Thankful

For a while I was struggling.

I had been struggling with the lack of my ability to do anything but work there for a while.

I was working, running, and that was about it...getting time off was impossible cause everyone had requested every day off. 

So, I was frustrated. 

My time with God was non-existant because I was choosing other things over Him...

Recently I had been praying that God and I could get back in cahoots to where I could FEEL it...you don't ALWAYS feel Him and I am ok with that most of the time...but I was missing Him and it was my fault.  And sometimes you go through the motions of church and worship and forget just what it is you are doing...

I am SO THANKFUL for the past week...

He met me in Nashville and this weekend and it was in ways I didn't expect. 

Nashville was a great break from work that was MUCH needed as I hadn't had more than 2 days off in a row since last October. 

Then this past week I spent some time with him and last night attended some FABULOUS worship.

Tonight God provided me with tickets to Charlie Daniels and wouldn't ya know...of course...God was there too.  We done worshiped at the concert!  We sang Amazing Grace with Charlie and it touched me in ways I didn't expect but I SOOO needed.

So...I am thankful.

Thankful for the friends I have around me and thankful for the time He gives me to experience His glory.

People just suck!

Today was an especially hard day at work.  I have been sick and lacked sleep but was in a good mood.  For some reason one specific person made it very hard for several of us to work.  I could go one about how selfish they were or whatever, but the fact of the matter is, we are ALL imperfect and I am just as guilty for being in a bad mood sometimes.

What made it a little harder by the fact that the person is a Christian sister. 

We work among others who are not Christians.

We are called to be different in this world and for crying out loud, I would think we could encourage one another instead of lashing out at one another.  I could go on about how terribly I was treated but I refuse to be the victim, and I want to focus on God’s word from here on out...the above is simply an example of how God’s Word applies to my situation today and is relevant to the here and now.

I first opened up to Psalms 27... “The Lord is my light and salvation--whom shall I fear?”  It goes on and then says, “Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.  Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.  I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

It was certainly comforting to read that and receive the comfort that I WILL dwell in the house of the Lord one day.


After that, I was lead to a scripture, that I am sure God put on my heart for a reason...if the door opens, I will share with that person.

John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”


Next came part of the Beatitudes...and it is funny how something I have read SO many times can come to life so suddenly. 

“Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.  For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.”  Luke 6:22-23

Now, I am sure there are definitely more extreme cases of being persecuted, but I know for a fact that I was talked about today and I know that I am not invited to certain things because of who God is in my life.  For the record...I am WAY ok with that.  There may have been a time when I wasn’t, and I wanted to be included...but God has provided me with such fabulous friends and community that I cannot even be bothered with such nonsense.  This Scripture was just SO reassuring! 



I am so thankful to God that this world is temporary and not my home.  It is not an easy place to be and we are all flawed.  I am thankful for the people He puts in my path and for the many qualities He has given them to make them beautiful.  I pray that each person I come into contact with could see Him more clearly and learn to glorify HIM with those qualities. 

WATCH OUT!

WATCH OUT!

These words were spoken by minister in a sermon about greed last week.  It originally reference Luke 12:15 in his sermon and those words have spoken to me all week long. 

I think that Greed is certainly something to watch out for and in my life, it isn't necessarily the material greed that I am needing to be aware of.  Lately I have been SUPER greedy about my time.  I have wanted time to myself to unwind and relax, be it with friends, in front of the TV, chilling through my iphone apps, etc. 

What I have failed to remember is that God desires our FIRST FRUITS...not our LEFTOVERS...

He deserves my time and my energy BEFORE work, relaxation, exercise, etc.  He doesn't deserve what I try to save for Him AFTER all of that. 

What I have found, is that when I save Him what is left...He doesn't get anything.  The ONE who gave me everything is SO MUCH MORE DESERVING.

I am revisiting the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, and I am so glad, the first time I read it I wasn't listening...

He says, "But the fact is nothing should concern us more than our relationship with God; it's about eternity and nothing compares with that.  God is not someone who can be tacked onto our lives."

So, as I sit here in Nashville, and we have planned a fun evening out, I am struggling with whether I should go, or remain here, in the quiet with the LORD.  It is one of those decisions where I know what decision I SHOULD make...but it is difficult.  So...does my relationship with God concern me more than with my friends???  That is the question that I will have to answer through my actions tonight.  



The ultimate source for all of this has been God's word as it inspired Francis, and as I sought it out, so the complete list of Scriptural references is:  1 Corinthians 13, Romans 16:17, Luke 12:15, Malachi 1:8, Proverbs 3:8-10.