Life is full of decisions, what am I going to eat, what am I going to wear, where am I going to go to college, am I going to go to college, who am I going to marry, the list goes on and on and on. Each day we are faced with decisions, some are small simple decisions and other are much harder to decide.
I think back to when I would make decisions as a child, they were simple things like what color crayon do I use to color this flower but, as I have grown and become an adult my decisions have become much bigger and much more difficult to make.
A couple months ago I was presented with an opportunity for a Masters program at my college, and I had a decision to make whether or not I was going to jump at this opportunity. For me at the point that I am at in my life this was a big decision to make. If I said yes to this opportunity this would spring board me father into my teaching career and I would be done quicker with my Masters Degree but, at the same time how would I pay for the classes, would this take away time from my family, would I be able to balance my Undergraduate classes along with the new classes. These and so many more questions were running through my mind. I became overwhelmed and anxious about making a decision.
As I was becoming anxious, I was reminded of Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Oh what a sweet reminder that was!! Do NOT be anxious, present your requests to God. Thank you Lord for that! That is just what I needed to be reminded of at that time.
I prayed about this decision that I had in front of me and the Lord directed my path and has blessed me the opportunity to be in the Masters program.
The Lord wants us to come to Him with anything and everything. He is our rock and refuge. When we have BIG decisions to make He wants us to come to him. Sometimes I try to make and figure out BIG decisions on my own, and I find that all too often I crash and burn.
Before jumping into a BIG or small decisions and opportunities, we, as believers, have the opportunity to present those before God and pray about what we are supposed to do with those decisions. God is with us and He will guide us with every decision both BIG and small in our lives.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Correction, Sometimes it hurts.
Correction! I think that it is safe to say that we all dislike correction, but on the same note we all need correction. Growing up my mom would correct me on things like sit up straight, don't put your elbows on the table, don't talk with your mouth full and so on. At the time I was thinking "Aww..mom, I'm fine". Well now that I am an adult, I know and understand why my mom was correcting me because one she didn't want me to look like an idiot and two because she knew that correcting me was the best thing for me.
Just like our parents correct us as we grow up, God gives us corrections and yes sometimes it does hurt and we don't want to hear it but in the end he knows that it is best for us. Proverbs 3:12 says "For whom the Lord loves, He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights". God corrects us because He knows we want to be people who Honor and love him. To become the man or woman that God wants us to be there is going to be some discomfort and yes, even corrections. Although in the verse it does say that He corrects and reproves us, there is hope in that verse because just like the verse reminds us the Lord loves us and He delights in us. Wow, I am so thankful for that relief in the midst of the correction.
One of my favorite verses about correction is Proverbs 12:1 which says, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid". Well, isn't that blunt! I know that in my life I have needed to hear things so bluntly like that. God knows that we all need correction and help becoming the man or the woman that He wants us to be, but sometimes we need verses such as Proverbs 12:1 that just state it so bluntly and honestly.
Just like our parents correct us because they love us, God corrects us because He loves us too!
Just like our parents correct us as we grow up, God gives us corrections and yes sometimes it does hurt and we don't want to hear it but in the end he knows that it is best for us. Proverbs 3:12 says "For whom the Lord loves, He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights". God corrects us because He knows we want to be people who Honor and love him. To become the man or woman that God wants us to be there is going to be some discomfort and yes, even corrections. Although in the verse it does say that He corrects and reproves us, there is hope in that verse because just like the verse reminds us the Lord loves us and He delights in us. Wow, I am so thankful for that relief in the midst of the correction.
One of my favorite verses about correction is Proverbs 12:1 which says, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid". Well, isn't that blunt! I know that in my life I have needed to hear things so bluntly like that. God knows that we all need correction and help becoming the man or the woman that He wants us to be, but sometimes we need verses such as Proverbs 12:1 that just state it so bluntly and honestly.
Just like our parents correct us because they love us, God corrects us because He loves us too!
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Follow The Leader
As a child one of the games that I really enjoyed playing was follow the leader. For me I LOVED to lead, as I still do today, but often I found it really hard to follow sometimes.
I really enjoyed being the leader and I did not necessarily want to follow someone else. Often I have found that a lot of children more often than not would rather be the leader and not the follower.
Just like as a kid when I found it hard to play follow the leader when I was not the one leading, I find it hard to follow Christ where he leads me.
Many times in the New Testament Christ is saying "Come, follow me." Matthew 16: 24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.' " That is just one place that Jesus is telling someone to follow him.
Christ calls us to follow him in many ways. Some are called to be foreign missionaries, domestic missionaries, teachers, doctors, and many other places. We are called to follow him and be his light. Though many times it is hard to pick up our things and follow Christ where He leads, it will always be worth it in the end for our joy and His Glory.
When I think about all of this, there are two families that come to mind, the Dyar's and the Pestotnik's. Both of these families were called to go over seas to the mission field. Each of the families picked up and moved over seas. I can't even begin to imagine what kinds of thoughts each of these families had when God called them to go. But what an example they are of following Christ!!
When Christ is calling me to follow Him, I will admit that sometimes it is not where I want to be or what I want to be doing. But it is in those times that I have to remember that is HE is my leader and I am the follower and I am to follow him where ever he leads me!
Are you leading? Or are you following the ultimate leader?
I really enjoyed being the leader and I did not necessarily want to follow someone else. Often I have found that a lot of children more often than not would rather be the leader and not the follower.
Just like as a kid when I found it hard to play follow the leader when I was not the one leading, I find it hard to follow Christ where he leads me.
Many times in the New Testament Christ is saying "Come, follow me." Matthew 16: 24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.' " That is just one place that Jesus is telling someone to follow him.
Christ calls us to follow him in many ways. Some are called to be foreign missionaries, domestic missionaries, teachers, doctors, and many other places. We are called to follow him and be his light. Though many times it is hard to pick up our things and follow Christ where He leads, it will always be worth it in the end for our joy and His Glory.
When I think about all of this, there are two families that come to mind, the Dyar's and the Pestotnik's. Both of these families were called to go over seas to the mission field. Each of the families picked up and moved over seas. I can't even begin to imagine what kinds of thoughts each of these families had when God called them to go. But what an example they are of following Christ!!
When Christ is calling me to follow Him, I will admit that sometimes it is not where I want to be or what I want to be doing. But it is in those times that I have to remember that is HE is my leader and I am the follower and I am to follow him where ever he leads me!
Are you leading? Or are you following the ultimate leader?
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Cowboy Boots and Pink TuTu's
For the past few years, I have taught three and four year old choir on Wednesday nights at my Church. I got the utmost joy from teaching the little ones! I came home with some of the best stories every week!
One particular week as I was greeting the children as they came in the room, this one little girl caught my eye. I did a double take and there was little miss Anna Caroline in cowboy boots and a pink tutu. I snickered just a little bit and grinned at her and told her I loved her outfit! I truly did love her outfit!
As I watched Anna throughout the class my mind began to wander. As I watched Anna play with her friends and baby dolls, I thought to myself, what if we expressed our love for Christ and shared with others that love like Anna expressed her personality through what she was wearing?
Matthew 28:19-20 says "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surly I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
This verse calls us to go out make disciples. As believers in Christ that what we are supposed to do. But all too often don't we find ourselves not living out the great commission? I know for me I find it hard sometimes to express my love for Christ and live it out in every single task that I do during the day. Sometimes I am afraid to take that step and share Christ with others.
I am gonna jump out on a limb here and say that I think there are many believers that are afraid to take that step and share their faith because they are afraid of what others will think and say about them. Do you find yourself in that place? Afraid to share the word of God?
What a huge lesson I learned from Anna that night! Just as Anna was not afraid to wear cowboy boots and a pink tutu, I want to not be afraid to tell others about Christ.
So why don't we all put on our cowboy boots and pink tutu and share Christ!
One particular week as I was greeting the children as they came in the room, this one little girl caught my eye. I did a double take and there was little miss Anna Caroline in cowboy boots and a pink tutu. I snickered just a little bit and grinned at her and told her I loved her outfit! I truly did love her outfit!
As I watched Anna throughout the class my mind began to wander. As I watched Anna play with her friends and baby dolls, I thought to myself, what if we expressed our love for Christ and shared with others that love like Anna expressed her personality through what she was wearing?
Matthew 28:19-20 says "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surly I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
This verse calls us to go out make disciples. As believers in Christ that what we are supposed to do. But all too often don't we find ourselves not living out the great commission? I know for me I find it hard sometimes to express my love for Christ and live it out in every single task that I do during the day. Sometimes I am afraid to take that step and share Christ with others.
I am gonna jump out on a limb here and say that I think there are many believers that are afraid to take that step and share their faith because they are afraid of what others will think and say about them. Do you find yourself in that place? Afraid to share the word of God?
What a huge lesson I learned from Anna that night! Just as Anna was not afraid to wear cowboy boots and a pink tutu, I want to not be afraid to tell others about Christ.
So why don't we all put on our cowboy boots and pink tutu and share Christ!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Missing Pieces Box
Growing up my brothers and I tended to loose pieces to games, puzzles, and other nic-nacs. So when we wanted to play a board game such as monopoly it never ceased to fail that one of the houses would be missing, the dice would be missing, or something else that you needed to play the game would not be there. So my mom made what we called the "Missing Pieces Box" so that when we would find that lost piece we would have a place to put the pieces.
While cleaning out our game closet a while back, I happened upon that missing pieces box. I opened it up and rummaging through it I found a piece to the game trouble, a lego, a piece to a Dr. Seuss game, puzzle pieces to puzzles I forgot we even had, and there was an array of other things in the box. As I was sifting through the box I was trying to figure out what pieces went to what game. There were so many pieces that it became overwhelming to figure out what was what! I had to close the lid and put the box back for a later date.
Sifting through all those missing pieces made me think of the story in Luke 15 where the woman lost her coin and she searched and searched and searched for that one lost coin and when she found it she rejoiced because she found her one lost coin. Or the other story in Luke 15 about the lost son who wanted his inheritance now and then when it was gone he came back home and his father rejoiced when his son came home!
That is the same kind of joy that Christ has when one of his people come back to him. Many times in life we go off the beaten path and we decide to go our own way and decide that our way is better than His way. Just like the woman who searched and searched for her lost coin, Christ searches for us when we are lost too. Sometimes we don't want to be want to be found because we are happy and content buried deep in our own missing pieces box. But because Christ loves us so much, he won't quit sifting through that missing pieces box until he finds us.
Christ us wants us to be one with him and follow him, so when we go our own way he searches for us and when we come back to him, he celebrates just like the father did in Luke 15 when his son came home.
Just like I would have been excited about finding that one missing trouble piece or that puzzle piece, Christ gets excited when one of his sheep come back to him.
Luke 15:32 " But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
While cleaning out our game closet a while back, I happened upon that missing pieces box. I opened it up and rummaging through it I found a piece to the game trouble, a lego, a piece to a Dr. Seuss game, puzzle pieces to puzzles I forgot we even had, and there was an array of other things in the box. As I was sifting through the box I was trying to figure out what pieces went to what game. There were so many pieces that it became overwhelming to figure out what was what! I had to close the lid and put the box back for a later date.
Sifting through all those missing pieces made me think of the story in Luke 15 where the woman lost her coin and she searched and searched and searched for that one lost coin and when she found it she rejoiced because she found her one lost coin. Or the other story in Luke 15 about the lost son who wanted his inheritance now and then when it was gone he came back home and his father rejoiced when his son came home!
That is the same kind of joy that Christ has when one of his people come back to him. Many times in life we go off the beaten path and we decide to go our own way and decide that our way is better than His way. Just like the woman who searched and searched for her lost coin, Christ searches for us when we are lost too. Sometimes we don't want to be want to be found because we are happy and content buried deep in our own missing pieces box. But because Christ loves us so much, he won't quit sifting through that missing pieces box until he finds us.
Christ us wants us to be one with him and follow him, so when we go our own way he searches for us and when we come back to him, he celebrates just like the father did in Luke 15 when his son came home.
Just like I would have been excited about finding that one missing trouble piece or that puzzle piece, Christ gets excited when one of his sheep come back to him.
Luke 15:32 " But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."
Dented, Bruised, and Sometimes Busted
I love getting a good deal, especially on a high ticket item. But who doesn't?
Many times stores will discount an item when the packaging is damaged or you see a discount bin when you walk through a store that has items in there that are just missing a label, or the box may be just cut open on the side.
Sometimes life gives us the unexpected. Lessons that knock us to our knees and bruise, dent, or even bust us open in some way. When that happens sometimes we let it remove the label of who we are in Christ. A mother looses her only child it takes away her role as a mother. A divorce can take away the role of a mother or father. When things like that happen in our lives we feel as though we are that discounted item just thrown into the discount bin. With all the dents and bruises that we receive in life, we tend to begin to believe the lie of the devil that we are not good enough and we are no longer worthy to stand before our God.
We all have been damaged in some sort of way. As young children we all dream of what we want to be like as we grow up and when we fail to live up to our own expectations or someone else's expectations, we feel like that item tossed into the discount bin. How often do we look at those items in the discount bin and judge them because of the type of damage it has or because of the missing label. I know that I have done that all too often. How often do we look at others and are quick to judge them and throw them into the "discount bin"? I dare say that we all have been quick to judge someone without really knowing the story.
Sometimes, we end up in that discount bin with all the other busted and damaged items. But, we have hope! We have hope in Jesus who paid the price for our sins and for all of our dents, bruises, and damages. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." That verse provides hope for us that the Lord is always going to be close and near to us even when we feel as though we have been thrown into the discount bin.
Are there people in your life that think they are the damaged good that was thrown into the discount bin? Take some time and pray for them and reach out to them and give them the chance to be taken out of the discount bin and show them the love of Jesus and that he is close to those who are broken and he will restore us and repair our brokenness and take us out of the discount bin and give us a new label.
Many times stores will discount an item when the packaging is damaged or you see a discount bin when you walk through a store that has items in there that are just missing a label, or the box may be just cut open on the side.
Sometimes life gives us the unexpected. Lessons that knock us to our knees and bruise, dent, or even bust us open in some way. When that happens sometimes we let it remove the label of who we are in Christ. A mother looses her only child it takes away her role as a mother. A divorce can take away the role of a mother or father. When things like that happen in our lives we feel as though we are that discounted item just thrown into the discount bin. With all the dents and bruises that we receive in life, we tend to begin to believe the lie of the devil that we are not good enough and we are no longer worthy to stand before our God.
We all have been damaged in some sort of way. As young children we all dream of what we want to be like as we grow up and when we fail to live up to our own expectations or someone else's expectations, we feel like that item tossed into the discount bin. How often do we look at those items in the discount bin and judge them because of the type of damage it has or because of the missing label. I know that I have done that all too often. How often do we look at others and are quick to judge them and throw them into the "discount bin"? I dare say that we all have been quick to judge someone without really knowing the story.
Sometimes, we end up in that discount bin with all the other busted and damaged items. But, we have hope! We have hope in Jesus who paid the price for our sins and for all of our dents, bruises, and damages. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." That verse provides hope for us that the Lord is always going to be close and near to us even when we feel as though we have been thrown into the discount bin.
Are there people in your life that think they are the damaged good that was thrown into the discount bin? Take some time and pray for them and reach out to them and give them the chance to be taken out of the discount bin and show them the love of Jesus and that he is close to those who are broken and he will restore us and repair our brokenness and take us out of the discount bin and give us a new label.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Follow Me???
Follow me on Twitter. Follow me on Facebook. Follow me on Blogger. Follow me on Pinterest. All these things that we now have that we can follow people on. We follow people that we know and love, we follow people who are "celebrities", we even follow people on all these things that we may not even like but we follow them anyway. All to often we find ourselves spending hours upon hours "following" all these things and wasting away our days. If we don't like what someone says or posts, in just a matter of seconds we can move on to the next best thing. Thousands of years ago, someone else said "Follow Me". But when He said this, he wasn't talking about Twitter or Facebook.
When Jesus asked people to follow him, he was not talking about clicking a button and checking out his latest tweet. Jesus wanted them to drop and leave everything and literally follow him. When Jesus invited Peter and Andrew to follow Him, they walked away from their jobs. Others left family, wealth and possessions. He gently turned one away because the young man wouldn't give up riches. But those that followed gave up their rights in exchange for a relationship with the Messiah.
"Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."" Mark 10:21
"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'" Mark 8:34
Following Jesus was an all or nothing invitation. There isn't one example in Scripture where Jesus made an exception. And yet too many times I find myself following Jesus with only part of me. In fact, at times I'd prefer the Twitter version of following Jesus. Quick and entertaining, and done from behind a screen. When all the spiritual decorations are removed, the truth is I've tried to follow Jesus with only part of me. I consider His invitation, and I'm happy to follow Him with my mind and hands. And yet I know Jesus wants more. He doesn't want a 140-character relationship with me. He doesn't want my obedience a few times a day when I think about it. He doesn't want my convenient offerings of service. Following Jesus means being His shadow...walking in His footsteps to the leper colony, being a friend of the outcast, facing scorn from the religious community, and standing firm for what is right in spite of the cost. It means following Him in the very essence of who I am: The deep place where I submit my rights to the One who gave them up for me. When I look at it in that light, I realize once again why I want to follow Jesus fully. He gave up everything for me. How can I do any less? My footsteps on this earthly journey following Jesus are not always steady and strong. I've stumbled many times. Yet I know that following anyone else offers only temporary peace and joy. Only Jesus leads me from darkness to light, and from death to life. I don't expect I'll find that on Twitter.
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" John 8:12
When Jesus asked people to follow him, he was not talking about clicking a button and checking out his latest tweet. Jesus wanted them to drop and leave everything and literally follow him. When Jesus invited Peter and Andrew to follow Him, they walked away from their jobs. Others left family, wealth and possessions. He gently turned one away because the young man wouldn't give up riches. But those that followed gave up their rights in exchange for a relationship with the Messiah.
"Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."" Mark 10:21
Jesus called the disciples to follow him, and He has called us as believers to follow him as well.
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" John 8:12
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