Wrestling With Obedience

For me this post is not necessarily pertaining to outward beauty, but we each will have our own set of circumstances that this may put some meaning towards.  Lately, being the last several months really, I have felt a sort of wrestling with obedience in my life.  Not in a clear cut I know what I need to be doing sort of way, but rather an inkling, that is pushing me in a certain direction.  I always think that I struggle with these types of decisions because I am not really certain if that is what I am supposed to do.  But by chance could it be that instead,  it is not something that I want to do?

Letting go plays a huge role in these types of situations.  Why do we find it so hard to let go of control, when if we look back over past events in our life and of those in the Bible, the results though not necessarily immediately favorable, did in the long run work out for the better?  I, personally, do not enjoy the feeling of not being in control.....yet being in control is very tiring work!  Since this blog is more geared towards self image type things, I can do a little relating there.  During the years of my eating disorder, control was a chunk of the root of the problem.  It was a lot of work hanging on to the eating disorder, and there was a lot of fear and worry towards letting go!  I knew I needed to be obedient and let that behavior go, and I can not even put into words the freedom of being that came from being obedient and Letting Go!

As each day progresses and more time goes by, learning to be obedient even in the smallest detail, can heap immense amounts of blessings in our lives and into the lives of others.  Pray with me that we can let go and not be afraid of the impact that obedience will have in our lives!!

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."

Hebrews 11:8

It's That Time of Year Again

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."  John 14:21

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, there are objects and thoughts representing love all around us.  Yet, as I was doing my Experiencing God study this week I came across a portion that really reminded me of all that encompasses God's love for us in all areas of our lives.  Here is a portion of that....

"When you come to know God by experience, you will be convinced of His love.  When you are assured of His love, you can believe Him and trust Him.  When you trust Him, you will obey Him.  Scripture indicates, "This is love for God:to obey his commands.  And His commands are not burdensome."(1John 5:3) 

God loves you deeply and profoundly.  Because He loves you, He has given you guidelines for living so you will not miss the full dimensions of the love relationship.  Life also has some land mines that can destroy you or harm your life.  God does not want to see you miss His best, and He does not want your life destroyed by foolish choices.

Suppose you had to cross a field full of land mines, and a person who knew exactly where each one was buried offered to take you through it.  Would you say to him, "I don't want you to tell me what to do.  I have free will!  I don't want you to impose your ways on me"?

I don't know about you, but I would stay as close to that person as I could.  I certainly would not wander off.  His directions to me would preserve my life.  He would say, "Don't go that way, because that way will kill you.  Go this way and you will live."

That is the purpose of God's commands.  He wants you to receive life and have it abundantly.  When the Lord gives you a command, He is trying to protect and preserve the best He has for you.  He does not want you to lose it.  When God gives a command He is not restricting you.  He is freeing you".

(Experiencing God pages76&77)

God's ways may sometimes seem wrong or impossible to us, yet truly they are, in the long run, what is best for us.  My prayer is that not only would we take the time to enjoy the romantic love that God has blessed us with if we are married, but also most importantly, that we would have such an intimate love relationship with God that we will joyfully obey all His commands, no questions asked!

"Obedience is the outward expression of my love for God"

(Experiencing God)

Mirror Reflection

"Mirror, mirror on the wall who's the fairest of them all?"  Mirrors are everywhere, in the bathroom, closet doors, walls, in your makeup, and even in the car!  How many times a day do you think that we come across a mirror?  And, how many times do we stop to take a look? I was saddened the other day by something that I heard.  A high school girl was standing by a mirror in a sporting area, getting prepared for the task at hand, when at once she realized that the mirror was giving her reflection, she gasped, turned away and said something along the lines of, "I just cannot look in a mirror!"  She went on to briefly say that she was very unhappy with what was reflected back at her, and she made great efforts to just not take a look!

What I guess surprised me most, was that upon my observations of this young lady, I have admired the smile that almost always graces her face.  I have thought to myself that she was someone that the world needs more of.  How ironic that the face she avoided was the very one that I admired!  Oh, how to often we let other people's preconceived ideas of beautifully acceptable make or break our thoughts towards the image we see in the mirror.  Where has this standard come from? Who is it that gets to decide what is and is not pleasant?  Is it always going to be the same, and is it even the same for everyone? It is a great tragedy that faces each and every one of us sometime along the way.

Look around you throughout the day, and see what it is that you think makes other people beautiful.  I know for me personally there is always something that I notice in everyone that makes them beautiful.  And more often than not, you will find that those you admire and desire to be around, are those whose inner qualities far exceed their outer reflection!

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Psalm 139:13,14

Blessings in Disguise

It is the day that begins a new year.  While I, myself, have never really been one to make New Year's resolutions, I know that there are many that are.  Strolling through an athletic section of a store today, I remarked to my husband that there sure is a lot more exercise apparatus out now versus before.  That of course, is due to the vast number of people who have vowed that this is the year for getting in some exercise and good eating!  Stores understand this concept thoroughly, and of course capitalize on it.  Needless to say, it did get me thinking about the past year and all that it entailed.

As I look back over the past year I am sure of one thing....God was really working on my heart and the ability to accept things as they are and try to see the blessing in it.  One way that blessing is defined is as a special favor, mercy or benefit.  I tried to keep in mind through all things or thoughts that came my way that there was something beneficial, or good to be seen in it.  There is a great measure of peace that fills your life when you gracefully take things as they come, and as they are. 

Don't be fooled, there were many a moments that acceptance and peace were not part of my day.  The times that the washer continually seemed to back up into the kitchen sink, mice were found leaving their mark in my kitchen, the kids were just a tad bit energetic, and the endless noise outside was just plain tiring.  We did like to joke in those rare moments when no traffic was driving by outside, that the end of the world must have come, because it was just plain odd!  All joking aside, through it all it was almost always on the forefront of my mind that I have so much to be thankful for.  So what if the washer was malfunctioning, I still had clean clothes to wear; who could blame the mice for wanting a part in my kitchen...praise God for mouse traps!!! And truly without the noise of children in my house, life would feel pretty empty!

I wonder what this year will bring?  Only God knows the number of my days and just exactly how things are going to play out.  But this I do know....seeing the blessings in each day and being able to focus on clinging to that which is good, brings about a great measure of peace in life.  My prayer for this year is that I will continue on this path seeking to experience all that God has for me, humbling accepting life along the way!

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:4-7

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

I wonder what the origins of that quote are?  It is a line we use and hear frequently, but rarely do I give it more than a passing thought.  It sounds easy enough, right?  In all honesty, if you stop and think about it, isn't it the small stuff that we sweat about the most?  Why is it so hard to let those things go?

Generally speaking we feel that we have the most control over the day to day, how you live your life stuff.  It is the BIG stuff like, illness, death, state of our country, lives of others... that we feel more of a loss of control over.  So it makes perfect sense that it is the small stuff that we fret about so. Yet worrying, fretting, obsessing, fearing, etc...is one and the same whether something is large or small!

My husband and I have been privileged with the role of caring for an elderly woman who was/is my husband's mother figure throughout his life.  When I first met her, she was strong, capable, and totally independent and always had been.  Slowly she sold her house, moved into an retiree apartment complex, and thus began the shift in her life.   In the last 10 months we have watched her lose more and more control over the "small stuff", and become dependent on those around her.  From moving into an assisted living facility, needing someone to remember to give her the necessary medication she requires, to needing help getting dressed and going to her meals.  The most recent shift this week was moving her to our area into a memory care facility where she will get all the love and care she needs, with plenty more visits from us.  Her memory is not all gone, but her needed level of care is high.  Through all of this, when I sit back and reflect, I see just how much energy is wasted sweating the "small stuff".  There is so much in this life that God has blessed us with to enjoy and partake in, that I do not want to be near the end of my time on this earth, and realize how much time I wasted worrying, fretting, and putting so much time into the things that do not matter much.  I can tell already that there is going to much learned by being in the company of the wise and aged people where she is living.  I do not think that they look back on their lives and think, "I am so glad that I spent a lot of time consumed with the size of my thighs, the latest trends, whether or not my kids are the smartest or best behaved."  But rather they will be at peace knowing that their life was lived filled with love, joy and appreciation for all that God had blessed them with, whether great or trying in their eyes.

Give it a try....Don't sweat the small stuff!

Finding Freedom

Finding freedom has been on my mind a lot lately.  Being in the company of others who are sharing real life events of people struggling with an addiction, that year in and year out just seems to be getting the best of them,one them ultimately taking their own life, has spurred on this thinking.  The complexities surrounding such life stories is almost mind boggling.  How do we end up there?  And what is it that makes some come out of it so much for the better, and others to never come out of it at all?  This thinking can be applied to a depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, pornography,abuse, and the like.

Another question that has been plaguing my mind, is for those that do come out of these trials completely free, how many, if any, were able to do it without the very person of Christ being a part of their life?  Maybe my sphere of influence is so limited, but every person or situation that I have heard of that has been able to walk out of a situation of the like, completely free and accepting of forgiveness, knows Christ and has made Him a significant part of their life.  I have known many that are able to "live" with these addictions, accepting that they will just make the best of it and get used to it.  I was told many times in my treatment for anorexia, that I would always struggle with it, but I would learn to cope and be pretty healthy.  That is not complete freedom to me.  That is coping/surviving, not freely living!  I know that Teen Challenge experiences around a 70% success rate of those that have completed their program, and secular treatment centers quote anywhere from 1-15% success rates.  I realize that these are just statistics, and change year by year and may not be the most accurate, but it does make you think. 

Personally, I know that without being able to cling to my personal relationship with Christ and the truths in the Bible, I would not be able to say that I have been completely free for almost 10 years now.  However, I know that there are many that cling to Christ and the truths in the Bible, that have not found complete freedom from the affliction at hand.  Complete freedom for me did not happen overnight by any means....it took a good 6 years!  There were many times I pleaded with God to take it away, but the answer did not come right away.  This discussion could really open up with many questions, but for tonight, the thought is... Do you know of anyone that has found complete freedom from an addiction, or something of the like, without Christ?

I would love to hear any thoughts that you might have on this.  Just click on comments below and leave me your words of wisdom =)  

How Great Thou Art

I love Christ and all that He has done, is, and always will be. My life may not always reflect this accurately, yet there is just something about this hymn, and her rendition of it that brings me to my knees in awe of the character and depth of love in God.  I wanted to just post the lyrics and have the song playing on the side bar, but that could not be done.  So here it is on a you tube clip, with the lyrics to follow.  All too often we forget to step back and remember just what has been done for us. Taking the time to enjoy this song is a simple way to do just that!  Enjoy!

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
      
     (chorus)
     Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
     How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
     Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
     How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
     (Chorus )

Verse 3.
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Airbrushing and Photoshop

I have mentioned the deception we are faced with when we look at photos in magazines and other publications.  The airbrushing and photoshop that occurs can be devestating to us if we are unaware of it, and just how much of what we see is not real.  Prompted by some headlines this week about unreal photos of people, I thought that I would post these videos for you to view.

Here is one about girls and their self-esteem, by DOVE Campaign for real beauty.

I hope this gives you some food for thought, the next time you see photos that make you feel less than the beauty that God has created in you!

Cultivating Contentment

"You were made for more than this world has to offer you.  Our yearnings, longings, cravings, and hopes are telling us something: there isn't enough love, peace, hope, friendship, and intimacy on this earth to completely satisfy us.  We will always want more."

Nicole Johnson

Cultivating Contentment, that is the name of the Bible study I was blessed to take part in this summer.  I cannot even begin to explain to you how wonderful and thought provoking it was!  When you stop to think about it, isn't contentment a huge force that propels us throughout each and every day?  It really truly is a driving force behind the thoughts we think, things we say, and actions that we do.  We are seeking to fulfill a longing of purpose or fulfillment is some way, shape or form.  

I am truly drawn to people and desire to emulate people that exude contentment.  There is such a peace and comfort in their surroundings.  Does it ever feel to you as if this is something so hard to attain?  Have you ever thought of this discontentment as a gift from God?  Maybe it could be.  Do we really want the things of this disappointing, sinful world to be the fulfillment of our wildest dreams?  I am oh so glad that something far better awaits us!  How easy it would be to just claim that since this world is not meant to completely satisfy us, I am going to freely express my discontent attitude.  However, that is not to be.  We should be filled with peace knowing that there is more to this life than meets the eye, and humbly accept that which comes our way each and every day.

Even though this world is not my true home, there was (and is), so much more to learn and apply in my daily life.  There is the passage in Proverbs 19:13 about the nagging wife being like a constant dripping.  Those closest to us will probably love to speak up their opinion about us on this topic!  If you look through different versions of Prov. 19:13 and 27:15 you will find these descriptions: quarrelsome, constant dripping, bothersome, nagging, annoying, contentious, leaky, and my favorite, drip, drip, drippy!  Yikes, is what I felt when I read this.  This is definitely not what I want to be or portray.  A discontent, complaining attitude not only gets out of control so easily, but it rubs off on those around us!  We had a lot of discussion about complaining versus discussing things with someone we trust.  The conclusion we were able to draw was it is the motive behind it that determines which it is.  God did give us other people to comfort us in our troubles, and to share this journey called life with. 

Every day we have the opportunity of  being transformed into the likeness of Christ.  Just like what food is on our plate varies from day to day, so do the things on your life's plate.  It is always enough to satisfy, we need to remember to say Thank You.  Our personal contentment hinges a lot on just how much we are trusting God, and learning to see life through His perspective. I am challenged, to face each day with gratitude in ALL things, and when asked about the variables in life to respond with "Can't Complain!"

"I will forget my complaint; I will change the look on my face and smile." 

Job 9:27 NCV 

Blogging Break

Well, I have decided to take a little break from blogging.  Days just seem to get away from me right now, and the readers just do not seem to be there:(  So for now, unless I am unbelievably inspired, my blog will be on hold.  Enjoy your summer and feel free to check back from time to time to see if anything new has been posted!

Guilty, or Not?

Guilt....that feeling seems to creep over me a lot in life.  It probably has something to do with my perfectionistic and people pleasing nature.  It is a plague that I need to do something about!  I am sure that you have found yourself in similar circumstances from time to time, and yes sometimes there is a very good reason for that feeling to come creeping in.  During those times forgiveness needs to be sought out, but I am thinking more along the lines of guilt that is there unnecessarily.

Guilt is described as self-reproach for supposed inadequacy or wrongdoing.  It is placing upon ourselves the feeling of failure, where failure is not due.  It can creep in when you feel as if you did not do what others thought you should, you are not good enough at what you have to do, or maybe you set too high of a standard for yourself overall!!  Whatever the case may be, Satan loves it when we dwell in the plague of guilt!  Then we are not claiming what is rightfully ours, that is above his control.  He cannot take away the fact that we are redeemed and made righteous, but he sure knows how to distract us in to forgetting!!!  Whether we are a mother, sibling, friend, spouse or child, there are many things thrown our way that could cause us to have unnecessary guilt, that is a fact, but it is what we do with them that matters.  I am going to share yet another part of a writing by Marie Chapian that touches on this subject so profoundly.

"Examine the words you speak, because it is you who are hardest on yourself....You shall establish yourself in righteousness, in conformity with the Father's will and order.  Hear me in the wrestling of your mind, for My call of love is true and powerful.  

I shall put you in a place far from the thought of oppression or destruction.  I shall lift you up above the guilt and shame, and sin shall no longer be your master.  I shall lift you up from fear and from terror, for it shall not come near you.  

Do not caress guilt as though you deserve it.  Confess to Me your wanderings, and the ease with which you curse the One who loves you.  Guilt is not your friend, and feelings of guilt do not make you holy or clean.  Be holy as I am. 

I give you the garments of praise so you can throw away that old tattered and foul-smelling coat of collected sins and guilt.

When you are forgiven, you are free.  Whom the Son makes free is free indeed."

Are you truly guilty, or not?  The freedom in our minds comes from resting in the peace that we are forgiven and made free, knowing that He who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it, and has not, nor will not give us more than we can handle.   Be still, allowing yourself to accept with confidence that which you are and all that God has given you!

"I have blotted out as a thick cloud your transgressions, and as a cloud your sins.  Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." Isaiah 44:22 Amp. Bible

Finding Balance

Finding balance is something that I think we all struggle with in one area of our life or another.  For me balancing work and motherhood is sometimes the most challenging of them all, especially during this season of the year. Keeping with the focus of the blog though, let's think about balancing caring about our appearance versus it's what on the inside that counts.

I will be honest, I really do not know a black and white answer on this one, but rather a few tidbits of thought out responses.  We know that it is stated in the Bible that "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  1Peter 3:3,4  That would lead you to the thinking that it is not right to think of your appearance as having any such importance.  Yet on the other hand you think of the example of Esther in the Old Testament and before she was chosen as queen she had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments!  That was to make her presentable in the king's presence. Now we are left with the impression that it is important to place great care in our outward appearance!  To really get a grasp on what God is trying to teach us, more of scripture needs to be taken in to account.  We are commanded over and over to place God first, to not live as the world does, and to care for that which He has given us.  We are to live by the examples of the lives that are shared with us in the Bible.  People that are more concerned with the eternal than the external.  Serving, not obsessing.

Where exactly am I going with this?  I do not believe that it is necessarily the right response to pick one side or the other to live by, but rather to find that balance. Are we so preoccupied with what we weigh, the size of our thighs, or the style of our clothes, that we put time with our Savior and that which He has called us to do, in any other place than first?  Are we so obsessive about getting in that exercise and analyzing every morsel that we put into our mouths, that time spent with those close to us gets pushed aside?  It can be a great struggle to find that balance, and yet we are fully able to do that which He has called us to do.  We are the temple of Living God, and we are to care for it and treat it with the utmost care, while not placing unnecessary attention on ourselves. I encourage you, (and myself included!!!) to step back, take a look, and ask God if you have found that balance between external and eternal.  May you find that beauty which comes from a gentle and quiet spirit!

Does She Have An Eating Disorder?

Since I did partially create this blog to spread awareness and understanding of eating disorders, I thought that I would take the time to share some key signs and symptoms to look for when wondering if someone is struggling with an eating disorder.  Keep in mind that the person could have just a few or a combination of many symptoms depending on the length and severity of the disorder. 

 BE AWARE: A sufferer DOES NOT need to appear underweight or even "average" to suffer ANY of these signs and symptoms. Many men and women with Eating Disorders appear NOT to be underweight... it does not mean they suffer less or are in any less danger.
Anorexia/Bulimia

1. Dramatic weight loss in a relatively short period of time.
2. Wearing big or baggy clothes or dressing in layers to hide body shape and/or weight loss.
3. Obsession with weight and complaining of weight problems (even if "average" weight or thin).
4. Obsession with calories and fat content of foods.
5. Obsession with continuous exercise.
6. Frequent trips to the bathroom immediately following meals (sometimes accompanied with water running in the bathroom for a long period of time to hide the sound of vomiting).
7. Visible food restriction and self-starvation.
8. Visible bingeing and/or purging.
9. Use or hiding use of diet pills, laxatives, ipecac syrup (can cause immediate death!) or enemas.
10. Isolation. Fear of eating around and with others.
11. Unusual Food rituals such as shifting the food around on the plate to look eaten; cutting food into tiny pieces; making sure the fork avoids contact with the lips (using teeth to scrap food off the fork or spoon); chewing food and spitting it out, but not swallowing; dropping food into napkin on lap to later throw away.
12. Hiding food in strange places (closets, cabinets, suitcases, under the bed) to avoid eating (Anorexia) or to eat at a later time (Bulimia).
13. Flushing uneaten food down the toilet (can cause sewage problems).
14. Vague or secretive eating patterns.
15. Keeping a "food diary" or lists that consists of food and/or behaviors (ie., purging, restricting, calories consumed, exercise, etc.)
16. Pre-occupied thoughts of food, weight and cooking.
17. Reading books about weight loss and eating disorders.
18. Self-defeating statements after food consumption.
19. Hair loss. Pale or "grey" appearance to the skin.
20. Dizziness and headaches.
21. Frequent soar throats and/or swollen glands.
22. Low self-esteem. Feeling worthless. Often putting themselves down and complaining of being "too stupid" or "too fat" and saying they don't matter. Need for acceptance and approval from others.
23. Complaints of often feeling cold.
24. Low blood pressure.
25. Loss of menstrual cycle.
26. Constipation or incontinence.
27. Bruised or calluses knuckles; bloodshot or bleeding in the eyes; light bruising under the eyes and on the cheeks.
28. Perfectionistic personality.
29. Loss of sexual desire or promiscuous relations.
30. Mood swings. Depression. Fatigue.
31. Insomnia. Poor sleeping habits

Compulsive Overeating/Binge Eating Disorder

1. Fear of not being able to control eating, and while eating, not being able to stop.
2. Isolation. Fear of eating around and with others.
3. Chronic dieting on a variety of popular diet plans.
4. Holding the belief that life will be better if they can lose weight.
5. Hiding food in strange places (closets, cabinets, suitcases, under the bed) to eat at a later time.
6. Vague or secretive eating patterns.
7. Self-defeating statements after food consumption.
8. Blames failure in social and professional community on weight.
9. Holding the belief that food is their only friend.
10. Frequently out of breath after relatively light activities.
11. Excessive sweating and shortness of breath.
12. High blood pressure and/or cholesterol.
13. Leg and joint pain.
14. Weight gain.
15. Decreased mobility due to weight gain.
16. Loss of sexual desire or promiscuous relations.
17. Mood swings. Depression. Fatigue.
18. Insomnia. Poor Sleeping Habits. 

(Information taken from www.something-fishy.org)

Shine

Inspired by the wonderful sun shine filled weekend, I thought that I would share this song and lyrics with you.  It is amazing just how much the sun, moon, and stars draw our attention and desire.  The sun has an amazing effect on me I know...my mood for sure.  When the sun is shining my spirits are definitely lifted.  It is so peaceful to relax and gaze out at the moon and stars in the evening.  Yes, I do think that God created them just not for a physical purpose but also for our enjoyment.  I can't help but think that we also are like the sun, moon, and stars created for a purpose and allowed to shine for Christ in this world.

SHINE 

by Salvador

I woke up to another day 
Another day to celebrate 
Your beauty and Your mystery,it’s more than any eye can see 
I’m not the man I was before 
With You, my life is so much more 
Break the chains and open doors to a world I can't ignore 

Lord let me shine, shine like the moon 
A reflection of You in all that I do 
Lord let me be a light for Your truth 
Light of the world, 
I wanna be used to shine for You
   

As simple as a passing smile  
Or listening a little while 
To someone that's convinced that they are in this all alone 
Here's my chance to share the news 
To introduce the good that's You 
Here You go again, 
You never cease to blow my mind 

Lord let me shine, shine like the moon 
A reflection of You in all that I do 
Lord let me be a light for Your truth 
Light of the world, I wanna be used to shine for You 

You're the love that we all need 
You lift us up to our feet 
You hold the key to eternity 
The King of Kings alive in me.

Wearing The Crown

Romans 8:16-17

  "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

Lately I have had the chance to spend a little time with a princess of sorts...Miss Brainerd. I am 

not here to talk about her, but rather what I have noticed in the few interactions we have had. When she has her crown on, well, people really take notice.  There is just something about a crown that causes people to stop, and even desire to spend a little time in your company!  For us, being a child of the King of kings, we are called to the wearing of a crown and to be clothed in fine garments.  How are we to do that, you might ask?  For starters we could turn our minds to the attitudes, behaviors, and physical appearance of what we know of royalty, and then parallel that with what we know of a child of God.

The life of royalty...think poise, esteem, and adhering to a certain standard of living.  A person of such royal lineage surrounds themselves with those of similar standing.  Granted there is usually a level of pride going on there, and I am most certainly not suggesting we follow that model exactly, but rather that we see ourselves as heirs of God who are to surround themselves with others heirs of God.  "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"2Cor. 6:14.  It is easy for anyone surrounded by others with different standards to lose sight of that which they believe, even more so for a child of God in a dark world!  Yet, we do not want to take on an air of pride that we are better than others, for we are placed in this world to be a light to the darkness around us.  We need to keep our feet firmly planted so that we are able to be in the world, but not of the world.

How about that crown, and fine clothing?  I know we are all awaiting this part=)  The robes of splendor and the jewels beyond compare...God desires us to behave as though we are wearing a crown(Isaiah 61:3) and fine linens.  How different do you think you would feel towards yourself if you had a crown and luxurious garments on?  Would you carry yourself with shame, embarrassment, or confidence?  God does not desire that we look upon ourselves,(that which He created and said was "Good") and insult Him with our self loathing and constant put downs.  He desires that we carry ourselves in a manner that says God did create something good, and I can put self aside and share it with others!  Our crown of beauty is not to come in physical form but "it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight".  1 Peter 3:4  I love knowing that the world's pressure of outward stuff, is just not of great value in God's sight!  Let's not forget our fine clothing!  I can think of a few examples of what we are to be clothed in, and I know there are several more.  We are commanded to put on the full armor of God(okay maybe we have stepped from royalty, to royal workers but hang with me a minute), in Ephesians 6.  The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet that are fitted with the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, and finally to PRAY.  Whew!  I feel ready and definitely armed for battle.  What battle are we fighting?  The one against light and darkness.  Each and every day we are afflicted in some sort of way to hold tight to that which is right.  And we are to stand firm.  Now, getting back to the royal clothing...after we are armored up, and in right focus, how could we not experience or exude the outpouring of the fruits of the Spirit?  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.(Galatians 5:22,23)  That to me is to be our fine garments.  That which is displayed to those around us, that which causes others to Stop..Listen..and Desire to be in our company.  

Praise belongs to God alone who is the King of kings and has chosen us to be His heirs.  I pray that we daily desire and embrace the honor of Wearing the Crown! 

Insecurity Inadequacy

INADEQUATE.  Has that feeling ever happened to you?  Like you just do not measure up, you are not good enough for the task at hand, or you just are not what you wished you could be.  Tonight, the enormously, heavy feeling of INADEQUACY came crashing down on me.  UGH!  It makes me wonder why I am involved in the things that I am, and why I take on things that I am not too sure of.

From a biblical perspective we know that God allows uncertainties in our lives, and does at times push us out of our comfort zone, but it is all for our own good and for His glory.  It is really only through times of the unknown or something totally new that we grow and are challenged to become people with greater understanding of others and ourselves.  But what about those times when you are wondering whether this task really is not for you, or could it be that you are just being really insecure about that which you really should do?  Maybe the inadequate feelings stem out of it just being the unknown, then I would say pray to be encouraged and strengthened to endure the great unknown!  From out of that may come a new found talent, or great blessings in disguise.  On the flip side, those inadequate feelings may have root in a buried sense of insecurity.  That is when ME becomes greater than whatever it is that you are facing.  I don't know about you, but I can identify the difference between the two fairly easy.  The inadequacy from a new challenge is much easier for me to overcome.  Usually when I am really bothered it is due to insecurity inadequacy!  It is when I want a different outcome, different abilities, or have taken focus off of Christ and onto me, that I get bogged down and I guess depressed.  Not only do we need to remember "For when I am weak, then I am strong"(2Cor.12:10), but also that "whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"(1Cor.10:31). Thank goodness we are not to do things for our own glory.  If that were the way, I truly do not think that we could ever be satisfied. Taking the Me out of the situation and remembering why it is that we are on this earth, brings the sunshine back in whatever it is that we are facing.

I feel better already....maybe this post was more for my peace of mind, but I hope it touched your thoughts in some way.  Remembering who we are and where we came from is enough to knock INADEQUACY out of our minds!

Changes

I heard the last blog design was hard to read, so lets try this one!

The Lie About Self-Confidence

Okay, it has happened.  This week I have hit a what I am calling blogger's block.  I just can not think of anything to write.  So yes, I am passing on to you a few paragraphs written by someone else.  This excerpt is taken out of the book "Being the Person God Made You To Be" by  Joyce Meyer.

The Lie About Self-Confidence

"Everyone talks about self-confidence.  All kinds of seminars are available on confidence, both in the secular world and the church world.  Confidence is generally referred to as "self-confidence" because we all know that we need to feel good about ourselves if we are ever to accomplish anything in life.  We have been taught that all people have a basic need to believe in themselves.  However, that is not the truth.

Actually, we don't need to believe in ourselves- we need to believe in Jesus in us.  We don't dare feel good about ourselves apart from Him.

If we believe the lie of self-confidence, we will create many complicated problems.  We will never reach our full potential in Christ; we will live ruled by fear without knowing true joy, fulfillment, or satisfaction, and will lose sight of our right to be an individual.  The Holy Spirit will be grieved.

Don't be concerned about yourself, your weaknesses, or your strengths.  Get your eyes off of yourself and onto the Lord.  If you are weak, He can strengthen you. If you have any strength, it is because He gave it to you.  So either way, your eyes should be on Him and not on yourself."

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' 

Proverbs 3:5,6 

Who Are Our Role Models?

With Mother's Day fast approaching, my thoughts get a little reflective on just what it is that we will be celebrating.  For me, and I pray most, thoughts of my mother are filled with joy and thankfulness.  She indeed is a fabulous role model. 

A role model is... someone we look up to, enjoy being around, and one whose qualities we would hope to obtain.  More importantly though, a role model should in fact encourage us in our pursuits in life, all the while displaying and teaching us that which is true and noble.  The topic of role models has two avenues of thought....who are my role models and what kind of role model am I?

At first glance I believe it may be easier to contemplate who my role models are, rather than put myself under the microscope and see just what kind of role model that I am.  Being diverse people by nature, it would be highly unlikely that we would each have just one role model.  Chances are, there are several, each of them encouraging us in different facets of life.  My prayer for myself and for you too, is that the people and their qualities that we look up to and allow to influence our thoughts in life, would have the characteristics that line up with the qualities of Christ rather than the world.  How easy is it for celebrities and "do gooders" of the world, to become the people we emulate!  Not that they are necessarily awful role models, the problem is that we do not truly know them.  It is frightening, especially for mothers, to see how easily children get caught up in the latest actor, actress, or singer and desire to become like them, instead of choosing to follow the pathway of Christ likeness.  We need to be so careful when choosing what/who we allow to become our role model.

On to the second thought....what kind of role model am I?  One way to find out would be to ask someone ; )  but a better way would be to ask yourself some questions.  Do I seek to live a life that reflects Christ to others?  Is my attitude towards others uplifting and encouraging?  Am I filled with love for others that spills forth into their lives?  I am sure that there are plenty more ways of putting it, the bottom line is.....do we live lives that reflect Christ?  I know I have good moments and not so good moments, but it is never too late or too early to make a change for the better!

Don't forget to take the time to thank those around you who have truly blessed you by being a great role model.  I will start by saying "Thank you Mom, and Happy Mother's Day weekend!".

The Jealousy Disease

(www.funnyfreepics.com)

We all may have a chuckle or two when we look at the photo above, but how often does jealousy rear its ugly head in our lives? Some emotions that come right along side jealousy would be, envy, bitterness, insecurity and fear. Yet I think that we could all agree that those emotions are not something that we would be jealous of! In this particular blog entry I am not referring to the type of jealousy that God has for his children. 2Corinthians 11:2 "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy.", is more of a protective care, rather than referring to jealousy in a unhappiness sort of way. I am talking about the ugly, angry, dissatisfied sort of jealousy that breeds and thrives the more it gains a foothold in your life.

Have you ever realized when you become jealous over one thing in someone else's life, it rarely stops there? It seems that once those negative emotions are flowing in your mind, they seem to multiply and suddenly you find yourself contemplating, or shall I say complaining, over the oh so many things that are not right or are "missing" in your life. For example, Sally moves in next door, and wow isn't she a beauty! Suddenly jealousy overcomes you as you realize that she might have something that you wish you did. Not only do you notice her beauty, but her designer clothes, polished set of wheels, and look at the size of that ROCK on her finger!!! Jealousy has officially taken root, and lets watch it spread. It infiltrates your thoughts every time you see her outside, and not only her, but it sure seems like most women have it better than you. Whether it be in the looks, personality, or material possession department, they got it made and it sure seems like God left you in the dust! Not only does jealousy spread in your being, it leaches out and affects those around you. Your family hears your complaints, your friends notice your unhappy demeanor, and it holds you back from loving others as you should. Not only may others hear and see it in you, but now those thoughts have been placed in their mind for them to either dispel, or take root and grow. Now I can understand what the proverb meant in Proverbs 27:4"Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?". The incredible potential of power that jealousy can have in our lives is astounding.

This quote by Francois de la Rochefoucauld states it great, "In jealousy there is more of self-love, than love". When we are so self focused there truly is not much room for love. Jealous is in fact a dissatisfaction with what we have been given, and a greed over the blessing of another. Why should God not have blessed others with the gifts He has? Are the gifts that I have been given not good enough for me? As I write this I am saddened by how much energy and emotion I have wasted in desiring that which is not mine instead of cherishing that which I do have and blessing others with it. Not only that, but I should be thanking God for the many blessings that He has bestowed on others. So when jealousy rears its ugly head lets"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above ourselves." (Romans 12:10) and not allow selfishness to overcome that which is good in our lives.

On Jealousy by William Strode

There is a thing that nothing is,
A foolish wanton, sober wise;
It hath noe wings, noe eyes, noe eares,
And yet it flies, it sees, it heares;
It lives by losse, it feeds on smart,
It joyes in woe, it liveth not;
Yet evermore this hungry elfe
Doth feed on nothing but itselfe.