You know, sometimes in life you are thrown unexpected curve-balls. Today was one of those days. We are two days away from closing on our house and we were thrown an unknown. Life is full of those, really. It's how we react when we are in those situations that counts. This morning, I woke up to a few emails from our loan officer. There was a bit of snafu. I was freaked. My husband has to work all day. How can I deal with this on my own? Honestly, I was fearful in the moment but then I stepped outside and remembered that God is faithful. He wouldn't have brought this house if it weren't FOR US. And indeed, all has worked out just fine. But I think these are the opportunities that we have to remember God's goodness. When we are in the midst of being thrown curve-balls. That are so unexpected, and unwanted. We need to trust that God knows what He is doing. So, in this curve-ball I had to go to the house again (which honestly I SO needed). It has been a stressful week and I have been overwhelmed. My friend and I went to the house to check it out and I had an opportunity to meet the owners. Turns out they are wonderful people, and I already knew them. How crazy is that? I think God wanted me there to meet them, so that I would feel even more affirmed that this is the house for us. Where God's provision for our lives will be fulfilled. What could've been a terrible situation, turned out to be a wonderful blessing. Thank God for the curve-balls in your life because He will ALWAYS work things out for good, for those who love Him. I want to encourage you to put your trust in God. He is faithful, and we can rejoice knowing that is always the truth.
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Having a voice. Crucial to being a young woman, I would say. It's important that we, as young women, exercise our voice. There are so many moments in my life where I have kept quiet and not done what the Lord has asked of me. How do I know it is from the Lord? Well, I feel it in my spirit. I feel the Holy Spirit tug on me and awaken something in me.
Often, I feel as if I cannot speak. As if I am being bound by my words. Now, after reconciliation with the Father, I know that is the enemy. The devil wants to silence us. He wants us to believe we have nothing to say. Heck, for generations, women didn't have the ability to say anything. Now, we do! And I believe we need to use that. I want to speak life, truth, and love. So, I need to know the Word of God in order to do so. I need to be immersed in His presence. Everyday. Everywhere that I go. I need the Holy Spirit to come on me like a fire that cannot be tamed. I chose the word timid for this blog because often I hear this word, over myself and others close to me, especially young women. There was a moment I recognized timidity in one of my sweet friends. Honestly, I didn't know she felt this way in life. That she is never heard or that she cannot share her voice. How cruel a thing to be so young and feel as if you cannot speak. That your lips are sown shut and you long to share but feel trapped by your tongue. God does NOT give us a Spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). God has confirmed this is the enemy. The word timid means a lack of courage or easily frightened. Only the devil could instill such grief in us. He wants to shut us up and frighten us, and often, he is successful. It is SO much easier to remain quiet. To remain at a distance in order to not step on anyone's toes, so to speak. God wants us to be bold. It's important for us to recognize this turmoil and step out in faith. God speaks, we should too, being led by the Spirit. So, how do we do that? Well, I imagine speaking out to look different for everyone but if you believe God has given you a word, you should let it out. It says in Luke 12:12, "...do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." We should first be in tune with the Holy Spirit. When I call on the Holy Spirit for guidance, He answers. He gives direction and clarity in times of strife and He lives in me. Thank you Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit. Sweet reader, do not believe the lies of the enemy any longer. You have a word. Speak it out. Do not be timid or sit back and think you are not good enough. God calls you worthy because when we were still sinners, He sent His only Son to die for us (Romans 5:8). Sometimes God really wrecks you. The Holy Spirit comes and shakes up how you look at life. I had this experience recently and I want to cling to it. My husband and I took eight students to Louisiana for a Christian Youth Camp and it wrecked me, and I want to stay in the wreckage. I know it sounds weird to want to be wrecked but friends, when you're wrecked by the Holy Spirit you want to stay in His presence. God wants to come into our lives and break them for what breaks His. He wants us to feel burden for something. I didn't really know what I would receive from the Holy Spirit at camp but I found myself burdened with a desire to preach to young women. My husband and I have been leading the youth ministry at our church for a little over a year and I have always felt a burden for young women but it became ever more apparent at this camp. The Holy Spirit broke my heart for cries from the Father. The Father cries out for young women that are insecure in who they are or what they should do in life. He wants His beautiful daughters to feel just that, beautiful. He wants them to feel valued and loved and I believe it is now my duty to do just that. There are so many young women who look in the mirror and hate what they see, including myself, honestly. Sometimes I look in the mirror and despise what God created. Why am I flabby here? Why do I have this mark here? I find myself asking, why did you give me this body God? The thing is, God knew what He would do with it. Our bodies are a vessel. They can produce fruit and speak life into others. They can also harm. I think it's important for us, as young women, to recognize the beautiful creation that God breathed life into. We are vessels. God wants us to care for the vessel He created. Eating well, exercising, and giving thanks to the vessel He created is a huge part of caring for it. So my burden - to love on young women and remind them of this fact. In our insecurity. In our doubt. My job needs to be to remind and redirect women towards a secure relationship with Christ. My heart really breaks for young women that do not like what they see when they look in mirror. That was me. For so many years. I didn't like my personality, even. And I am here to tell you, wherever you are at in your spiritual journey, God wants to meet you and remind you that you are loved, cherished, and adored by Him. He cares for you and He wants to do something with your life.
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July 2023
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