Today in Sabbath school we talked about learning God's will for our lives. These are the 8 steps that were outlined.
1. Know will of your own in the given manner.
2. Don't simply go by feeling.
3. Study God's word and seek Biblical guidance.'
4. Consider providential circumstances including those in the past.
5. Consult with Godly friends.
6. Ask God in prayer to reveal His will.
7. Make a decision and don't wait for a sign. Tell God what your decision is.
8. Proceed with your decision and ask God to stop you and close the door if you chose the wrong option.
My 2 goals for this week:
* Start every day on my knees in prayer.
* Walk with my head up, smile, and make eye contact with people I don't know.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
my heart and my dreams
Today I got to listen live to a beautiful message from the creator of Veggietales and the Big Idea project. He shared about how after failing Bible college, God did a miracle and helped him create veggietales one of the most popular Christian video series ever made. He shared about how his company grew and grew miraculously all because he had faith and hard work.. But he didn't stop there. He shared about how Big Idea turned into a very bad thing and how Veggietales was taken away from his life.
He shared about how his pride had overcome him. About how he began to make the Big Idea and even inspiring others his focus instead of Christ. He said " The impact God puts on us does not occur when we are searching for impact but when we are searching for God." This meaning, if we want to make a difference we don't need to browse through charities and search for a big mission, we need to get in touch with our Creator. He knows our hearts, he knows our dreams, and He wants us to make a difference. But He wants us to care about Him more than anything else.
Dreams are dangerous if they are not directly from God.
They might be misplaced lovers or false hopes; they might be great goals. But no matter how good intentioned they are, if they are not from God they are not for us. Anything that takes up our heart, mind, and body needs to be of pure God inspired quality. Wanting a boyfriend does not fall into that category. Why isn't a Christian guy with good values an appropriate dream for your heart? These dreams are deceiving us that what we have right now: God, is not enough. Even good things can become idols. My health for life teacher said Satan just wants to get us in ditches. He doesn't care what kind. They may be good ditches that help others and they may be bad, they are still ditches that stop us from our journey upward towards Christ.
I struggle with this a lot, so I understand how tough this sounds. I'm not saying that we should be lazy or not have goals or even dreams. I believe dreams are powerful, but I also believe they are dangerous. Do you believe Satan can inspire dreams because I definitely do. I have plenty of dreams on my own. I'm a dreamy, imaginative, romantic girl. Who would have thought? =) But I feel God warning me: Be careful my child for some of your dreams are not what I have planned for you.
I don't want to dream in any other name but Jesus Christ. I don't want my heart to be filled with anything other than Christ's love. Therefore, I must guard my heart. I must guard my dreams. Proverbs 4:7 Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life
I really feel like God is calling me to filter my dreams. He has big plans for me, and I don't want my plans to get in the way of His. I need to stop dreaming and focusing on Christ, because no matter what happens, God is enough.
Some of my dreams:
to hang out with my friends again and all work together at summer camp together
to be a girls counselor again and change girls' lives
to get a boyfriend
to make good grades in Physical therapy
to be beautiful and super fit
to get my WSI
While you might think these are all good dreams, maybe even beneficial to other people, I see that in my heart, my focus is not where it should be. I don't want to worry about where to work at summer camp. I don't want to spend time wondering what I should do this summer and if my friends will be there to experience it with me. I have realized this year that sometimes even good things, like friends, can become idols in our life. Anything we love more than God is an idle. What if I said anything I thought about more than God is an idle? Point taken, I am praying for full surrender. We can not do this on our own, but God wants to change us. He stands at the door of our hearts knocking. He asks us to take Him in and let Him lead our lives. He asks us to kneel and give up our worries, our hopes, and even our biggest dreams. When we give Him our hearts, you can count on joy. You can also count on an amazing adventure and fight with Satan that will be the most epic battle you have ever expierenced. Finally, you can count on having a best friend and a Father by your side through anything, making you more beautiful day by day.
I want this and I hope you do. Christ wants to transform us. Right now I give him my heart.
He shared about how his pride had overcome him. About how he began to make the Big Idea and even inspiring others his focus instead of Christ. He said " The impact God puts on us does not occur when we are searching for impact but when we are searching for God." This meaning, if we want to make a difference we don't need to browse through charities and search for a big mission, we need to get in touch with our Creator. He knows our hearts, he knows our dreams, and He wants us to make a difference. But He wants us to care about Him more than anything else.
Dreams are dangerous if they are not directly from God.
They might be misplaced lovers or false hopes; they might be great goals. But no matter how good intentioned they are, if they are not from God they are not for us. Anything that takes up our heart, mind, and body needs to be of pure God inspired quality. Wanting a boyfriend does not fall into that category. Why isn't a Christian guy with good values an appropriate dream for your heart? These dreams are deceiving us that what we have right now: God, is not enough. Even good things can become idols. My health for life teacher said Satan just wants to get us in ditches. He doesn't care what kind. They may be good ditches that help others and they may be bad, they are still ditches that stop us from our journey upward towards Christ.
I struggle with this a lot, so I understand how tough this sounds. I'm not saying that we should be lazy or not have goals or even dreams. I believe dreams are powerful, but I also believe they are dangerous. Do you believe Satan can inspire dreams because I definitely do. I have plenty of dreams on my own. I'm a dreamy, imaginative, romantic girl. Who would have thought? =) But I feel God warning me: Be careful my child for some of your dreams are not what I have planned for you.
I don't want to dream in any other name but Jesus Christ. I don't want my heart to be filled with anything other than Christ's love. Therefore, I must guard my heart. I must guard my dreams. Proverbs 4:7 Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life
I really feel like God is calling me to filter my dreams. He has big plans for me, and I don't want my plans to get in the way of His. I need to stop dreaming and focusing on Christ, because no matter what happens, God is enough.
Some of my dreams:
to hang out with my friends again and all work together at summer camp together
to be a girls counselor again and change girls' lives
to get a boyfriend
to make good grades in Physical therapy
to be beautiful and super fit
to get my WSI
While you might think these are all good dreams, maybe even beneficial to other people, I see that in my heart, my focus is not where it should be. I don't want to worry about where to work at summer camp. I don't want to spend time wondering what I should do this summer and if my friends will be there to experience it with me. I have realized this year that sometimes even good things, like friends, can become idols in our life. Anything we love more than God is an idle. What if I said anything I thought about more than God is an idle? Point taken, I am praying for full surrender. We can not do this on our own, but God wants to change us. He stands at the door of our hearts knocking. He asks us to take Him in and let Him lead our lives. He asks us to kneel and give up our worries, our hopes, and even our biggest dreams. When we give Him our hearts, you can count on joy. You can also count on an amazing adventure and fight with Satan that will be the most epic battle you have ever expierenced. Finally, you can count on having a best friend and a Father by your side through anything, making you more beautiful day by day.
I want this and I hope you do. Christ wants to transform us. Right now I give him my heart.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Spirituality and my life
Spirituality:
"the capacity of forming the correct ethical judgment at each given moment in connection with the Holy Spirit. (Oscal Cullman)"
"a response to God's initiative, not something we initiate on our own. It means to center ourselves in Christ; He becomes the great passion of our lives" (SDA minister's manual)
"from loneliness to solitude, from hostility to hospitality, from illusion that life is about me to prayer." (Henri Nouwen)
I've never heard spirituality defined like this before. These are beautiful eye opening definitions, but they make me think. Do I really have that? Am I really a spiritual person?
* Do I feel like I know what God wants me to do in every situation?
* Is Christ the great passion in my lives? If He is, EVERYONE I encounter should see Him (not just my friends).
* When I am alone in my room or in a crowd am I content? When I meet loud people, drunk people, and different people is my first idea to give and to help rather than to judge? When I wake up every morning, do I pray instead of think about what I have to do?
If these definitions don't show you more Jesus and REAL faith then I don't know what will. These definitions are very convicting. To me they illustrate that life is about something different than we think. In the Bible it says "There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death."
I challenge you to think about your own life. Do you have spirituality? It's not about actions, it's not about rules, it's about a relationship and a total surrender. It's not a natural, worldly, or a typical thing to have spirituality.
In "My Utmost for His Highest" it states "our reason for refusing is willful obstinacy". Obstinacy means stubbornness or self-will. If we want true spirituality, which I know I am searching for, we must think about what we are holding onto and refusing to give to God. Oswold Chambers says we must banish all pride and continually seek to surrender our lives to God.
"the capacity of forming the correct ethical judgment at each given moment in connection with the Holy Spirit. (Oscal Cullman)"
"a response to God's initiative, not something we initiate on our own. It means to center ourselves in Christ; He becomes the great passion of our lives" (SDA minister's manual)
"from loneliness to solitude, from hostility to hospitality, from illusion that life is about me to prayer." (Henri Nouwen)
I've never heard spirituality defined like this before. These are beautiful eye opening definitions, but they make me think. Do I really have that? Am I really a spiritual person?
* Do I feel like I know what God wants me to do in every situation?
* Is Christ the great passion in my lives? If He is, EVERYONE I encounter should see Him (not just my friends).
* When I am alone in my room or in a crowd am I content? When I meet loud people, drunk people, and different people is my first idea to give and to help rather than to judge? When I wake up every morning, do I pray instead of think about what I have to do?
If these definitions don't show you more Jesus and REAL faith then I don't know what will. These definitions are very convicting. To me they illustrate that life is about something different than we think. In the Bible it says "There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death."
I challenge you to think about your own life. Do you have spirituality? It's not about actions, it's not about rules, it's about a relationship and a total surrender. It's not a natural, worldly, or a typical thing to have spirituality.
In "My Utmost for His Highest" it states "our reason for refusing is willful obstinacy". Obstinacy means stubbornness or self-will. If we want true spirituality, which I know I am searching for, we must think about what we are holding onto and refusing to give to God. Oswold Chambers says we must banish all pride and continually seek to surrender our lives to God.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Thank you
I just want to thank God for giving me one of the best days I could possibly imagine. I mean I was so homesick before and dreading coming back to school. He just showed me how many friends I have and what a blessing it really is to be here today. I got an amazing intramurals team with totally fun girls. I know people in all of my classes or already made a friend. I'm glad I'm here and I know God is working in me. It's so amazing when you experience that peace and know that you are right where God wants you: in his hands =)
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Secret to Health
This morning I listened to a sermon by Ivor Myers about the 3 Angels Messages about health. It was so powerful and I want to share what I learned. I encourage you to listen to it for yourself
https://www.audioverse.org/english/sermons/recordings/4273/right-arm-of-the-gospel.html
Above is the official medical symbol of healing!! This is crazy; this is magnificent. The doctors have it right. We have to look to God the Great Physician and we can be healed!
You see this symbol represents a great Bible story found in Numbers 21:4-9. The Israelites grew impatient and the Lord sent venomous snakes among them that would bite to kill. When Moses prayed the Lord told Moses to make a snake and put it on a pole so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and live.
So when we grow impatient and troubles come our way, what must we do? We cannot focus on our sicknesses, our sinful diseases, our problems, we must look UP. We must fall on our knees and cry out to the God of the Universe. He will heal us.
90% of all disease results from our mind.
Stress is killing us off and is a benevolent factor to almost every disease imaginable.
Heart disease, cancer, colds, flu, insomnia, tumors, drug addiction.. the list can go on and on. Sure we all know that stress is bad, but do you really realize that Stress is the killer, released by Satan.
Another target word for stress is Adrenaline.
What does stress do to the body? It triggers your fight or flight response and the hormones adrenalin and cortisol are released. These hormones speed up the heart rate and blood flow and stop digestion. When your body has too much, insomnia, headaches, jaw pain, back and neck pain, stuttering, heartburn and nausea, nervousness and anxiety, fidgeting, nail-biting, lateness and trouble focusing, and a lack of interest can occur.
So why is stress the problem? Stress is our immediate response to problems and troubles. We try to fix our problems on our own, we have to stop trying and look to God. When we worship we surrender to God and release stress we are holding onto. Christ doesn't want us to stress or to worry about problems on our own. I challenge you, next time you encounter a problem or a worry, stop and pray. Don't stress. Give it to God. The Great Healer and Maker can handle whatever you are dealing with.
https://www.audioverse.org/english/sermons/recordings/4273/right-arm-of-the-gospel.html
Above is the official medical symbol of healing!! This is crazy; this is magnificent. The doctors have it right. We have to look to God the Great Physician and we can be healed!
You see this symbol represents a great Bible story found in Numbers 21:4-9. The Israelites grew impatient and the Lord sent venomous snakes among them that would bite to kill. When Moses prayed the Lord told Moses to make a snake and put it on a pole so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and live.
So when we grow impatient and troubles come our way, what must we do? We cannot focus on our sicknesses, our sinful diseases, our problems, we must look UP. We must fall on our knees and cry out to the God of the Universe. He will heal us.
90% of all disease results from our mind.
Stress is killing us off and is a benevolent factor to almost every disease imaginable.
Heart disease, cancer, colds, flu, insomnia, tumors, drug addiction.. the list can go on and on. Sure we all know that stress is bad, but do you really realize that Stress is the killer, released by Satan.
Another target word for stress is Adrenaline.
What does stress do to the body? It triggers your fight or flight response and the hormones adrenalin and cortisol are released. These hormones speed up the heart rate and blood flow and stop digestion. When your body has too much, insomnia, headaches, jaw pain, back and neck pain, stuttering, heartburn and nausea, nervousness and anxiety, fidgeting, nail-biting, lateness and trouble focusing, and a lack of interest can occur.
So why is stress the problem? Stress is our immediate response to problems and troubles. We try to fix our problems on our own, we have to stop trying and look to God. When we worship we surrender to God and release stress we are holding onto. Christ doesn't want us to stress or to worry about problems on our own. I challenge you, next time you encounter a problem or a worry, stop and pray. Don't stress. Give it to God. The Great Healer and Maker can handle whatever you are dealing with.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Goodbye
Goodbyes are some of the hardest things but you can't truly LIVE and LOVE without them.
Everybody has to say goodbye at one point or another.
Some goodbyes are hard and some are easy.
Today I said goodbye to my parents. I hugged them on their way as they traveled to Texas and they left me here in Tennessee.
And when you stop looking in the mirror and telling yourself "I'm alone" "I'm scared" and "I can't do this"..
You will find why God has you right where He wants you Right Now!
Goodbyes are HARD. Saying goodbye to a grandpa, maybe an abusive relationship, a past where you have been hurt, a friend that is no longer helping you, a connection that needs to be broken down, an addiction that has to be stopped, or even your family dearest to you... You have to say goodbye sometime.
And as Danny Cantu, a dear friend, says "If we wait until we're ready, we'll be waiting for the rest of our lives."
So no I'm not ready. I'm not ready to leave my family and come back to this college where I struggle. Where I have to fight to get good grades in PT, push myself to juggle 5 balls, and compete to make true friends.. But here I am. And if this is where God wants me, then I know I'm ok. I'm saying Goodbye and I'm saying Here I am God.
When you really say goodbye, you choose not to dwell on the things of the past. You choose to live for today, not dreaming or dreading the past.
Maybe you are forced this year to say goodbye like me. Maybe you are going back to college and like me you are saying goodbye to the people you love the most and who love you back: the people who you are absolutely Crazy about. But maybe, you don't HAVE to say goodbye, maybe you just need too. I dare you to think with me about things that separate you from God. Could you say goodbye to them? I pray you have the strength to say goodbye to the things that are holding you back and keeping you from fully experiencing the love of joy.
I thank Jesus Christ now because He has the perfect plan for me and He will never leave us alone. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
I pray you find peace in Christ today wherever you are.
Everybody has to say goodbye at one point or another.
Some goodbyes are hard and some are easy.
Today I said goodbye to my parents. I hugged them on their way as they traveled to Texas and they left me here in Tennessee.
Tears stained my face and ruined my clear complexion.
Amidst the challenging goodbye I had seemed to lose direction
I felt totally lonely like a lost away from home
But then I remembered I will never be alone
With Goodbyes come New BeginningsAnd when you stop looking in the mirror and telling yourself "I'm alone" "I'm scared" and "I can't do this"..
You will find why God has you right where He wants you Right Now!
Goodbyes are HARD. Saying goodbye to a grandpa, maybe an abusive relationship, a past where you have been hurt, a friend that is no longer helping you, a connection that needs to be broken down, an addiction that has to be stopped, or even your family dearest to you... You have to say goodbye sometime.
And as Danny Cantu, a dear friend, says "If we wait until we're ready, we'll be waiting for the rest of our lives."
So no I'm not ready. I'm not ready to leave my family and come back to this college where I struggle. Where I have to fight to get good grades in PT, push myself to juggle 5 balls, and compete to make true friends.. But here I am. And if this is where God wants me, then I know I'm ok. I'm saying Goodbye and I'm saying Here I am God.
When you really say goodbye, you choose not to dwell on the things of the past. You choose to live for today, not dreaming or dreading the past.
Maybe you are forced this year to say goodbye like me. Maybe you are going back to college and like me you are saying goodbye to the people you love the most and who love you back: the people who you are absolutely Crazy about. But maybe, you don't HAVE to say goodbye, maybe you just need too. I dare you to think with me about things that separate you from God. Could you say goodbye to them? I pray you have the strength to say goodbye to the things that are holding you back and keeping you from fully experiencing the love of joy.
I thank Jesus Christ now because He has the perfect plan for me and He will never leave us alone. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
I pray you find peace in Christ today wherever you are.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
New Years Resolutions
Maybe you made New Years Resolutions, maybe you didn't. I encourage you to take some time to stop and look at your life. What was the last year like for you? If it wasn't good or wasn't Christ-filled I encourage you to change.
The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. How many times do we go around circles or phases in our life? We have to fight to be with Christ because it is a battle for our hearts, minds, and physical bodies. It takes prayer and the armor of God.
Therefore put on the full armor of God that you may take your stand against the devil's schemes. Put on the breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, shoes of peace, helmet of salvation, and sword of the spirit. Be in prayer continually!
Ok let's take some time to look at the last year of your life and what God has done for you. I will ask a question and then take some time to read it and think about it before looking at my answers.
What miracles or amazing things has God helped you accomplish the past year?
What struggles did you overcome with God's help the past year?
What did God teach you the last year?
How much time did you spend in the Word and in prayer last year?
How much did you share Christ's love with others last year?
For me, last year was a big year. I transitioned from Campion to Southern college. I got my dream job as a counselor last year at Wewoka Woods as I got to teach young girls about Christ. That summer I was introduced to the devil and the true warfare of Christ. After that summer, I began to be more vocal and real about my walk with God. I joined a Bible study with a few friends and began to study God's warfare and prophecy. I have learned a lot about Christ this past year!
What miracles has God helped me accomplish?
* I made Southern Gym Masters! If you knew me before I joined the team or even now, you would agree with me that this is a miracle =) I'm not exactly graceful or flexible.
*I got an amazing roomie- ok that's just a blessing.
* hmm ok this is a lot harder than you think ;)
What struggles did you overcome with God's help the past year?
* Playing on a guys baseball team
* Priscilla =)
* Keeping peace at summer camp
* Being homesick at Southern
*Depending on other people too much
* My identity
What did God teach you the last year?
* He will provide for you at the perfect time when you need Him desperately.
* He will never leave you even when you feel all alone.
*He has a perfect plan for your life.
* He will be your Daddy.
*He will kiss your cheek and call you beautiful.
How much time did you share Christ's love with others last year?
Not enough!!! I did Bible studies and tried to tell my girls in the summer about God. I'm in a lifegroup and did some outreach during the year. At the beginning of the year I went to prayer around the flagpole, that was a true blessing.
How much time did you spend in the Word and in prayer?
I started trying to read through the Bible but unfortunately I did not succeed. For the first time I began going to a lonely place out in nature for a while and spending time with God and that helped me a lot. I didn't spend nearly enough time with God.
My challenge to you: Discover Christ in a new way this year!
Whether it be by keeping a prayer journal or life journal, starting your own blog, taking time to go out in nature by yourself, singing praise songs at the top of your lungs, or starting a new ministry.
Make God your number one!
What is coming between you and God? Do what it takes to change that. This is something I am currently battling with.
Spend an hour a day with Christ.
This seems so much but it is really not. It doesn't have to be all in prayer and Bible reading. This year I am going to try and read through the Bible with the Bible reading plan above. If you would like to join me, please message me or comment! I am also going to try and read all 5 Ellen G White books Coach gave me. Maybe you don't want to read the whole Bible through in one year, that's ok. Do what you can.
I pray you don't walk with God this next year. I pray you run the race, follow His footsteps even those that are hard to see. I pray you protect your heart and your mind by spending time in His word. Above all, I pray that you realize YOU are so BEAUTIFUL and LOVED by your King. You were made to be CAPTIVATING =)
The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. How many times do we go around circles or phases in our life? We have to fight to be with Christ because it is a battle for our hearts, minds, and physical bodies. It takes prayer and the armor of God.
Therefore put on the full armor of God that you may take your stand against the devil's schemes. Put on the breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, shoes of peace, helmet of salvation, and sword of the spirit. Be in prayer continually!
Ok let's take some time to look at the last year of your life and what God has done for you. I will ask a question and then take some time to read it and think about it before looking at my answers.
What miracles or amazing things has God helped you accomplish the past year?
What struggles did you overcome with God's help the past year?
What did God teach you the last year?
How much time did you spend in the Word and in prayer last year?
How much did you share Christ's love with others last year?
For me, last year was a big year. I transitioned from Campion to Southern college. I got my dream job as a counselor last year at Wewoka Woods as I got to teach young girls about Christ. That summer I was introduced to the devil and the true warfare of Christ. After that summer, I began to be more vocal and real about my walk with God. I joined a Bible study with a few friends and began to study God's warfare and prophecy. I have learned a lot about Christ this past year!
What miracles has God helped me accomplish?
* I made Southern Gym Masters! If you knew me before I joined the team or even now, you would agree with me that this is a miracle =) I'm not exactly graceful or flexible.
*I got an amazing roomie- ok that's just a blessing.
* hmm ok this is a lot harder than you think ;)
What struggles did you overcome with God's help the past year?
* Playing on a guys baseball team
* Priscilla =)
* Keeping peace at summer camp
* Being homesick at Southern
*Depending on other people too much
* My identity
What did God teach you the last year?
* He will provide for you at the perfect time when you need Him desperately.
* He will never leave you even when you feel all alone.
*He has a perfect plan for your life.
* He will be your Daddy.
*He will kiss your cheek and call you beautiful.
How much time did you share Christ's love with others last year?
Not enough!!! I did Bible studies and tried to tell my girls in the summer about God. I'm in a lifegroup and did some outreach during the year. At the beginning of the year I went to prayer around the flagpole, that was a true blessing.
How much time did you spend in the Word and in prayer?
I started trying to read through the Bible but unfortunately I did not succeed. For the first time I began going to a lonely place out in nature for a while and spending time with God and that helped me a lot. I didn't spend nearly enough time with God.
My challenge to you: Discover Christ in a new way this year!
Whether it be by keeping a prayer journal or life journal, starting your own blog, taking time to go out in nature by yourself, singing praise songs at the top of your lungs, or starting a new ministry.
Make God your number one!
What is coming between you and God? Do what it takes to change that. This is something I am currently battling with.
Spend an hour a day with Christ.
This seems so much but it is really not. It doesn't have to be all in prayer and Bible reading. This year I am going to try and read through the Bible with the Bible reading plan above. If you would like to join me, please message me or comment! I am also going to try and read all 5 Ellen G White books Coach gave me. Maybe you don't want to read the whole Bible through in one year, that's ok. Do what you can.
I pray you don't walk with God this next year. I pray you run the race, follow His footsteps even those that are hard to see. I pray you protect your heart and your mind by spending time in His word. Above all, I pray that you realize YOU are so BEAUTIFUL and LOVED by your King. You were made to be CAPTIVATING =)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)