I've changed my location due to the desire to have a place where I can interract with my readers more! After many emails of frustration, I have moved to http://inallmylife.wordpress.com/
Thank you for following my blog and thank you so much for contacting me with your concerns! I know you will be much happier visiting my new site! I will leave this one open to direct everyone over for a month or so. Please replace the link so you don't miss any future postings!
Blessings!
Angie
Monday, October 24, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Am I crazy to be okay with this?
I can NOT believe I am here right now and blogging this very thing, but I feel like it's time. Thanks to some absolutely amazing friends giving me their words of wisdom, I have re-established a new pattern for my daily life.
I am the one that everyone calls when they need a hand, and I credit it all to the Lord, for giving me beautiful satisfaction in all that I do... until recently. See, I misunderstood what 'God was leading me to do' with 'What is not against God to do'. This is how it happens. God calls us to grow, love and live and knows our hearts desires in each of these. He knows them, because He created them within us. The thing is, that good things can also come in between you and what God's plan is for your life. That is what happened to me. The things I was choosing to do, weren't 'against God' so to speak, but were consuming so much of my time, that I wasn't able to do what what necessary for God's will to be done in my life.
Somewhere in all of this, I lost track of what my own heart was even desiring. I know it sounds funny, but I was so busy doing whatever people needed because I figured, why not me? The problem is that in all this hustle and bustle, it became, 'Where is... me?" Where did the woman go that God called to raise my children, support my husband, maintain my home and welcome all who came into it with open arms? I had become the 'stay at home mom' that was never home, making notes on my calendar to find time for my husband, and frantically running around the house picking up 'the worst of it' if someone mentioned coming by! I seriously, scheduled cleaning my bathroom... seriously. I was running, constantly, and making it nowhere short of miserable. This behind the scenes girl, just became front stage, and it wasn't pretty. Ugh.
The fact that I was involved in so many worthy causes, made it difficult to see that I was running ragged for anything other than a good purpose. I prayed every day for God to use me in anything that He puts before me. Let's say that again... that HE puts before me. Yeah, I'm getting it now too. I'm seeing that GOOD, does not spell GOD. So many opportunities that were presented to me were good, credible, and functional but not necessarily where God wanted me to be spending my time, which in truth, is His time.
While I never felt God stop moving, it seemed that there was always an underlying message, saying, "I want to be moving you more". I thought to myself, "More? What? You must be kidding!" So, I prayed for God to let me see His plan for my life. Within a week, I had friends offering advice. While this is not unusual (I have really wise friends who often have good advice) but... they a) all said the same thing, b) said they felt led to tell me, and c) they were all right! I know, right? Crap... Want the real shocker?! My husband told me the same thing months ago! Oh Lord, have mercy!
So... yep... here I am... looking pride down the barrel. I'm in a pivotal moment where I can choose to justify my actions and make it look all pretty-like, godly and good or I can be accountable for not making myself involve God in my daily decision making process.
"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
...Sure, I don't need to check with God before I brush my teeth in the morning, but if my life is dedicated to the Lord, then that means my days belong to Him. I'm realizing now, that sometimes, that entails rest, deep thought, and quiet, but most of all... consideration. Considering all that I already know about God's plan for me, should come first. I am first a wife, mother and child of God. Then, considering that I do not know everything (I know, SHOCKING!). Finally, considering God may have a plan in what He is asking of me that I not only don't see now, but may not ever see while here on earth.
So, before committing, I am going to be thinking things through a little more clearly now.
See, that was the problem. I was sacrificing so much to do all these things, that it could only become all about one person... not God... but me. Oh, look, I have to give up breakfast today... Oh look, I have to tell my kids I love them as I'm running out the door... Oh look, I don't have time to even go have dinner with my husband... Oh look, I didn't even have time to do my hair today. Oh look, oh look, OH LOOK!!! ... In all this chaos, what started out as being what I thought was a commitment to serve God, became all about me. My sacrifice, my schedule... and so on. While I never intended for it to end up this way, and was honestly, not looking for the praise, that is EXACTLY what happened. Sadness... what misplaced praise.
Man, I am so glad that is out... Thank you, God.
Now, I'm looking through new eyes. Older, yet wiser ones. With spiritual growth, age is a good thing. :) God's eyes. The only view that truly matters! If I could describe the peace I feel right now, I could only describe it as this. "It is right. It is well."
I know I'm not the only person that has gone through this, so I am praying that who needs to see this, will. I'm so grateful for God leading, then telling, then beating me to write this blog! I'm equally as grateful that now I actually have time to do it! For the first time, I'm really seeing what this blog is for. HIM!
We all have burdens and God wants us to dispose of those burdens to the only One, who can truly sustain you through them.
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22
Don't forget to call yourself out and if you can't, ask God to lead someone else to do so. Without accountablility for our mistakes, we never lay claim to them, which means we cannot willingly hand them over to the Lord. Without this, growth is slow, painful and exhausting. Trust in your Savior to do what a savior does... Save you!
Am I crazy to be okay with this? Maybe, but I'm okay with that too!
Let love take over All Your Life,
Angie
I hope this song gets stuck in your head today! :)
My Savior loves, My Savior lives,
My Saviors always there for me,
My God He was, My God He is,
My God He's always gonna be!
I am the one that everyone calls when they need a hand, and I credit it all to the Lord, for giving me beautiful satisfaction in all that I do... until recently. See, I misunderstood what 'God was leading me to do' with 'What is not against God to do'. This is how it happens. God calls us to grow, love and live and knows our hearts desires in each of these. He knows them, because He created them within us. The thing is, that good things can also come in between you and what God's plan is for your life. That is what happened to me. The things I was choosing to do, weren't 'against God' so to speak, but were consuming so much of my time, that I wasn't able to do what what necessary for God's will to be done in my life.
Somewhere in all of this, I lost track of what my own heart was even desiring. I know it sounds funny, but I was so busy doing whatever people needed because I figured, why not me? The problem is that in all this hustle and bustle, it became, 'Where is... me?" Where did the woman go that God called to raise my children, support my husband, maintain my home and welcome all who came into it with open arms? I had become the 'stay at home mom' that was never home, making notes on my calendar to find time for my husband, and frantically running around the house picking up 'the worst of it' if someone mentioned coming by! I seriously, scheduled cleaning my bathroom... seriously. I was running, constantly, and making it nowhere short of miserable. This behind the scenes girl, just became front stage, and it wasn't pretty. Ugh.
The fact that I was involved in so many worthy causes, made it difficult to see that I was running ragged for anything other than a good purpose. I prayed every day for God to use me in anything that He puts before me. Let's say that again... that HE puts before me. Yeah, I'm getting it now too. I'm seeing that GOOD, does not spell GOD. So many opportunities that were presented to me were good, credible, and functional but not necessarily where God wanted me to be spending my time, which in truth, is His time.
While I never felt God stop moving, it seemed that there was always an underlying message, saying, "I want to be moving you more". I thought to myself, "More? What? You must be kidding!" So, I prayed for God to let me see His plan for my life. Within a week, I had friends offering advice. While this is not unusual (I have really wise friends who often have good advice) but... they a) all said the same thing, b) said they felt led to tell me, and c) they were all right! I know, right? Crap... Want the real shocker?! My husband told me the same thing months ago! Oh Lord, have mercy!
So... yep... here I am... looking pride down the barrel. I'm in a pivotal moment where I can choose to justify my actions and make it look all pretty-like, godly and good or I can be accountable for not making myself involve God in my daily decision making process.
"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
...Sure, I don't need to check with God before I brush my teeth in the morning, but if my life is dedicated to the Lord, then that means my days belong to Him. I'm realizing now, that sometimes, that entails rest, deep thought, and quiet, but most of all... consideration. Considering all that I already know about God's plan for me, should come first. I am first a wife, mother and child of God. Then, considering that I do not know everything (I know, SHOCKING!). Finally, considering God may have a plan in what He is asking of me that I not only don't see now, but may not ever see while here on earth.
So, before committing, I am going to be thinking things through a little more clearly now.
- Is this opportunity a 'good' one?
- Have I prayed about it?
- Is it something that won't jeopardize accomplishing what I know God has already asked of my life?
- Am I serving God, or me?
- Have I asked my husband his opinion on this issue?
- If I am still unsure... that does not mean yes! That means, seek councel!!!
See, that was the problem. I was sacrificing so much to do all these things, that it could only become all about one person... not God... but me. Oh, look, I have to give up breakfast today... Oh look, I have to tell my kids I love them as I'm running out the door... Oh look, I don't have time to even go have dinner with my husband... Oh look, I didn't even have time to do my hair today. Oh look, oh look, OH LOOK!!! ... In all this chaos, what started out as being what I thought was a commitment to serve God, became all about me. My sacrifice, my schedule... and so on. While I never intended for it to end up this way, and was honestly, not looking for the praise, that is EXACTLY what happened. Sadness... what misplaced praise.
Man, I am so glad that is out... Thank you, God.
Now, I'm looking through new eyes. Older, yet wiser ones. With spiritual growth, age is a good thing. :) God's eyes. The only view that truly matters! If I could describe the peace I feel right now, I could only describe it as this. "It is right. It is well."
I know I'm not the only person that has gone through this, so I am praying that who needs to see this, will. I'm so grateful for God leading, then telling, then beating me to write this blog! I'm equally as grateful that now I actually have time to do it! For the first time, I'm really seeing what this blog is for. HIM!
We all have burdens and God wants us to dispose of those burdens to the only One, who can truly sustain you through them.
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22
Don't forget to call yourself out and if you can't, ask God to lead someone else to do so. Without accountablility for our mistakes, we never lay claim to them, which means we cannot willingly hand them over to the Lord. Without this, growth is slow, painful and exhausting. Trust in your Savior to do what a savior does... Save you!
Am I crazy to be okay with this? Maybe, but I'm okay with that too!
Let love take over All Your Life,
Angie
I hope this song gets stuck in your head today! :)
My Savior loves, My Savior lives,
My Saviors always there for me,
My God He was, My God He is,
My God He's always gonna be!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
New Life
Who would have thought, that on 9-11, in The United States of America, I would be sitting in my living room focusing on the girl from Finland learning the history of a country she has only spent two weeks in and a boy from China reading about a God he doesn't believe in?
Yet, this IS what I'm focusing on. Along with this, I am focusing on my four children who have opened their hearts as quickly as their arms to these foreigners... These young adults, who seek another culture as if it were a deep thirst, needing to be quenched.
Being a patriotic citizen in general, I tend to lean toward focusing on teaching my children of the catastrophe that became a political and historical milestone in our country. Today, while we touched briefly on the terrorist attack, I felt a sense of pride in reminding our children instead, of how far we have come since then. The day itself is the anniversary of the horrors and great loss of many brave, loving and strong people, but in every day of life in America, we live an ongoing anniversary.
On 9-12 a man, who was cursing the country he lived in, was suddenly appreciative of what he didn't see on a daily basis. Terrorist attacks.
On 9-13 a woman called her son whom she had said she was sick and tired of dealing with his drug addiction and said, "I love you." Feeling forgiveness for the first time, he is more willing to accept a forgiveness, much greater and now helps others break free of addiction through this Love.
On 9-14 a child that was considered to be aborted just months ago, cried out with his first gasp of air. What a blessing this babe was, now that he is the only living proof that his father even existed.
These are just some of the things that have happened in our country since the attacks, but the list goes on and on. Victimized, we were, but victorious we are. The reason we are victorious is not because we can build a memorial. It is not because we can control the world. It is because in our hearts, we are prepared to see the good in things that are bad. This is derived from a lesson taught to our country early on, from the bible. We are able to look at this situation and be angry without sinning, because as a nation, we were taught we can through the love that we have been so freely given. Time does not stand still in America. I am so proud and grateful to be a loyal citizen of The United States of America. I love my country!
Funny, how today, I was reminded why I love my country by watching a Finland girl study American History in my living room and a China boy, freely learning about God without worrying if he will be beaten.
God bless America... and please remind my fellow Americans to remember to share that blessing with those who are not able to experience this type of freedom in their own countries. Remind them that without Your blessings, we would be spiritually poor, and without Your grace, spiritually dead. Let us remember that by Your stripes of the blood on Your back, we are cherished and by Your words "It is finished", we were able to say 'It has begun'. I thank You, Lord, that you have placed these amazing children in our care and that you have given me a heart big enough to hold them all. May Your light shine through me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Yet, this IS what I'm focusing on. Along with this, I am focusing on my four children who have opened their hearts as quickly as their arms to these foreigners... These young adults, who seek another culture as if it were a deep thirst, needing to be quenched.
Being a patriotic citizen in general, I tend to lean toward focusing on teaching my children of the catastrophe that became a political and historical milestone in our country. Today, while we touched briefly on the terrorist attack, I felt a sense of pride in reminding our children instead, of how far we have come since then. The day itself is the anniversary of the horrors and great loss of many brave, loving and strong people, but in every day of life in America, we live an ongoing anniversary.
On 9-12 a man, who was cursing the country he lived in, was suddenly appreciative of what he didn't see on a daily basis. Terrorist attacks.
On 9-13 a woman called her son whom she had said she was sick and tired of dealing with his drug addiction and said, "I love you." Feeling forgiveness for the first time, he is more willing to accept a forgiveness, much greater and now helps others break free of addiction through this Love.
On 9-14 a child that was considered to be aborted just months ago, cried out with his first gasp of air. What a blessing this babe was, now that he is the only living proof that his father even existed.
These are just some of the things that have happened in our country since the attacks, but the list goes on and on. Victimized, we were, but victorious we are. The reason we are victorious is not because we can build a memorial. It is not because we can control the world. It is because in our hearts, we are prepared to see the good in things that are bad. This is derived from a lesson taught to our country early on, from the bible. We are able to look at this situation and be angry without sinning, because as a nation, we were taught we can through the love that we have been so freely given. Time does not stand still in America. I am so proud and grateful to be a loyal citizen of The United States of America. I love my country!
Funny, how today, I was reminded why I love my country by watching a Finland girl study American History in my living room and a China boy, freely learning about God without worrying if he will be beaten.
God bless America... and please remind my fellow Americans to remember to share that blessing with those who are not able to experience this type of freedom in their own countries. Remind them that without Your blessings, we would be spiritually poor, and without Your grace, spiritually dead. Let us remember that by Your stripes of the blood on Your back, we are cherished and by Your words "It is finished", we were able to say 'It has begun'. I thank You, Lord, that you have placed these amazing children in our care and that you have given me a heart big enough to hold them all. May Your light shine through me. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Too sad to cry?
Have you ever been so sad you couldn't even cry? Your feelings all bundled up in your chest, cutting off your breathing and making you feel like your head is going to explode? Yeah? Me too...
Through a series of events, I was reminded that no matter how good or how bad things are going, as long as they are still 'going', it can get better. Sure, that doesn't mean that the things that have troubled you are going to no longer exist, return to their previous state or change... history just doesn't do that... that's why it's called the 'past'. However, one thing that does change as long as things are 'going', is how we learn to deal with them.
See, sometimes we think that things just happen because life happens, and sometimes that can be true, but through these instances, do you ever recall thinking, "wow, I won't be taking that for granted anymore", or how about this "I wish I would have had just one more chance to do..."? Well, the great part about going through tragedy is that, it is the only way to learn 'how' to go through it. Now, this is where it gets tricky! So, you might ask me, "Angie, why on earth do we even need to go through tragedy to learn how to go through it again? Why can't we just go through it one big time and be done?"
Let's explore this...
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes: there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelations 21:4
I like this verse because I think it is very critical to remember that there IS going to be a time of no more sorrow. Most of the time that we feel so much despair in our pain is because we forget that there IS an end to it! If there were no death, sorrow and crying, would we even recognize the absense of it? Nope. Be realistic here; the truth is that if you were not suffering from anything, ever, you would never feel the need of a Savior, correct?
Let's continue...
"...that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:4-6
Wait! Did the scripture just say to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life... and peace? Now, this scripture indicates that we are given a choice in whether or not we have death, or life and peace. So, if that's the case, who is responsible again for us not having it? That's right, us.
This doesn't mean that we don't need to grieve; we do. Even Jesus grieved. When the Pharisees were looking for ways to 'bring Jesus down', there was a situation in the synagogue that as Jesus entered, He was aware of a man with a withered hand. Seeing that the Pharisees were more concerned about whether or not He would heal this man on the Sabbath, rather than the mans need itself, Jesus grieved.
" And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other." Mark 3:5
Notice how quickly, Jesus went from grieving to healing. Grief in itself, is not bad. Rather, very natural... but also something we should not dwell in as it prevents the next step, which is healing, bringing glory to God in the process. God wants to be a part of that process...
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
So, in a nutshell, Satan brings the sorrow and despair to set us back and separate us from God... God allows it because there is a chance for us to grow in this pain and be even closer to Him than we were before the sorrowful situation... We choose whether or not to see that transition and accept it for an opportunity to grow in Christ or to just be the victim of circumstance.
Take this thought for a spin...
Have you ever had your water shut off or gone to a third world country with no running water? How about just gone camping where there were no showers for days at a time? How did you feel when your water came back on, or you returned from that other country or camping? See where I'm headed?
Now, ponder this... how long did it take to forget to appreciate the exact same thing all over again?
Through these instances in our family recently, I have to be honest... I understand drama less, and am quicker to drop chaotic situations to avoid wasting my time with petty issues. However, I have learned to love deeper, appreciate more, see truer and long for the things that really last. Memories, love, true friendship, patience, kindness and most of all, my relationship with God.
I pray that we never forget to appreciate our salvation or what we were saved from. I pray that we will make the decision each and every day, to reach out to those around us and show God's love to all we come in contact with. That God will use us to do His will, and that we will appreciate the blessings in our lives. In Jesus' name, amen.
Through a series of events, I was reminded that no matter how good or how bad things are going, as long as they are still 'going', it can get better. Sure, that doesn't mean that the things that have troubled you are going to no longer exist, return to their previous state or change... history just doesn't do that... that's why it's called the 'past'. However, one thing that does change as long as things are 'going', is how we learn to deal with them.
See, sometimes we think that things just happen because life happens, and sometimes that can be true, but through these instances, do you ever recall thinking, "wow, I won't be taking that for granted anymore", or how about this "I wish I would have had just one more chance to do..."? Well, the great part about going through tragedy is that, it is the only way to learn 'how' to go through it. Now, this is where it gets tricky! So, you might ask me, "Angie, why on earth do we even need to go through tragedy to learn how to go through it again? Why can't we just go through it one big time and be done?"
Let's explore this...
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes: there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelations 21:4
I like this verse because I think it is very critical to remember that there IS going to be a time of no more sorrow. Most of the time that we feel so much despair in our pain is because we forget that there IS an end to it! If there were no death, sorrow and crying, would we even recognize the absense of it? Nope. Be realistic here; the truth is that if you were not suffering from anything, ever, you would never feel the need of a Savior, correct?
Let's continue...
"...that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:4-6
Wait! Did the scripture just say to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life... and peace? Now, this scripture indicates that we are given a choice in whether or not we have death, or life and peace. So, if that's the case, who is responsible again for us not having it? That's right, us.
This doesn't mean that we don't need to grieve; we do. Even Jesus grieved. When the Pharisees were looking for ways to 'bring Jesus down', there was a situation in the synagogue that as Jesus entered, He was aware of a man with a withered hand. Seeing that the Pharisees were more concerned about whether or not He would heal this man on the Sabbath, rather than the mans need itself, Jesus grieved.
" And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other." Mark 3:5
Notice how quickly, Jesus went from grieving to healing. Grief in itself, is not bad. Rather, very natural... but also something we should not dwell in as it prevents the next step, which is healing, bringing glory to God in the process. God wants to be a part of that process...
"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
So, in a nutshell, Satan brings the sorrow and despair to set us back and separate us from God... God allows it because there is a chance for us to grow in this pain and be even closer to Him than we were before the sorrowful situation... We choose whether or not to see that transition and accept it for an opportunity to grow in Christ or to just be the victim of circumstance.
Take this thought for a spin...
Have you ever had your water shut off or gone to a third world country with no running water? How about just gone camping where there were no showers for days at a time? How did you feel when your water came back on, or you returned from that other country or camping? See where I'm headed?
Now, ponder this... how long did it take to forget to appreciate the exact same thing all over again?
Through these instances in our family recently, I have to be honest... I understand drama less, and am quicker to drop chaotic situations to avoid wasting my time with petty issues. However, I have learned to love deeper, appreciate more, see truer and long for the things that really last. Memories, love, true friendship, patience, kindness and most of all, my relationship with God.
I pray that we never forget to appreciate our salvation or what we were saved from. I pray that we will make the decision each and every day, to reach out to those around us and show God's love to all we come in contact with. That God will use us to do His will, and that we will appreciate the blessings in our lives. In Jesus' name, amen.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Talk to me...
Time ticking away, I was getting nowhere fast! "I need to get a move on!", I kept thinking to myself, yet, I didn't feel that magical energy boost that I was hoping for. How easily in my moment of feeling completely overwhelmed, I forgot the most important part of my morning. One, I often forget when I wake up with a long list of things to do. ... I forgot to talk to my Dad.
It seems simple enough, pulling out that devotion and reading quickly through, being slightly moved by the gestures that leave an ink trail on each page. The scattering of uplifting pictures heightens my visual willingness to accept the text and the short scriptures that usually follow are a nice touch and seem to bring the whole message together.
However, I often leave my devotions on speedy mornings feeling like I did my duty for the day and now while 'acceptable', still alone. So, what I ask is, what should one do on those fast flow mornings that have become such a commonality in our lives? Do we force ourselves through a devotion, just to satisfy the Lord, in hopes that He will keep us in His good graces for the day... just one more day?
What about when your kids leave for school in a rush? Do you feel satisfied in the "Bye Mom... I love you!" or the "See you later Dad!", that you have truly communicated with your children that morning? What if that was the only time they communicated with you for that day? Would you be satisfied? Oh yes, you love them no matter how often you speak to them in a day, that's true, but are you really satisfied with that? Don't you miss them when they are gone for any length of time?
By looking into God's word, we will find an even bigger desire for us to walk closely with Him, not just giving Him a shout out as we rush through our day.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27
I fear that too many times, we 'do' God rather than hear God. Yes, I know He still loves me when I pass Him by in the morning, but that's the problem. I sometimes forget, God loves me more than I can fathom, because of who He is, not who I am. I am already loved, and now it's all about the relationship.
I would rather have a cup of coffee telling my Dad that I love Him and that He is everything to me, than to scrub His face out of obligation. God doesn't need shined up, He is mighty and great and true, all by Himself. AND... Here He is, saying, "My child, I want to know you." Here He is, saying, "Sit down, beautiful, have coffee with me...." Here He is, saying, "Let Me be your everything." So many times, I say, "Okay, just a second." which can last for hours and sometimes even until the next day! There have even been times that I have gone days without actually acknowledging God as my Savior. They weren't really bad days either. They were the days that I forgot, I don't really having everything covered, I am just very blessed to have a Father that has me covered!
I don't want God to just be the runner-up in my life... I want Him to be the Winner of my heart!
My prayer today is that we see Him, hear Him and love Him with all our hearts. Let the blue skies remind us of the Son... the clouds to remind us of our eternally quenched thirsts... and the wind to remind us of how swiftly we are saved by the King Almighty, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
...and at the end of every day, may we remember to kiss the One who loves us good-night and hug and love on Him before starting 'our' day each morning. To love Him spiritually, for we serve a supernatural Father, whom is limitless and good.
Hey! I am so ready to take on this day now!
Have a great one, with the Great One!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Are the homeless really 'HOMEless?'
So, I have a secret... We are the one's that hold up traffic when we come across a homeless person on the street. We are the ones that can't just pass the money out the window to someone and just keep going, knowing we have given to those less fortunate. We just have to know at least a piece of each souls story! Through horn orchestras, beautiful birds, and colorful words, we have gathered that finding a parking spot and walking to our cornered friends is a much more pleasurable method.
While working, Vince came across a homeless man that was distraught in his situation, but surprisingly honest and positive. When Vince sat down next to him to talk, he acted surprised that he would sit with him. As they talked, Vince told him that he would like to come back to see him later that evening and bring him a hot dinner. When asked why he would do that for him, Vince said he just wanted to, because he lives his life not for himself but for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This man, Dale, said "I knew it! I just knew you must be a Christian because you really talked to me." Now, we know that people, saved or not, do feel compassion toward the homeless, but this was confirmation that Jesus is shining bright in the homeless community.
This started me thinking. Are our homeless really 'homeless'? Are they so distracted by their situations that they seek only survival here on earth? I know, many do drugs and/or are alcoholics. Some have made horrible mistakes and committed horrible crimes! They don't always talk nice and can even be downright nasty to their fellow human beings. They take what they cannot or will not give back. But wait... doesn't that also describe people who are not homeless? So tell me again why they can't be filled with reason, compassion, wisdom and kindness like the rest of us? Even more, why do we assume that because they are homeless physically that they must be homeless spiritually?
Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1 Peter 2:17
The more we interact with the homeless community, we find that many of them were once very important people. Government workers, nurses, firemen, and professional chefs. Some are even doctors and lawyers! I know it sounds so unlikely, but it is the truth of it. They really have a lot to offer in so many areas. We have learned so much from them, but the most astonishing thing to me, was that many of them have so much love amidst the minimal amount they receive from others. They are able to draw love solely from the one and only true source of it. God.
What a concept. Look for love where it truly comes from and love others from that source. Let God be your well you draw from. Love is God and God is Love.
"Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:3
Why do we wait to love? What are we waiting for? According to God, if we do not love, we don't know Him. It is important for me to remind myself time and time again, that society's description of love should not be what I base my actions on, but that of my heavenly Father, filled with grace.
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8
Serving Opportunity...
A continuous concern that has been expressed by our homeless community is their need to be able to heat their food.
Join HEAT THE STREETS in providing warmth to our homeless community. HEAT THE STREETS provides single burner propane camp stoves so that homeless individuals can heat their water and food. The idea behind the single burner stoves is the compact size for easy hauling so they can take them anywhere. PLUS, they use much less propane than the double burner models, so they will be able to use them longer. Individuals will receive additional propane on a weekly basis using a voucher system.
How you can help...
100% of items and funds received go directly to our local homeless community! Items will be hand delivered by the HEAT THE STREETS team immediately, so act now! Every day you wait is a day that someone doesn't have a hot meal before the dropping temperatures!
Thank you!
Blessings!
Angie
Something to linger on...
And in that day you will say:
"O Lord, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You
comfort me.
Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For Yah, the Lord, is my strength
and song;
He also has become my salvation.' "
Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.
And in that day you will say;
'Praise the Lord, call upon His name:
Declare His deeds among the
peoples,
Make mention that His name is
exalted.
Sing to the Lord,
For He has done excellent things;
This is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of
Zion,
For great is the Holy One of Israel in
your midst!
Isaiah 12
While working, Vince came across a homeless man that was distraught in his situation, but surprisingly honest and positive. When Vince sat down next to him to talk, he acted surprised that he would sit with him. As they talked, Vince told him that he would like to come back to see him later that evening and bring him a hot dinner. When asked why he would do that for him, Vince said he just wanted to, because he lives his life not for himself but for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This man, Dale, said "I knew it! I just knew you must be a Christian because you really talked to me." Now, we know that people, saved or not, do feel compassion toward the homeless, but this was confirmation that Jesus is shining bright in the homeless community.
This started me thinking. Are our homeless really 'homeless'? Are they so distracted by their situations that they seek only survival here on earth? I know, many do drugs and/or are alcoholics. Some have made horrible mistakes and committed horrible crimes! They don't always talk nice and can even be downright nasty to their fellow human beings. They take what they cannot or will not give back. But wait... doesn't that also describe people who are not homeless? So tell me again why they can't be filled with reason, compassion, wisdom and kindness like the rest of us? Even more, why do we assume that because they are homeless physically that they must be homeless spiritually?
Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1 Peter 2:17
The more we interact with the homeless community, we find that many of them were once very important people. Government workers, nurses, firemen, and professional chefs. Some are even doctors and lawyers! I know it sounds so unlikely, but it is the truth of it. They really have a lot to offer in so many areas. We have learned so much from them, but the most astonishing thing to me, was that many of them have so much love amidst the minimal amount they receive from others. They are able to draw love solely from the one and only true source of it. God.
What a concept. Look for love where it truly comes from and love others from that source. Let God be your well you draw from. Love is God and God is Love.
"Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:3
Why do we wait to love? What are we waiting for? According to God, if we do not love, we don't know Him. It is important for me to remind myself time and time again, that society's description of love should not be what I base my actions on, but that of my heavenly Father, filled with grace.
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8
Serving Opportunity...
A continuous concern that has been expressed by our homeless community is their need to be able to heat their food.
Join HEAT THE STREETS in providing warmth to our homeless community. HEAT THE STREETS provides single burner propane camp stoves so that homeless individuals can heat their water and food. The idea behind the single burner stoves is the compact size for easy hauling so they can take them anywhere. PLUS, they use much less propane than the double burner models, so they will be able to use them longer. Individuals will receive additional propane on a weekly basis using a voucher system.
How you can help...
- Donate a single burner propane camp stove
- Donate propane bottles that fit single burner propane camp stoves
- Donate matches
- Donate money to be used for purchase of these items
- Pray for our homeless community
100% of items and funds received go directly to our local homeless community! Items will be hand delivered by the HEAT THE STREETS team immediately, so act now! Every day you wait is a day that someone doesn't have a hot meal before the dropping temperatures!
Thank you!
Blessings!
Angie
Something to linger on...
And in that day you will say:
"O Lord, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You
comfort me.
Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For Yah, the Lord, is my strength
and song;
He also has become my salvation.' "
Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.
And in that day you will say;
'Praise the Lord, call upon His name:
Declare His deeds among the
peoples,
Make mention that His name is
exalted.
Sing to the Lord,
For He has done excellent things;
This is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of
Zion,
For great is the Holy One of Israel in
your midst!
Isaiah 12
Friday, February 25, 2011
To Better Days!
Have you ever had one of those mornings that you wake up feeling like you are behind before you even started? How about one of those mornings that you wake up, use the bathroom, then notice as you are climbing back into your nice warm bed, that you only have one minute before your alarm sounds off? Isn't it crazy how these brief, irritating, moments can completely change the identity of the hours left in our day? How is it that these moments, completely out of our control, can create such havoc in our outlook on our entire day?
Let's consider a more positive beginning, shall we? Let's say you start out your morning, rested, and rejuvenated. Everything is in order, you remembered to set the timer on the coffee pot, all the bags were packed and set near the front door before it was even time to read your little darlings their bedtime story. To top it all off, upon opening your eyes, you notice the sun is gleaming through the window as if an angel is kissing your special morning, where family memories and life time accomplishments are about to be reached... You are going to Disneyland!
You slip from your bed standing... stretching... smiling... and hear little footsteps running anxiously down the hall. You brace yourself for the little tike's leap into your arms, when suddenly you realize these bare feet are actually running for the bathroom, and your little darling just missed the toilet as she threw up last nights dinner. I said positive beginning, not ending.
How is it that these uncontrollable moments can be seen as such an attack on us personally? It's the "why me?" of parenthood. "Why today?" "Why now?" "Why? Why? Why!" "Why did I even bother trying to do this?" What is the reason we suddenly feel all our hard work and efforts in preparing for the next day are dashed away when things don't go smoothly in the morning?
While most of us do not wake up with smooth hair, perfectly pinked cheeks and glistening eyes, like the coffee commercials on T.V. we somehow have tried to envision our mornings such as these. Gliding down the stairs, taking a deep breath of the fresh morning air as we take that first sip of life. While these mornings can happen, and I absolutely cherish these mornings, it is not reality to expect it to happen every day. Sometimes we just need to be satisfied with the imperfections in our life to really appreciate the beauty of it.
For an example, I woke up the other morning and my hair was anything BUT beautiful, I had sleep in my eyes, a white line coming from the corner of my mouth from apparently drooling in my splendid slumber, my pajama's were a size too big and I had sheet wrinkles up the whole left side of my face. I was anything but attractive, let me tell you. I frightened myself when I passed the mirror, but I oddly felt rather beautiful inside. The kids were sleeping soundly; I could smell fresh coffee and hear the soft tones of laughter as Vince visited with his brother on the phone as he does most Saturday mornings. After a brief face rinse, I quickly and very quietly went downstairs anxious to have a little me time over a cup of coffee and was stopped in my tracks when I realized Vince's brother was not on the phone but sitting at our dining room table! In a panic, I just flashed Vince a look... you know... THE LOOK... silently pleading with my husband to justify not telepathically knowing I was up and telling me we had company! How dare he be so inconsiderate! I caught myself just in time and greeted my brother in law with a "Good morning!" and excused myself to go tidy up a bit for our company.
While upstairs gathering proper clothes, I was grumbling to myself, "So much for a relaxing morning, and so much for ME time!" I caught a glimpse of myself in the same pajamas, and same sheet wrinkles only to find, I didn't feel beautiful inside anymore. Nothing on the outside had changed, but boy, how drastically the inside had changed!
At that very moment, it dawned on me that I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. My brother-in-law had seen me in this 'just woke up' status before. Why on earth was I so bothered by it on this morning? Did I detect a strained look on our brother's face? Vince... what was my husbands expression really about? I thought it was irritation with my abruptness, but was it even directed toward me, or was it an expression of worry for his brother? Saying a prayer of forgiveness, I pulled my hair back in a ponytail and headed downstairs in my too big pajamas to find that indeed, our brother was facing a burden that had him turned upside down with worry.
In some instances, it's real easy to look back, but truthfully, we don't always have that luxury. When Faith was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 5, I began to flip back through the last 5 years and ask myself. Does she know? Does she know how much I love her? Does she know that at any one of those moments that she was in trouble for something that I would have died for her just as quickly as disciplining her? What about the times she wanted to show me a picture and I didn't have the time because I was on an 'important phone call' that really wasn't that important, or when I simply was just done being a mom for the day? Suddenly, simply not being a mom for the day was looking me straight in the eye. I prayed frantically "Please, God! I am so sorry for all those moments that I didn't hold onto, cherish and celebrate this beautiful child. I'm sorry for not seeing this little girl as fragile in time, something that could up and disappear in a blink. Please, God! Don't take her from me! Please!" I was haunted by all those moments that I could have given but didn't. Guilt raced through my veins and I saw failure after failure within minutes of hearing those words, "She has cancer."
Thankfully, God saw beyond my pain and fear and assured me, there was peace in this journey no matter the outcome, and I was going to start feeling it immediately. Of course, God was right. I have never experienced such spiritual growth as in that tragedy. It forced me to see the blessings, I was just too busy to see alone.
I'm not saying, lets all run around and live like we're dying or to live in fear of saying and doing the wrong thing, because THIS could be THE DAY! But... what if?... What if we consciously made the decision to live like we were... hold on to your seats... living? Yes, LIVING! Why can't we embrace life as if it was something worth being embraced? Capture it! Savor it! LIVE it! Does this mean walk around with a 'perma-grin'? Uh, no. Life can be pain and sadness at times too, but it's about the growth in those times. I'm talking about those still moments, when you aren't really excited about life, but you're not sure you are ready for it to end either. I'm talking about those moments when you can literally decide... is this going to be a good moment, or a bad moment? God can lead you through even these moments. I promise, you are not alone in this.
Let's take a peek at that God say about these moments?...
I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16 NKJV
A Better Morning...
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139:9-10What Your Morning Could Look Like...
13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me, 14 for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Exodus 9:13-14
So, your day started out rotten... big deal! Have a great one anyway!
To Better Days,
Angie
Have a few more moments? Read this!...
Psalm 139 Short but powerful, this chapter is better than a complete breakfast in the morning... it will leave you full and satisfied for the whole day! (Provided below in NKJV if you don't have your bible handy)
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall[a] on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.
19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
20 For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.[c]
21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Let's consider a more positive beginning, shall we? Let's say you start out your morning, rested, and rejuvenated. Everything is in order, you remembered to set the timer on the coffee pot, all the bags were packed and set near the front door before it was even time to read your little darlings their bedtime story. To top it all off, upon opening your eyes, you notice the sun is gleaming through the window as if an angel is kissing your special morning, where family memories and life time accomplishments are about to be reached... You are going to Disneyland!
You slip from your bed standing... stretching... smiling... and hear little footsteps running anxiously down the hall. You brace yourself for the little tike's leap into your arms, when suddenly you realize these bare feet are actually running for the bathroom, and your little darling just missed the toilet as she threw up last nights dinner. I said positive beginning, not ending.
How is it that these uncontrollable moments can be seen as such an attack on us personally? It's the "why me?" of parenthood. "Why today?" "Why now?" "Why? Why? Why!" "Why did I even bother trying to do this?" What is the reason we suddenly feel all our hard work and efforts in preparing for the next day are dashed away when things don't go smoothly in the morning?
While most of us do not wake up with smooth hair, perfectly pinked cheeks and glistening eyes, like the coffee commercials on T.V. we somehow have tried to envision our mornings such as these. Gliding down the stairs, taking a deep breath of the fresh morning air as we take that first sip of life. While these mornings can happen, and I absolutely cherish these mornings, it is not reality to expect it to happen every day. Sometimes we just need to be satisfied with the imperfections in our life to really appreciate the beauty of it.
For an example, I woke up the other morning and my hair was anything BUT beautiful, I had sleep in my eyes, a white line coming from the corner of my mouth from apparently drooling in my splendid slumber, my pajama's were a size too big and I had sheet wrinkles up the whole left side of my face. I was anything but attractive, let me tell you. I frightened myself when I passed the mirror, but I oddly felt rather beautiful inside. The kids were sleeping soundly; I could smell fresh coffee and hear the soft tones of laughter as Vince visited with his brother on the phone as he does most Saturday mornings. After a brief face rinse, I quickly and very quietly went downstairs anxious to have a little me time over a cup of coffee and was stopped in my tracks when I realized Vince's brother was not on the phone but sitting at our dining room table! In a panic, I just flashed Vince a look... you know... THE LOOK... silently pleading with my husband to justify not telepathically knowing I was up and telling me we had company! How dare he be so inconsiderate! I caught myself just in time and greeted my brother in law with a "Good morning!" and excused myself to go tidy up a bit for our company.
While upstairs gathering proper clothes, I was grumbling to myself, "So much for a relaxing morning, and so much for ME time!" I caught a glimpse of myself in the same pajamas, and same sheet wrinkles only to find, I didn't feel beautiful inside anymore. Nothing on the outside had changed, but boy, how drastically the inside had changed!
At that very moment, it dawned on me that I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. My brother-in-law had seen me in this 'just woke up' status before. Why on earth was I so bothered by it on this morning? Did I detect a strained look on our brother's face? Vince... what was my husbands expression really about? I thought it was irritation with my abruptness, but was it even directed toward me, or was it an expression of worry for his brother? Saying a prayer of forgiveness, I pulled my hair back in a ponytail and headed downstairs in my too big pajamas to find that indeed, our brother was facing a burden that had him turned upside down with worry.
In some instances, it's real easy to look back, but truthfully, we don't always have that luxury. When Faith was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 5, I began to flip back through the last 5 years and ask myself. Does she know? Does she know how much I love her? Does she know that at any one of those moments that she was in trouble for something that I would have died for her just as quickly as disciplining her? What about the times she wanted to show me a picture and I didn't have the time because I was on an 'important phone call' that really wasn't that important, or when I simply was just done being a mom for the day? Suddenly, simply not being a mom for the day was looking me straight in the eye. I prayed frantically "Please, God! I am so sorry for all those moments that I didn't hold onto, cherish and celebrate this beautiful child. I'm sorry for not seeing this little girl as fragile in time, something that could up and disappear in a blink. Please, God! Don't take her from me! Please!" I was haunted by all those moments that I could have given but didn't. Guilt raced through my veins and I saw failure after failure within minutes of hearing those words, "She has cancer."
Thankfully, God saw beyond my pain and fear and assured me, there was peace in this journey no matter the outcome, and I was going to start feeling it immediately. Of course, God was right. I have never experienced such spiritual growth as in that tragedy. It forced me to see the blessings, I was just too busy to see alone.
I'm not saying, lets all run around and live like we're dying or to live in fear of saying and doing the wrong thing, because THIS could be THE DAY! But... what if?... What if we consciously made the decision to live like we were... hold on to your seats... living? Yes, LIVING! Why can't we embrace life as if it was something worth being embraced? Capture it! Savor it! LIVE it! Does this mean walk around with a 'perma-grin'? Uh, no. Life can be pain and sadness at times too, but it's about the growth in those times. I'm talking about those still moments, when you aren't really excited about life, but you're not sure you are ready for it to end either. I'm talking about those moments when you can literally decide... is this going to be a good moment, or a bad moment? God can lead you through even these moments. I promise, you are not alone in this.
Let's take a peek at that God say about these moments?...
I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16 NKJV
A Better Morning...
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139:9-10What Your Morning Could Look Like...
13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me, 14 for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Exodus 9:13-14
So, your day started out rotten... big deal! Have a great one anyway!
To Better Days,
Angie
Have a few more moments? Read this!...
Psalm 139 Short but powerful, this chapter is better than a complete breakfast in the morning... it will leave you full and satisfied for the whole day! (Provided below in NKJV if you don't have your bible handy)
Psalm 139
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall[a] on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.
19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
20 For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.[c]
21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
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