmful to become a part of our routine. In short, we have lost our focus. We have taken the lukewarm stance, as long as everyone is happy..... Well it only takes one look back at Revelation to know what God says about being lukewarm. Choose a stance and take it, are you going to be on the world's side or God's side, but quit straddling the fence...you are only going to hurt yourself. Make up your mind whose voice you are going to listen to, and then stick with it. It's a radical approach if you start to think about it ;-). God knows it is not always going to be easy, He knows eventually turning the other cheek will mean you have to say to someone I don't appreciate that. He knows more of what is to come this year than we could even imagine. Sometimes the key to unlocking the next door, is to obey walking through the first. God has your back if you'll follow His. He will give you what you need to stand, but BE CAREFUL..... Word of caution that I learned the HARD way the last six weeks. When you think you are finally standing, watch out....that is when the enemy would like nothing more than to knock you back down, make you doubt yourself, discourage you, cause worry/stress, or all of the above. Yep, there is a verse on that one too....God loves to see you get to the place where you feel you can stand, where you know you are strong because of what He has given you. The best thing I can say is, even if you find yourself standing only to get knocked down by every tool/scheme the enemy can use against you...you will get back up again. He is patient to remind you of how He sees you and who He thinks you are. With those reminders, come a sweet sense of peace that only He can give. That is the peace that will make you radiate His love.
So 2013, let's be radical...not lukewarm, so that we can be radiant and show the amazing love He has for us and them. He has great plans for you this year, He's just waiting on you to say let's do this!
Until next time
~Melissa
2012 ended with reminding me that His plans are not always mine, but in the end His plans always win. Regardless of what happens, He did promise to work everything out for my good in the end. Sometimes that sickness that is so inconvenient forces us to take some much needed me time etc. When I look back over the last month though, one word came to mind....fear. Without going into a lot of details, I have let fear lead for too long. How do I know it is fear? Because when I got quiet enough, the verse from 2 Timothy kept shouting back at me. Fear can cripple you if you let it. Fear tells you, you can't do it. Fear tells you to keep your mouth shut, when you need to open it. Fear keeps you down to where people see you as a doormat. Fear doesn't see you. Faith on the other hand sees the you that God sees. Faith knows what you can do and believes in you, even when you don't believe in yourself. Faith will never look at the clock when you are trying to talk either. Faith will also tell you when it is time to deal with something, when fear will tell you to just keep quiet. That's a blog for another day....so not a confrontation person, but basically told God about something last night that He better either take it away or give me peace NOW! I'm finding patience isn't the hard part, it is how you are while you are being patient(peaceful/calm or full of anxiety?) Hmm....
Now on to the title of the blog....Middle of December He gave me those words for the upcoming year, but it was only until the year got started that I knew what He meant. As Christians, we have been silent too long. We have sat by while the world moves forward and just let it happen. We have allowed things we once saw as harmful to become a part of our routine. In short, we have lost our focus. We have taken the lukewarm stance, as long as everyone is happy..... Well it only takes one look back at Revelation to know what God says about being lukewarm. Choose a stance and take it, are you going to be on the world's side or God's side, but quit straddling the fence...you are only going to hurt yourself. Make up your mind whose voice you are going to listen to, and then stick with it. It's a radical approach if you start to think about it ;-). God knows it is not always going to be easy, He knows eventually turning the other cheek will mean you have to say to someone I don't appreciate that. He knows more of what is to come this year than we could even imagine. Sometimes the key to unlocking the next door, is to obey walking through the first. God has your back if you'll follow His. He will give you what you need to stand, but BE CAREFUL..... Word of caution that I learned the HARD way the last six weeks. When you think you are finally standing, watch out....that is when the enemy would like nothing more than to knock you back down, make you doubt yourself, discourage you, cause worry/stress, or all of the above. Yep, there is a verse on that one too....God loves to see you get to the place where you feel you can stand, where you know you are strong because of what He has given you. The best thing I can say is, even if you find yourself standing only to get knocked down by every tool/scheme the enemy can use against you...you will get back up again. He is patient to remind you of how He sees you and who He thinks you are. With those reminders, come a sweet sense of peace that only He can give. That is the peace that will make you radiate His love.
So 2013, let's be radical...not lukewarm, so that we can be radiant and show the amazing love He has for us and them. He has great plans for you this year, He's just waiting on you to say let's do this!
Until next time
~Melissa
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