Fear Not, Because He Lives:BLOG ENTRY 19

Fear Not, Because He Lives

 

“Fear is created when the devil perverts the most sensitive area of your life. The devil attaches a spirit of fear to the areas of sensitivity of our life. He knows that those areas of sensitivity are where God wants us to experience the highest levels of victory. So if we stay clear of those things then we never get around to living our potential as sons and daughters of the highest King. Don’t let Satan attach a spirit of fear to what God has called you to do.” ~Pricilla Shirer

         As I child, I was terrified of getting my hair washed to the point it was absolutely ridiculous. I would run and scream from my mom and even hide under the bed or behind the dresser. I didn’t like the feel of the water when it got in my ears and oh no don’t let it splash anywhere near my face. So each time I cried because I knew it was something that had to be done. Each time I cried thinking about all the times I would have to endure this experience for weeks, months, and years to come. My mom would fuss until she really saw the fear in my eyes. This is what she said, “Don’t you understand that I am not going to let anything happen to you. So calm down and trust me.” So somehow I begin to get it done without crying. Somehow I begin to trust. Even though I didn’t care for it, the fear began to go away little by little as I held on to those words that said “trust me”.  This may be a trival story to some, but when it is something you are afraid of then it gets real.  God is saying, fear not and trust in me. I know that you are afraid, but trust me. I know that it doesn’t look like how you think it should, but trust me.  If a little girl can trust her mother then surely she can trust God for anything her heart desires.

          Martina McBride wrote a song back in 2006 entitled, Anyway.  Often in life we do fear. Sometimes we fear the silliest things that would never even come to reality in a million years. Often our fear is even backed by a few bad experiences. But fear should never handicap us or keep us from doing something that we truly value because we are simply afraid. We may never be recognized or spend our time building something great only to have it torn back down, but we do it anyway all for the sake of Christ. Our living is not in vain so if it is something as small as an encouraging word then speak it today. Even if you fail the first time or many times after that…if it is something positive then pray about it, ask God to equip you with all the tools you need, and go for it. Like the old psalmist says, because he lives then we are able to face tomorrow and when we realize the authority of this then our fear disappears to conquer the highest mountains.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV): “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

A Prayer of Destiny: BLOG ENTRY 18

It won’t be through human manipulation,

But through God’s divine revelation,

Not by mere chance,

But through a praise that was given in advance,

He saw it before time,

And ordained those blessings to be just mine,

My life in his hands,

Equipping me for that plan,

So I can’t fear,

For my breakthrough is near,

He is opening eyes, hearts, and doors,

For something greater and something more,

For when the enemy comes to claim my precious destiny,

Then In the name of Jesus,

He has to flee,

In him today,

I claim my victory in EVERY way. 

WAIT, A MINUTE: BLOG ENTRY 17

Wait, a Minute!

You can’t move forward by chosen to dwell on the past. God has your life in his hands so trust him. This doesn’t mean that it will be easy. This doesn’t mean it won’t hurt sometimes. This doesn’t even mean that you won’t have days that you break down only to question why. But KNOW that because of him. It is working out for your good. I am nothing without him, but I am everything with him. It is working out for you! Sometimes I have to give myself pep talks like this to simply remember and encourage myself.

 I was listening to Proverbs 31 ministries one day on the radio before work. The message the young woman gave empowered me. It was just what I needed that second in time.  She said, “Every period of life we seem to be waiting on something. When you were in high school you were ready to graduate, after college you were ready to start your career, when you were single then you were ready to be married, when you get married then you are ready to have children, and then once you have them then you are ready for them to get out. We must be content in whatever season we are in and cherish what God has given us.”

In this life, I often wonder why things work out the way that they do. Why is that I have chosen to do it right, but it seems like those who cheat their way through stay ahead? Why do many of the things I do seem to go unnoticed? But I never want to develop the spirit of entitlement. I am not entitled to anything, but God has given me grace and for that I am grateful. So we must remember that we have got to truly believe it before we see it.

We must practice patience. Patience seems to be a hard concept for many to grasp. I have even struggled with patience myself. I have often wanted to jump to things prematurely. But even the right thing can be the wrong thing prematurely. I remember having a talk with one of my friends. She describes patience as a young child who wants a candy bar. I was like girl… what do you mean? She says, “A child who wants a candy bar has no patience. They are jumping up and down like crazy saying I want it. Give it to me now! And you as the adult are saying not until you sit down and are still. That is how we often are girl. We are anxious and jumping up and down when in reality God is saying sit down somewhere. I will not give it to you until you sit down and be still. We have got to learn how to step back and watch God work.” I really had to stop and think.

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart

And wait for the Lord

          Wait so you told me to wait twice. It is funny how everyone has a problem to the solution.  Girl, I would have done this or dude I would have said this. You are crazy. But God simply tells me to wait, be strong, and take heart.

          So even if God doesn’t give it to me then I am grateful anyway. Even if it doesn’t work out in the timing or place that I think it should then I know he has it. Even if it seems like everyone who is doing wrong is blessed all around me. I must choose to trust that God’s timing is perfect just for me and that the process is working out for my good.

It is all just a process. God will bless you with the right thing, in the right season, if you continue to do the right things, and it will be at the right time.

Holding Out for God's Treasure: BLOG ENTRY 16

Holding Out for God’s Treasure

(google images)

 

I really begin to think back to my childhood. My mom never let me get the pink bubble tape while we were inside the store because she said it was too much gum and I didn’t need it.

I remember asking to go sit in the back of the church with my older cousin. When growing up, all the teenagers sat in the back. My mom let me go. While sitting with my older cousin Honey, she gave me her empty bubble tape container. Of course, it had no gum left in it, but I remember just being happy playing with the empty container.  

Soon after, I remember going back to sit with my mom because I was so happy and wanted to show her my new found treasure. I remember two smaller girls reaching for it who were sitting on the same bench as my mom and me.

Of course, I fell asleep during the sermon on my mother’s lap. When I got up during benediction, the first thing I asked for was my bubble tape container. Oh BUT No! My mom had given it away to those two little girls who were sitting there from out of town and now they were gone.

I remember every time I saw those two little girls after that, I remembered the incident. You see I still remember today. Lol

Anyway, I begin to think of the children in my classroom and the silly things they treasure and hold on to.

I often wonder why my children hold on to a half broken pencil with no eraser. Even though I often tell them, you don’t have to use that. Ask for another and I will freely give it to you. I have plenty.

I often wonder why some children would even waste their time getting upset if someone even takes their pencil. Instead simply, raise your hand and ask for assistance.

 

How many times as teacher have I stated, “Whatever you need, I got you.”

Often times as the year goes on then my students catch on. They begin to quote the things I have said when a situation comes up and handle it accordingly. They begin to mature in the things that I have taught and develop those critical thinking skills.

I wonder if this is what God is often thinking.

·        Why do they hold on to empty bubble tape containers?

·        Why do they hold on to empty promises?

·        Don’t they understand that I have more for them?

·        Why can’t they understand that everything they need then they can find in me?

My promises are never empty.

My teacher treasure box/supply box is full, but I don’t take it out all at once.

If my seven and eight year old students can begin to understand that hey, “I got this”. Then we can trust God that he has our life in his hands. He stands at the beginning and ending of time. He stood at the beginning of time and saw it all the way to the end.  We as Christians can begin to repeat his word and live it.

Philippians 4:6-“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.”

I can trust that when I put it in his hands. It will be alright.  

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for everything you have done. Guide my life and my heart to live in your fullness and trust your holy word. Give me a mind full of peace. Give me a mind not to hold on to empty lies and promises that don’t come from you. But allow me to know that all I need is in you.

You got this!

In Jesus Name I pray.

AMEN