Are You Limiting God?

Don't limit God being able to work in your life: God's Got This!

 

Video Blog

I've decided to start a video blog and see how it goes. Sometimes when I write it's hard to keep up with all the things that are on my mind. This isn't going to replace my regular blogging and writing but just be an addition to it!

The Great Cake Fight

Quite simply it all started out with a devious plan for (Cue the evil laugh please) WAHAHAHAHA. We just completed a successful birthday celebration and had politely bid our guests goodbye. I began to get excited because my almighty, super awesome plan would be put into effect.

The plan was simple, get the piece of cake-the perfect size would fit right into the palm of my hand and have plenty of frosting and filling for maximum effect. Then I would then proceed to sneak up behind my unsuspecting sister and stealthily smash and squish that perfect piece of cake right into her lovely face! How could it fail?

Well, first of all she knew something was up…I can’t help it, just can’t keep a straight face when I have a devious plan. (Shaking head on frustration!) But I continued to proceed with hopes that I could pull it off.

I picked out the perfect piece of sweet deliciousness and even placed extra frosting on top. I walked slowly and stealthily behind her, lifted the cake and then….well, that’s when the plan all fell apart.

She saw that cake coming towards her and quicker than speedy Gonzales dodged out of the way. I lost my balance and almost fell on the dog. All the while my hand, that was holding the cake, continued to gain momentum and as my wobbly legs gained their balance…the cake exploded…..in my face. Yes…the cake “I” was holding. -_- 

My brother, who was in on the plan, but decided to be an “innocent” by stander, start laughing uncontrollably while stuttering out, “HAHAHAHA, how could that happen! You smashed the cake into your own face! HAHAHAHA!”

My eyes began to burn with mock anger, seeking retribution on the original target- who had so easily eluded my cake attack, or perhaps, instead of anger, it was the cake and sticky frosting dripping down into my eye…

Not one to claim defeat I clung to the bits of cake left in my hand when I’d inadvertently missed the intended target. But my sister’s much longer arms and taller legs kept her from receiving a full dose of the cake while I continued to get pummeled! 

We danced around the dogs, who were trying to eat the cake, frosting and peanut butter filling that fell to the floor, when my brother, probably deciding that I was outmatched, decided to try and hold her down. But she fought like a wild cat, clawing at my face, smashing cake further into my hair and all over the place!

The cake fighting continued from our kitchen and into my brother’s room- which is right next to the kitchen. When everything finally settled down we were all laughing so hard and cake was everywhere…except for the intended target! 

So I’m standing there- my whole face felt like it was getting a skin tightening spa treatment, from all the sugar and peanut butter filling on my face, my hair was plastered  to my head, like I’d used too much hairspray, and I was certain there was at least a black eye or a bloody nose about to happen. She still stood with only a teeny, tiny spot of frosting on her…see this is why I don’t pull pranks. I end up getting it worse than the person I’m supposed to be pranking! 

My brother, who was completely untouched my any cake, wished to chronicle the end result of the fight and decided to take a picture. Seeing the opportune moment to be a BIG help to my dear sister, I jumped in and quickly offered, “Let me help you make it look good!”

Somehow through all the mayhem, I’d managed to save a small handful of cake and frosting for the perfect moment. This was it! At last I would be able get some cake, peanut butter filling and buttercream frosting applied to her face! And boy did I rub it in! Ah, sweet victory!

The kitchen and my brother’s room ended up with cake crumbs and frosting all over the place- but our in home vacuum cleaners- also known as our three dogs, helped with the cleanup. We had a super great time- boy was it fun!

What I’ve learned is that sometimes you have to let go, throw all caution to the wind and just do it. If it doesn’t work out like you planned, keep going you never know what kind of memories you will create. :D 

The only thing I’m wondering now: is peanut butter a good exfoliating treatment? Because my face feels amazing! ;) 

Step Into The Unknown

Lately, the Lord has really been dealing with me about faith. Do I have the faith to trust that he will provide? Do I have enough faith to believe that he will work before it's too late? Do I have the kind of faith he is looking for so he can work to the fullest in my life, and not just a little?

The best chapter in the bible to read when you're wondering, "Is God working?" or "Will he work?" is Hebrews 11. This chapter is full of people who believed God would work and then saw him work to the fullest in their life.

But did you know that some of them actually believed God would work and never saw the end result of what he promised?

One such man was Abraham. God promised him a nation with as many people as the sand on the sea shore, yet, Abraham only had one son who was given the promise to fulfill.And then that son had only two children-once again only one was given that promise. Um...God, how do you get a  people so great they can't counted from only three people who were given the promise?

With God nothing is impossible. The theme in Abraham's life seemed to be: "Step Out Into The Unknown." Talk about faith!

The first time we see Abraham stepping into the unknown was when God told him to leave his family.  

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."

Hebrews 11:8

Abraham left his family not even knowing where God was taking him, but he did so in faith. Then God promised him a nation would come from a family that as yet, he didn't have. In fact, his wife was way past the time where she could conceive children. 

Yet, once again Abraham believe that if God promised it he was faithful to fulfill it. And God gave him a son. God then told Abraham to sacrifice or kill his son! Talk about having to have even more faith!

But I suppose by this point in life Abraham was used to seeing God come through for him so he went up a mountain, got the altar and wood ready and proceeded to lift his knife. God had promised him a nation and Abraham believed that if it wasn't from his son, Isaac, then God would provided another way. Thankfully Abraham was spared from having to sacrifice his son and God showed him a lamb that was provided instead.

So what does Abraham's faith teach us?

Two verses in particular spoke to me the other other day:

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth"

Hebrews 11:13

First of all, Abraham died not having seen what God promised, but believing it would be so. And this was a man who didn't have a bible to turn to in time of need. He didn't have scriptures to encourage him. He just saw God working in his life and knew that God would do great things for him and his future family.

The second verse is what truly gave me an "aha" moment:

"And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned."

Hebrews 11:15 

We need to embrace the promises that God has given us. If the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 had focused on where they had come from they would not have been blessed and been able to see God working in their life.

When we focus on what is behind us and not what God has for us, we are tempted to return to a place that didn't and doesn't let us be used of him. Think about Israel after they were released from captivity in Egypt. They kept thinking about all the good they had, but they didn't seem to remember that they were held captive and enslaved.

Don't allow yourself to focus on what you had. Don't allow yourself to believe that what you had was better than what God has for you. It is hard to keep the faith when times get rough and thoughts slip back to when life was ssssooooo much better. No doubt you had challenges and difficulties back then too, but you're just fantasizing it because it seemed so much better than what you are going through today. 

But right now is the moment where you must build your faith and believe that God will use you even more than you imagined. Focus on what's ahead. and if you can't see what's ahead, then look heavenward and remember that we are strangers and pilgrims in a land that is not our own. We have an inheritance that will last forever with the one who loves us and died for us!

What more could we ask for? This life will slip away quicker than we can blink. The only thing I desire to live it to the fullest in faith, believing and knowing that while at times I step into the unknown- God's Got This!

 

 

Feeling like a Yo-yo

Feeling like a yo-yo is not as fun as it sounds...believe me...I know! In fact, I'm sure that most people know that yo-yo feeling where you go through the day and for a little while everything feels good, then blah, then good, the blah again. At least I hope I'm not the only one to experience this yo-yo feeling!

Some days are just like that. Ups and downs so many times in those few hours- you might as well be on a roller-coaster at an amusement park. But I've found some ways to keep those days and even the days where it doesn't feel like a yo-yo, but just a downhearted day more lighthearted than they appear.

1. Realize that it's okay. 

It is perfectly fine to have a rough day or a emotional day here and there. Sometimes it just needs to happen so you can clear the air and get that fresh start. That pity party that wants to happen...throw it! Just don't stay there. Have your pity party, feel sorry for yourself, sad and whatever else, but then pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again-just learn from what has happened and work to improve your situation.

2. Learn to laugh at yourself. 

I often bounce off walls, stumble on...well, air...misspeak, misspell words, drop things for no apparent reason, have simple things run out of control, or just do something that was plain silly and dumb. I've learned to laugh at it and not take it so seriously. Find joy in the moment.

3. Give others a break

It is so easy to take out your frustration on someone else-and there are many times they deserve it! But give them a break and a moment of understanding- you may be in a spot where you need that same. Also,if you're having a rough day, be honest about it. Warn your family or close friends- basically those who have to be around you- that I'm having a rough day so if I snap at you, it's not your fault. This technique has saved my family many undesirable misunderstandings.

4. Give yourself a break

That bubble bath maybe hard to squeeze into your schedule, but do it. That game you've wanted to play may cut into something you need to get done, but play it. Find something you'd love to do, that allows you the chance to relax, and spend some time doing it! You need to give yourself a break from the constant running and same old same old. Take a little bit of time to set aside and invest in yourself. This isn't being selfish, it's just changing the oil , so to speak, so you can have the strength to make it the next 7,000 miles. 

5. Smile

I knew someone who once told me that when they are having a rough time of it they would look at the ceiling and just smile. After a while all it took was for them to look up and that smile would come. I'm pretty sure it was because when you look at the ceiling with all smiles- you feel like an idiot- and that is just too funny! 

Bottom line- don't take life so seriously. It's way too short to waste on things that don't and won't matter. Mistakes and bad days will happen, but as a child of God you've been given the ability to overcome anything that comes your way!  Jesus has already given you the victory.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

So as I travel the yo-yo journey called life I often think if this song. Hopefully, it can brighten your day and you will remember when you fall down: to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again!

If You Believe You Will See

I'm certain that you've read or have heard of the man named Lazarus. Lazarus was a friend of Jesus who became very ill. When he wasn't recovering his sisters, Mary and Martha, sent for Jesus with the hope that Lazarus would be healed. But Jesus didn't arrive in time.

By the time Jesus arrived in the town where the three siblings lived, Lazarus had sadly already passed away 4 days before! Mary, Martha and the locals were in the midst of mourning for Lazarus when word came that Jesus had arrived. Martha immediately ran to him.

Her first words to Jesus were: "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." (John 11:21)

Martha's first thought was that Jesus failed her. If he had been there her brother would still be alive and kicking, but no. Jesus didn't come through on time so now she was in this great sorrow!

How often have you felt that way? That you prayed, you sought open doors, you begged God to get there and to work before it was too late; yet, no matter how hard you tried nothing happened. God failed you...or did he?

What happened next in the story is something Martha never expected.

"Jesus said, 'ake ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"

John 11:39-40 

Notice the underlined part of that verse. Jesus gently reminds Martha that she must keep believing in order to see the glory of God- even long after it seems possible. When it's hard to believe that God will come through you must not give up. For the only way to see God come through is by believing that he will work! What is that belief called? Faith. 


"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." 
Hebrews11:1

Read the rest of Hebrews 11 to see what faith did for people in the bible. Sometimes I like to do that just to remind myself of what God has done and still can do! 

"...but with God all things are possible." 
Matthew 19:26b

The only things preventing God from working is us! And yes, it is much harder when it feels like he hasn't come through on time. But remember, God is not on our time table. he sees a much bigger picture than we could ever imagine!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." 
Isaiah 55:8

Keep believing that God's Got This and that he is one time...maybe not our time...his timing is perfect.

New Book Started

I've been working on a book for about a month now. It's interesting how it came about as it's the usual way things come about for me....a rough day. Sometimes I really wish God would just give me the inspiration without having to go through the pain that taught me the lesson!

I'd had a really rough day. So bad that I didn't even do the dishes before I went to bed! Now I love and need to come out to a clean kitchen in the morning or my day is hindered by the load of dishes that have to be cleaned. So it is my preference to have all that done before I slid into my comfy bed for night of sweet, precious sleep.

The only time I don't actually get the dishes done is if I'm way too tired, don't feel good, or have company over. Other than that I strive to be faithful in that one task. Well, after my rough day I left the dishes there and for once yes, I did have about two of my above mentioned excuses, but I also thought that maybe, just maybe tomorrow I'd want to have some moments to think before me day.

Love it when a thought like that happens- I call them 'God Thoughts' as it isn't until later that I realize why I thought a certain thing.

Anyways, the next day I woke up feeling emotionally drained and unmotivated. After being reminded of the dishes waiting to be washed, I decided to take the time and get them done. I used that time to talk to the Lord about what I was feeling. I told him how frustrated I was that the day before had been so rough. Have you ever noticed that when you wash dishes it just gives you time to think?

Well, this was a moment where God suddenly allowed me to have idea after idea for the book I'm working on. Then later in the day as I worked on the book I realized that I needed some assistance for research. I asked someone for help and a few days later they responded with the help I needed! 

Confirmation after confirmation took place letting me know that the doors were open! So I've been working on this book and more ideas have come...it's been like a flowing river of ideas!

I've also had the opportunity to do further research into biblical characters which has been super amazing! Getting up close with God's word brings joys and knowledge you knew was there, but never imagined how much deeper it could go.

Overall, it's been challenging, but very fun doing this new project. Can't wait to share it with you all!