Are you living your life as an empty shell?

So as I sit here in frustration with why I can't do what I "should be able to do" & after reading a few blogs this morning, God tugs at my heart in the way that only He can do.

I realize (and have realized MANY times before, but somehow keep coming back to this) that I sometimes put so much expectation on my self and set the bar so high by comparing myself to others, or by looking way out into the future & thinking I need to be "there" now. (Which, in running my organization is a gift of vision. In my personal life it's a curse of perfection) I look at those around me & all they have accomplished & expect myself to be at their caliber of expertise. Then try to live like them, get frustrated & beat myself up when I get overwhelmed, can't do it & fail. That doesn't do anything but make me want to not bother trying at all, EVER! When in actual fact, what I'm doing is trying to live a life far past the work God has done in me. That causes the feeling of "being fake" because I am not truly being who I AM in Christ. I am too busy trying to be like someone else, or too focused on putting on a front of who others think I "should be" as a Christian. In reality, I'm just not there yet. Yes God has done some amazing things in my life, I'm not where I used to be... But I'm also not where I'm going to be either.

Isaiah 43:18

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

There is much work to be done in all of us & we don't help that process by looking back & staying stagnant in our feelings of never being good enough, never living up to certain expectations (that goodness knows WHO sets for us.) 
Its OK to strive to be the best we can be, put our best foot forward & walk in faith that God can overcome our sin & bad habits. But it aint gonna happen overnight. We will always sin to some extent; we are human, not Jesus! Don't allow that to cause you to put on a show and live as someone you are not in an empty shell in order to please whoever you are standing in front of. Put your mess on the table & allow Jesus to work through it, pulling out the good parts that can be restored & getting rid of the things that don't do us any good. Then it's your choice to "get up and walk" forward, or stay & wallow in it. I am sometimes reluctant to be vulnerable & spend those times with Jesus where He wants to work out my junk...because it's not easy; its downright heart wrenching & exhausting. But the end result is worth it. 

Depending on the situation it's not always about cutting something out of your life altogether either; that would be doing it in your own strength. Its learning to live with it and using that struggle to push you towards Christ & allowing him to mold you and shape you so that your responses come directly from a heart restored by Him & eventually your responses will be sincere & those things that you once struggled with, will fall away. Then, you will look back & realize that you are becoming a new creation in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:17 "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"

Take the governor off!

The other day I was told to “take the governor off & be excellent” … I didn’t know what that meant because I didn’t know what a governor was (Other than the British term for boss.) It was explained to me that it’s the device that’s placed on a car engine to prevent a car from going too fast. 
As Wikipedia explains it: A governor, or speed-limiter, is a device used to measure and regulate the speed of a machine, such as an engine.

Two words in that definition stood out to me:

1) SPEED-LIMITER: Those are words that I DON’T want describing my character.

2) REGULATE: God didn’t create us to be regulated… He created us to be free & run the race set out for us!

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

The things of this world ARE what hold us back. The governors that hinder us from running with perseverance are the materialistic things, emotions towards people & situations, our past disappointments, struggles, addictions, and our inabilities. Pastor Steven Furtick said it best when he said: “What is the thing that holds you back while God is trying to move you forward.” THAT is the governor!

The thing that was eye opening to me was the fact that I had just had a conversation with somebody else the previous day pertaining to this. I told the person that I felt that God had placed this strength inside of me that I don’t necessarily know what to do with, I don’t know how to get it out or even know how to handle it; so I stuff it away & hold it back.

It got me thinking & the question I then asked myself was “so HOW do I take the governor off?”

My answer: Stop following the law & follow me (Jesus) …the law can’t change you. God sent His son, not the law! The law brings feelings of defeat, of never measuring up, and failed perfectionism…God sent Jesus for us to LOVE Him, to be loved BY Him, to keep our focus ON Him. He changes us & breaks the chains. Don’t be held back by trying to reach for perfectionism. Do what YOU can’t do, what scares you, what intimidates you the most. Don’t back away or shyly walk into a situation, RUN BOLDLY, head on towards whatever it is that tries to hold you back or make you want to hide. Ruin the devil’s game of hide & seek! The enemy is counting to 10 while you run around trying to find a place to hide, heart beating, panicking that you can’t do it, won’t make it, aren’t capable, aren’t able, too this, too that…worrying that you won’t find a place to hide before he opens his eyes to come & get you.

God wants you to stand boldly, not hide. He wants you to completely spoil the devil’s game & run boldly towards whatever it is that He puts before you. Don’t allow the enemy to make you cower. God called you to something, trust Him to protect you there. He’s got your back, He has a plan, His outcome is even better than you can possibly dream up yourself. Not saying it will be easy, pretty or even turn out the way you think. My Pastor said today “bad situations that happen to us are not “detours” they are MILE MARKERS”…they are places that we remember Gods faithfulness in our lives, where we get to see Him move, experience His love, comfort, provision, protection & capability. We get to hold on to those moments when we are standing boldly on uncertain ground.

When you stand boldly the enemy will get bored because he has nothing to play. Don’t feed into his schemes…don’t allow him to defeat you, or debilitate you…take the governor off, put into play all God has taught you thus far & watch all that He can accomplish through your unhindered spirit.

SUFFER, SHOW, WAIT, RECEIVE

Today I read through Acts 1-5 & grabbed a few goodies that I'd like to share with you!

SUFFER - SHOW - WAIT - RECEIVE 

Usually the way God works in our lives is through the 4 words written above. He allows us to go through a time of great suffering, which breaks us & shows our need for Him.
At the very pit of our suffering, we see who Jesus is. We are then told to wait for HIS timing...not our own. Two very different things!! We must always pay attention to that. Sometimes we like to jump ahead & think the timing is perfect. This is when we should wait & allow Him to guide us. It is then that we shall receive what He has promised, the power to do as He has called you do to.

Acts 1:3 - "After his SUFFERING...He SHOWED Himself"
Acts 1:4 - "But WAIT for the gift my father promised..."
Acts 1:8 - "You will RECEIVE power when the Holy Spirit comes on you..."

SUFFER-
In Acts 1:9 Was when Jesus had been taken up to heaven & left his disciples. There was some suffering there for the disciples for the loss of their friend. As well as great opposition from those around them who did not "know" Jesus personally, or did not believe Him.
 (Acts 2:13) As followers of Christ we will ALWAYS face opposition. Whenever we are called to step out in faith we will always have people in our lives thinking we are absolute fools for choosing to live our lives for God. Jesus had it, His disciples had it, we will have it! The question is, are you willing to trust that Jesus is who He says He is? That He rose from the grave as Peter explains in
Acts 2:24
"God raised Him from the dead, because it was impossible for death to keep it's hold on Him"

Especially as a leader you will always come up against opposition in whatever it is God is calling you to do or to be.
But one day, those who oppose you, their eyes will be opened. As in Acts 2:23 & 2:37
Peter explained "This man was handed over to you by Gods set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross"
Acts 2:37
"When they heard this, they were cut to the heart & said to Peter 'Brothers, what shall we do?"

There eyes were opened ready to be shown the miracle of Christ in the next chapter.

SHOW-
Acts 3 Peter heals the beggar & people are amazed at the life change when they see the man walking.
People's eyes were open to seeing the miracle performed in Jesus name by a bold disciple!
Acts 3:8-10
"He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."

This goes to show that you don't have to go out and preach the gospel for people to see Jesus. When you meet Jesus, your life is changed & people around you see that for themselves, our job is to give praise to the one who made us new! Peter & John (& the beggar that was healed) constantly gave praise to God for all He had done! The rulers & elders of the people didn't like that.

WAIT -
Peter & John were arrested for speaking about what Jesus had done in & through them.
Thank goodness we have freedom of speech & don't have to worry about that happening to us!
No matter how bad your circumstances look, don't give up! This is the time to trust & wait.
At the time you think it's over, is usually about the time God shows up!  You can't stop Gods hand...even when His best men were in jail, still 5000 people got saved!
No matter your circumstances, Gods plan is always greater!

God usually picks those of us that are ordinary & asks us to do the extraordinary so that He may show off through it , because others are going to know that it's not us who are able to accomplish these great things! Peter & John were very under-schooled, ordinary men but they were willing to be bold & stand in the face of their opposition & live their lives for God, even in jail. While they waited, they prayed.

Acts 4:29
"Now, Lord, consider their threats & enable your servants to speak your word with great BOLDNESS"

They were willing to press on & do as God has called them to do. Not out of pressure or because they felt they "had to" but out of a response for their love for Jesus & because they couldn't help talk about all God had done in their lives & others. They asked for BOLDNESS & showed that they would be faithful to God; and no matter the circumstance they would continue to speak about Jesus & not back down.
This is when they...

RECEIVED-
Acts 4:31
"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit & spoke the word of God BOLDLY"
They received what they asked for in Acts 4:29

God is faithful in fulfilling His promises, if you wait & trust Him.

Whatever it is that God as called you to do, know that you may feel under-schooled, incapable & not able to carry out the task. Know that God will see you through what He has called you to! He will always give what you ask for in His name according to His will. No matter how bad the circumstances look, how inadequate you feel, He's working His plan the way He wants it. You need only to stand...and give praise!

Acts 5:39

"But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God"

Prayer for your husband

For those of you who are married, dating, or even waiting on the future spouse God has promised you, here is a prayer I found that would help you pray in specific ways for him, from head to toe.

Men, you can modify for your wife also.

Maybe you can use it to pray over someone that you are already dating to see if he lines up with what God wants for you.

Lysa TerKuerst also wrote a blog with some great advice. Here is the link: http://lysaterkeurst.com/category/made-to-crave/

It was written in regards to teaching teenage daughters, but you can use it to see if you are on the right track with whom you are thinking about committing your life to.

Lord, I pray for my husband, from head to toe:

•                His Head –That he will look to You as Lord of his life. (1 Corinthians 11:13)

•                His Mind - That he will have the mind of Christ and think as the Holy Spirit would lead him and not the flesh. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

•                His Eyes –That You will keep his eyes from temptation and that he will turn his eyes from sin. (Matthew 6:13, Mark 9:47)

•                His Ears - That he will hear Your still small voice instructing him. (1 Kings 19:12, Psalm 32:8)

•                His Mouth – That his words will be pleasing to You. (Psalm 19:14)

•                His Neck –That he will humble himself before You and be strong, courageous, and careful to do everything written in Your Word so that he will be prosperous and successful. (James 4:10, Joshua 1:8-9)

•                His Heart-That he will love and trust You with his whole heart. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Proverbs 3:5)

•                His Arms-That You will be his strength. (Psalm 73:26)

•                His Hands-That he will enjoy the work of his hands and see it as a gift from You. (Ecclesiastes 3:13, 5:19)

•                His feet – That You will order his steps and that he will walk in Your truth. (Proverbs 4:25, Psalm 26:3)

What is wise?

The greatest difficulty isn’t in choosing between good & bad, it’s choosing between good & best. ~ Experiencing God

Have you ever had to make a decision that felt like the most difficult thing you’ve had to do because what you had to choose between wasn’t anything bad?

Those are probably the toughest decisions for me to make. I pray & pray and get nothing. I read scripture & it could go either way. I go back & forth and end up so confused that I don’t do anything…then I procrastinate & try to put it off & fear stands there taunting me “What if you make the wrong choice?” “What if you regret it?” “What if you are missing out?” what if, what if, what if…

Procrastination builds fear & then I’m sitting there paralyzed by making the wrong choice, that I don’t make ANY choice at all.

Marc Driscoll once said

“No decision is to make the wrong decision”

So what do you do?

It’s easier to move when you think God is asking you to do something…then you just have to build up the courage to take the first step…but what do you do when you feel as though God isn’t answering & is waiting for you to make a choice?

Sometimes God is quiet in those times because He is waiting for you to use the wisdom He has taught you to make a WISE choice before He moves.

A few questions I’ve asked myself as I make this kind of decision.

Is it honoring to God?

A year from now how will this choice effect me? 

Is it a selfish flesh desire?

Or is it something God wants for me?

Is it reckless or wise?

Examine my values & priorities, what’s most important to me? Jesus or “this”

God wants you to take risks & walk by faith not by sight…but He wants you to be wise in doing so.

God is not a carrot dangling God, he is not sitting in a corner tempting you with something great ready to take it away when you make your decision.

Sometimes the BEST choice is the hardest and the GOOD choice is the easiest.

Do you want Gods best for your life? If so you’ve got to be bold & courageous, making Him a vital part of everything you do. Stand for what you stand for, believe & trust that God has gone before you, He already knows what choice you will make & has already got a plan to cover you once you make it.

Don’t procrastinate, push past your fear & do what you feel is the WISE choice.

Proverbs 3:13 “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding”

Toxic Thoughts & Gods Truths

Who will you choose to believe?

Sometimes our mind gets the better of us, I know mine does much more often than I’d like. Something I want to be able to do is start taking my own thoughts captive and replacing them with Gods truth. Pastor Craig Groschel preached at our Church this weekend about his book “Soul Detox” how toxic thoughts can control you. I know we all struggle with these, not just women, EVERYONE!

Some of the toxic thoughts Pastor Craig listed were

1.     Negative Thoughts

2.     Fearful thoughts

3.     Discontented thoughts

4.     Critical thoughts

I wanted to list some thoughts that may cross our minds, but with a truth to follow. Print them out and put them on your mirror to help you fight the battle and eventually it will become second nature. Those truths will be buried in your heart and God will bring them forth when your mind tries to tell you something different.

Thought: I’m not good enough

TRUTH: For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

TRUTH 2: The Lord is my shepherd; I lack NOTHING. Psalm 23:1

Thought:  I don’t like my body and feel ugly

TRUTH: I am fearfully wonderfully made, His works are wonderful I know that full well – Psalm 139:14

Thought: I can’t do this

TRUTH: I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength I need – Phil 4:13

Thought: I am so stressed out and worried

TRUTH: So refuse to worry and keep your body healthy. Ecclesiastes 11:10

Thought:  I’m scared to do that

TRUTH: God did not give us a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Thought:  I wish I had a better…

TRUTH: Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11

TRUTH 2: Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment. 1 Timothy 6:6

Thought:  I’m just not satisfied

TRUTH: You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

Thought: This situation sucks

TRUTH: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thought:  No one appreciates me

TRUTH: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Colossians 3:23

TRUTH 2: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. Ephesians 6:7

Thought: I do all this stuff & no one notices

TRUTH: Am I now trying to win the approval of man, or God? Or am I still trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

Thought: No one loves me

TRUTH: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son; that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but will have eternal life. John 3:16

Thought: I can’t do it all; this is too much

TRUTH: Now to Him who can do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

Thought: I don’t have enough money to give 10%

TRUTH: Honor the Lord your God with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to over flowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

Thought:  I’m so stressed out

TRUTH: Don’t panic, I am with you. There is no need to fear for I am your God. I will give you strength. I will help you. I will hold you steady and keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10

Thought:  I have nothing left; I am empty

TRUTH: He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

Thought:  I feel so betrayed; I want to get revenge

TRUTH: He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me, My God will send forth His unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 57:3

Thought: I don’t ever make enough money

TRUTH: He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

TRUTH 2: Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

Thought:  I don’t have a purpose

TRUTH: For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Thought:  I’m too tired

TRUTH: I will refresh the weary & satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25

I read this somewhere & not sure where, but I want to share it with you:

“The most important opinion you have is the one you have of yourself, and the most significant things you say all day are those things you say to yourself”

Not just a healer

God spoke to me pretty clearly this morning… I read a bible study last night and it didn’t mean a whole lot to me…until this morning. Something happened that turned me to lean on God & He reminded me of what I read last night in John 15:11.

I have copied certain sections from the scripture that point out the main parts of the story.

11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

The reason Jesus didn’t heal Lazarus & allowed him to die, wasn’t because He didn’t love Lazaras. It was because He knew Mary & Martha KNEW He could heal…They knew Him as the healer. Jesus wasn’t being hard hearted or selfish to allow Lazarus to die, no, he wanted to wait until all thought it was too late.

Lazarus had been in the tomb FOUR DAYS… to the point that there was a bad odor. Everyone thought it was the end, he was dead & there was nothing anyone could do about it. They got on Jesus because they knew that if He was there, He could have healed Lazarus…so why wasn’t He there?

Jesus wanted to show Mary & Martha a different part of His character. He wanted to show them that he is the resurrection & the life. That He can do what you think he cannot. 

Is there something in your life that you feel if God moved now; in a way you know that He CAN…things would be OK!? And the fact that He’s not, you’re thinking it’s too late… It’s never too late, God wants to show you a different side of Him, He wants to show you that He is the great I AM & He can do immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine! Just wait… My favorite line in this chapter is:

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

Believe Him, trust Him, come with an expectant heart & watch what He is about to do…

Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets. You do not know about things to come. – Jeremiah 33:3