That is the title to Psalm 4 in my bible... "Answer me when I call". How many times have I said that to my husband, my children, or even my mom when I try and call them. Here I am needing to tell them something or I need some help from them and for whatever reason they don't answer. As I leave a message all I can think is, "what are they doing that they can't answer their phone!" Be honest we have all had this happen to us, right?
"Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!"
Here is King David telling God to answer him, because when he is distressed he goes to God for comfort. If you read the Psalms then you can see David telling God like it is, so to speak. He speaks to God honestly and doesn't hold much back. He shows his anger, his disappointment, his joy, his discouragement, his fear, and does it with boldness.
"O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?"
Today I can feel the discouragement in lives of many of my friends; some are Christians and some are not. Life is hard, whether your a Christian or not, the bible even warns us that it will be. Life can be hard for many reasons, but everyone endures hardships, the questions is where do you go?
"But know that the Lord has 'set apart' the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him"
David knew that even when he wasn't perfect, (remember he cheated with another man's wife then had him killed) God still loved him, and heard him. Do you know that?
"Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts, on your beds, and be silent. "
David is reminding himself that it is okay to be angry about what he's going through, but staying angry leads to bitterness. Scripture says that God was angry, so don't you think God can understand that you feel angry?It is what we do with that anger that determines where we go from here. David tells us to get on our beds and be silent. Most of us when we are angry we let the whole word know!
"Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord."
Want to get over feeling discouraged or distressed, or angry? Then give! The bible is clear that you get what you give, we Christian's call it "reaping what you sow". When your in that dark place, do you reach out and offer what you have to others? Do you put your trust in the Lord? Maybe you have prayed a prayer, or you took a walk to an altar a long time ago, but is your life different today because of it?
"Ther are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!" You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound."
I have had times of plenty and times of want, but my outward circumstances shouldn't dictate my inner strength. You can every single pleasure that this world offers and it will never compare with the joy of a relationship with Jesus.
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety"
So maybe God has you here, right here where you are to show you that you can never really be happy without Him. You can never really lie down and sleep in peace and safety without him. The great thing about God is when you call him up, he always answers! He is always there on the other end waiting for you to come to him and share your heart, honest, and open. You don't need fancy words, you just need a couple of very simple ones...
"I need you Jesus"
Today, I took up the fight for many in my life who were struggling and my prayer is that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be heard, and He will make you dwell in safety. I love that God always "Answers me when I call"...
Monday, October 24, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Holding Out for a Hero
"Where have all the good men gone..." It is a line from a popular 80's song used as a thematic element for the movie Footloose. For those of us old enough to remember Bonnie Tyler raging that she needs a "Hero" and she is holding out for the right one, we might look around and ask a similar question.
After watching the remake of the move Footloose yesterday; I saw the same story line of good verses evil, righting the wrongs of injustice, with a love story as a back drop. It is the same story line of the ages, and one that somewhere in our culture we have lost. Where are the Othneil's who attacked an entire city for Caleb's daughter in the first chapter of Judges? If you were to ask me where have all the good men gone, I would tell you probably playing video games on their mother's couch.
Men like Othneil were King's Men, valiant and brave, ready to draw sword for the love a good women. The better question would be this, "where have all the daughter's of the King gone to inspire men to greatness?"
Yes, that is where the whole thing starts doesn't it? We as women raise them, we as women emasculate them, we as women complain about them, we as women rob them of greatness.
Think about the way God designed his Kingdom, there are men to fight and women to fight for. If we as women do everything for ourselves and stick out our tongue while we do it while chanting "Anything you can do I can better" then why would a good man stick out his neck and fight for us? I look around at the good men in my life and what I see are women who have raised above the lies of the enemy and called greatness into their men with God's help.
I have a Mighty man, and King's man in my life, and for that I am grateful. I knew he was a King's man before he knew it himself, and it was job to raise up that warrior inside. I have three young men in my charge, and it is my job to inspire greatness in them and raise up the warrior inside them. How do we as women accomplish this?
You begin to admit that you need them, and then you do what is the most unnatural thing to do: serve them selflessly. We must give men a reason to fight, a reason to set down Modern Warfare and pick up a sword. Men want to fight, we see this in the statistic that men ages 18 to 34 are the biggest purchasers of video games with war games being the top sales. We as women must speak words of life into them, challenge them to raise above their culture! It all starts with women, and we must not listen to the lies of the enemy that we are better than men. We are not better than men, we are better WITH men.
Men, finally a word to you if you were even brave enough to read this. We need you! We desperately need your strength, your valor, your wisdom, your protection and your leadership. I, as a women, promise to speak words of life to you, to give you a reason to fight whether you are my husband, my son, my family, or my friend; I owe you that much. So, today I instead of holding out for a hero, I am praying for one...
After watching the remake of the move Footloose yesterday; I saw the same story line of good verses evil, righting the wrongs of injustice, with a love story as a back drop. It is the same story line of the ages, and one that somewhere in our culture we have lost. Where are the Othneil's who attacked an entire city for Caleb's daughter in the first chapter of Judges? If you were to ask me where have all the good men gone, I would tell you probably playing video games on their mother's couch.
Men like Othneil were King's Men, valiant and brave, ready to draw sword for the love a good women. The better question would be this, "where have all the daughter's of the King gone to inspire men to greatness?"
Yes, that is where the whole thing starts doesn't it? We as women raise them, we as women emasculate them, we as women complain about them, we as women rob them of greatness.
Think about the way God designed his Kingdom, there are men to fight and women to fight for. If we as women do everything for ourselves and stick out our tongue while we do it while chanting "Anything you can do I can better" then why would a good man stick out his neck and fight for us? I look around at the good men in my life and what I see are women who have raised above the lies of the enemy and called greatness into their men with God's help.
I have a Mighty man, and King's man in my life, and for that I am grateful. I knew he was a King's man before he knew it himself, and it was job to raise up that warrior inside. I have three young men in my charge, and it is my job to inspire greatness in them and raise up the warrior inside them. How do we as women accomplish this?
You begin to admit that you need them, and then you do what is the most unnatural thing to do: serve them selflessly. We must give men a reason to fight, a reason to set down Modern Warfare and pick up a sword. Men want to fight, we see this in the statistic that men ages 18 to 34 are the biggest purchasers of video games with war games being the top sales. We as women must speak words of life into them, challenge them to raise above their culture! It all starts with women, and we must not listen to the lies of the enemy that we are better than men. We are not better than men, we are better WITH men.
Men, finally a word to you if you were even brave enough to read this. We need you! We desperately need your strength, your valor, your wisdom, your protection and your leadership. I, as a women, promise to speak words of life to you, to give you a reason to fight whether you are my husband, my son, my family, or my friend; I owe you that much. So, today I instead of holding out for a hero, I am praying for one...
Monday, October 17, 2011
Rainy Days on a Sunny Afternoon
This morning while doing my normal Monday busy work, which consists of sifting through emails and preparing for my work week, I kept hearing the old Michael W. Smith song, "Healing Rains". Let me be honest for a second, I never really liked the song very much. I felt it was a bit cheesy and everytime it would pop into my mind I would push it back out. While going through my emails I saw a prophesy bulletin and it kept talking about rain. On Facebook someone shared a scripture in Leviticus about God giving rain in the right season. (26:4) With all the references to rain I finally succumbed and went to You Tube to see what the song, "Healing Rains" was about.
"Healing Rain, is coming down. Is coming nearer, to this old town. Rich and poor, the weak and strong, it is bringing mercy; it won't be long. Healing rain is coming down, it is coming closer to the lost and found. Tears of joy and tears of shame are washed forever in Jesus name. Healing rain it comes with fire, so let it fall and take us higher. Healing rain, I am not afraid to be washed in heavens rain. Lift your heads, let us return to the mercy seat where time began. In your eyes I see the pain, come soak this dry heart with healing rains. And only you, the Son of Man, can take the leper and let him stand. So lift your hands, they can be held by someone greater, The Great I am.." The chorus then repeats...
As I listened tears began to pour down my cheeks and my heart softened to the voice of Jesus speaking. " I will send the right rain, in the right season. You must be ready to receive what I give, when I give it."
I began to search scripture and websites about the significance of rain in scripture. I am pretty sure even though we here in Springfield are getting ready to receive some heavy rains tonight, that He was not talking about literal rains.
Rain is a sign of a couple of things in the bible. First it is a sign of blessing, and His grace. Second, it is a sign of the Holy Spirit. In Israel, they have a different planting season than we do here. In the States we get the ground ready in the Spring and plant the seed. The seed then matures over Summer and is harvested in the Fall with the land laying dormant over the Winter. In Israel, the planting starts in the Fall, the seed germinates and grows over the winter months, and then harvest starts in spring and the ripening process happens all summer.
In Mid-October God would send the first rains to soften the ground from the parching of the Summer so when the seed was laid it would be able to germinate and root. The Summers are hot and useful for maturing and drying their fruit crops, but not for new growth. The Winter brings the time for pruning of the vines and the Spring would provide later rain to sustain the crops until final harvest.
Do you realize it is Mid-October? That we have all come through a hot and dry Summer season! The previous years crops have been harvested, and prepared for the nourishment of the next year. It is time to allow our lives and hearts to soften to the new "seeds" that God wants to drop in your heart. Some of you have become so bitter because you have felt abandoned and fruitless. God is telling us that it is a new season, and it is time to soften our hearts to the new crop for the coming year. So whether it is sickness, or pain, addiction, or affliction, brokeness, or disappointment, will you lay it down today and ask God to bring you Healing Rains to soften your dry heart?
So today I sit here while it is nice and sunny and allow God to bring those Mid-October rains to soften this dry heart and allow His seed to germinate in my life to sustain me for another year. God I am ready for receive all that you have...
"Healing Rain, is coming down. Is coming nearer, to this old town. Rich and poor, the weak and strong, it is bringing mercy; it won't be long. Healing rain is coming down, it is coming closer to the lost and found. Tears of joy and tears of shame are washed forever in Jesus name. Healing rain it comes with fire, so let it fall and take us higher. Healing rain, I am not afraid to be washed in heavens rain. Lift your heads, let us return to the mercy seat where time began. In your eyes I see the pain, come soak this dry heart with healing rains. And only you, the Son of Man, can take the leper and let him stand. So lift your hands, they can be held by someone greater, The Great I am.." The chorus then repeats...
As I listened tears began to pour down my cheeks and my heart softened to the voice of Jesus speaking. " I will send the right rain, in the right season. You must be ready to receive what I give, when I give it."
I began to search scripture and websites about the significance of rain in scripture. I am pretty sure even though we here in Springfield are getting ready to receive some heavy rains tonight, that He was not talking about literal rains.
Rain is a sign of a couple of things in the bible. First it is a sign of blessing, and His grace. Second, it is a sign of the Holy Spirit. In Israel, they have a different planting season than we do here. In the States we get the ground ready in the Spring and plant the seed. The seed then matures over Summer and is harvested in the Fall with the land laying dormant over the Winter. In Israel, the planting starts in the Fall, the seed germinates and grows over the winter months, and then harvest starts in spring and the ripening process happens all summer.
In Mid-October God would send the first rains to soften the ground from the parching of the Summer so when the seed was laid it would be able to germinate and root. The Summers are hot and useful for maturing and drying their fruit crops, but not for new growth. The Winter brings the time for pruning of the vines and the Spring would provide later rain to sustain the crops until final harvest.
Do you realize it is Mid-October? That we have all come through a hot and dry Summer season! The previous years crops have been harvested, and prepared for the nourishment of the next year. It is time to allow our lives and hearts to soften to the new "seeds" that God wants to drop in your heart. Some of you have become so bitter because you have felt abandoned and fruitless. God is telling us that it is a new season, and it is time to soften our hearts to the new crop for the coming year. So whether it is sickness, or pain, addiction, or affliction, brokeness, or disappointment, will you lay it down today and ask God to bring you Healing Rains to soften your dry heart?
So today I sit here while it is nice and sunny and allow God to bring those Mid-October rains to soften this dry heart and allow His seed to germinate in my life to sustain me for another year. God I am ready for receive all that you have...
Monday, October 10, 2011
The Ships of Life
This weekend I found myself in the same, unusual, sitituation over and over. I was alone, well actually I was never by myself, but I was alone. Skipp, my husband of 19 years, was gone on a "man" weekend celebrating the wonderful entrance to teenagehood with our son Noah. For three days I went about our normal weekend routine with a "me" instead of a "we".
Friday night is our small group night and we welcome many into our home with a big meal. I felt a new and unusual weight that night with Skipp being gone. Usually I am the "Martha" in relationship on small group nights; in the kitchen busily preparing our food. This night I had my usual "Martha" role but also very much had to pick up his "Mary" role. Now before you think I am calling my very masculine husband a "chick", understand what I mean is he is so very great at spending time at the feet of Jesus just as Mary, Martha's sister did. (Before all you bag on me remember we need both in the kingdom. If your not sure what I am talking about then read Luke 10:38-42)
I was alone in my dual roll as hostess and small group leader. I thought I would feel more pressure, and more nervousness than I did. Instead, as we were all sitting around the fire, I found myself saying words that were not my own. My Father had business to do in my heart and in the hearts of those in that group. What came out of my mouth may be a new mission for me to grow and study in.
God has given us as a gift all kinds of "Ships" in our lives. Friendship, Relationship, Fellowship, and Discipleship are all gifts bound in the love of a God who knows us better than we know ourselves. Here I was alone, or at least without the love of my life, and I was still not alone. There with me all the time was God, ready to cover me with his love. Also, I was in the middle of a group of people whom I have relationship with, some that I share a friendship with, all that I fellowship with and we are purposing to develop discipleship within a community.
What I see in the church as a whole is what I call the "lone sheep" syndrome. People who are disconnected from the body either by choice or by design, are waiting prey for a very real Wolf. When I am in a company sounded by the "Ships" of my life, I feel a sense of security and wholeness. This Wolf's purpose it to steal, kill, and destroy. He will let you get close enough to other people to give your a false sense of security but he has you bound on a chain to never really let you get away. That is why you need a Shepherd to come and break the chains and then run to herd of other sheep and find protection in numbers.
The church is God's design, not man's. If you have found yourself unhappy where you are, whether that is in church or out of church, I would ask you to examine the "Ships" in your life and ask yourself these questions:
What relationships have I made with those whom God has put around me?
Do I actively pursue the friendships that God has made for me?
Do I fellowship regularly with other like-minded believers?
Will I allow someone in my life to disciple and be discipled by?
When you can answer those questions positively then you will have found a fleet of "Ships" that will endure for life. Remember relationship was around long before man was, and we are created in the image of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit....
Friday night is our small group night and we welcome many into our home with a big meal. I felt a new and unusual weight that night with Skipp being gone. Usually I am the "Martha" in relationship on small group nights; in the kitchen busily preparing our food. This night I had my usual "Martha" role but also very much had to pick up his "Mary" role. Now before you think I am calling my very masculine husband a "chick", understand what I mean is he is so very great at spending time at the feet of Jesus just as Mary, Martha's sister did. (Before all you bag on me remember we need both in the kingdom. If your not sure what I am talking about then read Luke 10:38-42)
I was alone in my dual roll as hostess and small group leader. I thought I would feel more pressure, and more nervousness than I did. Instead, as we were all sitting around the fire, I found myself saying words that were not my own. My Father had business to do in my heart and in the hearts of those in that group. What came out of my mouth may be a new mission for me to grow and study in.
God has given us as a gift all kinds of "Ships" in our lives. Friendship, Relationship, Fellowship, and Discipleship are all gifts bound in the love of a God who knows us better than we know ourselves. Here I was alone, or at least without the love of my life, and I was still not alone. There with me all the time was God, ready to cover me with his love. Also, I was in the middle of a group of people whom I have relationship with, some that I share a friendship with, all that I fellowship with and we are purposing to develop discipleship within a community.
What I see in the church as a whole is what I call the "lone sheep" syndrome. People who are disconnected from the body either by choice or by design, are waiting prey for a very real Wolf. When I am in a company sounded by the "Ships" of my life, I feel a sense of security and wholeness. This Wolf's purpose it to steal, kill, and destroy. He will let you get close enough to other people to give your a false sense of security but he has you bound on a chain to never really let you get away. That is why you need a Shepherd to come and break the chains and then run to herd of other sheep and find protection in numbers.
The church is God's design, not man's. If you have found yourself unhappy where you are, whether that is in church or out of church, I would ask you to examine the "Ships" in your life and ask yourself these questions:
What relationships have I made with those whom God has put around me?
Do I actively pursue the friendships that God has made for me?
Do I fellowship regularly with other like-minded believers?
Will I allow someone in my life to disciple and be discipled by?
When you can answer those questions positively then you will have found a fleet of "Ships" that will endure for life. Remember relationship was around long before man was, and we are created in the image of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit....
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Mother of all Missions
Over the last couple of days I have been focusing on what the bible says about the bible and if it lines up with my beliefs. I went on chase that looked more like a dog after his tail than a girl in hot pursuit. I came to a couple of conclusions...
One, God has a mission for me, a plan for my life that only I can fulfill. Two, I believe in "Biblical Inerrancy", which is just a fancy term meaning I believe that bible is true from start to finish. Now that I have this as my basic understanding where does this leave me?
I, Becky Phipps, have the mother of all missions... It isn't one for wimps, oh no it is the ultimate mission. Actually we all have this mission, did you know YOU also have the mother of all missions?
"15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God." Ephesians 5:15-20
Right before the Apostle Paul gives us instructions on how to live out practically the Christian life he drops this little bomb... Submitting, submitting, submitting, is clanging in my ears like a loud cymbal. We all love that word don't we? What, you have a problem with the word "submit"? It is just one little word, and don't we like the word "love" so much better. If it read, "love one another in the fear of God" we would embrace is like a warm, fuzzy blanket. Remember though, I believe in inerrency, that God chose every word for a reason. Want to know why the word submit is there and not any other word? Good, because I will tell you why.
HypotassÅ is the Greek word here translated as our word "submit". It gives us a great picture into the heart and mind of God. Here is what the Blue Letter Bible says about HypotassÅ , "This word was a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden"."
God in his greatness is telling us now to not just win the battle but to win the war! When you look at Ephesians 5 and 6 you see God showing you his battle formation. First it starts with being wise with your time and days, being filled with the Holy Spirit, then submiting to others as you would the Lord himself. Loving God and loving people is simply demonstrated by your ability to submit. We as a believers spend so much wasted energy on fighting each other that we lose sight of the enemy and the war.
I am challenging you, all of you, to fall into the right formation so we can go and win God's war for the souls of all humanity. God wants his kids lined up for battle, ready to lock arms, and fight. If you are weary of the battle, maybe you are in the wrong position. So stand up, position yourself rightly, find the will of God and take on the mother of all missions... Will you join me in submitting?
One, God has a mission for me, a plan for my life that only I can fulfill. Two, I believe in "Biblical Inerrancy", which is just a fancy term meaning I believe that bible is true from start to finish. Now that I have this as my basic understanding where does this leave me?
I, Becky Phipps, have the mother of all missions... It isn't one for wimps, oh no it is the ultimate mission. Actually we all have this mission, did you know YOU also have the mother of all missions?
"15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God." Ephesians 5:15-20
Right before the Apostle Paul gives us instructions on how to live out practically the Christian life he drops this little bomb... Submitting, submitting, submitting, is clanging in my ears like a loud cymbal. We all love that word don't we? What, you have a problem with the word "submit"? It is just one little word, and don't we like the word "love" so much better. If it read, "love one another in the fear of God" we would embrace is like a warm, fuzzy blanket. Remember though, I believe in inerrency, that God chose every word for a reason. Want to know why the word submit is there and not any other word? Good, because I will tell you why.
HypotassÅ is the Greek word here translated as our word "submit". It gives us a great picture into the heart and mind of God. Here is what the Blue Letter Bible says about HypotassÅ , "This word was a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden"."
God in his greatness is telling us now to not just win the battle but to win the war! When you look at Ephesians 5 and 6 you see God showing you his battle formation. First it starts with being wise with your time and days, being filled with the Holy Spirit, then submiting to others as you would the Lord himself. Loving God and loving people is simply demonstrated by your ability to submit. We as a believers spend so much wasted energy on fighting each other that we lose sight of the enemy and the war.
I am challenging you, all of you, to fall into the right formation so we can go and win God's war for the souls of all humanity. God wants his kids lined up for battle, ready to lock arms, and fight. If you are weary of the battle, maybe you are in the wrong position. So stand up, position yourself rightly, find the will of God and take on the mother of all missions... Will you join me in submitting?
Monday, October 3, 2011
Laying in Your Made Bed
There is a little known fact about me: I simply cannot sleep in an unmade bed. If I forgot to make the bed earlier in the day I will actually make it before I go to bed. I will make all the sheets tight, pull the covers tight, and even put the pillows in the correct spot. Then, and only then, will I climb in and drift off to sleep.
Have you ever heard the expression, "You made your bed, now you have to lie in it"? Most of us have and when we hear it we most obviously think of it in a negative way. You did something wrong and now you have to live with the consequences. We teach it to our little children when they break a rule, or disobey and have to suffer our discipline.
There are many beds I have made and are laying in right now. I am laying in the bed of a 19 year marriage to Skipp because I made that bed. I am laying in the bed of motherhood because I made that bed. I am laying in the bed of home ownership because I made that bed. Are those beds bad? No! They are consequences of the choices I make, or the investments I make.
There are beds in your life right now that you can make and it will allow you enjoy the "made bed" of your future. There are people that you can invest in, there are projects you can invest in, but the most important "bed" of your life is your relationship with Jesus. That is a "bed" that you can lay in your whole life and enjoy the consequences of a life of liberty and freedom.
Today you will make choices that will affect your future comfort or discomfort. Every choice, every decision, every action will affect your furture. So, will you make your bed and lie in it? For me, I am enjoying the made beds of my life!
Have you ever heard the expression, "You made your bed, now you have to lie in it"? Most of us have and when we hear it we most obviously think of it in a negative way. You did something wrong and now you have to live with the consequences. We teach it to our little children when they break a rule, or disobey and have to suffer our discipline.
There are many beds I have made and are laying in right now. I am laying in the bed of a 19 year marriage to Skipp because I made that bed. I am laying in the bed of motherhood because I made that bed. I am laying in the bed of home ownership because I made that bed. Are those beds bad? No! They are consequences of the choices I make, or the investments I make.
There are beds in your life right now that you can make and it will allow you enjoy the "made bed" of your future. There are people that you can invest in, there are projects you can invest in, but the most important "bed" of your life is your relationship with Jesus. That is a "bed" that you can lay in your whole life and enjoy the consequences of a life of liberty and freedom.
Today you will make choices that will affect your future comfort or discomfort. Every choice, every decision, every action will affect your furture. So, will you make your bed and lie in it? For me, I am enjoying the made beds of my life!
Here a blog, there a blog, everywhere a blog, blog, blog
It seems to me that most people want to be known and heard. To prove my point, how many of us check our Facebook account after we posted something to see if anyone replied. We look to see how many "friends" we have, and how many "likes" our page contains. In a world of over six billion people you would think one would never feel lonely or friendless...
How many of us have felt alone? Most of us at times have felt that way; I know I have! I can be surrounded by my husband, our three boys, and two dogs and yet at times feel utterly alone. How can I be in a community and in relationship in that community and still feel alone and unheard...
Usually it is because I have chosen to allow what is going on in my life to direct my reaction to life. You see we were created to be in relationship first with God. Relationship? That sounds a little creepy to some, but to others it sounds like life itself. You will never feel complete, whole, and totally sound until you are in a relationship with God, through Jesus, by the Holy Spirit. When I feel alone in a community, is simply because I am neglecting my relationship with God.
Sparkler for Jesus is a blog about my relationship with God, my relationship with others, and how I chose to live my life out loud for the world to see. I believe some people can live behind a veil and never show who they really are... If you know me, then you know I am not one of those people. Life comes at me 100 miles a second and keeping Jesus in the center isn't easy, but it is possible. So, with the hurts, the joys, and with raw openess I purpose to live like a Sparkler for Jesus.
My prayer is that through this blog, you will see you are not alone. He is right there with you, if you choose! So, here a blog, there a blog, everywhere a blog, blog, blog....
How many of us have felt alone? Most of us at times have felt that way; I know I have! I can be surrounded by my husband, our three boys, and two dogs and yet at times feel utterly alone. How can I be in a community and in relationship in that community and still feel alone and unheard...
Usually it is because I have chosen to allow what is going on in my life to direct my reaction to life. You see we were created to be in relationship first with God. Relationship? That sounds a little creepy to some, but to others it sounds like life itself. You will never feel complete, whole, and totally sound until you are in a relationship with God, through Jesus, by the Holy Spirit. When I feel alone in a community, is simply because I am neglecting my relationship with God.
Sparkler for Jesus is a blog about my relationship with God, my relationship with others, and how I chose to live my life out loud for the world to see. I believe some people can live behind a veil and never show who they really are... If you know me, then you know I am not one of those people. Life comes at me 100 miles a second and keeping Jesus in the center isn't easy, but it is possible. So, with the hurts, the joys, and with raw openess I purpose to live like a Sparkler for Jesus.
My prayer is that through this blog, you will see you are not alone. He is right there with you, if you choose! So, here a blog, there a blog, everywhere a blog, blog, blog....
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