My husband is out flying as we speak. After that, he has just 1 day of flying left...1 day. However, thanks to the holiday weekend and a little fellow who is causing much stir in these parts named Gustav, he may not be able to make it in by the Wednesday deadline. One flight....it is all that seperates us from knowing our fate, where we are going next, if we can finally "settle" for awhile. One stinkin' flight.
It seems like God brings us to the wire a lot, especially my poor husband. His graduation from college came down to the wire. One class grade seperated him from his diploma. There are other times, other "ones" that have kept us hanging on, wondering if we are going to make it through. I often wonder the "why" of it all. Why can't it just be easy? Why can't we be without any doubt? But, God just keeps bringing back the lesson that is so hard to learn...patience.
Abraham had it. "And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. " Hebrews 6:15. He had the patience and the wisdom in my opinion to know that by waiting upon God, he would receive the promises God made to him.
But, I my friends, am not a patient person. I am a planner. Planners need to know now what awaits them. There are lists to be made, research to be done, preparations to be completed. Yet God wants the planners to know, that He has the ultimate list, He has done the research, and He has made the preparations, all of them. Why can't we just let Him handle it?
God has an opinion on my to do list:
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21.
So, while Gustav is causing people to get cash out of the ATM, gas in their cars, and as much bread and water as they can buy from the brand new Publix, it is causing me to learn yet again, the importance of patience. Patience in knowing that God has a plan and a timing that is perfect, no matter how much I desire to just know where we are going and what hubby will be flying. The good news is God has already gone to the next place and prepared so I don't have to: He has our house, our friends, our church, our lives all ready for us to move into...when the time is right.
Here is to learning patience...
Until next time,
-C.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Lots of lessons....
When my husband decided to join the military, God immediately laid it upon my heart to minister to military wives. I wasn't quite sure how as I am used to being the only girl in a group of boys. In Quantico, my house was usually filled with single Marines that I fed so that they would have some semblence of home cooking. I am not as "girly" as some so sometimes it can be hard for me to relate to women on topics of clothes and hair and so forth...its not that I don't care or don't want to be involved, it is just not that important to me, I'd rather be playing a sport or doing something active...so, when God laid it on my heart such a group, I was a bit confused.
I have been blessed these past couple of months to be a part of something extraordinary. God gave me the courage to start a bible study for military wives after realizing how hard it was to get involved in our church small groups, when it was over 30 minutes away. It began with just 9 women and has since grown to almost 40. In addition, a book club has been started as an offshoot from it. It has been truly a testament to God and His amazing power in bringing people together who may have otherwise never met.
It has also been a HUGE time of growth for me personally and spiritually. I've learned so much in such a short time, it has been amazing. God has used it to challenge me, to force me to go deeper in my own faith, and to keep going in times when I want to give up. He has taught me many a lesson through this time and this opportunity of leadership. I want to share some of the things I have learned about ministry, leadership, and answering the call God places on you...
1.) Ministry is TOUGH!! Who would have thought that having a pure motivation to bring women together for connection, fellowship and to learn about God would be so hard? It requires a lot of stamina, more than I have at times, at which point I just have to pray to God to fill me back up. For those who are in full time ministry, my hat is off to you!!
2.) There WILL be opposition when you try to answer God's call. No matter how pure your heart, how good your intentions, there will be moments when opposition come and attempt to derail your efforts. Sometimes, it can be the overheard grumbling about how you do things as a leader. Sometimes, it can come in a more overt form. Sometimes, things can go wrong despite best intentions. There is and will always be something that tries to get in the way as you work towards fulfilling God's purpose. I imagine myself skating down the road sometimes and Satan in a truck ahead of me, throwing stuff out of the back of the truck: balls, hockey sticks, anything to try to trip me up. Occasionally, I have fallen, scraped a knee pretty bad, but God picked me back up, dusted me off, and sent me back down the road.
3.) You cannot please everyone...well, this lesson He has been trying to teach me for oh so long, but I still don't get it. I really think there is a way to do it...still trying to figure it out though. Well, the truth is anytime you bring different personalities, different ideas, different ways of thinking together, there will be times when people aren't completely satisfied. I have tried to learn to not take it so personally, but like I said, God is still working on me on this one...
4.) Leadership is really just being a servant. Being a leader means being the absolute least. It means humbling yourself to the point of giving up as much of yourself as you possible can. It is hard to let go of the "me" and "I want" at times, but you HAVE to in order to truly help people.
5.) Don't sweat the details...It has been amazing to see how God has worked on the littlest of details at times, things I was ready to have a panic attack over. If you can learn to trust Him in everything, He will always provide the answers to the smallest of questions.
6.) God sets people in your path for a specific reason. This is what utterly amazes me. The women He brought together have distinct talents and gifts that He has used for specific purposes in my own life and the lives of those here. It is by no accident that I crossed paths with these women, they each have given me something, changed me in a way. Sometimes, even challenged me in a way to be better.
7.) When you set your heart on blessing others, you will end up being blessed more so than you can bless. My whole heart has always had a desire to help others and serve them...when I was in college, I thought it would be manifested through the legal profession. After college, I thought it would happen through teaching. Now, I feel like it will happen through ministry. In all those times, I have consistently found the more I tried to help: through volunteering, through ministering, etc., the more I just get blessed in return. It is amazing how that happens sometimes!
I'll share some more lessons later one perhaps...I probably should have thought this through more!
Here's to lessons learned...
Until next time-
-C.
I have been blessed these past couple of months to be a part of something extraordinary. God gave me the courage to start a bible study for military wives after realizing how hard it was to get involved in our church small groups, when it was over 30 minutes away. It began with just 9 women and has since grown to almost 40. In addition, a book club has been started as an offshoot from it. It has been truly a testament to God and His amazing power in bringing people together who may have otherwise never met.
It has also been a HUGE time of growth for me personally and spiritually. I've learned so much in such a short time, it has been amazing. God has used it to challenge me, to force me to go deeper in my own faith, and to keep going in times when I want to give up. He has taught me many a lesson through this time and this opportunity of leadership. I want to share some of the things I have learned about ministry, leadership, and answering the call God places on you...
1.) Ministry is TOUGH!! Who would have thought that having a pure motivation to bring women together for connection, fellowship and to learn about God would be so hard? It requires a lot of stamina, more than I have at times, at which point I just have to pray to God to fill me back up. For those who are in full time ministry, my hat is off to you!!
2.) There WILL be opposition when you try to answer God's call. No matter how pure your heart, how good your intentions, there will be moments when opposition come and attempt to derail your efforts. Sometimes, it can be the overheard grumbling about how you do things as a leader. Sometimes, it can come in a more overt form. Sometimes, things can go wrong despite best intentions. There is and will always be something that tries to get in the way as you work towards fulfilling God's purpose. I imagine myself skating down the road sometimes and Satan in a truck ahead of me, throwing stuff out of the back of the truck: balls, hockey sticks, anything to try to trip me up. Occasionally, I have fallen, scraped a knee pretty bad, but God picked me back up, dusted me off, and sent me back down the road.
3.) You cannot please everyone...well, this lesson He has been trying to teach me for oh so long, but I still don't get it. I really think there is a way to do it...still trying to figure it out though. Well, the truth is anytime you bring different personalities, different ideas, different ways of thinking together, there will be times when people aren't completely satisfied. I have tried to learn to not take it so personally, but like I said, God is still working on me on this one...
4.) Leadership is really just being a servant. Being a leader means being the absolute least. It means humbling yourself to the point of giving up as much of yourself as you possible can. It is hard to let go of the "me" and "I want" at times, but you HAVE to in order to truly help people.
5.) Don't sweat the details...It has been amazing to see how God has worked on the littlest of details at times, things I was ready to have a panic attack over. If you can learn to trust Him in everything, He will always provide the answers to the smallest of questions.
6.) God sets people in your path for a specific reason. This is what utterly amazes me. The women He brought together have distinct talents and gifts that He has used for specific purposes in my own life and the lives of those here. It is by no accident that I crossed paths with these women, they each have given me something, changed me in a way. Sometimes, even challenged me in a way to be better.
7.) When you set your heart on blessing others, you will end up being blessed more so than you can bless. My whole heart has always had a desire to help others and serve them...when I was in college, I thought it would be manifested through the legal profession. After college, I thought it would happen through teaching. Now, I feel like it will happen through ministry. In all those times, I have consistently found the more I tried to help: through volunteering, through ministering, etc., the more I just get blessed in return. It is amazing how that happens sometimes!
I'll share some more lessons later one perhaps...I probably should have thought this through more!
Here's to lessons learned...
Until next time-
-C.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
...
Another tragedy struck yet another friend today...I can't help but wonder what God is trying to show me through all this??? The only thing I can gather is to tell everyone I love them and how much they mean to me and to truly live each moment I am given.
Outside are the remnants of Tropical Storm, Fay. No destruction, just dreariness and a lot of rain.
Here's to praising Him in the storm...
Until next time-
-C.
Outside are the remnants of Tropical Storm, Fay. No destruction, just dreariness and a lot of rain.
Here's to praising Him in the storm...
Until next time-
-C.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Life verses...
Everyone has a life verse. A piece of scripture that serves as a guiding force for all else or a Biblical saying that acts as the goal to which we are striving. God has given me two verses that He has seared on my heart, on my mind, and on my soul.
The first comes to speak to my natural inclination. I am a worrier. Always have been, always will be. It is my thorn. Like Paul, I have begged and begged for God to take it away. Like Paul, God has allowed it to remain a part of me, forcing me to constantly be reminded that I need Him and need to seek Him to quell my anxious thoughts. I know without this thorn that is anxiety, I might be so self-reliant that I would just cruise through life without a constant focus on my Father. I need to be reminded that I cannot do it all on my own strength and for that reason, I praise God that He knew exactly what He was doing when He allowed the thorn of worry to pierce my skin. The good news about thorns is that God can remedy the pain from them, while allowing them to remain in us so that we constantly seek His healing powers.
He spoke to my thorn with my first life verse. He gave it to me when I was very young, a pre-teen who was seeking him feverishly in the midst of middle school.
He said, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34
One day is all I have to handle. This day is all I need to concern myself with. God reminds me of that truth with every moment and those words which are forever etched in my brain. This life verse is His words to me each and everyday, a reminder of how to handle my thorn.
My second life verse is more of a goal, it is what I strive to live out day after day. It too goes against my natural inclinations. He tells me His will for me as plain as it gets, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. The actuality of living this life verse looks more like, "Be joyful sometimes, pray sporadically, give thanks in some circumstances." I struggle with the words always, continually, and in all circumstances. But, this is His command and therefore, there is no half way. So, each day is spent living those words through my heart, my prayers, and my thanks. It is not an easy life verse. Sometimes, I wish He would have given me, "Do not murder." I could have handled that one...but, to live with joy always, to pray in every moment and to give thanks no matter what the circumstances, a lot more challenging than not killing someone, don't you think? :)
These verses are His words that feel as though they were tucked among the lines of Scripture just for me. There are certainly thousands upon thousands of verses that He uses to speak to me at different times, but these two have been a constant in my life.
I'd love to hear your life verse...I'd love to know the words that you feel as though were written just for you! Feel free to share it in my comment section.
If you don't think you have one, I'd encourage you to seek out His words for you. You will be surprised by how many you find that speak directly to your heart, but then you will come across one or two, that just moves you as though the Creator is looking into your eyes, speaking directly to your soul, with words written just for you! It is an incredible feeling when you find it, and you will find your mind refering back to that verse time after time as situations and circumstances require His words for you.
Here is to finding His words for you...
Until next time-
-C.
The first comes to speak to my natural inclination. I am a worrier. Always have been, always will be. It is my thorn. Like Paul, I have begged and begged for God to take it away. Like Paul, God has allowed it to remain a part of me, forcing me to constantly be reminded that I need Him and need to seek Him to quell my anxious thoughts. I know without this thorn that is anxiety, I might be so self-reliant that I would just cruise through life without a constant focus on my Father. I need to be reminded that I cannot do it all on my own strength and for that reason, I praise God that He knew exactly what He was doing when He allowed the thorn of worry to pierce my skin. The good news about thorns is that God can remedy the pain from them, while allowing them to remain in us so that we constantly seek His healing powers.
He spoke to my thorn with my first life verse. He gave it to me when I was very young, a pre-teen who was seeking him feverishly in the midst of middle school.
He said, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34
One day is all I have to handle. This day is all I need to concern myself with. God reminds me of that truth with every moment and those words which are forever etched in my brain. This life verse is His words to me each and everyday, a reminder of how to handle my thorn.
My second life verse is more of a goal, it is what I strive to live out day after day. It too goes against my natural inclinations. He tells me His will for me as plain as it gets, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. The actuality of living this life verse looks more like, "Be joyful sometimes, pray sporadically, give thanks in some circumstances." I struggle with the words always, continually, and in all circumstances. But, this is His command and therefore, there is no half way. So, each day is spent living those words through my heart, my prayers, and my thanks. It is not an easy life verse. Sometimes, I wish He would have given me, "Do not murder." I could have handled that one...but, to live with joy always, to pray in every moment and to give thanks no matter what the circumstances, a lot more challenging than not killing someone, don't you think? :)
These verses are His words that feel as though they were tucked among the lines of Scripture just for me. There are certainly thousands upon thousands of verses that He uses to speak to me at different times, but these two have been a constant in my life.
I'd love to hear your life verse...I'd love to know the words that you feel as though were written just for you! Feel free to share it in my comment section.
If you don't think you have one, I'd encourage you to seek out His words for you. You will be surprised by how many you find that speak directly to your heart, but then you will come across one or two, that just moves you as though the Creator is looking into your eyes, speaking directly to your soul, with words written just for you! It is an incredible feeling when you find it, and you will find your mind refering back to that verse time after time as situations and circumstances require His words for you.
Here is to finding His words for you...
Until next time-
-C.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
A break in all things serious...
So, Jenni tagged me. Not sure what it means, but let's face it....she is very scary and I should do as she says or I may regret it later, ha ha totally kidding. But, maybe this survey of sorts will bring a little levity to this blog...you are saying THANK GOODNESS, right?
1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your significant other? wonderful
3. Your hair? rough
4. Your mother? strong
5. Your father? smart
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? gone
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your dream/goal? change the world
10. The room you’re in? office
11. Your hobby? cooking
12. Your fear? everything
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? alive
14. What you’re not? serene
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? joy
17. Where you grew up? parenting
18. The last thing you did? ate
19. What are you wearing? jammies
20. Favorite gadget? cell
21. Your pets? evil
22. Your computer? bugged
23. Your mood? sad
24. Missing someone? yea
25. Your car? gas guzzler
26. Something you’re not wearing? Makeup
27. Favorite store? target
28. Like someone? Love
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? today
So, I am supposed to tag someone else? If you read this, tag you are it...repost it on your blog or something...
Here is to a little break in serious pondering...
Until next time-
-C.
1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your significant other? wonderful
3. Your hair? rough
4. Your mother? strong
5. Your father? smart
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? gone
8. Your favorite drink? tea
9. Your dream/goal? change the world
10. The room you’re in? office
11. Your hobby? cooking
12. Your fear? everything
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? alive
14. What you’re not? serene
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? joy
17. Where you grew up? parenting
18. The last thing you did? ate
19. What are you wearing? jammies
20. Favorite gadget? cell
21. Your pets? evil
22. Your computer? bugged
23. Your mood? sad
24. Missing someone? yea
25. Your car? gas guzzler
26. Something you’re not wearing? Makeup
27. Favorite store? target
28. Like someone? Love
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? today
So, I am supposed to tag someone else? If you read this, tag you are it...repost it on your blog or something...
Here is to a little break in serious pondering...
Until next time-
-C.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Take heart...
There are many faces of adversity in our lives. Sometimes in can come from the actions of another, from an unkind word or from a closed door. Sometimes it can come at a time when all else seems to be fallen into place. Discouragement through adversity is the Devil's greatest form of encouragement for him to keep pursuing your mind, your heart, and your soul. Once he has stepped into your thoughts, and encouraged feelings of doubt, he's got ya! And as long as you let 'em, he is going to hold on to your mind, taking the truths you know and twisting them ever so slightly to maintain his grip and keeping you from God's peace and truth.
God knew that we'd have these attacks. He knew that as we sought to be righteous ones, filled with His spirit, that there would be a force acting upon our hearts and minds, desiring to take away that pursuit. He knew it and He warned us. He knew that a direct result of this force is weariness.
He tells us about this potential attack when we are doing good:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
He tells us about this potential attack when we are entangled in sin:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured 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: 1-3
He promised us that in our weariness, His power will increase. He told us that no matter our age or our strength, we will need His renewal in times of being weary:
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:29-31
The dictionary defines weariness as being "physically or mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion, strain, etc." Let's face it, choosing to live your life for the Lord, is hard work. It is a lot easier to give into our natural temptations and desires than to choose to live according to His Word. It is a lot easier to be plagued with worry and depression than it is to trust in the Lord with all your heart. The Bible makes analogies to Christians being marathon runners, soldiers, and farmers. None of those jobs are by any stretch of the imagination easy...they all require work, strength, endurance, and an ability to realize what the ultimate goal or result will be. We have to fixate our eyes on what that ultimate result will be in times when we feel weary. There is a reward awaiting us. There is a glorious finishline. There is a God who desires to "renew our strength" in times of weariness and allow us to soar!!!
It is true. We will face times of adversity and times of weariness... but there is a great hope in knowing that the God of the universe knows oh too well what we are experiencing:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Thank God for that!
Here is to soaring, when you can barely walk...
Until next time-
-C.
God knew that we'd have these attacks. He knew that as we sought to be righteous ones, filled with His spirit, that there would be a force acting upon our hearts and minds, desiring to take away that pursuit. He knew it and He warned us. He knew that a direct result of this force is weariness.
He tells us about this potential attack when we are doing good:
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
He tells us about this potential attack when we are entangled in sin:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured 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: 1-3
He promised us that in our weariness, His power will increase. He told us that no matter our age or our strength, we will need His renewal in times of being weary:
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:29-31
The dictionary defines weariness as being "physically or mentally exhausted by hard work, exertion, strain, etc." Let's face it, choosing to live your life for the Lord, is hard work. It is a lot easier to give into our natural temptations and desires than to choose to live according to His Word. It is a lot easier to be plagued with worry and depression than it is to trust in the Lord with all your heart. The Bible makes analogies to Christians being marathon runners, soldiers, and farmers. None of those jobs are by any stretch of the imagination easy...they all require work, strength, endurance, and an ability to realize what the ultimate goal or result will be. We have to fixate our eyes on what that ultimate result will be in times when we feel weary. There is a reward awaiting us. There is a glorious finishline. There is a God who desires to "renew our strength" in times of weariness and allow us to soar!!!
It is true. We will face times of adversity and times of weariness... but there is a great hope in knowing that the God of the universe knows oh too well what we are experiencing:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Thank God for that!
Here is to soaring, when you can barely walk...
Until next time-
-C.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Psalm 42...
[b] As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"
4 These things I remember
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and 6 my God.
My [c] soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
8 By day the LORD directs his love,
8 By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God my Rock,
9 I say to God my Rock,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?"
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
"Where is your God?"
11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Here's to finding the words...
Until next time-
-C.
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