Victorious

Can you imagine the fear, seeing Jesus go to his death? The disciples didn't understand this, didn't know what was going to happen. Jesus had been trying to tell them over and over again that he must die so that something better would come...that they would endure trials, but he would overcome...but their hearts/eyes were blinded.  Now, we have been revealed all the mysteries of the good news Jesus has brought about. We have a more sure word of prophecy...His complete Word... and the Holy Spirit to be our guide.  And in His word we are given everything we need to live out the abundant and victorious life He came to give...yet, we get so scared, defeated, and unsure. I think about this as I watch the battle scene of Narnia...how defeated and scared Lucy and her siblings must have felt when Aslan was slain and it seemed as if the enemy had won....just as the disciples felt...just as we feel at times. They had to have tremendous faith to know that all things were working for the good and that this wasn't it...couldn't be it. Maybe this is why Jesus asks if he'll find faith here on the Earth when he returns? We are told over and over again that the enemy IS out to get us, the world WILL bring us trouble, we WILL experience persecution, trials, and tribulations. But, we are also told that Jesus has WON! He rose from the dead, defeating sin--ALL sin, past, present, and future--and death, and the enemy. So why do we lose hope...lose the will to fight...believe the lies of defeat and doubt?  We get to fight, knowing that we WIN! Oh, it's so hard to live it out...the victorious life. But this is why we must stay in the Word. As long as we keep renewing our minds each and every day, w/ the promises, the hope, the tools we need to fight this fight, we'll be much stronger soldiers for Christ. We are so weak. We, like Peter who denies, like Judas who betrays, like the disciples who couldn't stay awake to pray at Jesus' most trying time in his life (failure), like the nation of Israel who whined and didn't obey wholeheartedly (causing more trouble for themselves)....we NEED God's strength to fight this fight and continue in our faith. We have to surrender and give complete trust to His sovereign will. We have to know that He loves us and wants best for us. He wasn't just going to die on the cross and that be the end of it. He doesn't just send us into battle w/ no weapons. We have to remember that the outcome is always in our favor! Just as all of the battles you see in the Old Testament, where the nation of Israel looked like the weaker team but triumphed miraculously through their obedience to and faith in their God, we have to approach every day w/ the same mentality. Pray,  'Lord, whatever I face today, help me to know there is victory as long as I have faith in You and Your sovereign will.'  I pray that I will have that kind of faith each and every day...to set aside all selfish feelings that my heart and mind want to give into b/c of my flesh...and just allow the Holy Spirit to lead. 

Books, Books, & More Books!

Currently Reading (October 2013)

I love reading!  And, if you know me, it's not a love of fiction.  I love learning!  Anything that I can read to further my walk w/ God--or to further my growth as a wife, mom, friend, leader, counselor, and anything else that requires educating myself on--I'm reading it!  =)  

I know there are many others out there like me.  And, being that I sometimes don't put my thoughts so eloquently into words like some, suggesting good books is what I like to do.  

Now, I do advise that the Word of God be the foundation before all of your extracurricular reading.  Even Paul says that there are those that are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of Truth (2 Timothy 3:7).  So, we've got to make sure that we are studying to show ourselves approved to God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15).  It is the "God breathed" Word (NIV translation) and it should be our guide w/ everything in life...for reproof, for doctrine, for correction, for instructions in righteousness, etc (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  

As I've stated before, reading books can be like a type of mentoring relationship.  You might not ever meet the person, but that author had a purpose in sharing the information they wrote into a book for others' learning.  It's okay to take books on certain topics and learn and grow from others' experiences and learned knowledge...BUT, you will have your own experiences, grow in different ways, and learn your own knowledge best by the experience you have through your relationship w/ God in prayer and in His Word. 

So, as you add to your reading list, know what the Word has to say about the subject and ask God to reveal to you the differences between what His Word has to say about it and false teaching.  

*This is where the rightly dividing comes in handy. ;-) 

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With my love for books, I had quite a new and surprising experience in the book store the other day.

I was so excited to have finally gone digging into the second-hand bookstore, 2nd & Charles (Washington Road).  They have sooooo many great books for such affordable prices!  I went twice in one week...the first time, looking for the 1/2 off books for extra school reading for the kids; and the second time, looking at all the books on Christian living and gluten-free living.

Well, I spent more than 30 minutes looking through all of the Christian living books.  I found so many that I had on my "Want to Read" list.  It was great!  As I continued to browse, however, I found myself not really wanting or needing to buy them.  I started putting them back on the shelves, able to just walk away from my love and desire to always buy these kinds of books.  

It was a strange feeling.

See, I started out w/ Christian living books to help me grow in Christian living.  Being newly excited about my love for God and wanting to be obedient to His Word, I wanted to learn all I could about being a godly woman, a good wife, a good mother, etc.  As w/ many, however, digging in the Word was new and confusing at times.  I had hesitations, questions like, "Where do I start?",  "How do I know what God wants me to do?", "What does this look like in everyday life?".  And, so, I went and looked for those Titus 2 women who could help me.  

As I've said before, I will be forever grateful to the women authors that helped me understand God's Word and helped me to make it practical in my life as a woman of God, wife, and mother.  As I stood in that bookstore, however--shelves upon shelves of books that I would normally be intrigued to buy and read--I found myself not needing them anymore.  

I felt like I was God's big girl now.  =)

It was such an amazing feeling!  I have grown in my knowledge of God's Word over the past several years, but it wasn't until this past year-and-a-half that I've really come to see my ability to rely ONLY on God's Word.  

My husband has played a part in helping me to see this...his constant preaching that we need to offer advice to others, not w/ our opinions and experiences, but w/ the Word of God.  Makes sense, right?  Yes, we learn from other people's experiences...but one person will never have the same experience as the next; and one person's growth through those experiences might not look like another's.  And our opinions are just that....opinions.  Even the Bible says that our hearts deceive us; so we have to base our advice on something stronger than opinion.  If we are to live by Truth, then our learning should be based upon Truth.  

As I've talked w/ many people over the past couple of years, I've seen the change that has happened in my life in the way that I "counsel" people.  I know that the only reason that I am the woman that I am today is b/c of God's Word changing my life.  I am able to draw from His Word--that I've studied and hid in my heart--so that I am able to walk in His ways daily.  Of course, I still remember a lot of the knowledge I learned from reading some of those books, and I have learned from other people that God has placed in my life. But, I remember more of God's Word than anything....b/c His Word is all that matters.  And His Word is what changes people.  

Have you ever told someone over and over again the answer you know will solve their problems?  Just do this, just do that, it'll help you get through this or do this better.  It doesn't work.  Until people dig into God's Word--get to know Him and His character, get to know His plan for mankind, get to know and truly comprehend His love and who Jesus is to them, understand His grace and their need for a Savior--for themselves, they won't experience any kind of life change...no matter how many times they are told what to do, no matter how many people offer their advice, no matter how many other books they read about it.  

It is good to have those that live out the Word, like Titus 2 women and those that comfort others in how they were comforted (2 Corinthians 1:4).  You will come to realize, though...this all stems from the foundation of the knowledge of God's Word.

So, yes, I have a love for books.  I love to read what others have to say about things that pertain to me and my life.  I will continue to read, and my reading preferences will change.  BUT, my number one all-time favorite book to read will always be God's Word.  After all, His Word is what changes lives. I know, b/c it changed mine. <3 p="">

"I'm just a nobody, speaking about a Somebody."

Well, it's been a little over 2 years since I attempted to start a blog...

I've had mixed feelings on blogs.  On the one hand, I have many thoughts, experiences, and motivation to share how God is working in my life w/ others (specifically, women).  On the other hand, however, I don't think that my personal thoughts and experiences are necessarily "something" to read about.

I like what my husband said in service yesterday, though...."I'm just a nobody, speaking about a Somebody".  That "Somebody" being Jesus.

God is such a big part of our lives (as He should be); and every experience, opinion, and shared thought should be surrounded by what He has to say about it...through His Word.

That's my goal.

I strive to live by God's Word; and so, I take every aspect of my life and filter it through how I am to respond to it and live it out.  I truly believe the importance of living out Titus 2...women living their lives as a testimony to others, teaching other women how to be godly women, wives, and mothers.

There are few Titus 2 women around, surprisingly.  And, by no means, am I saying that I'm a perfect example of one.  I do know, from personal relations, that I hungered (growing into adulthood, as a young wife and mother..and later, a pastor's wife) for godly role models who were willing to invest in me their time, knowledge of the Word, and their life as an example of what I could strive towards.  As I studied God's Word, I first found my Titus 2 role models through great women authors.  I will forever be grateful for their obedience in reaching women all around the world through their gifts of the written word.

They are one of the many inspirations to my wanting to blog.

Writing is probably not my strongest gift, however.  Speaking is most definitely not a strong suit for me.  I will forget what I am to say and it might not flow well (just like my writing, at times)...not to mention, my Southern drawl and simple speech. ;-)  But, I know that I can write down my thoughts better than I can express them most of the time.

I have so many great conversations w/ God. And He reveals so much to me through His Word and my experiences.  I just want to share how awesome He is!

I'm also real...I struggle, I make mistakes, I sin.  There is something to be said in sharing our journey as Christian women.  And it's not all "lollipops and giggles", as my husband would say.  I know that, when I first started growing into my role as a woman, wife, and mother, my expectations were not in line w/ what God's Word had to say about it.  All I had was what I grew up w/, what I saw on TV, what I read in books/magazines, and my assumptions.

Sometimes all we see is the really bad or the really good.  We have our experiences through childhood and such an open forum w/ reality television and social media, that we have those who only show the negative side or those who only show the positive side.

There's a balance...and the view of Christians being hypocrites needs to be put to rest.

I have always been one to "wear my heart on my sleeve", so to speak.  I will tell you more information about my life than what I probably need to, and I will react to words, circumstances, and emotions in a very real way.  I just believe in being honest, truthful, and sincere.  Yes, we all can struggle w/ these things. For the most part, however, there doesn't need to be a "show" or an "I'm better than you" front.  We don't have to pretend to keep up w/ someone we think is doing life better than us; b/c, in reality, one person struggles and has just as many flaws as the next.

Living the Christian life is not about being better than anyone else; it's about understanding God's grace, being thankful, and wanting to live a life of obedience b/c you know your need for Jesus. It doesn't mean we won't still mess up.  But, it does mean that we all have a need for a Savior.

All that to say, I think I will try to blog more. =)  I like the fact that I will be writing down my thoughts, experiences, and what God reveals to me (through His Word) about it all...for my future reference and for others to maybe relate.

Relationship is important to God.  What better way to redeem the use of an open forum such as Facebook and blogs, than to share the testimony of what God is doing in our lives?

I have no plan, I have no layout, I might not have good flow of words and will make grammatical errors (yes, I know!).  I just want to share.

I have such a desire to see people grow closer to God, understand His Word, and live out their purpose of who He has called them to be.  If I can be of some tiny encouragement in these areas of other people's lives, then praise God!

I praise God for taking a "nobody" like me and allowing me to show Christ, a "Somebody", Who lives in me and is working through me...all for His glory. <3 comment-3--="">