First and foremost let me say I have not been in my word much since summer began I got caught up in other things and got lazy. Today I opened my Bible to James and read the first chapter and the last verse jumped out at me.
James 1:27 "27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
I am polluted by worldly things and when I allow myself to be polluted and do not combat that pollution with God's word and being in constant contact with him I pollute everything around me. I have become like a smog spewing factory that pollutes the attitudes of those around me especially my family. I felt like God was saying to me today "My beautiful child stop polluting yourself and those you love, fill yourself with my love and clean the "air" around you."
So I am going "green" instead of filling myself with things of this world I will fill myself with the words of my God and praise him for all the good in my life. My hope is that not only will I be able to breathe easier but the ones I love will no longer be polluted by my bad attitude.
Today I was feeling under attack by Satan, it was just the last straw in an already rough summer. I posted on Facebook that I was feeling this way and the women that God has put into my life promptly began to share verses with me and pray for me. I am so blessed to have such Godly women in my life to encourage and pray for me, I am still struggling but I know I will come out on the other side because MY GOD is BIGGER than that lie spewing satan.
James 4:7-10 "7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
Ephesians 1:16-21 "16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spiritt of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."
I know it's been a while but I felt like I didn't have anything to say. Today when I got up I had a headache, got some discouraging news and just wanted to go back to bed. Instead of holing up in my bed, or getting lost in tv like I normally would I opened my bible. I have a Mom's Devotional Bible, so I flipped to the back and looked up discouragement and God spoke to me.
I am learning everyday that when I trust in the Lord he will ALWAYS provide for me and if I "lean not on my own understanding" that God is going to take care of everything even the things I feel are spiraling out of control.
"1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Romans 5:1-5
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8
Faith is something I think that we all struggle with at one time or another but I am constantly reminded that when we ask he answers even if it isn't in our time frame or the way we want. Opening our eyes and listening for our answer in everything around us is the first step.
My little sister is an amazing person but is struggling to find her path in life, she is 21 and just doesn't know what she wants yet. I love her with all my heart and am so proud of her and I know how hard it is to find your place in this world. Well I believe God put a song in my life today so that I could share it with her. She had asked for God's guidance and encouragement and then today I heard this.
Here are the lyrics:
“Emily (It’s Love)”
Francesca Battistelli & David Barnes
Verse 1
Emily, I know you think it won’t get any better
Life has gone and gotten so tough
Emily, you believe you will never ever
Never ever find that you’re enough
Pre-Chorus
Circumstances can change your mind
But time will help you see
Chorus
It’s love that hung the moon & stars for you above
And stays awake to start the morning
If you feel you’ve had enough
It’s never given up, it’s love
Verse 2
Emily, you will see some stormy weather
Dark and cloudy days of rain
But Emily, there will be summer laughter
Everybody knows the seasons change
Pre-Chorus
Circumstances can change your mind
But time will help you see
Chorus
It’s love that hung the moon & stars for you above
And stays awake to start the morning
If you feel you’ve had enough
It’s never given up, it’s love
Bridge
Can’t you see?
I know you believe me
Everything is whispering this well known story
So listen in
It’s humbling
All of this done for you
It’s love………
Oh and the other piece is my sisters name is Emily.
God SPEAKS through EVERYTHING so have faith ask for what you need and know that God is listening.
"He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding." Ephesians 1:7-8
This is the word that God has put on my heart recently, a word that the more I study and ponder it becomes so powerful.
Grace has so many meanings in the English dictionary:
I know that is a lot to read but I just couldn't believe all the meanings of this one word, the only meaning that matters to me are those I find in reading the Word. Grace is an unconditional love and forgiveness no matter what, we have such a Gracious Father that with every misstep and mistake he is there to pick us up dust us off and put us back on the right path.
God put this word on my heart I think specifically because I can be very judgmental and I need to learn to bestow the grace I have been given on others. For me this starts at home with my husband and kids who I am not always patient and understanding with, so my goal is every time I feel myself getting upset to repeat the word Grace in my head because I am not owed grace yet it was given so who am I not to give it to others.
