Normally in my writings, I have a nice attention getter, a testimony and something to leave you to think about. Don’t worry, I will go back to that style. However, today, I thought I would be as “straight up” and raw as I possibly could. I am choosing to write just like I would in a journal or diary before all the edits and pretty changes were made. An entry like this is needed because this week I was shaken up by God’s spirit in a good way that left me literally speechless.
Back in June, I went to a work related training that many teachers in the district needed to attend. That day I was the only one there from my school, and I suddenly became shy as I didn’t know where to sit. If I know you, I am very talkative. If I do not know you, I am slow to warm up. Three teachers were sitting at a table with an open seat and invited me to sit with them. Moments later, I find out that these teachers are from the school that is just down the street from me. We joked around how I see their school every day and wondered what it was like inside. The day moved along and these people invited me to lunch. Ordinarily, I would have felt a bit quiet around people I didn’t know. However, God was telling me that I needed to get to know these people. Inside I felt like this was something I had to do, and I had no idea why it was so important. We all rode in the same car, and somehow I was being very social around these “strangers.” I felt like I was connecting with them and they began to feel like friends.
Throughout the month of June, I was feeling fine about my part time teaching job. I was just lucky to have a job and did not think about switching. However, for some reason in July, I began searching and looking for postings. Ironically, there was a posting for a position at the school right down the road. The school with the teachers I connected with in June. God’s spirit nudged me so strongly, that I could not leave my computer screen. I knew I had to try for this position. I had initial thoughts that battled my mind in regards to fear of change. Although, I knew this was about taking a risk. I felt I had to be at that school at this time in life, with those teachers. I was shaken up because I knew God was speaking to me in June. He is omniscient all the time even when we least expect it. This Monday I found out I would have the pleasure of working at this nice school. This journal entry is not about work, it is not about money, it is about God’s presence in our lives. He is better than the talented artist, the master architect or complex builder. He is the creator of each day of our lives. He is using circumstances and people around us to create His plans for us. Father in Heaven, you never cease to amaze me of your wonderful works. Every piece of our lives is woven into the greater good to bring us closer to you and to further your coming kingdom.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
"From Dust"
On July 5th, 2011 myself as well as the rest of Arizona experienced a huge dust storm. I have lived here my whole life and have never seen one quite that bad. My husband and I looked out the window at the huge winds and swarms of dust that were making its way through the air. It was as if we were watching a significant event take place. My first thought after the storm was centered around how much of an inconvenience this was to us. It created a mess in front of everyone’s home and would probably be a lingering problem until enough rain would hit us to clear it all out. It has been several days since this storm, and you can still see remnants of the dust. Ironically, it has been a reminder to me about the many times that “dust” is used throughout the word of God. To begin with, I try to remember that all of us were first formed from dust. Genesis Chapter 2 explains, “The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into the nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (v.7).”
Dust is so temporary. It dances in the wind and settles in the ground. It comes and goes and is only here for a moment. This is the reality for all of us too. We have a short amount of time here to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. The dust has been symbolic for me and a motivation to seize every moment I can. God has given me a responsible nature. Most people would say I am dependable and that I can be trusted to get things done. I am a planner, organizer and “go getter.” However, God has taught me that he reveals the power of His spirit to me when I am in the most unorganized and haphazard moments in life. I am learning to branch out and take risks that bring me closer to God. With His help, I am sharing my faith with strangers, caring less what people think, being more generous, and trusting more fully. Remembering that we are only here for a moment makes it a bit easier to take advantage of every opportunity given to us. “He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear Him (Psalm 103:14).”
Dust is so temporary. It dances in the wind and settles in the ground. It comes and goes and is only here for a moment. This is the reality for all of us too. We have a short amount of time here to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. The dust has been symbolic for me and a motivation to seize every moment I can. God has given me a responsible nature. Most people would say I am dependable and that I can be trusted to get things done. I am a planner, organizer and “go getter.” However, God has taught me that he reveals the power of His spirit to me when I am in the most unorganized and haphazard moments in life. I am learning to branch out and take risks that bring me closer to God. With His help, I am sharing my faith with strangers, caring less what people think, being more generous, and trusting more fully. Remembering that we are only here for a moment makes it a bit easier to take advantage of every opportunity given to us. “He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear Him (Psalm 103:14).”
Monday, May 30, 2011
"Curvy Road"
It was Memorial Day 2011, and my husband and I took an adventure to Canyon Lake. We decided to go the day before, which was out of character for us. Normally, we would have known at least a week in advance and would have planned for it. But, we decided to be spontaneous!
I enjoy trips, but I don’t like the traveling part…especially if it’s in a car. We drove through many curvy roads. These turns forced me to close my eyes and hope that my stomach would not get queasy. My husband kept telling me to not look out the window. I tried my hardest to not think about what was around me, but it was quite difficult. Once we reached the top, I saw the beautiful, blue, shimmering water. We saw the much anticipated lake. Our destination was in sight, and all of a sudden I forgot about the curvy roads. I forgot about the ache in my stomach. I only focused on the beauty of the water.
I started to think about God, his son, and the kingdom. Even though we travel on tough roads throughout our lives, I have to remember that there is a beautiful kingdom that is waiting for us. Amid our struggles, let us focus our eyes and imagine what is in store ahead. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2 & 3).”
I enjoy trips, but I don’t like the traveling part…especially if it’s in a car. We drove through many curvy roads. These turns forced me to close my eyes and hope that my stomach would not get queasy. My husband kept telling me to not look out the window. I tried my hardest to not think about what was around me, but it was quite difficult. Once we reached the top, I saw the beautiful, blue, shimmering water. We saw the much anticipated lake. Our destination was in sight, and all of a sudden I forgot about the curvy roads. I forgot about the ache in my stomach. I only focused on the beauty of the water.
I started to think about God, his son, and the kingdom. Even though we travel on tough roads throughout our lives, I have to remember that there is a beautiful kingdom that is waiting for us. Amid our struggles, let us focus our eyes and imagine what is in store ahead. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2 & 3).”
Monday, December 28, 2009
"Perfectly Woven"
My best friend is expecting her first child, a baby boy, in the spring. She shared some digital photos of the baby from the ultrasound. It was beautiful to see all the intricacies of this little unborn child. His hands, feet, fingers, toes, face and cute little nose were all visible in the photo. God is designing this precious creation, and I saw a view inside His masterpiece.
God has created each one of us in a particular and unique way. It is amazing to think about how much time we put into figuring out what is wrong with us and what we want to change, when God put so much time into creating each line, shape, and form with an exact purpose. Psalm 139 depicts a vivid illustration of us being portrayed as God’s design.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you (Psalm 139: 13-18).”
Like a needle sewing thread, God has specifically designed us as His beautiful work of art. He knows every hair on our head and thought on our minds. When I saw this picture of the unborn child, it reminded me that God is with us from the day of conception and is already hard at work. No matter how many flaws or disappointments we tend to always find in ourselves, they weren’t seen as that to God. We are beautiful to Him, and we should feel complete and worthy to come from His creation.
“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand (Isaiah 64:8).”
God has created each one of us in a particular and unique way. It is amazing to think about how much time we put into figuring out what is wrong with us and what we want to change, when God put so much time into creating each line, shape, and form with an exact purpose. Psalm 139 depicts a vivid illustration of us being portrayed as God’s design.
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you (Psalm 139: 13-18).”
Like a needle sewing thread, God has specifically designed us as His beautiful work of art. He knows every hair on our head and thought on our minds. When I saw this picture of the unborn child, it reminded me that God is with us from the day of conception and is already hard at work. No matter how many flaws or disappointments we tend to always find in ourselves, they weren’t seen as that to God. We are beautiful to Him, and we should feel complete and worthy to come from His creation.
“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand (Isaiah 64:8).”
Monday, September 14, 2009
"Alive with Works"
It was eight o’clock at night and I started up my car to drive home from my grandmother’s house. I looked beside me in the passenger’s seat and saw her laundry basket filled of dirty clothes. It was filled with socks, nightgowns and robes. I normally do not like to look at laundry. In fact, it’s typical that I will dread doing the laundry just like most people will feel. However, for some reason, I became emotional while looking at this basket of laundry. This basket reminded me of how much I enjoyed doing this work for my grandmother. I am actually excited to do her laundry whenever I get the chance. As strange as it sounds, I look forward to gathering up her clothes, making them nice and clean, and returning them to her with a clean fresh scent.
This experience really helped me understand the concept of works and how it is important in our relationship with God. We should not do works, because we feel like we have to in order to earn our salvation. It is written, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10).” We are not saved with works, but we have been made to work for Him. As believers, we are working for Him out of love. We do not need to live in fear as we wonder if we have earned God’s love and have done enough to be saved. Works are a way that we can show our love to God and strengthen our relationship with Him.
As a child, I was not able to see my grandmother as frequently as I am able to now. I am blessed to see her because I live close to her and will schedule the time to make a visit. My grandmother is touched when I am able to help her and do her chores. However, this does not make her love me any more than she did before. I believe my grandmother loved me before I began to help her. The important thing to gather is that it has strengthened my relationship with her. I know that I do not have to do a single thing to earn her love. Although, I cannot help but do these things for her because I know that it shows her that I care and keeps our relationship alive. James 2:26 tells us, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” If we want our faith to grow and our relationship with God to be healthy, we need to keep it going and bring it to life. I truly feel that this is what God yearns from us. He wants us to understand His indescribable love. How will you keep your faith from fading?
This experience really helped me understand the concept of works and how it is important in our relationship with God. We should not do works, because we feel like we have to in order to earn our salvation. It is written, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10).” We are not saved with works, but we have been made to work for Him. As believers, we are working for Him out of love. We do not need to live in fear as we wonder if we have earned God’s love and have done enough to be saved. Works are a way that we can show our love to God and strengthen our relationship with Him.
As a child, I was not able to see my grandmother as frequently as I am able to now. I am blessed to see her because I live close to her and will schedule the time to make a visit. My grandmother is touched when I am able to help her and do her chores. However, this does not make her love me any more than she did before. I believe my grandmother loved me before I began to help her. The important thing to gather is that it has strengthened my relationship with her. I know that I do not have to do a single thing to earn her love. Although, I cannot help but do these things for her because I know that it shows her that I care and keeps our relationship alive. James 2:26 tells us, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” If we want our faith to grow and our relationship with God to be healthy, we need to keep it going and bring it to life. I truly feel that this is what God yearns from us. He wants us to understand His indescribable love. How will you keep your faith from fading?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
"Calm the Storm"
Imagine you are riding in a small boat. Waves are tossing and turning around you. The boat rocks you up and down. Lightning strikes and heavy amounts of water come crashing into the boat. You are drenched. The waves do not seem to settle down. You panic and yell, “Please help me!” This is how the apostles felt when they were riding along the Sea of Galilee in a boat that experienced much turmoil along their journey.
I love to use guided imagery when I am studying scripture. When I use this technique, I close my eyes and try to visualize each verse from the passage. Finding imagery in Mark 4: 35-41 depicts how powerful and protective our Savior can be. To see his power, it is beneficial to compare the description of the sea with the description of Jesus. The sea is characterized as being “furious” and its “waves breaking over the boat (4:37).” Jesus is riding in this very boat. By judging his behavior, it is evident that he can conquer the storm. He is described as “sleeping on a cushion” in a boat that is swamped (4:38). Jesus has power over the storm, because he does not allow it to phase him. Furthermore, he actually calms it by his authority. After the apostles wake him, Jesus rises and says “Quiet! Be still (4:39)!” The apostles are left amazed.
As I visualize this passage, I am reminded that there is nothing on earth that Jesus has not conquered. He has overcome the world. Also, it inspires me to be strong and steady just like him in a scary situation. We may not have the power to calm nature, but we can learn from his example to be still in our own “storms.” In our world that currently seems to be filled with bad news, there are many opportunities to witness to others as we choose to stay calm.
I close my eyes and imagine myself holding onto Jesus in that rocky boat. He is soundly sleeping and his heart is at an even rate. He is not stirred or shaken. The closer we feel to Jesus, I think the closer we become to growing in his likeness. I want to have that part of him in my life. The part that calms me down and allows me to feel the power and love of Jesus no matter what surrounds me in life.
I love to use guided imagery when I am studying scripture. When I use this technique, I close my eyes and try to visualize each verse from the passage. Finding imagery in Mark 4: 35-41 depicts how powerful and protective our Savior can be. To see his power, it is beneficial to compare the description of the sea with the description of Jesus. The sea is characterized as being “furious” and its “waves breaking over the boat (4:37).” Jesus is riding in this very boat. By judging his behavior, it is evident that he can conquer the storm. He is described as “sleeping on a cushion” in a boat that is swamped (4:38). Jesus has power over the storm, because he does not allow it to phase him. Furthermore, he actually calms it by his authority. After the apostles wake him, Jesus rises and says “Quiet! Be still (4:39)!” The apostles are left amazed.
As I visualize this passage, I am reminded that there is nothing on earth that Jesus has not conquered. He has overcome the world. Also, it inspires me to be strong and steady just like him in a scary situation. We may not have the power to calm nature, but we can learn from his example to be still in our own “storms.” In our world that currently seems to be filled with bad news, there are many opportunities to witness to others as we choose to stay calm.
I close my eyes and imagine myself holding onto Jesus in that rocky boat. He is soundly sleeping and his heart is at an even rate. He is not stirred or shaken. The closer we feel to Jesus, I think the closer we become to growing in his likeness. I want to have that part of him in my life. The part that calms me down and allows me to feel the power and love of Jesus no matter what surrounds me in life.
"Jealous God"
My father, better known as “Daddy,” always encouraged me and invested his time in me. We have always been very close and rarely there is a day that goes by that I do not talk on the phone with him. Since he lives several hours away, it is important that I keep in contact. At times he wishes he could spend more time out here and I am sure he can get jealous when he hears about fun activities that are going on with me or the family. When I think about these times, it helps me to remember that my heavenly father is certainly a jealous God. “Jealous” in the context of our time and love.
God has created us for himself and to have us in relationship with him. When we allow time with Him to slip away from us, He naturally can become jealous. “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God, am a jealous God (Exodus 20:4-5).” I think it is important to look at our parent child relationship with God. “Now we are children of God and what we will be has not yet been made known (1 John 3:2).” God hopes to spend time with us, because he is using every minute to form us into the creation He is planning us to be. It is really to our disadvantage when we feel that investing our time into things of the world will fulfill our needs.
My Dad is grateful that I have family, friends and hobbies that I enjoy. However, we both know that our relationship plays a big part in both of our lives. My Dad has instilled morals in me and has given me courage to believe that I am a confident and valuable person. This is the gift that God yearns to give us. He wants to mold us into His masterpiece. Remembering this, helps to remind me that spending time with Him should be a priority. I want to strive to have more than just a morning quiet time. I want to pray to Him throughout the day, wait in silence and always let Him know that I love Him.
He is my Father, He is my God. He deserves my time...He deserves ALL of me!
God has created us for himself and to have us in relationship with him. When we allow time with Him to slip away from us, He naturally can become jealous. “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God, am a jealous God (Exodus 20:4-5).” I think it is important to look at our parent child relationship with God. “Now we are children of God and what we will be has not yet been made known (1 John 3:2).” God hopes to spend time with us, because he is using every minute to form us into the creation He is planning us to be. It is really to our disadvantage when we feel that investing our time into things of the world will fulfill our needs.
My Dad is grateful that I have family, friends and hobbies that I enjoy. However, we both know that our relationship plays a big part in both of our lives. My Dad has instilled morals in me and has given me courage to believe that I am a confident and valuable person. This is the gift that God yearns to give us. He wants to mold us into His masterpiece. Remembering this, helps to remind me that spending time with Him should be a priority. I want to strive to have more than just a morning quiet time. I want to pray to Him throughout the day, wait in silence and always let Him know that I love Him.
He is my Father, He is my God. He deserves my time...He deserves ALL of me!
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