What is different?

My morning devotions this morning made me reflect on how Christians are different than others.

How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:16 NIV)

Have you ever thought about that? If you look on the outside, you can’t tell. Even some of the personalities, characteristics are the same. The difference is who are we living for? Are we living to make an empire here or in eternity?

Just something to think about. Thoughts anyone?

Aware of your surroundings

I came home yesterday & noticed my dog was outside. I didn’t put her out there, so I figured my parents had been there. Being a busy day at work & I was up before dawn, I decided to lay down for a few minutes. When I got up I still didn’t see what was sitting right on the shelf that I normally set my keys on. It wasn’t until I was cleaning off my kitchen counter that I noticed the wrapper for a poinsettia plant.
My dad had bought it for me, but I am not detailed oriented, so it took me a while to notice anything different.
We do that to God, how often do we noticed the details of the things He does for us?
I am working on that skill. Honestly, it’s all about paying attention to your surroundings. Take the show Psych, the gift Shawn has is a skill, something his dad taught him. He excels at finding & remembering the details a normal human being would miss. We all can have that, if we focus more. I would just like a 10th of that skill, lol.
What details have you missed from God lately?

He has your back

I had the tv on last night and the one thing I remember from whatever show was on is one line
“See God has me back even if I don’t really believe in Him”
As I watch the Thanksgiving parade this morning this line keeps coming back to me. Facebook and twitter are being bombarded with what everyone is thankful for, hardly any status’ reflect how thankful we are that He has our back all the time.
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4 NIV)

It’s been a wake up call the past few weeks for me, just how much I take what Jesus did for granted. My flesh wants to think about what I need & what the future holds. Worrying isn’t going to make life easier.
Remember this Thanksgiving He has your back! (weather you believe it or not)

What are you waiting for?

What is it that your waiting for?

That’s a duplicate meaning question.

Are you waiting for something to happening? Like getting married, going back to school, having a baby, a new job, the list could go on.

Are you waiting to go somewhere, waiting in line? Are you waiting at a stop light, waiting on something? The truth is we spend most of our time waiting. But what do we do while we are waiting?
As Christians we ask God for something and know we sometimes have to wait for the answer or for His promise.
But we can’t just sit around & wait. It makes life miserable. The best thing to do while we wait is serve Him by serving others. There is even time to spend with Him.

John Waller’s song always come to mind when I think about waiting….

Whatever your waiting for there’s something else waiting for you to do. Your dreams, His dreams are waiting for you to reach, don’t sit around a wait for them, get out & reach them! Move forward & don’t let the past hold you back.
So what are you waiting for?
Would love to hear your dreams, what has God placed in your heart to reach for?

Silence

When I opened my bible tonight this quote was in the margin. It has been awhile since I allowed some actual silence in my life. Frankly it scares me at times. Why, you ask.. Because my mind probably like the rest of the world goes about a mile a minute with thoughts.
Everyday, I learn & relearn to control my thoughts. It’s not something you get over, it’s something you have to concur all the time. The best way to control your thoughts is to spend time with God. Fill your head with His thoughts & yours won’t have any room.

Silence is a good thing & much needed. Take a few moments just listening to Him, you might like what you hear. . God’s thoughts are the best!

Bring it

I woke up today not needing to get ready for work, but to get ready to worship. As I thought that I was reminded from a daily reminder placed in my phone calendar that I want Jesus to fill me everyday. My focus was always sleep in as long as I can before I have to get ready to work. My job became one of the main focus’ in my life, I didn’t realize how comfortable I was until yesterday.
All day I heard God has something bigger & better. It’s almost like people read my blog from yesterday & retold it to me.
This morning I opened my bible to this scripture
“Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:17-19 NIV)

God is with me, whatever the devil throws my way, nothing can harm me. I have been prophesied an overcomer.. So this is what I say today to the enemy… Bring it! God has better things planned for me & those around me.
Whatever your facing praise Him, for He is with you every step of the way & will carry you when needed.

Aim High

I read this yesterday and it just kept coming back in my thoughts.
“Leadership Mantra: If nobody laughs at your dreams, you are probably aiming too low. “
I think I’m aiming high, because I get a lot of laughs when I say I want to get married, have kids & be a stay at home mom. It’s possible and this quote helps reinforce that.
This is also true for God’s calling On your life. He didn’t call us to be normal everyday people. He called us to be different and stand out so people can see Him through us.
I get laughed at all the time because I never dated, have never been wasted, among other things. So this reassures me my standards are quite high. I will not let laughter & lies of the enemy keep me from the promises God has for me.
Sarah Matteson shared about the lies of the devil & promises from God last night. The promises are what make the lies go away.
The lies come from below and promises come from above.

Ask yourself are you listening to lies or promises?
How high are you aiming?

Life convictions

Today I am reminded of a time when God convicted me of being a jerk.
It was about 4 years ago, I was riding with my family & one of my brother’s friends’ to a basketball game. This friend of his drove me nuts. I had thought he was annoying, immature and obnoxious. However, that description was the same for most of my little brother’s friends. We had a mutual dislike for each other.
That day I was being mean to him like normal, then all of a sudden he turns to me and says “what did I ever do to make you hate me?”. My heart hurt after that, I didn’t realize how it hurt him the way we treated each other.
Two weeks later, God told me to write him a letter apologizing for the way I had treated him. From that day our friendship grew & now he is one of my favorite adopted little brothers.
Today as his family moves I was reminded of the years we have grown close & thankful God convicted me when He did.
It also reminds me to pay attention to God’s little nudges, you never know what they can do for you or someone else’s life.
What has God convicted you of lately?

Little baby

This past weekend my coworkers & I threw a baby shower for a fellow co worker. Then we went to her house & helped her arrange her nursery.
We couldn’t help but get excited with every little baby thing we put away. None of us have kids, but we are so excited to meet this little girl. Little Olivia is a gift from God and soon she will make her appearance into the world.

Shoebox shopping

I took my small group (Cluster) shopping last night. Not normal shopping but shoe box shopping. Every year Operation Christmas Child collects and sends out millions of boxes to children around the world.
It was so much fun picking things out with the girls. We filled 2 boxes but in our hearts we didn’t want to stop. There is so much joy in buying for others, knowing it will brighten their day & possibly change their life. It’s why I love Christmas so much.
Filling a shoebox with gifts & prayers is sending the love of Jesus into the world, ( isn’t that what we are called to do?)
National shoebox collection week is coming up. Fill up a box a change the life of a child.
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/occ