11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
I start tonights blog with that verse because it's a verse the Lord gave me in prayer tonight. Had a discussion with someone tonight that I wasn't expecting, all I can say is God is good and He uses all things for His purpose.
He has removed our sins from us when we have repented and moved away from them as well, who are we to pick them back up and say, "But God I did this, how can You love me?" He loves us He forgave us, let it go and move on. AND church stop bringing it back up!
On another note:
We can learn so much from Him if we sit and wait. I so LOVE and appreciate my pastors, their words of wisdom give guidance when I would love to just take action before it is really time to take such action! There is wisdom in council. I LOVE my pastors did I say that already? Cause I do! I lLOVE LOVE LOVE them and consider myself blessed.
The way God would have to handle things is not always the way we would have to handle them.
God is SO SO SO good! I'm LOVING being in His presence, and spending time in His Word! He is a blessing, and I pray that God would richly bless you and keep you, and may His face shine upon you!
Well I was somewhat annoyed today when I realized that my goal post for 2012 was actually posted in 2011, so just for my reference I'm reposting my goals here for all to see :-)
I haven't been crafting much since the beginning of the year. I hope this will change soon. I've been working a lot, as well as having a GREAT time at church.
We had a youth encounter over MLK Jr. weekend, and it was AMAZING! I was blessed to meet some amazing brothers in the Lord from Michigan, and am still daily being blessed by their words of encouragement and prayer. Thanking God daily for them!
Well here is a recap of some of my goals for this year! Thank you for helping me to remain accountable:
Continue to read the bible DAILY
Spend more time with the Lord than I do on my computer (I worked toward this however did not achieve the goal as I would like)
Exercise regularly
Take the dog for a walk daily
Go to the gym every other day, or run, or do a routine at home
Find someone to keep me accountable and push me
Improve my piano skills
TUNE THE PIANO
Learn how to properly use the camera I was blessed with!
Blog regularly
PRAY AND OBEY
pay off chase visa
pay off Brent's car
create out emergency fund
put at least one months salary in savings
create a new budget & follow it
If you choose to follow me this year I hope I am able to stay true to my goals, better than last year, it is kinda frustrating to realize that I only really met two of my goals that I made for myself. Lets hope I have a better outcome this year!
Psalm 23:1-6ESV A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...
That may seem like a strange scripture to start a blog entry titled Lonely Places of Ministry, and 2 days ago when I started this blog entry I would have said the same thing, however since that time I have realized that I am never truly alone. NO matter how it feels, HE never leaves my side!
I have often found myself wondering why it seems that God has me in lonely places of ministry. It seems that I am the one that used to end up running the snack bar alone, or working in the gift shop alone during the slowest parts of the night; it seemed that no one would hang around and talk to me, whenever I was free I would try to go hang out but not when I was there. A more recent example has to do with meeting some AMAZING friends and brothers in the Lord. Well we had a Winter Encounter for the youth at our church and the youth pastor had a connection with a worship leader from Michigan and they ended up coming out to lead worship. Well in an attempt to make an AMAZING & long story short, we (Joe, Jen, Brent & I) made a life long connection with these amazing brothers in the Lord. Well they did have to go home to that other state (GO BUCKS!) and I was really feeling somewhat left out, because the guys were calling, skyping and chatting with them on a fairly regular basis, and I didn't really feel a release to do that. I was feeling alone like I wasn't able to keep that connection that had been created.
Part of the reason I began posting this was in hoping it will help me figure something out, sometimes by writing things out, they begin to make sense? Well through starting this post, and a brother in the Lord being obedient today. I have figured somethings out, I'm never really alone. Also God is faithful ALWAYS, which I knew but today was a reminder of this fact!
Another thing I was reminded of was memories of the book I read a while back titled Anonymous. It talked about Jesus' ministry and how the majority of His life was anonymous, what was happening in those years the bible doesn't share with us. He was being prepared for his future ministry that we do have the privilege of knowing about. I have come to realize there are so many things growing during this time of ministry.
Back to today though, today began as one of the roughest days I've had since the encounter. I'm still reading my bible, I'm still praying but there is a certain amount of that expectancy and God feeling that has diminished (and I don't want it to!). I have been having a rather hard time getting up in the mornings (however I still find myself here at almost 10 not sleeping yet) and this morning was one of the worst. I didn't want to go to work, I woke up barely with time to get ready, get coffee and get to work. At work it was okay, but I was definitely just pushing through, barely. I found myself frustrated with a lot of things that were going on this morning (and I complained about them, tried to go back later to the person I'd complained to and apologize however there wasn't a receptiveness, going to try again tomorrow) well I knew I'd gotten a text but hadn't checked because I was in the middle of lessons. I grabbed my phone real quick between things and had a bit of a God moment right there in my classroom, I really wished I could have just sent them out for recess right then and taken some time just me and God...well I couldn't so I continued and later responded to the message and I'd like to share it with you, because it not only addresses what I was dealing with today but it addresses those lonely feelings I've been struggling with:
May the rising sun of this new day kiss your face and remind you of how much God loves you and is proud of you...His daughter in whom He is well pleased! May the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit embrace you and fill you with direction as He reminds you...that you are never alone...He walks by your side through it all...be filled my sister with peace, love, joy, patience and understanding.......
WOW, it still just makes me say WOW! God used my brother to address the concerns and questions I have been having! I am so blessed to have a God who cares for me this much, and friends who are obedient!
I'm claiming the direction! One of the directions I know I'm being led is to memorize (and praying that the Lord would give me a song for) the armor of God which I'm going to share below. A new goal I have is to recite/put this on EVERY time I put on my clothes. I need to start proclaiming God's word over my days & the days of my friends and family! Thank you Lord for the reminder! Now help me do it! I will be back with another blog, soon (I hope)
So in closing I leave you with this "final word"...and a video, this is the song I found today when I was searching for somethings on the Armor of God. I claim that He has set my feet to dancing and filled me with JOY!
Ephesians 6:10-18
New Living Translation (NLT)
The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[b]16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[c]17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.[d]
So today is officially January 1st, the first day of 2012.
I heard it said in a sermon this morning and have heard it before; that it takes 21 days, three weeks to create a habit. To do something so much that it becomes patterned in your brain, so you enjoy it. To where it creates a pattern that is pleasant and regular to us.
Well today I continue the second day of blogging, and reading my bible.
I also am adding a few new goals to my list of goals for this year, I have several financial goals for the year that I didn't think of last night:
*pay off chase visa
*pay off Brent's car
*create out emergency fund
*put at least one months salary in savings
*create a new budget & follow it
