Driving Parked Cars

When I read this, I just about sank into my chair. I wonder how many of us say, "Yes I trust God" but really we are a little afraid or even worried to actually live out our faith. I know that I battle with myself constantly but it is something I'm learning to give up and reap the rewards. If we are willing, HE is able. And that's when the light bulb went off!

I love how God is not forceful. I love how the Holy Spirit will not take control of us without our saying, "Yes, please do come in." The Holy Spirit has such nice manners. If we are not willing to do our part, then why should He? Another way to think about it is if you're in a relationship how fair is it for your partner to do 90 percent of the work while you only do 10 percent? It's not and sooner or later the relationship will fail. If a relationship is supposed to be 50/50 then I want to make sure that I'm doing my part to not only better myself but for His kingdom.

But that's the thing about having a relationship with God, even though He does way more for us than we could ever image, all He asks of us is to believe in Him and love. Do you have that friend or family member that has anything or everything they ever wanted and it's either their birthday or Christmas and you ask yourself, "What do you buy for someone who has everything?" Well how about spending time together. Making memories. That's kind of how I think about giving back to God. What in the world can I give to the One Who created everything??

My love. My trust. My belief in Him.

But part of loving, trusting, and believing is letting Him guide you. Let down your walls and let Him lead.....believe me....it will be better than you can ever imagine.

Tuesday Devotional

I struggle daily with my limits. I struggle because as a new wife and a step-mom, where do I draw the line? It's difficult raising not only a teenager (who just moved in with us less than a year ago), but also a teenager who is not mine and I don't want to cross any lines with her dad/my husband and her biological mom. Last night I prayed for guidance. I prayed for help to know when and what to say and even when to let go. This morning's devotional was just what I needed.

Relax! God is Working--March 19

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]" Matthew 11:28

 Being relaxed feels wonderful. Being nervous, tense, and worried are not so wonderful. Why aren't more people relaxed? Jesus said if we are weary and overburdened, we should go to Him and He will give us rest, relaxation, and ease (see Matt. 11:28-29). Jesus wants to teach us the right way to live, which is different from the way most of the world lives. 

It would be putting it mildly to say that I was an uptight woman for the first half of my life. I simply did not know how to relax, and it was due to me not being willing to completely trust God. I trusted God for things, but not in things. I kept trying to be the one in control. Even though God was in the driver's seat of my life, I kept one hand on the wheel just in case He took a wrong turn. Relaxation is impossible without trust! 

If you know you can't fix the problem you have, then why not relax while God is working on it? It sounds easy, but it took many years for me to be able to do this. I know from experience that the ability to relax and go with the flow in life is dependent upon our willingness to trust God completely. If things don't go your way, instead of being upset, you can believe that getting your way was not what you needed. God knew that, so He gave you what was best for you, instead of what you wanted. 

If you are waiting much longer than you had hoped to, you can get frustrated, angry, and upset or you can say, "God's timing is perfect; He is never late. And my steps are ordered by the Lord." Now you can relax and simply go with the flow of what is happening in your life. When it comes to things that are out of our control, we can either ruin the day or relax and enjoy it while God is working on the situation. As long as we believe, God keeps working! 

Trust in Him: How relaxed are you? Your answer is directly related to how much you trust God. It may take you many years like it did me, to fully trust Him, but each day will be better and better as you trust more and learn to relax.

After reading this twice, typing it, and praying about it over my morning exercise, I will let go, relax, and know that God is in control. As a step-parent, I don't have a say over many things because there are other parents involved. It's difficult being a step-parent but knowing some of the situations that arise will be out of my control is something that I'm going to have to give to God and know that He's taking care of it.  I am considering all these situations as a way of Him teaching me how to handle my own children--someday.

Taking Offense

Got to love Google and their photos!

I'm going to ask you a serious question.....how often do you get offended? Seriously? To me it's a serious question to ask because people can take offense quite easily and  hold grudges forever. It's a very delicate subject because I don't think people (myself included) really think about it and are honest with themselves. Why do we get offended and why do we hold grudges?

One of the things we can do to try not to get so offended is to automatically think, "no matter what happens or is said, I forgive you." I dare you to try it. It's sooooo hard but if you think about who it is actually hurting holding on to grudges and getting mad about how rude some people are, you are the one it hurts the most. How is that possible? Well because every time that person's name is brought up you may instantly get upset and have unpleasant thoughts or get mad inside causing you to fester and slowly rot. Do you really think that's God plan for you? Absolutely not! By not forgiving, you are losing out on God's best for your life.

Free yourself and try to forgive. If you are having a difficult time, maybe you and your pride need to have a little chit chat. Pride is such an awful sin and is so deceiving. I am a sinner saved by His grace just like the next Christian and I deal with these same problems and I have to remind myself to not get upset--daily.  You will come in contact with those people. It's a part of life, but the big question is.....how will you handle it?


 ^"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

And because I'm feeling like sharing a little music video.....here is a great one about forgiveness:

Have a wonderful weekend!

Letting Go

One of the hardest things I had to do as a Christian was letting go. Letting go of worries of money, situations out of my control, even relationships that are strained.  I'll admit that it was one the hardest things I did, yet I always wonder why did it take me so long to do it.

I didn't grow up with God in my life as a child. I only discovered Him a year ago. Since then, it has been such an amazing journey and now I actually see the world so differently. Death does not have the same impact it did on me when I was a kid. Yes it is still sad and I will miss that person, but if they are believers, then I look at it as they have graduated to the next step and when it's my turn, I'll see them again and celebrate. 

Money does not have the same meaning either. I don't have a lot of it. I live a modest life but I am very obedient about giving to the Church and any other causes that will benefit His kingdom. It's incredible to see what God can do in your life when you become obedient. I have been tested several times in this matter and each an every single time He has delivered. 

But the biggest thing is if any situation I face and am having a difficult time with, I just give it to Him. I lay it at His feet and let Him handle it. The moment I discovered that, was the moment my life became stress-free and not a worry in the world. I pray and I wait. It's incredible to watch what happens next. It's as if a 50 pound weight has been lifted and I can breathe. I don't know why anyone would want to live a life thinking they have to handle it all on their own. I was there and believe me....it's no fun. Now this may mean that you may have to give up some things, sacrifice a little, but God will a-l-w-a-y-s take care of your needs.

Here's the thing. God has a plan for my life and for yours. Worrying about something doesn't do anything but add stress. Here's one of my favorite passages about worrying: 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:25-27

So you see worrying is a waste of time. I challenge you to give all your worries and concerns to God. Just let it all go. He wants you to live a happy and righteous life because His plan is so much better for you than your own.