Wednesday, March 23, 2016

It's the little things

Most ladies I talk with have the same pattern...they put themselves last!  I do believe women in general (married or not - kids or no kids) typically but themselves last.  I believe in my heart this is how God created us.  For me this can bring out many emotions for me daily - happiness, overwhelmingness (I do not think this is a real word but it does fit me), gladness, exhaustion, joy, peace.  I personally enjoy the overall picture when I place others first.  Honestly I just painted my bedroom after living in our house for 10 years! 

BUT listen you beautiful ladies - we must take time for us.  This keeps us balanced!  If we just keep going and going we will crash!  I know it can be hard to take time for you but it is a must or God will make us take time!

This month I challenge you to get back into something you put aside because others comes first.  I am not saying to put your loved ones last and focus on you, I am simply encouraging you to make time for you.  God cares about you and honors you for your amazing heart but He also wants you to enjoy what He has created you to enjoy! 

Here is what I am getting back into!  I use to love to garden and guess what - my garden is slowly getting put back together.  For me, I simply love to go out and watch something new come to life!   

God has given us an amazing heart to truly care and encourage those he has placed in our lives but He desires us to also enjoy the gifts he has blessed us with!!









Thursday, March 10, 2016

It's hard to see around us!

This week I have been reminded of how big satan can get on this earth.  Not a fun thing to be reminded of.  I tend to put satan on the back burner. I get into my daily routine and enjoy my little box of a life and push all the ugly out of the way.  I think a part of me does this on purpose because it is easier to look at life with rose colored glasses on then to come to terms with truly how dark this world can get and is.  The truth is satan is here no matter how tinted our rose colored glasses are, we can not miss his handy work!  He has been busy on this earth.  Have you check your political channels, talked with your school leaders, checked out what is playing at the movie theater, picked up a teen book, seen the magazine covers...he has been busy!  He has nothing to loose but we have everything to loose!!  We must armor up and be ready for him because he is fighting hard!  Hard enough to move churches away from the bible!!

Every day we make a choose - put God in it or not put God in it.  The days we choose to not put God in it, satan is weaving his way into us.  The days we choose to put God in it, satan is trying to weave his way in.  So either way, every day satan is fighting for human life.  We see it in our government leaders, our pastors, our teachers, our families...we see the affects of satan every where!  When we choose a life with God we do not fight satan alone.  We can't!!  Only God has the means to end him.  Daily we must guard our hearts and put our armor on.  The truth is we are in a massive spiritual battle!  satan has nothing to loose, so he will take as many with him as possible!

We must grow our TRUST in God, we must trust that He knows best for us.  Life will not always make sense but a life with Him comes peace.  We must surround ourselves with the right friendships - if you are not getting spiritual encouragement from them then they might not be the best ones (I am not saying end them just make sure to know your boundaries, it's easy to get sucked in).  We must come to terms with God's plans for our life (again trust).  A certain willingness must form when it comes to God.  We will not always agree with His plans but He has already walked them and knows that we are strong enough to go!

This life is going to only get uglier and uglier as satan's time drawers near.  We must learn that this battle is already won and if we truly believe that; we will not have the fear to truly put on our armor and fight this spiritual battle that is happening right in front of our eyes! 

If you need encouragement read Psalm 18 (here is a small part of it) - King David speaks of what God is to him (us) and what he (we are) is with God!

love you, Lord;
    you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and he saved me from my enemies.