Sum of the Lies Women Believe

If I had a penny for every lie I've ever believed...I would own stuff. Alotta stuff. It is in-cred-ib-ly infuriating for me to take a moment to think, for just a minute or two (so it doesn't become a 'dwell'), about some of the lies I believed in the last week. The enemy strung me along with his maddening nonsense for most it. I knew it was him. My Father does not, would not say those things to me. And yet...I could not shake them. They lingered in my thought patterns. I was reminded of them just when I started to forget.

God is using last week for this. #Romans8:28 I know that I am not the only woman who believes lies about themselves. I am not the only woman who entertains thoughts that were not originally hers. I am not alone in this battle of the mind. If I was...there would not be SO many books already written about it.

God spoke to me yesterday while I was push mowing my lawn. I'll admit I was complaining, in my head, about doing it; even though...it was a perfect day for mowing. Not too hot. Breezy. Sunny. It was nothing like the monsoon our NW Pennsylvania summer was last year. Nor like the thick, muggy weather we had last week. I came in for a drink on one of my many 'breaks' and saw the sweetest message about my post from yesterday. When I went back to mow...God started speaking to me about today's post. See how all it took to break my crappy thought pattern was one sentence of encouragement from a random person. (When God asks you to offer words that are nourishing to another's soul...even if they seem small...do it! You can be the change in someone's downward spiral of a day.)

Let's move on to some of the lies. Some I have believed. Some I have not. The same will go with you.

-If i am larger than a -0....I am not and can not be beautiful

-If I am a size -0...i know i am beautiful and am therefore happy, always.

(FYI *I, on purpose, chose a number that is not real. It is not about a size, it is about God's masterpiece, You.*)

-Pinterest is real life! (...for everyone,but you.)

-If your kids are wearing 'non-church clothing' to church...you are clearly lazy and don't care.

-If your kids are dressed nicely at church, your morning was full of nothing but peaceful, sweet moments captured on camera
*There was clearly no screaming to brush. your. stinking. hair.  Or, frustrated last minute changes of clothes because the mud puddle was just. too. much. to. resist.*

-Your job defines you.

-Their job defines them.

-Perfection is attainable.

-Women who are in ministry 'have it all together'.
-Women who aren't in ministry aren't doing enough.

-Pastor's wives don't have bad days because they are super-spiritual, extraordinary beings.
-Pastor's wives don't understand real life, because they don't have to live it.

-Stay at home moms are not doing enough.
-Working moms are doing too much.

Comparison. It is not something we had to learn to do. It came very naturally to us at a young age. The problem is that those things that we don't have to work to become...are, most times, what we are to be fighting against. What we need to ask ourselves is, would God compare me to another sinful, created being? Is that consistent with the nature of our God who is so full of love that He sent his son to die for those He knew would reject Him? OR, would he instead see us THROUGH a Man who was tempted in every way...and was sinless?

Did you notice the title of today's post? It was purposeful. I know the difference between some and sum, promise! It was an intentional decision to use the word sum. Alone, each lie we hear and carry on with us for any length of time, might not feel too burdensome. Add a couple more and they become a bit more noticeable. What about when we have heard, accepted, and are dragging along a large sum of lies. Some of them from family members. Some of them from friends. Some of them from strangers. Some of them concocted in your own brain. It becomes increasingly harder to remember who you really are. It becomes even more difficult to BE who you really are because one by one you unknowingly let someone else's thoughts define you. <--- That someone...satan.

For today, try to take captive, every. thought. that God would not say to your heart.  He would not remind you of your mistakes, without truth to dismantle them.  He would not dwell on your flaws and weaknesses for the purpose of keeping you in a depressed state.  If you KNOW His voice, you know..."God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:17  He takes your life seriously.  Very seriously. I heard it said one day recently, "You were worth Jesus to God."

Your worth is not in anything that you can acquire here.  Your worth is not in how stylish you can look.  Your worth is not in your position at work.  Your worth is in Christ.  He was there at the beginning, and He will be there at your end.  If you believe that God sent His only Son to die for your sins, weaknesses, shortcomings, thoughts, actions, words...then He is Who you listen to.  It is HIS opinion of you that matters.  It is He that you will answer to for your choices...and it is He that is waiting to free you from the lies that overwhelm your days.

As for me...I would LOVE a chance to pray for you!  In person, over the phone, through social media, through email...whatever it may be.  It would help fulfill my purpose in posting today...if I could help you find a truth from the Living Word to cover over each lie you've been believing.  Please send them to me. One at a time. A whole list.  Just reach out and gain strength in your days. Let God intervene and stop your stinkin' thinkin.

Sunday Expectations (Day TWENTY SIX-30 Day Challenge)

What a week you have had! A week full of disappointment and heartache that left you in a state of absolute exhaustion. You were so overwhelmed by circumstances in life that you barely even noticed that you hadn't taken much time to be still and meet with God. And you definitely didn't take the time to worship Him. You sent up no praises to reach to the Heart of Heaven...only requests and questions. 'God please help me. Take this burden from me. Why? Explain Yourself God. Why would you allow that? How could you?!'

After a week like that you walk into church empty. You have nothing to give. If you showed with your body language how your heart felt, you would have your head down and your hand out. You aren't looking to give of yourself. You are only looking for your own expectations to be met. The prayers that day seem boring. You can't get into worship because you can think of nothing to be happy about. And the message...that has to speak to you right? *sigh* What a waste of time. You leave more disappointed. You expected more!

What do you expect when you walk in to church on a Sunday morning? Do you expect to get something amazing? Do you expect your pastors to move you? Do you expect the worship team to bring you into the presence of God?

Maybe the more important question is what do you do when your silent expectations are not met? How many people hear about when you walk in and then back out of church on a Sunday morning without being inspired or moved? What is your first reaction? Is it to attack...or is it to uphold your leadership in prayer? Is it to look for reason to complain...or is it to look for a way to help? Is your church more effective because you are an active part of it...or you a wall flower that likes to put off a foul odor when your needs are not met?

" 'Everything is permissible'--but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'--but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

Look again at the series of questions, just after the italicized section, at the top of this post. Do you see the common denominator? I'm sure you picked up on it already because of your advanced nature, but who is the obvious focus on your Sunday mornings? It appears to me that it is you. Don't you worry though. You are sooo not alone. I'm guilty of this mentality at times too. I've gone to a special speaker or Sunday morning service and left disappointed. And it was not because the preaching was bad...or because the worship was boring. It was my own personal heart issue. I chose to make the focus about me. And I can now CHOOSE to remedy that problem by making it only about God!

What about the days that I walk into church with expectations from God and only God? Well...at least He can handle me. Lol! He is the only One who can speak to me so intimately, that is leaves me speechless. Can you imagine...an author of many words...with out
a.
single.
word? Haha! 

When you walk in, expecting man to fulfill a God sized hole; man will fall short. Every.Time. Man can not compete. Mankind was not created to be your or my source of God or only link to God. They/we can not handle that responsibility. That weight is too heavy for any man or woman to carry.

What would happen instead if you walked in expecting to give to God? What would happen if you spent the service praying for your pastoral team? Like for real praying for God to use them in a mighty way, to touch someone else? What if you listen to the pastor's words and search for what God is saying to you?

There are a lot of Sundays I write down key points from the sermon. Some of them came from the mouth of my pastor. And some of them were specific things God spoke to my heart while the pastor was preaching. Then during the week, during my own personal devotional time, I expand on my notes. A lot of times I write 1,000 words or more on just one verse or one line that the pastor said. I'm always searching for what God is speaking to ME. If I waited only on the pastor or speaker or worship leader...I could leave disappointed. God. does. not. disappoint...(as long as my heart is right!)

As the wife of the Worship Pastor of my church...let me just tell you...ministry is the most fulfilling job we could do, right next to raising our own four children. But we will still fail you. We are far from perfect and we realize it. We have circumstances that most people will never know about. We often have opportunity for offenses. We have felt deep hurt and pain from people we trusted. And yet...we praise. We praise God for His blessings. We praise God for His faithfulness. We praise God for His protection. When we didn't see His blessings, His faithfulness or His protection...it is only because we weren't looking for it in the right places. It is always there!

Here is my challenge to you. If you are dissatisfied with your church...find out why. I'm not saying put your pastoral staff under a microscope. That is not constructive nor healthy. Instead, look inward. What can you do to change your heart toward who you are expecting to be filled by? How can you actively shift your focus from man to God?

"...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God--even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

Maybe you should sit down and talk to your the Lead Pastor. Find out his heart in ministry. Don't assume you know it. And don't make it about your needs and your wants. Make it about his passion in ministry. And then...here is the cool part...pray for that passion! Watch how much more his messages speak to you when you know where his heart is. Watch how easily you enter into worship when you have taken the time to get to know why your leader is so passionate about it. It is not about you. It never was. Change your focus.

When I focus on my pastor's passion for the lost..I couldn't dare leave disappointed. He is speaking to the hearts of the lost. He is challenging the saved. He is touching the broken. He is preaching the heart of Christ in ways that young and old, saved and lost, mature and not so much...can connect to. It is not easy...but it is his called position. Rather than beat him up for what you don't understand...help him become more effective. Help to be the hands and feet of Christ. You are missing out on some amazing blessing by choosing to be a stanky wall flower. ;-) 

Pray this over your Pastor(s) this week.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:2

Devote yourself to pray for those bold enough to speak the Gospel! And ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS be full of Grace!

The Traveler (Day TWENTY FOUR-30 Day Challenge)

Your bags are packed and your shoes are on. You step out in faith because you've accepted the call. You've agreed to go to wherever God leads. For now all you can do is put one foot in front of the other. You are one part nervous and the rest anxious. You have no idea what to expect. You have no idea what you will face. You aren't even sure you can handle it...but you start walking. 

At first, your travels are smooth. You are enjoying the view and the people passing by seem friendly. You are feeling strong and gaining confidence that you are heading the right way. No sooner do you think that, and you notice the weather starting to get a little cooler. You aren't quite as comfortable and people don't seem to be looking around anymore. They seem consumed by their own travels. You reach out to them to offer them a drink and they gladly accept. You offer them words of encouragement and they perk up. They smile with sincerity and walk on with their heads looking forward to what is to come. 

You keep walking, still strong, still confident. The wind picks up. The dust from the road is making it increasingly more difficult to see. You can tell that this is a storm you are walking into and you want desperately to turn around. But you weren't happy there. Why in the world would you go back to stagnant? Why would you return to what wasn't effective? To what wasn't moving you or those around you? But, wait, how do you know if this storm is a sign?

The wind increases even more. Now your eyes are barely open. You can't see anyone on the road anymore because the dust is so thick. A sudden shot of regret fills your head...but your heart and your feet are still moving forward. You begin to wonder...how will I ever know if I am heading where God is leading?

A kind voice is heard beside you. It is a fellow traveler. They stand still beside the path and seem unaffected by the dusty wind. You recognize what you can see of their face. You saw them earlier on your path. You encouraged them. You gave them a drink of living water so that they might not thirst again. They are standing in the storm and they say, 'I am proof. You are going the right way. My path was headed toward darkness until you met me on my journey. This storm will pass. But now, remember me when you doubt.'  

You press on. Determined and courageous. All fear and doubt must leave because it has no place to reside in you. This same thing happens over and over again. Travelers that you met before now stand to cheer you on. 'Keep up the fight!' 'You are doing great!' 'I am praying for you!' One by one they come alongside you. Each one making it easier to whether the storm. 


Ministry is hard. I absolutely LOVE it...but boy is it hard some days. Those are the days that I wonder...did I choose the right path? Did I choose the right church? Did God tell us to stay...or was that our own desire? Am I in the right job...or should I give up and start over? Did I choose the right school for my children? Does God really WANT me to live in the snow belt of Pennsylvania? Really...does he? ;-)

Easy is not a foolproof implication that the choice you made is right. The enemy would LOVE for you to believe that. But truth is...if we are going along our daily lives and we aren't being challenged by the enemy...maybe we aren't being effective for the Kingdom either. If you are already headed away from the will of God...the enemy doesn't 'need' to lead you astray. He need only encourage you to stay!

If though...you are boldly living for Christ. If you are defeating the enemy at his game. If you are inviting others to come to church and praying with them to accept Christ...the war is so on. The enemy will hound. he will discourage. he will throw hurtful words at you...usually from people you love. he will distract you from moving forward. And he will get you to doubt if you are going the right way.

So how do you know? Are you making a difference? Who are the people on your path that were headed for eternity in hell...that are now following Jesus because you met them in their darkest hour? Salvation. People that are accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior...those are how you know you are on the same path that Jesus walked. Lives are being transformed...and you get to be a part of it. You give them the only thing that satisfies.

"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

If you are struggling today with knowing if you are making a difference...write down the names of people you have encouraged this week/month/year. If you have someone that you led to Christ...write their name in BOLD. If you prayed with someone...write their name down. These are the people you think of when you doubt. When you doubt your call. When you doubt your ministry. When you doubt your position. When you doubt God. Picture the faces attached to the names you wrote down. They are your own personal proof. You are going the right way. Keep walking! The storm will pass...and your faith will be stronger! That is how Romans 8:28 works!

"You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." 1 Corinthians 3:2-3  In my words, let the effectiveness of your life IN ministry be proven by the lives you have touched. When you help heal hearts broken or lost, by just being available and speaking what God says...you will need no other proof. There is nothing greater than for the spiritually lost to become saved, and the broken to be restored in Jesus Name!

If you are staring at a blank sheet of paper..do not feel condemned. Instead...set your sight on Jesus. Maybe the reason you aren't being effective is because you are walking away from your call instead of towards. Maybe you are being distracted from seeing the people that are struggling along your way. Let today be the day you choose to be inspired by greatness. Not by 'Vanesa the Great'...but by the example set by Jesus. Imitate Him always!

Wake up early and meet with God, just as Jesus did. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed." Mark 1:35

Let the person in front of you be the most important thing at that moment, just as Jesus did. "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21

Pray for healing, just as Jesus did. "The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases." Mark 1:33-34

Pray for salvation among many, just as Jesus did. "Some men brought to Him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.' " Matthew 9:2

Do not sell yourself short...because the same Jesus that walked this earth...lives within you! Keep walking with Him. Follow His voice...you are finishing the ministry that HE began! =)

The Undoing Minions (Day EIGHT-30 Day Challenge)

Do you ever feel like the harder you work, the more quickly things seem to get undone. Almost like there are these magical little minions that follow behind and ‘undo’? If your answer is no, then you clearly do not have small children…or you have forgotten what it was like when you did. It’s okay…I will paint the mental picture for you. You KNOW how I love to do that! OR…if you’d like, you can borrow some of my minions for a day week month so that you can truly appreciate where I am coming from. ;-)

It can be frustrating at times, can’t it? You quickly sweep through the house picking up every last tiny thing on the floor that is leaving it cluttered. You get to the last room and look back to take pride in your work. *Heart sinks, blood begins to simmer slightly.* You might as well have just stayed in bed. Everything you did…was undone quicker than you could keep up. Now add dishes in the sink because these minions need an energy source. Add dirty clothes to the floor as they also feel they need ‘fresh’ clothes daily. Pile on more clothes if they decide a pop-up dress-up session   should occur, in which case their ‘fresh’ outfit somehow quickly becomes unfit to wear again. Now add juice to the floor and milk logged cheerios to the breakfast table. *Heart rate picks up, blood starting to boil and slightly over-the-top screaming seems like it should probably commence.* Gahhhh!

What do my minions have to do with faith, you ask? I’m about to go there in 3, 2, 1…

 

How do you think our lives look to God? How many times do you think He leads us down the perfect path for our own personal journey of faith and by our choice we mess it up? We are clipping along and just for a second we glance to the left and right. We take our eyes off the goal. We start to see people on their own paths looking like they are having WAY more fun. Or maybe their path seems so much smoother and easier than this uphill climb we are currently on. Discontentment starts to settle in our hearts. We aren’t even looking forward anymore. Every rock.   Every pothole. They are now unseen. We stumble and we blame…who? Where were you on THAT one God?! We roll our eyes and still they continue in their state of roaming. Our focus has not been on our goal in quite some time. We can’t take it any more. We jump paths. And with one thoughtless decision we undo.

I know it is probably not likely…but I like to picture God watching this scenario above. I picture Him on the edge of His throne. Watching and anticipating the choice. Rooting for you to just put your eyes back on your own path. Wanting desperately for you to turn your focus back to Him. But He is not your puppeteer. He is your Creator. So he let’s you choose. He sees that you are stumbling over every obstacle…and He wants you to just pay attention to your own path. He will guide you around them if you’d just choose Him. Focus on Him and even if you stumble He will not let you fall. You selfishly and without thought of Him choose to jump paths…He smacks His forehead and sighs.

Your perfect path is now changed. He can absolutely still work with it. He will, without a doubt, still bless you. He will surely still guide you. But His will got set aside by you…and He longed for more. He had more in store. Your neighbors smooth, easy path that you focused on and then jumped to…has some large mountains ahead. Your friend was going through a time of growth and they are about to be tested in their endurance. Now, you will have to endure the test as well. You will need Him. Do not give up. Set your eyes on Him again and He will restore the time you lost.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28  It is my most quoted verse because this verse covers over every bad decision I’ve made. It covers every bad decision someone else made that effected me. It brings purpose to every painful thing I’ve endured. I’m always learning and never content with what I know. I’m always growing in Christ…and never willing to stay where I am in my relationship with Him. I want more. I desire more. I want to find the purpose of my pain. I want to find the source of my doubt so that I can conquer it in Jesus name. I want to choose on purpose what will push me toward God and flee from what won’t.

 

Ah the choice. I wrote about it on Day Six of this 30 day challenge. Free will, always allows us to choose. Choices. Some days I wish I didn’t have so many of them. Other days I wish I had none. I am not a very speedy decision maker…and it can be annoying/frustrating for those who just want to know where I would like to go out to dinner. Or which pair of pants I would like to buy. *Shrugs shoulders. It’s in my DNA make-up…feel free to take it up with the Big Guy. Lol!*

Why give us a choice at all? Why didn’t God just create us all to be a part of a world-wide puppet show? Where is the passion in that? Why would we desire to go deeper? Why would talk to Him? It wouldn’t make a difference.

God wants us to have choice. He wants us to use that brain He intricately designed to CHOOSE Him. Puppets are not capable of love. He wants us to learn to love Him through every laugh and every tear. To learn to trust Him in and with every choice. To desire a relationship with Him. To talk to Him as often as we think of Him. To dig into His Word and discover truth like never before. To never be okay with how much we know His character and His truth. To never walk by an opportunity to serve and uplift anyone. To want to share His faithfulness to anyone who needs Him.

We choose Christ, we win and gain purpose.

What if we don’t choose on purpose? What if we just allow life to choose us? The world will surely draw us in. By not choosing…you will absolutely be choosing.

Today, stop looking at the path of those around you. Stop comparing. You were designed on purpose, for a purpose. You are uniquely you   because there are people that need you. There are ministries awaiting you. There are lost souls that need you to pay attention to your own path because they are on it. At some point your paths will cross. How will you see them if you aren’t looking ahead. When you run into them…will you be annoyed that they were there? Will you get angry that they are just another obstacle that you to stumbled over? Or will you rather see them as an object of your goal on your path?

Don’t jump paths.   The grass is never as green as it seems from your distorted view. You can only see clearly when you focus ahead. When you pay attention to strengthening your own weaknesses and not pointing out your neighbors. God has more for you than you are allowing in. Set your eyes on Him and get stubborn. Put you game face on. Let the enemy see it. Let him know you are done playing his game. Put your sneakers on and walk your path. No matter how hard it looks, walk looking ahead. Dig your feet into the soil and stand firm when the winds of doubt try to blow you over. You are heading the right way. Your path will overflow with purpose if you look for it. It will lead you to true contentment. It will abound with joy. Because you are choosing the way of Christ over the way of *Insert your name here*. And when you gain confidence…run toward your goal…and flee from the scheme of the enemy. We don’t have time to waste. This journey just got serious!

Contentment--A Learned Trait of Christ

This has nothing to do with my post. It is just a lovely picture of someone's flowers. I was walking by a house and snuck over to take a picture of these flowers. Periwinkle...I would classify them as the color periwinkle. Love!

Proverbs 19:23 "The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble."

Philippians 4:11b "...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

Philippians 4:12 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

How would you like to be "untouched by trouble"? How would you like to know that you are never "left nor forsaken"? You can! Learn with me won't you?...

I have been writing and learning a lot lately about greed. A key to NOT becoming a person full of greed…is contentment! I have been actively learning the wonderfully difficult Christ-like trait of contentment for the past few years now. Things that I had come to know and brought me stability and comfort, were now gone. Things that made my life easier, were now given up. Things that others considered ‘necessary’, were really…just not. Just because your circumstance is not easy. Not convenient. Not what you think you deserve…does not mean you have the right to be discontent. (Light bulb moment!)

Let me ask you this…if everything that you know and love was taken from you…would you choose contentment? If the ease of your lifestyle was changed to what seemed impossibly difficult, would you choose contentment? If the people that you counted on were no longer there, would you choose contentment? If you felt completely abandoned and forgotten, would you still choose contentment?

What is the price that you are willing to pay to learn to be like Christ in this way? What will you give up? What will you allow to be taken from you? What will it take for you to know that HE has your back when no one else does?

I feel like God has allowed me to personally go through quite a journey to learn this trait. (I won’t take you on the journey because for one…it will be mentally and emotionally exhausting for all of us. Two I don’t want to give the enemy the pleasure of reading about all the crap he tried to use to break me. And three…I am not into pity parties. They’re a real downer.) I can pretty much guarantee that I would’ve been unwilling had I known what was to come. I would’ve run the other way had I been shown the whole picture. But God KNEW that I could handle it. God KNEW that I would be a better wife, mother, daughter and friend if I learned to be content with little. That I would then thoroughly enjoy each gift He gave me. It is a wonderful gift, this learneding (yep that is what I meant to type…learned and learning) trait of contentment. I am still pulling in the vastness of His Glory. I have not arrived to where I eventually will end up…but the strive is a worthy process.

I am so in awe and love at the awesomeness of my Savior. I don’t deserve Him. I don’t share enough of Him. I don’t prove myself faithful always to Him. But I am so beyond happy that HE proves Himself faithful to me.

What is your trial? What is it in your life right now that seems as though it could be a link to learning contentment? Grab it. Grab hold of Christ and trust His path. Believe that He has YOUR best interest in mind. Enjoy whatever you have been blessed with. Don’t wish your days away…waiting for “IF ONLY’S…”. Take each nugget of God’s goodness and be thankful.

Ever think that being a parent is a thankless job? Imagine. Just imagine…

You lend a hand of protection…and you hear “Why me?”.

You provide an exact need…and you hear whining “Why not more?”.

You give a gift…and see jealousy rise up.

You bless…and you feel as if it goes unnoticed.

You can see where I am going with this right? Our Father has seen our worst. He has seen us act as though we were misbehaving children. He has seen us lie. Cheat. Steal. Hurt. Envy. Destroy. He has felt those things with us. He has protected and then watched us whine about it. He has provided…and not been thanked or watched the credit be given to someone else. The exact thing that we sometimes get upset with human nature for…we then do to the only One who doesn’t deserve it.







As a wife and mother I have felt unappreciated at times, and yet I whine after God meets my ‘need’…that my ‘want’ was ignored. The nerve. I mean really. Nothing like the pot calling the kettle black huh? I long for appreciation…and yet I don’t show it. This is where my learned contentment comes in. When I learn that I can not expect love as I subconsciously think it should be shown…I will be much more content. “Mankind” was not designed to be my ALL. They were designed to be my helpmates, my friends, my prayer partners. My ALL comes from ONE source. One God. One Savior. One Healer. One Unconditional Love.






Disappointment can be a major contentment crusher. Do your best to not let disappointments by ‘men’ (as in mankind…I’m not man hating here)…become a foothold for the enemy. He will grasp at anything that works.

Do you want to know who teaches me daily about being content, happy, joyful with what I have and what I am? My children. You want to see an example? Look for children who love to be with their family.















My kids love to spend time with my husband and I. (We had a family milkshake and movie night earlier this week…and it was absolutely adorable. The giggles. The cuddles. The ease of how little it takes to make them appreciate just being our family. It was an eye-opener from our formerly hectic lifestyle.)

My kids love to see their grandparents. They LOVE to play with their cousins. They love to see their friends. Simple. It isn’t fancy. It isn’t impossible. They love easily. They love deeply. And I LOVE to love people like that!

 

This day. Right now. Choose to be content with exactly where you are…exactly what you are doing. Change what needs to be lined up with the Word of God…and seek Him for your next steps. Contentment sets you free to live life. It gives you unexplainable joy. And it helps you to be truly happy and full of love for those around you who are succeeding. Try it. Test it out for yourself. Make the choice…and let me know how it changes you. You will not be disappointed! Much love!!

From Reeboks to Appliances...Greed Lives On

Do you all remember the post I wrote titled "Take the Greed Quiz"?  Click here if you want to take a minute now to read it quickly. This is what God has been teaching me here and there over the last 3 months. I allowed greed in at a young age. I never truly dealt with it and defeated it. And now...it has been there for so long, it as if it is masked. Well...God exposed it in a new way to me today. And I am struggling to share it. Pride I guess. The approval of my Father though, that means more to me than judgement from my peers. So...I begin...

Can you remember back when you were in grade school. What kinds of things were important to you? What were the things that you needed in order to feel accepted? I can remember some of mine. It is almost funny to think of them...until God revealed that my mindset is the same...just larger 'things' are required for that 'acceptance'.

Anyone out there born in the 80's? If you were in school during the late 80's you will remember high-top sneakers. You will also remember the sneakers that had the little pump that looked like they sawed a basketball in half and slapped it on the extra large tongue of the shoe.

Yep...I had to have those. Mine were purple Reebok's. Most importantly...the pump was bright purple!! No one treated me any differently because I had them.

Or how about 'the puff'? If you know what I am referring to without explanation...you probably had one too. (I'm sorry. Lol! Kidding....) The 'puff' was the mass of curled bangs, laquered shelacked hair sprayed to the point of complete stiffness...large and in charge. If yours got destroyed by the rain or snow in the 17 mile (exaggeration...eh...maybe a bit) trek to school...I feel for you. Some of my friends said that my 'puff' was the best. *rubs nails on shirt here in a pride-filled way...takes sarcastic bow here...* Blankly stares. Even with all of the praise about my puff...I can think of two people who I thought had a better puff. I will keep the names to myself so as not to start a fight. Lol! No one treated me any differently because I had an awesome puff.

Onto high school in the to late 90's. Levi's jeans...those were the next hot thing. In grade school it was acceptable to wear sweatpants. (I remember one classmate who wore them EVERYDAY! One day he wore jeans to school. All the girls swooned over him. The next day...back to the sweats. Lol!) Just last week I came accross a picture of me in the newspaper for winning some sort of a writing contest. The three other winners and myself...all wearing sweatpants. (I pondered the thought of scanning the picture in...but I wasn't sure the other gentleman would appreciate it. Lol! Also...the legs of my sweatpants were pulled up to just below my knee...so that was hot. Ack! Back to the jeans.)
That little red tag on the pocket of my Levi's was vital.

I remember having one pair that had a tag but it did not say Levi.

It just had a trademark R on it. I was so mad. With or without the word on the tag...no one treated me any differently because I had Levi's on.

Are you seeing a trend? No one cared as much as I did. I adopted this behavior young and kept it. I didn't realize I kept it...but let me put it as God did to me this morning. The following question comes from the devotional "Embraced by God" by Max Lucado.

"How does greed show itself even in the necessities of life like food and clothing?"
My response...We are rarely satisfied by having our needs met. We see more and we want more. We can shop in stores. We can longingly look into the windows of stores we walk by. Then there are all of the catalogs that get mailed directly to our houses. And who could forget the limit free world of online shopping. It is relentless. It is addicting. It is without boundaries. We are bombarded with ads and deals and coupons and sales. Each time...a new opportunity to become uncontent. Or is it discontent? You know what I mean. (Nowadays...I get a catalog...and I throw it away. I have learned. The lists that I have made for all the things I need want...just make me uneasy. The catalog filled with circled and starred items...pointless!)

Someone else always has something that looks better. That is such a one year old mentality. Seriously...I have a one year old. He has a toy. He sees a different toy. He grabs for it. Screams about it. Is no longer satisfied with whatever he had.

This mentality began as an infant.

What I am realizing, is that I am still fighting with it. I didn't realize it sooner because it is not spoken. Just thought. I don't go around throwing tantrums when I see someone with better food. Appliances. Clothing. Houses. Farms. Gardens. Books. Journals. Mugs. Make-up. Vehicles. Campers. ATV's. Talents. Need I go on? See what I was saying? Same mentality...just some larger, more expensive 'things'.

It is a mind thing. I need to rejoice always. To always be content with what I am given. To always be thankful for who I am, where I am, and what I have. It would be better if I did throw a fit...atleast then I would know how often it happens. It was sneaking right by me.

As if masked.

Here is my prayer. You can pray the same, or you can write your own. Just don't let another day go by that greed fills your heart or mind. God has revealed it to me...and I have written it out for you...now go do something about it. =)

God...
Ugh, I need to defeat this greedy, selfish mentality right now, in Jesus Name! This is ridiculous. I have been holding onto silent, masked greed. Now it is exposed. I choose to be content. With where I am. With what I have. Your provision is sufficient for me. I am blessed. I will not desire what I do not have. God please make Your thoughts, my thoughts. Make Your ways, my ways. I need You to renew my mind to be Christ-like. I know Your voice and I will no longer listen to the father of lies. he has been unveiled again. I am not ashamed...I am sorry. Please forgive me and my greed-tainted heart. Help me to rejoice in your provision and blessing to everyone around me. Help me to rejoice even if I am in want...because you have my needs covered. I am blessed more than I have asked to be. Reveal Your goodness to me in new ways. In Jesus Name...I claim victory. I am the head and not the tail. I am above and not below. I will not live as if I am defeated! I praise You for Your never-ending love and faithfulness!
Love...V

Want To Be Different?

Being different can be a wonderful thing. Just ask my beautiful daughter Ariel. I always say that she is in a league of her own. I love everything about her! The picture above is a day that I decided to test out the continuous picture taking setting on my camera. I'm in love! I just asked her to be silly and make whatever faces she wanted. This is one of my favorites! (And the outfit...also one of my favorites. She picked it all on her own. Shocker!)

The 'being different' that I am referring to is not the 'going against the flow' kind of different. While there is absolutely a time and place to go against the flow of sin that surrounds you...I have a different kind of different in mind. =)

Growing up I would've considered myself to be a shy person. I remember a time when I went to the meet the band, Mylon LeFever & Brokenheart. (Anyone out there remember them?!) Before going backstage with my aunt who worked for them, she made me promise that I would talk to them. Cross my heart and hope to die...I promised. I was fairly young at the time. Old enough to remember...but young enough that some of the band members picked me up and passed me around the circle talking to me. I stood motionless. My face...like a stone. My voice...unwilling to cooperate with my previous pinky promise to my aunt. I am not sure that I ever even smiled. I just didn't realize that they would all seem sooo big to such a little girl!

We stayed for a short time...and then walked back out to where the concert would be held. As soon as we were out of sight I gushed with the thrill of what I had just experienced.

My words...

"That.

Was.

Awesome!"

I didn't shut up for several minutes. Until my aunt asked..."What was that?! You said you were going to talk!?"

Shy. I was just shy. And for years...I disliked that I was like that. I was timid. I was quiet. I was easily intimidated. I wanted desperately to be different. I saw people that were more outgoing. I saw people who were more confident. I saw people who easily made friends wherever they went. And I wanted to be like them. I was tired of being nervous and unsure all the time.

Years later...the day came that God changed my outlook. It was through the words of a dear friend while we were sitting at her house with our babies. God had a divine appointment for me that day and I know that it has changed me for life.

Her words were simple. "You know what you are? You are meek." In my head I am sure I was sighing...I KNOW! I hate that I am weak. The next part though...it was the powerful part of her statement. "Meekness is a trait of Christ!"

Finally I understood that meekness and weakness are not synonomous. I was only weak if I allowed myself to be lied to by the whispers of the enemy. It had worked for years...and God has just revealed the truth. The enemy and his lies now sat naked before me. Unveiled. Uncovered. Conquered by the obedience of God's daughter. (Miss Erin...you probably never knew what you helped unleash in me that day! Grateful doesn't even begin to describe how thankful I am for your willingness to share what God spoke to you.)

I would still say I am shy at times. I am still easily intimidated. But I am confident in Christ. I am a powerhouse of prayer and I love to use it to unveil the enemy. I love to leave him naked before someone else who has just caught him red-handed.

Powerless. He is without power if his lies aren't believed. If his deceit isn't bought. If death isn't feared. If sickness is healed in Jesus name...what else does he have? He has to constantly come up with new ways to try to bring me down, because I am just going to keep praying for his unveiling. I am no longer the one who fears...but the one to be FEARED! And that makes me cry and laugh all at the same time!

For those of you who might not know, my husband is the worship leader at our church. I am one of the lead worshippers. (I am not putting myself above any other team member. Let's be clear on that!) I am saying that when I am on the stage every Sunday morning...I do not see myself as a part of a show. It is never a concert. It is a group...leading worship by example. All of us up there are lead worshippers. (Even some of the congregation fall into that category...right from their very own pews. Their intimate time with God is an encouragement to the worship team! We see you...and it helps inspire us in our calling!) When I am praising and worshipping through song, I am approaching the throne of grace with confidence. I only get nervous of singing infront of people...when my focus gets shifted. When I remember Who I am singing to...there is nothing to fear...and everything to gain!

I would have to say though, that I am most confident when I write for my King. I love to see what God will use to make His point known. Sometimes it is my silly children. Sometimes it is my own life experiences. Sometimes it is nature. But each post (with the exception of the few silly ones)...comes from my intimate time with God. His strategy is unlike any other. (Thank goodness for that! Life would be boring if we had only our little pea brains to rely on!)

So how would you answer the question..."Do you want to be different?" My prayer is that you realize that God designed you. He made you unique because He has an individual plan for your life. It is unlike anyone else's. There are people that are reached for the Kingdom because they see compassion in the tears of a stranger. There are people that are reached for the Kingdom because someone loved them enough to persistently pursue their salvation. There are people that are reached for the Kingdom because someone is willing to write a book based on what God has brought them through.

God didn't make us from a cookie cutter. Celebrate your divine calling. Find out what it is. Ask. Seek. Listen. Don't let another day go by that you listen to the lies of the devil. You are here, right now, to know God more intimately in YOUR life. Be still with Him. Your life will never be the same as the day that you accept exactly who Christ designed you to be. And that my friend...is a wonderful thing.

Be content in everything...except how much you know about Christ!

Be willing to be different if God asks you to be a peculiar people. (We are! I mean really...look at those faces. Covered in dirt (Atleast I hope it is dirt...you never know about these kids raised on a farm. Lol!)...covered in Ring Pop...and still loving life! I take lessons from them on how to be content with little.)

Otherwise...celebrate your life just as it is!! Be happy with where God has placed you. Utilize your God-given abilities to be effective for eternity. Share your testimonies of God's goodness to whomever He leads you to! If you are meek, those around you may think you are weak. The enemy may think you are weak. But, oh, how lovely it will be to prove them wrong. Haha!

Rise up you lioness...rise up! Christ has called you for His purpose. Are you ready?! I'm excited...because I've been waiting!!