I promise I will get back to doing more topical posts and some Bible Study ones, but for now it is reflection time again. When I started this blog I never realized I would still be continuing it now. I honestly didn't know where I was headed with this, I just knew I wanted to share what He was writing on my heart. I had thoughts(and still do) of one day putting together a book. I have learned so much over the last four years, but the learning is not the important part. The important step comes when you put that learning into practice. I've said it before and I will say it again, knowledge without application is mere words. God even says to make sure we are doing the word, not just listening to it. I've learned what it's like to run ahead of Him only to get to the place where the storm hits and you realize He's holding the umbrella. I've also learned what it is like to run ahead of Him and get to the place where you can't see the next step you need to take because He has the flashlight. Pride would tell you to keep moving forward and trust yourself to not fall off a cliff(even though you can't see what's going on), but Faith says it's better to step where He shines. Fear will make you analyze the risks of doing what pride says to, and more than likely you will end up frozen in place. Faith says remember who's holding the flashlight, just step where He shines. When we get to those places and we all do, how sweet it is to know He never moved. He stands there with the umbrella for protection from the storm and the flashlight that shines where to step next. When you give someone a gift, you expect them to open it when it's time and enjoy that gift at some point. God's the same way. He gave us all gifts to enjoy, open them when He says to and enjoy them! God also doesn't give you a gift for it to remain hidden. You yourself are a treasure, so shine like the diamond you are! Do what you do because He said to! Living our lives for an audience of One and making that our focus, allows us to enjoy the gift of today. If we spend all of our time planning for our tomorrows or regretting our yesterdays, we will miss out on the moments called today. The moments of today are an investment in eternity. Count the cost of not doing something before you count the cost of doing something. When He calls you to do it, He will take care of the details. Know the difference in season/reason friends and life friends. Some friends are in your life for the long haul, some are reason and season friends. They are in your life for a season or a reason. When you know the reason, follow His lead and when He tells you the season is over, move on! Life friends stay regardless of the storm or the season. Don't fill your life(and day) with so many good things, that you have no time left for God things. Give God your day and watch Him fill it with Him. Be the You He made you to be and just step where He shines!
Enjoy the weekend!
~Melissa
Friday, June 27, 2014
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Quiet Time Reflections-What are you believing God for?
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16: 15-18)
On to the verses in a minute, but first I have finally just in the last few months gotten serious with reading the Bible through. I've read various parts multiple times, but to sit down and read a chapter through while making notes and letting God talk(not just a book I was reading) is new for me. There is not enough blog space to tell you about all of the nuggets I have found, treasures in His word. Some have questions written out to the sides of them, some have dates, and some just say ouch! I love reading His word. I told God when I got serious this was going to be a pace between me and Him. I don't always read a chapter, some times its just a verse or two before God has given me enough that I need to think for awhile. I've missed a few days, but oh I am so thankful for grace. This is a precious time and I honestly cannot wait till the next night to see what else is there. I am seeing verses I had "read" before in a whole new light. God was clear about getting serious, but that is a blog for another day.
The verses above were some from this week. If you will read them slowly, they are life changing. So many times we look at this part and say oh that's just the great commission, but read it again. Mark gets specific about what is available to those that believe. It doesn't say they can or they may, it says they will! We sing the song in church about the same power that conquered the grave lives in me, but how many times do we tap into that power? God is moving and calling believers into a new season. God's people are praying for discernment and wisdom, and I believe God is granting that. With it though comes a discomfort where once was comfort and eyes to see things that used to seem okay gray as black and white.
These verses came at a time when I was in a blah mood. I can't really explain why, I would say the enemy was at fault, but I left the crack for him. We choose our moods/feelings, they do not choose us. So I read these verses, then I read them again. It was God's way of going wake up...remember what is on the inside of you. God knows me oh so well.
He took the verses to the next level and that's what prompted the blog. God has long told me it was okay to get specific when I pray, so I do. I am very specific when I ask for things and some times when I don't know what to ask I end up praying for what He wants(and trust me only He knows what I'm saying at this point because those are usually prayers in tongues). What are you believing God for today? What have you specifically asked Him to do? Are you in a blah mood/pity party while you wait for the answer or are you going on with life believing He will answer when it is time? God says to pray and not doubt, that means pray and leave Him to work. It doesn't mean pray and keep checking back to see if it's time yet. Society today doesn't wait well, but as Christians we are called to a higher standards. Oh God thank you for loving me through my blah moods and my impatient waiting time. Help me to pray and leave it in Your hands always.
Believe God for what you asked Him for or better. God knows you heart and regardless of how you feel He does know what you need and want. He desires to do what is best for you. Trust Him, after all His best really is the best!
Focused on the journey,
~Melissa
On to the verses in a minute, but first I have finally just in the last few months gotten serious with reading the Bible through. I've read various parts multiple times, but to sit down and read a chapter through while making notes and letting God talk(not just a book I was reading) is new for me. There is not enough blog space to tell you about all of the nuggets I have found, treasures in His word. Some have questions written out to the sides of them, some have dates, and some just say ouch! I love reading His word. I told God when I got serious this was going to be a pace between me and Him. I don't always read a chapter, some times its just a verse or two before God has given me enough that I need to think for awhile. I've missed a few days, but oh I am so thankful for grace. This is a precious time and I honestly cannot wait till the next night to see what else is there. I am seeing verses I had "read" before in a whole new light. God was clear about getting serious, but that is a blog for another day.
The verses above were some from this week. If you will read them slowly, they are life changing. So many times we look at this part and say oh that's just the great commission, but read it again. Mark gets specific about what is available to those that believe. It doesn't say they can or they may, it says they will! We sing the song in church about the same power that conquered the grave lives in me, but how many times do we tap into that power? God is moving and calling believers into a new season. God's people are praying for discernment and wisdom, and I believe God is granting that. With it though comes a discomfort where once was comfort and eyes to see things that used to seem okay gray as black and white.
These verses came at a time when I was in a blah mood. I can't really explain why, I would say the enemy was at fault, but I left the crack for him. We choose our moods/feelings, they do not choose us. So I read these verses, then I read them again. It was God's way of going wake up...remember what is on the inside of you. God knows me oh so well.
He took the verses to the next level and that's what prompted the blog. God has long told me it was okay to get specific when I pray, so I do. I am very specific when I ask for things and some times when I don't know what to ask I end up praying for what He wants(and trust me only He knows what I'm saying at this point because those are usually prayers in tongues). What are you believing God for today? What have you specifically asked Him to do? Are you in a blah mood/pity party while you wait for the answer or are you going on with life believing He will answer when it is time? God says to pray and not doubt, that means pray and leave Him to work. It doesn't mean pray and keep checking back to see if it's time yet. Society today doesn't wait well, but as Christians we are called to a higher standards. Oh God thank you for loving me through my blah moods and my impatient waiting time. Help me to pray and leave it in Your hands always.
Believe God for what you asked Him for or better. God knows you heart and regardless of how you feel He does know what you need and want. He desires to do what is best for you. Trust Him, after all His best really is the best!
Focused on the journey,
~Melissa
Friday, June 20, 2014
Self Reflection and Heart Check
This isn't exactly the post I planned to write tonight which means well it means I'm just typing, He's writing.
God and I have been doing some serious conversations lately and the same question keeps coming up. Different circumstances, but the question still remains the same. Why are you doing it? See God doesn't care about what everyone else can see, He cares about that part that only He can see. He cares about the why behind the what. For so long I got the why part wrong. I told myself I was doing things because God said to, but then I would struggle with moments that I knew were nothing more than people pleasing. When you ask God to make you more like Him and to "break" the chains off that are holding you back, be prepared for Him to answer.(also be prepared that it may not always "feel" like you want it to feel). The process isn't easy, but it is worth it in the end. I'm not perfect, please don't think that. I still mess up on a daily basis and still have days when I fail miserably. The enemy knows our weaknesses and the more determined we get to leave those chains behind, I'm convinced the more he does what he can to try and trap us back in them. Get determined that no matter what the enemy throws in your path, your focus is on where God said you are headed and who God says that you are. Trust God to redirect your focus on the journey when you need it to be redirected, He will. He created us with a purpose and a plan in mind. When we ask Him to work that plan in our lives and then step back and let Him, I truly think we put the biggest smile on His face. It means giving up control, but it means the one who controls it anyway is in charge. It means knowing that feelings are not what dictates your decisions, but discernment and wisdom do. When you slow down and run everything through a heart check, it changes your perspective, your focus, it changes you. Let's face it...if we are getting honest changing ourselves is all that we are responsible for. If we will focus on letting Him do what He wants in our lives and changing us from the inside out, God can use us to change others.
So why do you do what you do? These are just a few of those questions that He asked me.
Ouch...even typing these again made take a minute again. We aren't fooling God. He knows why we do what we do and then some. I am just so thankful and grateful that He loves us enough to love us through this stage. He knows that with time we will mature and seek after One, Him. He knows deep down what our hearts desire is and the moments that drive us to do what we do. He knows our strengths and our strengths in Him(also known as our weaknesses). God doesn't waste a minute or a moment of our lives. We are the ones that decide whether we are going over the mountain and on to a new level with Him or around the same old mountain until we realize who we are in Him. We have an incredible power as Children of the Most High that we do not tap into enough. Be who He has called you to be, do what He has called you to do, and when the enemy tries to make you "feel" a certain way about something remind Him what God says. God will never call you to be anybody but YOU!
So why do you do what you do? Only you and God know that. Wherever you are at on the journey, know that He is patient and loving you right where you are at. Do what you do for Him and truly live your life for an audience of One. It may require, actually it probably will, require getting out of the boat, but you will never know that you can walk on water if you do not take the first step. In the end my heart's desire is to simply hear Him say well done.
Stay focused on the journey,
~Melissa
God and I have been doing some serious conversations lately and the same question keeps coming up. Different circumstances, but the question still remains the same. Why are you doing it? See God doesn't care about what everyone else can see, He cares about that part that only He can see. He cares about the why behind the what. For so long I got the why part wrong. I told myself I was doing things because God said to, but then I would struggle with moments that I knew were nothing more than people pleasing. When you ask God to make you more like Him and to "break" the chains off that are holding you back, be prepared for Him to answer.(also be prepared that it may not always "feel" like you want it to feel). The process isn't easy, but it is worth it in the end. I'm not perfect, please don't think that. I still mess up on a daily basis and still have days when I fail miserably. The enemy knows our weaknesses and the more determined we get to leave those chains behind, I'm convinced the more he does what he can to try and trap us back in them. Get determined that no matter what the enemy throws in your path, your focus is on where God said you are headed and who God says that you are. Trust God to redirect your focus on the journey when you need it to be redirected, He will. He created us with a purpose and a plan in mind. When we ask Him to work that plan in our lives and then step back and let Him, I truly think we put the biggest smile on His face. It means giving up control, but it means the one who controls it anyway is in charge. It means knowing that feelings are not what dictates your decisions, but discernment and wisdom do. When you slow down and run everything through a heart check, it changes your perspective, your focus, it changes you. Let's face it...if we are getting honest changing ourselves is all that we are responsible for. If we will focus on letting Him do what He wants in our lives and changing us from the inside out, God can use us to change others.
So why do you do what you do? These are just a few of those questions that He asked me.
- Why do you do what you do?
- Why did you post what you did?
- Why did you eat what you just ate?
- Why did you say what you said?
- Why did you say yes? Why did you say no?
Ouch...even typing these again made take a minute again. We aren't fooling God. He knows why we do what we do and then some. I am just so thankful and grateful that He loves us enough to love us through this stage. He knows that with time we will mature and seek after One, Him. He knows deep down what our hearts desire is and the moments that drive us to do what we do. He knows our strengths and our strengths in Him(also known as our weaknesses). God doesn't waste a minute or a moment of our lives. We are the ones that decide whether we are going over the mountain and on to a new level with Him or around the same old mountain until we realize who we are in Him. We have an incredible power as Children of the Most High that we do not tap into enough. Be who He has called you to be, do what He has called you to do, and when the enemy tries to make you "feel" a certain way about something remind Him what God says. God will never call you to be anybody but YOU!
So why do you do what you do? Only you and God know that. Wherever you are at on the journey, know that He is patient and loving you right where you are at. Do what you do for Him and truly live your life for an audience of One. It may require, actually it probably will, require getting out of the boat, but you will never know that you can walk on water if you do not take the first step. In the end my heart's desire is to simply hear Him say well done.
Stay focused on the journey,
~Melissa
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Just Me for a Minute
I'm really trying to get better at this blogging thing and more consistent. I've done well with this one, but not so much on my Professional one. My goal is to have it down to a routine when school starts back. Anyways...tonight's post is just me sharing my heart. No fancy title(it's a little here and a little there), but it does have some meat I'm sure. Next post at some point this week will be a Bible Study Reflection one, tentatively right now The Parable of the Talents. I have so many side notes from my time with Him written in my Bible and I asked Him about sharing those one night...(to which He replied...umm blog).
Oh my Oh my....summer is definitely a time for reflection. God shows out, the enemy gets mad. Why did I expect any less? Why did I not guard against a couple of areas that I KNOW are my Achilles heel? Oh lesson learned this time. God started a conversation last night and it's still going. Time to make some changes and plug up the holes once and for all. (or as Pastor Lon shared Sunday...get rid of the nail that the enemy is hanging stuff on). So here's to a fast of those things that I seem to have trouble letting go. I seem to only be able to truly let it go when I can focus on the fact that He has it. The details are mine and God's, but one day they may be a blog.
We excuse our mess away because why not others are allowed to do it. (To which He always speaks the everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial verse to my heart). We try and justify our actions (To which He replies I can do all things). We try to revert back to the but I'm just a___ excuse (To which He replies You are MY child enough said). Every excuse, reason, etc. we give to God He really does have an answer back. We just don't always listen(because the homemade chocolate chip cookies are better). To Him it doesn't matter what others are doing as far as we are concerned, it matters what we do. If you let that truth sink in, it will change your WORLD.
God has an amazing plan for your life. You are more than just what the world says that you are. Pick yourself up and start moving forward. God planned for each day to be lived and lived to the fullest. Treasure the moments you have and make them count. You may wish you had them back at some point, but they will be gone. Be yourself and bloom where He takes you. Don't let the seeds of others crowd out the seed of the Amazing One. Be content where you are and know that God knows your heart. Others may think they can see in your journey, but only you truly know where you are at. Be real and Be You. It's time for the world to see that Christians are different. It's time for the world to see that we are living life for an Audience of One. Quit trying to excuse away that thing He has asked you to do and just do it. You may be the domino that starts a chain reaction or the light that is needed to set someone else on fire. So many times we keep to ourselves things that God can use to bless someone else. Don't apologize for the heart He gave you, He has a plan for it just the way you are. In short Be you, not the you others want you to be, but the You He made you to be. (In case you haven't caught on that has been a theme lately between me and God. It comes from my strong tendency to be a people pleaser and to try and keep everyone happy with me. That chain however is off and only God knows what He did with it ;-). I briefly tried to find it tonight....then God reminded me)
Moving forward on this journey,
~Melissa
Oh my Oh my....summer is definitely a time for reflection. God shows out, the enemy gets mad. Why did I expect any less? Why did I not guard against a couple of areas that I KNOW are my Achilles heel? Oh lesson learned this time. God started a conversation last night and it's still going. Time to make some changes and plug up the holes once and for all. (or as Pastor Lon shared Sunday...get rid of the nail that the enemy is hanging stuff on). So here's to a fast of those things that I seem to have trouble letting go. I seem to only be able to truly let it go when I can focus on the fact that He has it. The details are mine and God's, but one day they may be a blog.
We excuse our mess away because why not others are allowed to do it. (To which He always speaks the everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial verse to my heart). We try and justify our actions (To which He replies I can do all things). We try to revert back to the but I'm just a___ excuse (To which He replies You are MY child enough said). Every excuse, reason, etc. we give to God He really does have an answer back. We just don't always listen(because the homemade chocolate chip cookies are better). To Him it doesn't matter what others are doing as far as we are concerned, it matters what we do. If you let that truth sink in, it will change your WORLD.
God has an amazing plan for your life. You are more than just what the world says that you are. Pick yourself up and start moving forward. God planned for each day to be lived and lived to the fullest. Treasure the moments you have and make them count. You may wish you had them back at some point, but they will be gone. Be yourself and bloom where He takes you. Don't let the seeds of others crowd out the seed of the Amazing One. Be content where you are and know that God knows your heart. Others may think they can see in your journey, but only you truly know where you are at. Be real and Be You. It's time for the world to see that Christians are different. It's time for the world to see that we are living life for an Audience of One. Quit trying to excuse away that thing He has asked you to do and just do it. You may be the domino that starts a chain reaction or the light that is needed to set someone else on fire. So many times we keep to ourselves things that God can use to bless someone else. Don't apologize for the heart He gave you, He has a plan for it just the way you are. In short Be you, not the you others want you to be, but the You He made you to be. (In case you haven't caught on that has been a theme lately between me and God. It comes from my strong tendency to be a people pleaser and to try and keep everyone happy with me. That chain however is off and only God knows what He did with it ;-). I briefly tried to find it tonight....then God reminded me)
Moving forward on this journey,
~Melissa
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Truth and Application
I love that God is such a personal God. I tend to have a very specific prayer request list....and last week He answered more than one off of that very specific list. I love that He cares enough to handle things that may seem little, but mean a lot in our minds. Now if only His timing and my timing were a little more lined up, but that is a blog for another day. His timing is perfect, it's my impatience that leads to frustration, worry, and that ever nagging enemy of doubt. He's been talking so much this summer, that it's hard to sift through some of those conversations and to start to write. I'm starting to wonder if there isn't a book inside of me somewhere. The process of peeling back the layers is never easy, but there is such a peace when layers pulled back and He starts to connect some of the dots. Oh how I want to just sit in that spot for days. However that is not life and getting up to keep walking forward means taking that knowledge that was just gleaned and applying it to the walk ahead. How many times though do we hear a song, a sermon, a quote, or even a whisper from Him and leave it at that? Knowledge is mere words unless we take the next step and apply it. Obedience is the key that opens the door God has unlocked. God cares why you do what you do much more than may realize. He wants you to be satisfied with His applause and that alone. What you believe about yourself makes more of a difference than you see. You can be used by God or by people, but not by both...know the difference. Be cautious with your seed and the ground you sow into. God can take a good thing and turn it into a God thing. Trust the One that holds the flashlight to your life and knows the very rhythm of your heart.
Do I dare say I know where every puzzle piece fits in my life? No and I used to say I wish that I did, but I don't now. There comes a time when I don't know want to know every twist and turn that will happen. I want to know that He has this and that He knows how it is all going to turn out. Last week was a turning point for me and some of those pieces I was unsure about started making sense. God does that every now and then. My goal now is to take the knowledge and move forward with it (by applying it!). The mountain was rough, but I'm down the other side. I took some steps out of the people pleasing chain that He broke off. Let me just say that was not easy...when you have spent a lot of your time doing things because you wanted others to see or because they wanted you to do something, it is hard to stay focused on doing what you do not because anyone else cares but because He does. That's been my heart's desire all along, but I kept holding on to the excuse of but God my flesh...Well enough is enough on the flesh excuse. My God is stronger than any of that flesh desire and He can take care of that. I also had the revelation last week(not for the first time, but the first time I think I was really listening...) that He cares about why you eat what you eat. Sweets are not a bad thing if you are celebrating something special. HOWEVER...God does not intend for you to celebrate something everyday and multiple times during the day(or for you to eat when you are feeling your way through the day). We beat ourselves up too much on why we eat what we eat, when at least for me personally when I finally started listening to what He was telling ME to do....it worked. That truth goes back to something I said earlier, obedience is the key to open doors. He's also gotten on to me for my but I'm just ____(feel in the blank depending on the location or feeling). What He says about me is all that matters, not what others think, say, or do. The quicker I get that into my head(my heart already gets it), the healthier I will be in so many areas. This negative lie(from the enemy) left my thinking stinking and it kept my focus off of pleasing Him, but trying to pleasing everyone else and then some. Please hear my heart....believe what He says about you and that alone. Let that truth permeate your heart and make a difference in your walk. It's time for the church to get off of the fence and to be different. It's time for the church to apply what we know to our every day life. I can only change me and the more I look in His mirror the more I realize there is still so much work to be done. I can see progress though and for that I am truly thankful.
Be blessed this week!
~Melissa
Do I dare say I know where every puzzle piece fits in my life? No and I used to say I wish that I did, but I don't now. There comes a time when I don't know want to know every twist and turn that will happen. I want to know that He has this and that He knows how it is all going to turn out. Last week was a turning point for me and some of those pieces I was unsure about started making sense. God does that every now and then. My goal now is to take the knowledge and move forward with it (by applying it!). The mountain was rough, but I'm down the other side. I took some steps out of the people pleasing chain that He broke off. Let me just say that was not easy...when you have spent a lot of your time doing things because you wanted others to see or because they wanted you to do something, it is hard to stay focused on doing what you do not because anyone else cares but because He does. That's been my heart's desire all along, but I kept holding on to the excuse of but God my flesh...Well enough is enough on the flesh excuse. My God is stronger than any of that flesh desire and He can take care of that. I also had the revelation last week(not for the first time, but the first time I think I was really listening...) that He cares about why you eat what you eat. Sweets are not a bad thing if you are celebrating something special. HOWEVER...God does not intend for you to celebrate something everyday and multiple times during the day(or for you to eat when you are feeling your way through the day). We beat ourselves up too much on why we eat what we eat, when at least for me personally when I finally started listening to what He was telling ME to do....it worked. That truth goes back to something I said earlier, obedience is the key to open doors. He's also gotten on to me for my but I'm just ____(feel in the blank depending on the location or feeling). What He says about me is all that matters, not what others think, say, or do. The quicker I get that into my head(my heart already gets it), the healthier I will be in so many areas. This negative lie(from the enemy) left my thinking stinking and it kept my focus off of pleasing Him, but trying to pleasing everyone else and then some. Please hear my heart....believe what He says about you and that alone. Let that truth permeate your heart and make a difference in your walk. It's time for the church to get off of the fence and to be different. It's time for the church to apply what we know to our every day life. I can only change me and the more I look in His mirror the more I realize there is still so much work to be done. I can see progress though and for that I am truly thankful.
Be blessed this week!
~Melissa
Monday, June 9, 2014
When the change takes root....
Before I even get started on the blog, here are some lessons from the past 24 hours(Pretty sure they will turn into blogs later).
- Be careful who you let inside of you. Some words of well meaning people can be used by the enemy to sow seeds of doubt etc. Push delete before they take root!
- If God opens the door, He is responsible for closing it. Some doors are for seasons others are for reasons. Let Him decide when it's time to move and just follow.
- Guard your heart........Too many times we listen to "advice" that starts to take root. When if we stepped back, we would see the seed isn't something we want planted. Some connections are for recharging and some are draining. Know the difference and listen when discernment aka your gut gives off the warning signal.
- How you see yourself is more important than how others see you or even what they say about you. Quit accepting labels that are not from God!
- Obedience period....It unlocks the power that we could only imagine. We hold the key to it because God has already told us what to do. At least for me, He stands asking...Well?
- Layers are amazing things....when He starts to peel them back be ready. He will put things in perspective like you never imagined and allow you to see that thing with which you "struggle" through His eyes.
Okay on to the blog for the night(Yep I'm trying to get on a schedule this summer and make this a regular thing between this blog and my Tech one.).
How do you know an old habit has been broken? When you try to revert back to it and it hurts. So I've been working on this losing weight thing for YEARS(at least for the last ten for sure). The last couple of months though, Advocare has changed my eating habits. Well I've changed my eating habits but their products and God have helped ;-) I didn't realize how much change had taken root until last week. I was out to eat at a conference and I ordered a pasta dish. I started eating and the old me wanted to keep going. The new me was becoming full fast. Now I was raised in a clean your plate house and we don't waste food. (Hence my weight struggle). So the old me kept trying to eat and then it started to hurt. I had to push the plate away because I was physically about to be sick. It was then that I started to realize, maybe there was a change going on....(How many know we are the last person to see the change that everyone else sees??
Sometimes it is hard to see the change taking root because we can't see under the soil, but when the sprout appears we know it is there. What change has started happening in your life? What old habit has finally been broken? Can you tell you are becoming more like Him? If you revert back to the old way just for a minute, does it hurt? You know the change has taken root and you are becoming more like Him, when those old habits hurt. When God makes you uncomfortable about the things you used to be comfortable with, when He starts to become louder than others and discernment aka that gut feeling is listened to first instead of later. (I'm a work in progress....)
Change hurts and when fire is applied it may sting at first. God is using that process though to purify your heart and to focus you on what He wants for your life. He may have put a vision in your heart, a dream that you know will one day come true. Be faithful in what may seem like "small" things, for God sees them as seeds for something bigger. Bloom where He has you, so He can prepare to where He's taking you. Let Him show you what you look like to Him, because He sees you as a treasure!
Still learning on the journey,
~Melissa
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Taking a step back...
How many times do we get in the middle of something and keep praying for God to move and change something? Only to get still and hear Him go...take a step back. I have this standing prayer with God where I am comfortable with what He says(we'll call it the ocean), but every now and then I keep asking Him for the fish bowl. Why oh why I'll never know, but apparently I think my fish bowl prayers are more important. It's only when I stop and take a step back that I see the ocean He has given me to swim in. If I stayed in that fish bowl and He had honored that request, I never would have realized there was an ocean out here. I often times think of Nemo when he is in the fish tank starring back at the ocean. I'm thankful He didn't answer my fish bowl prayers. I really am, I just forget about it some days, because the fish bowl is what I can see with my eyes. The ocean requires using His eyes.
We get so caught up in the immediate and the here and now that we sometimes miss the big picture. We get so focused on what we want from God that we sometimes forget about what we need. We get caught up in what others say or what we even think about ourselves, that we forget about what God says. Lesson learned this year(the hard way I might add): When God gives you a gift, He will provide you with opportunities to use it. Those opportunities may not come in ways you expect, anticipate, or even ask for necessarily. Take them as they come and know that when it is a God thing He will take care of the details. God takes the playdough of our lives and molds it into a creation that only He could do. He loves what we can do, but He knows when we will put the playdough in His hands, it can turn into so much more. You may be asking Him for permission to swim in the fish bowl, when He says why not the ocean. Don't settle for the fish bowl when the ocean is in view. Don't get discouraged when in the world you can see it seems like you may not be making a difference, for the difference is felt and seen in a world you cannot always see.
Take a step back and take care of you as well. I've realized over the last couple of weeks that I've pushed myself way too hard over the last year. God didn't design our bodies to go at a fast pace all of the time. He made us for rest, for reflection, and for recharge time. He made us to do what He has called us to do. When we push ourselves past the point of where He has called us we end up hurting ourselves. I've put myself at the end of my to-do list for way too long. You can't give from an empty tank, even fumes only go so long.
Conference season starts tomorrow.....It doesn't matter how many times I present whether webinars or at a conference, I still get nervous. Thursday is the first of seven presentations this summer. (First of ten if you count the three webinars I have scheduled). This conference season is dedicated to the balcony people in my life. Thank you for always cheering me on, for telling me I could do it(when I was sure I couldn't), and most of all for pushing me off to show me I could fly.
Taking a step back...I am very thankful. God can truly do more than we could ever ask or imagine. I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Focused on the journey,
~Melissa
We get so caught up in the immediate and the here and now that we sometimes miss the big picture. We get so focused on what we want from God that we sometimes forget about what we need. We get caught up in what others say or what we even think about ourselves, that we forget about what God says. Lesson learned this year(the hard way I might add): When God gives you a gift, He will provide you with opportunities to use it. Those opportunities may not come in ways you expect, anticipate, or even ask for necessarily. Take them as they come and know that when it is a God thing He will take care of the details. God takes the playdough of our lives and molds it into a creation that only He could do. He loves what we can do, but He knows when we will put the playdough in His hands, it can turn into so much more. You may be asking Him for permission to swim in the fish bowl, when He says why not the ocean. Don't settle for the fish bowl when the ocean is in view. Don't get discouraged when in the world you can see it seems like you may not be making a difference, for the difference is felt and seen in a world you cannot always see.
Take a step back and take care of you as well. I've realized over the last couple of weeks that I've pushed myself way too hard over the last year. God didn't design our bodies to go at a fast pace all of the time. He made us for rest, for reflection, and for recharge time. He made us to do what He has called us to do. When we push ourselves past the point of where He has called us we end up hurting ourselves. I've put myself at the end of my to-do list for way too long. You can't give from an empty tank, even fumes only go so long.
Conference season starts tomorrow.....It doesn't matter how many times I present whether webinars or at a conference, I still get nervous. Thursday is the first of seven presentations this summer. (First of ten if you count the three webinars I have scheduled). This conference season is dedicated to the balcony people in my life. Thank you for always cheering me on, for telling me I could do it(when I was sure I couldn't), and most of all for pushing me off to show me I could fly.
Taking a step back...I am very thankful. God can truly do more than we could ever ask or imagine. I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Focused on the journey,
~Melissa
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