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Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
When I got up today, I knew that it was going to be a busy day! I had just worked 38 hours in three days, and getting home last night at 1am i had already began to dread getting up early that morning to help my husband get our three boys ready for school. So in robot mode that morning I started my day. I knew that we were refinancing our house today, but I didn't know the "bank Lady" was coming to our house with the paper work. Great ,I thought as my husband told me the news. I had worked the last three days, and any working mom knows that when moms away our sweet gifts from God destroys our house. And to add to that, one of my friends called to say that she was stopping by to pick up some clothes that my boys had out grown. Ok, I going to quickly get organized. I grabbed the windex and started with the front door. I also closed the garage so that no one would attempt to get through that mess to walk into the house. My precious husband had let me go back to bed that morning while he took the kids to school, so to my surprise he started carrying in bags and boxes. OH NO! he had been shopping. Robbie and I joke that my husband would have made a great women, cause he likes to spend money. So he comes new pots and pans, new vacuum cleaner, new garbage can. etc. And then I stood there with my mouth open wide as he started taking EVERY thing out of our cabinets. What are you doing? I asked. He then explained to me that today we were cleaning out our cabinets and throwing out our old pots,etc. He then laughed as he said that he was hoping that new pots and pans would inspire me to start cooking again. I could have cried. So I hurried with my windex and cleaned the front door, then headed to the bathroom. As I windexed away hand prints from my bathroom mirror I felt the Holy Spirit speak..... Amy, this looks like your life. When you have to clean your heart, mind, and/or actions, you Windex the surface and hide the clutter in drawers and cabinets. So if no one opens the drawers of your heart you are fine, but if they do ;they may not like what they see. Wow that hurt. I walked into the kitchen and saw a ton of stuff laying on the kitchen floor and thought about how we hate to clean up, and especially DEEP clean, but after we do, we feel relieved! So needless to say that everyone that came over that morning saw a mess, but inside the cabinets were clean. Nothing hidden. This morning, we got rid of junk, started new. Now tomorrow we will clean another room. God doesn't expect us to be perfect, in fact All have sinned and fall short from his glory. But when others see when our mess is cleaned up, they are inspired to clean their mess up.
Father, thank you for your patience and your mercy. Continue to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us every minute of everyday.
Amy
Father, thank you for your patience and your mercy. Continue to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us every minute of everyday.
Amy
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Heart of the matter........................
Genesis 4:4-8; Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
True worship starts on the inside then it becomes an out-ward expression!
Cain was looking for a blessing from the Lord. The Lord looked at Abel's offering with favor instead of Cain's. This made Cain very angry. When God asked him," Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?" He was giving Cain a chance to self reflect. What is it in your life that you are angry about? What are you disappointed about in your life? What is it that you are hanging on to and can't let go? Maybe God is giving you a chance to self reflect. By hanging on to it, sin comes and crouches at your door! Do we realize how close that is? At our door, it is just about to come in our lives, in our homes. Sometimes I can't catch my breath during the day, it is almost as if I can't breath. It happens mostly in the afternoon when my girls get home from school. I feel like there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that is on my plate. The girls come in and they are wide open with friends etc. Having a 15 year is like having a wild horse that you are trying to break. Several times I have sat down and cried and said " I can't do this anymore." My face shows exactly what I am feeling. And to top it off I have these two lines right on the top of my forehead, between my eyes that look like the number 11.
One of my daughters said it well today; she looked at me as I was throwing dinner together as fast as I could; "mom where is your joy? can't you at least smile?" What does your face say about you? God will speak to you, mostly through his word but he can speak even through a child. I thought maybe God was giving me a second chance. A time to self reflect.
Abel gave God the first fruits of his labor. His genuine desire of his heart was to give a blessings back to God. That's the kind of sacrifice God is looking for. Abel desired nothing in return! Cain didn't give from his heart. He missed the whole point of what God really wanted from him. It was not the actual offering itself. It was his motive, his attitude. In other words God is more concerned about the WHY we do something rather than the WHAT we give or do! Abel was prompted out of FAITH to give the sacrifice that he gave to God. Cain had other motives. What is your motive when you sacrifice for God? Do you desire a blessing in return? Or is your motive one where you truly hope that it blesses God, or gives God true delight and joy?
God is not looking for those who are doing religious activities, those are only outward expressions that cannot be used as a substitute of coming to the foot of the blood stained cross with brokenness and a contrite heart!!!! God wants to see us give from the heart!!! Do we trust Him enough to give Him our all?
When we learn the characteristics of God there will be no confusion. He will be more than enough. He will be all we need. It will not matter what could happen to us in this fallen world. We could be left with nothing as long as we had our FAITH which would demonstrate that we know who our comforter is. This also would demonstrate before God that HE is all we need. HE is more than enough. This is where we begin to understand what spiritual act of worship is really means!
What is God asking of you to do to demonstrate your Faith? He is looking to and fro for someone with Faith and Trust that know He is all they need; that He is more than enough.........
Oh Father how I want you to be more than enough,
Robbie
True worship starts on the inside then it becomes an out-ward expression!
Cain was looking for a blessing from the Lord. The Lord looked at Abel's offering with favor instead of Cain's. This made Cain very angry. When God asked him," Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?" He was giving Cain a chance to self reflect. What is it in your life that you are angry about? What are you disappointed about in your life? What is it that you are hanging on to and can't let go? Maybe God is giving you a chance to self reflect. By hanging on to it, sin comes and crouches at your door! Do we realize how close that is? At our door, it is just about to come in our lives, in our homes. Sometimes I can't catch my breath during the day, it is almost as if I can't breath. It happens mostly in the afternoon when my girls get home from school. I feel like there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that is on my plate. The girls come in and they are wide open with friends etc. Having a 15 year is like having a wild horse that you are trying to break. Several times I have sat down and cried and said " I can't do this anymore." My face shows exactly what I am feeling. And to top it off I have these two lines right on the top of my forehead, between my eyes that look like the number 11.
One of my daughters said it well today; she looked at me as I was throwing dinner together as fast as I could; "mom where is your joy? can't you at least smile?" What does your face say about you? God will speak to you, mostly through his word but he can speak even through a child. I thought maybe God was giving me a second chance. A time to self reflect.
Abel gave God the first fruits of his labor. His genuine desire of his heart was to give a blessings back to God. That's the kind of sacrifice God is looking for. Abel desired nothing in return! Cain didn't give from his heart. He missed the whole point of what God really wanted from him. It was not the actual offering itself. It was his motive, his attitude. In other words God is more concerned about the WHY we do something rather than the WHAT we give or do! Abel was prompted out of FAITH to give the sacrifice that he gave to God. Cain had other motives. What is your motive when you sacrifice for God? Do you desire a blessing in return? Or is your motive one where you truly hope that it blesses God, or gives God true delight and joy?
God is not looking for those who are doing religious activities, those are only outward expressions that cannot be used as a substitute of coming to the foot of the blood stained cross with brokenness and a contrite heart!!!! God wants to see us give from the heart!!! Do we trust Him enough to give Him our all?
When we learn the characteristics of God there will be no confusion. He will be more than enough. He will be all we need. It will not matter what could happen to us in this fallen world. We could be left with nothing as long as we had our FAITH which would demonstrate that we know who our comforter is. This also would demonstrate before God that HE is all we need. HE is more than enough. This is where we begin to understand what spiritual act of worship is really means!
What is God asking of you to do to demonstrate your Faith? He is looking to and fro for someone with Faith and Trust that know He is all they need; that He is more than enough.........
Oh Father how I want you to be more than enough,
Robbie
Monday, September 20, 2010
The Ocean.....................
We are so much like the disciples. We are ready to die for Jesus one day and then forsake him and run from him the next. It is so easy for us to loose our focus on Jesus!!!
It is like we are on a roller coaster ride. One day we are on fire for him and the next day we are lukewarm for him. Why? Why do we as Christians do this? Is it this thing called life that we allow to sweep us away and busy us with the things of this world? The sad truth is that we the "church" have adopted the valves and principles of this world. There are things of unholiness in our hearts......ex. self-control, eating, spending habits etc. Caring about the impressions that we make on others and caring so little about pleasing God. We all have idols in our lives that take the place of time we could be spending with God. So why? Why do we put him on the back burner of our lives? Is this our sacrifice we are offering to Jesus? Are we offering Him the first fruit of our labors? Can we give him our everything without keeping a portion for ourselves? What are our motives, and what is our attitude when we are giving to him? Is it only to make us feel good about ourselves and our walk with God? Only so others will notice? It's like I am waving a red flag; "Look at me; Look at me.....anybody? See what I have done? Have we taken our eyes off of the eternal and placed them on our own circumstances?
I know I have had my eyes on my own circumstances lately. I have felt sadness these last few weeks. I can't explain the changes that are taking place inside of me. I am wanting to go deeper with God. I want to stop standing at the ocean and only getting my feet wet. It is comforting to stand at the ocean with only your feet in watching the water rush over your toes. But God wants more than our toes in the water. He wants us to be able to dive into the deep part of the ocean where the unknown is. You might not be able to see your feet in the deeper parts of the ocean. It can be dark in some spots of the water and who knows what is swimming around waiting to devour you. This fear of the unknown has kept me from swimming in the ocean. I am happy sitting in a chair with my feet in the water where it is safe....
My relationship mimics this with God. I am sitting on the shore where it is safe, not willing to let go and trust Him..... We must step off the shores leaving the safety nets and dive deep where the unknown lies. This is where you will find the fruits of your labor. This is what God is looking for in his relationship with you. An amazing trust where you walk in Faith!!!! Not keeping any portion for yourself. This is where your true worship comes in. This is where you start to learn the character of God... God becomes your only comforter, your only source of survival. He becomes your everything. This is where God can sit back and watch you flex your spiritual muscle by choosing to believe Him!!!!! You trust Him...You walk in Faith wherever the Father takes you even if its in the deepest part of the Ocean. You are willing to go!
In these last few weeks I have realized how hard it is to go deeper with God and maintain the relationships that you had in your life before you found God. People don't understand why you are putting your trust in God. Some people place their trust in other people and things, stuff they can touch and see. To them I seem weird, strange or even crazy. They even look at most Christian's as hypocrites. It is a lonely place to be sometimes.
I think it would be so much easier just to move to a town where no-one knows the old me. Sometimes I dream of moving to a place where the people I meet instantly know that I love God. The different masks and costumes I have worn through the years are completely worn out. I have to admit that I have hung onto them longer than I ever thought I would. I want so badly to get rid of them forever, I just don't know how!!! Trying to figure that out. Life can be funny sometimes.. I will just continue to praise God and thank Him that He is long suffering and that His love never fails.
I am praying that I become totally satisfied with Christ! Wanting so badly for my identity to be wrapped completely in Him. Praying for a new heart one that God has completed, you know that thing where He purifies us....ouch, I know its going to hurt (a lot of cob webs in mine). Hoping to be released and freed to love, and free to live in God's fullness..........
Robbie
It is like we are on a roller coaster ride. One day we are on fire for him and the next day we are lukewarm for him. Why? Why do we as Christians do this? Is it this thing called life that we allow to sweep us away and busy us with the things of this world? The sad truth is that we the "church" have adopted the valves and principles of this world. There are things of unholiness in our hearts......ex. self-control, eating, spending habits etc. Caring about the impressions that we make on others and caring so little about pleasing God. We all have idols in our lives that take the place of time we could be spending with God. So why? Why do we put him on the back burner of our lives? Is this our sacrifice we are offering to Jesus? Are we offering Him the first fruit of our labors? Can we give him our everything without keeping a portion for ourselves? What are our motives, and what is our attitude when we are giving to him? Is it only to make us feel good about ourselves and our walk with God? Only so others will notice? It's like I am waving a red flag; "Look at me; Look at me.....anybody? See what I have done? Have we taken our eyes off of the eternal and placed them on our own circumstances?
I know I have had my eyes on my own circumstances lately. I have felt sadness these last few weeks. I can't explain the changes that are taking place inside of me. I am wanting to go deeper with God. I want to stop standing at the ocean and only getting my feet wet. It is comforting to stand at the ocean with only your feet in watching the water rush over your toes. But God wants more than our toes in the water. He wants us to be able to dive into the deep part of the ocean where the unknown is. You might not be able to see your feet in the deeper parts of the ocean. It can be dark in some spots of the water and who knows what is swimming around waiting to devour you. This fear of the unknown has kept me from swimming in the ocean. I am happy sitting in a chair with my feet in the water where it is safe....
My relationship mimics this with God. I am sitting on the shore where it is safe, not willing to let go and trust Him..... We must step off the shores leaving the safety nets and dive deep where the unknown lies. This is where you will find the fruits of your labor. This is what God is looking for in his relationship with you. An amazing trust where you walk in Faith!!!! Not keeping any portion for yourself. This is where your true worship comes in. This is where you start to learn the character of God... God becomes your only comforter, your only source of survival. He becomes your everything. This is where God can sit back and watch you flex your spiritual muscle by choosing to believe Him!!!!! You trust Him...You walk in Faith wherever the Father takes you even if its in the deepest part of the Ocean. You are willing to go!
In these last few weeks I have realized how hard it is to go deeper with God and maintain the relationships that you had in your life before you found God. People don't understand why you are putting your trust in God. Some people place their trust in other people and things, stuff they can touch and see. To them I seem weird, strange or even crazy. They even look at most Christian's as hypocrites. It is a lonely place to be sometimes.
I think it would be so much easier just to move to a town where no-one knows the old me. Sometimes I dream of moving to a place where the people I meet instantly know that I love God. The different masks and costumes I have worn through the years are completely worn out. I have to admit that I have hung onto them longer than I ever thought I would. I want so badly to get rid of them forever, I just don't know how!!! Trying to figure that out. Life can be funny sometimes.. I will just continue to praise God and thank Him that He is long suffering and that His love never fails.
I am praying that I become totally satisfied with Christ! Wanting so badly for my identity to be wrapped completely in Him. Praying for a new heart one that God has completed, you know that thing where He purifies us....ouch, I know its going to hurt (a lot of cob webs in mine). Hoping to be released and freed to love, and free to live in God's fullness..........
Robbie
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Go after God today.
Allow Him to reveal Himself to you.
Ask God to shower you with righteousness. Hosea 10:12, "...for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you."
Seek His face and not His hands. Psalm 27:8, "My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek."
Let Him move in you and around you.
Ask the Holy Spirit to inhabit your very being and stir your soul.
Pray for more of the move of God in your city.
Ask God to bring revival to your neighborhood.
Ask God to bring revival to your home.
Ask God to bring revival to you.
Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:8, "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
Make today a new day in your walk and journey with the King of Kings, the Father of all Fathers, the Alpha and Omega, the Lord of Lords, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah-Yahweh, Adonai, Elohim, Jehovah-Shalom, Abba Father, the Bread of Life, the Anointed One, the Ancient of Days, our Creator and our Delivery.
Don't be weighed down by the things and ways of this world.
Set yourself apart from it.
You must SEEK Him and when you do, you WILL FIND Him.
He wants to know you.
He wants you to fall inlove with Him again.
He wants to shelter you with His wings.
He wants to be your EVERYTHING...
Let Him Be...
jennifer (speaking my heart today)
Allow Him to reveal Himself to you.
Ask God to shower you with righteousness. Hosea 10:12, "...for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you."
Seek His face and not His hands. Psalm 27:8, "My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek."
Let Him move in you and around you.
Ask the Holy Spirit to inhabit your very being and stir your soul.
Pray for more of the move of God in your city.
Ask God to bring revival to your neighborhood.
Ask God to bring revival to your home.
Ask God to bring revival to you.
Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:8, "For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
Make today a new day in your walk and journey with the King of Kings, the Father of all Fathers, the Alpha and Omega, the Lord of Lords, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah-Yahweh, Adonai, Elohim, Jehovah-Shalom, Abba Father, the Bread of Life, the Anointed One, the Ancient of Days, our Creator and our Delivery.
Don't be weighed down by the things and ways of this world.
Set yourself apart from it.
You must SEEK Him and when you do, you WILL FIND Him.
He wants to know you.
He wants you to fall inlove with Him again.
He wants to shelter you with His wings.
He wants to be your EVERYTHING...
Let Him Be...
jennifer (speaking my heart today)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
It's that time of year...kids go back to school, one day its hot and the next is cool, the roads are more crowded because of school, the stress of approaching holidays starts to kick in. With all of the busyness of the approaching season, how will we react or respond to it? Will we get caught up in the craziness and pressure of it all? Or will we choose to stand out in the chaos as the peaceful one, the one that remains calm through it all?
How do we want to be perceived? Remember that we are to be the voice of God, the eyes of God, the hand of God, and perform the works of God here on this earth through the working of the Holy Spirit through us. To be that is to be peaceful, full of joy, gentle, loving and kind, filled with patience, and faithful. If we are to be Christ-like, then we must possess the characteristics of Christ and allow the Spirit to move through us.
Just remember, as things start to get hectic, as schedules start to become more demanding, the roads begin to get more jammed, and the finances have to become more stretched that we can look at this season differently this year than what we may have in the past. We can be a light to a dark situation. There is always a solution in every situation...we just have to turn it over to God to find.
I tend to get caught up sometimes in the chaos of the demands of kids in school, a full time job, an approaching holiday and visiting family, BUT I don't want to. I want to remain calm and seek Him to provide the peace and gentleness that He wants to fill us with.
Let's be challenged this upcoming season and be there for one another, holding one another up in times of need.
There is an excitement to be found in seeking God for these gifts and in knowing that He wants us to be full of these things.
So, be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
Let others see Christ in You...starting today in the decisions that you make and the reactions that you have to situations.
Jennifer
How do we want to be perceived? Remember that we are to be the voice of God, the eyes of God, the hand of God, and perform the works of God here on this earth through the working of the Holy Spirit through us. To be that is to be peaceful, full of joy, gentle, loving and kind, filled with patience, and faithful. If we are to be Christ-like, then we must possess the characteristics of Christ and allow the Spirit to move through us.
Just remember, as things start to get hectic, as schedules start to become more demanding, the roads begin to get more jammed, and the finances have to become more stretched that we can look at this season differently this year than what we may have in the past. We can be a light to a dark situation. There is always a solution in every situation...we just have to turn it over to God to find.
I tend to get caught up sometimes in the chaos of the demands of kids in school, a full time job, an approaching holiday and visiting family, BUT I don't want to. I want to remain calm and seek Him to provide the peace and gentleness that He wants to fill us with.
Let's be challenged this upcoming season and be there for one another, holding one another up in times of need.
There is an excitement to be found in seeking God for these gifts and in knowing that He wants us to be full of these things.
So, be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
Let others see Christ in You...starting today in the decisions that you make and the reactions that you have to situations.
Jennifer
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