Do You Feel Left Out or Overlooked?

I am super excited about the Upcoming release of Lysa  Terkeurst's newest book UnInvited on August 9th.  Everything I've read about it so far has resonated in my heart.  Lysa says everyone is either "trying to heal a past rejection, deal with a present rejection or fear that an unexpected rejection is just around the corner." If you can relate to that (like I did), you may want to check it out 

And...  the book is going to be the focus of Proverbs 31 Ministries' next Online Bible StudyOnline Bible Study starting September 6!

The Messiness of Me

Today the online Bible Study I am participating in ("Limitless Life" on Proverbs31.org - check it out!) presented the question:  Do you believe you are God's masterpiece?  Do you take Him at His word? That he can take any messy life and use it to make a masterpiece?

My knee-jerk, Jesus-girl response was "YES, of COURSE I believe that!" I mean... He's GOD!  He's is big enough and powerful enough to do anything.  Right?  Right! 

But the answer didn't stop there...

Because of course it can never be that simple with me.  Can it?

I kept turning the question over and over in my mind.  Really letting it soak in for a few minutes.  Minutes when I got real honest with myself.

My heart tells me that God can take any mess and turn it into a message.  That we are all His masterpieces and He can accomplish anything using us that He plans.  I know that to be truth.

But my head... oh, that pesky, pesky head.  It just had to jump into the think process.  You know, like it tends to do.  It reminded me of all the times messiness has resulted from choices and decisions I have made.  What a mess I have been - and still am.  Of all the times I have tripped myself up trying to go my own way instead of following in God's Will.  And asking me if I really think I can ever just let go and let God lead.

And that was the place where my heart and my head fell into agreement.  A compromise of sorts.  An understanding. 

Do I believe God can use even the messy parts of my life to build a masterpiece?

YES! I really really do.  IF... I can get out of His way and let Him do His work in me.

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A BIG God

 While hiking with the Man of the House last week I was swept away by the beautiful mountain views - one after another.  Each more breathtaking than the last.

 Seeing this beauty all around, reminds me of what a BIG and AWESOME God we serve!

A God Who can create this is capable of anything and everything! Without limits!

You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups

The Problems With Prayer

I am participating in the Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Study "Living So That", based on the book by Wendy Blight.  This week we are studying Bible verses teaching us to "Pray So That..."

My prayer life growing up was.. well... religious. Being raised Catholic, there seemed to be a specific prayer for every occasion or situation.  Prayers to be memorized and repeated.  I don't remember often - if ever - praying from the heart.  Just talking to God and telling Him what I was thinking... feeling... struggling with.  I never saw prayer as simply pouring out my heart to him in a free, open way.

I no longer pray those all head - no heart, routine memorizations.  Which is good.   However, it's also left me with what I perceive to be two major problems with my prayer life:

Problem #1:
Now when I pray I have no ritual or routine to my prayer life whatsoever.  I pray whenever and where ever.  I pray when I feel I need to or should.  I pray when I feel grateful; when I am overcome with joy.  I pray when I hear of someone in need. I pray when my heart is heavy, when I am sad or angry, or in doubt.

But not always.  I don't go to God as often as I could - or should.  Just when it occurs to me to pray.  Prayer isn't a regular part of my life. It just happens as it happens. Not exactly a bad thing.  But when entire days manage to slip by without prayer - that's a problem. 

In "Living So That", Wendy talks about using prayer triggers.  Things to remind us to pray for a particular person when we see that item.  I love this idea to help remind me to pray for my family and for people I know are struggling or in need of prayer.  I'll be putting that concept into place immediately!

Prayer is about building a relationship with God.  It's about constantly keeping the lines of communication open.  It's about spending time with God and learning to be aware of His presence.

You can't have a relationship with someone you rarely talk to!

photo: publicdomainpictures.net

Problem #2:
When I do pray, I find it difficult to do so with confidence.  Perhaps it's a leftover result of all those memorized "this is what to pray when" prayers from childhood.  But, I often usually struggle with feeling as if I'm not doing it "right".  I feel like I don't know what to say. Or how to say it. 

As if God isn't going to listen or hear unless I say exactly the right thing - in exactly the right way. 

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" ~ Hebrews 4:16

When I talk to a friend or family member, I don't struggle with every word - wondering if I am saying it "right".  I just say what I am thinking. Expressing what I am feeling.  Asking for help or guidance.  Telling them what is going on in my life. That's how my prayer should be.

Slowly... oh, so slowly... it's starting to sink in.  Prayer isn't about having the right words.  It's not about being oh-so-eloquent.  It's not some magic turn of phrase that's going to make God sit up and listen.

"He delights in us. He rejoices over us.  Whatever we are doing or thinking, He seeks to be included." ~ Wendy Blight (Living So That)

God wants to hear my prayers.   He wants me to pour my heart out to him - the good and the bad.  The praise and the doubts. Not in some list, form, or agenda.  But straight from my soul to His throne.  He wants to help me through the difficult times.  He wants to hear about the things which bring me joy and make me thankful to Him. 

Prayer is about having a relationship with with God.  Opening up an honest two way conversation. Telling Him what's on my heart.  Being in His Presence.  And eagerly listen, anticipating His response. And then thanking Him when the answers come.

Do you struggle with prayer?  In what ways?

You can find me connecting at these Blog Hops and Link Ups

What's Eating You?

Every year for as long as I can remember I make some variation of the same New Year's Resolution.  THIS will be the year I lose some weight and get healthy.  Only to reach December the same (or heavier).  Making the same resolution again, and again, and again the next January 1st.

This week I began a new online Bible study through Proverbs31 Ministries based on the Lysa TerKeurst book "Made To Crave".

I have to confess... the first time I sat down to try and read this book I had a Snickers almond bar in hand and a bottle of Dr. Pepper sitting next to me.

Um... yeh.  Not the best way to begin a study about satisfying your cravings with God rather than food.

Clearly I still wasn't getting it. As Lysa says in the introduction: it's about the "want to". Something I was missing.

God created us to have cravings.  A longing.  A desire for something to satisfy us.  A great want.

For Him.

Satan wants to replace our cravings for God with something else.  An idol to displace God in our hearts, minds, and lives.

For some it may be food.  For others it's material objects.  Money.  Or the approval of other people. Fame. Or an emotional or sexual relationship.  In some cases it becomes alcohol, drugs, or gambling.

It becomes the thing we work for, strive for, seek.  Our lives become focused on getting that thing we think will satisfy us. We may ignore things that are truly important in life to get it.  We find ourselves in a cycle of excuses, rationalizations, or promises to start (or stop) at some later time/day/month/year.  In some cases it may destroy relationships, our health, or entire lives.

But somehow when we seek fulfillment through something other than God, we always come up feeling empty.  Needing more.  Wanting more.  No matter how much we get or have, we are always left unsatisfied. It's like a raging battle.

This has given me an entirely different perspective on my plans to get healthier and get back to a healthier weight!

This time it has to be about more than just me.  It has to be about more than a smaller clothing size or number on the scale.  I have proven over and over again that I CAN'T DO IT. Not by myself.

I have to replace my cravings for the chocolate and Cheetos with something healthier.  Something that will really satisfy.  By getting closer to God in the process.  

Don't Miss The Small Stuff

While working on my online Bible study through Proverbs 31 Ministries for the week, this statement jumped out at me:

'Radical obedience to God takes place in the everyday mundane things'

What are we missing everyday because we're too busy looking for the big, life changing, earth shaking, history making things?

Colossians 3:23 tells us, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters"  (NIV)

Everything matters.

God will use what ever He calls us to do for His glory.

Whether its being a missionary, a minister, or a mother.

Whether He calls us to feed orphans, work in the corporate world, or fold laundry. 

On some level in His plan it's all life changing, earth shaking, history making, BIG stuff.

God uses all of us in different ways.  He calls ALL of us. Are we listening? Are we obeying?

"I called you so often, but you wouldn't come.  I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.  You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered". ~ Proverbs 1:24 (NLT)

I don't want to be the one who misses it when He tells me to do something.  

I want to be the woman who pays attention. 

The one who takes the direction and correction.  

The woman who says "Yes God - whatever you want".

Join the Yes Girls

Through my daily Bible reading and devotionals the topic of obedience to God, as well as finding and following God's purpose for me, keeps coming up over and over again. 

Because of this, I have chosen to follow the Proverbs 31 online bible study based on the book "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God" by Lysa TerKeurst.  I recently read this book on my own and loved the things I learned about myself and my relationship with God in its pages.

Now I am looking forward to getting deeper into it (along with almost 22,000 other women from 120 countries!)

According to the Proverbs 31 Ministries website, through this online Bible study you will learn to:

• listen for His voice and discern what He is asking you
• see how wholehearted obedience honors His presence in your life
• give yourself to Him and let Him affect lives around you in amazing ways

If you are ready to say "YES" to God, I invite you to join me in this online Bible study.  It's completely free to sign up here: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/.  

All you need is a copy of the book, a notebook/journal, a pen (or two, or ten - if you're like me!), and a willing heart and mind.  This bible study is flexible to fit into your schedule! 

I'm saying "Yes"... won't you?