Being Still

There comes a time when as Christians we may just need to take some time and be still before the Lord. It's nothing to be upset about, it's not even anything to be afraid of. Take it as God is just wanting to spend time with you and you alone. No distractions. Psalm 46:10 says to Be still and know that I am God. I love how the message puts this scripture:"Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything."

• Step out of the traffic- Remove yourself from distractions. This doesn't mean to go totally solitude. You don't have to do everything. God has appointed his people to do something specific for the kingdom. He places people where he wants them. The eyes were not created to do the work of the mouth; the feet were not created to do the work of the hands. Each body part has a certain task.
• Long, loving look at God- You've stepped away from whatever distraction(s) and now you just need to focus. Take a look at God. Meditate on Him. Talk to Him. Tell Him how much you love Him. Maybe He wants you to pull away because we don't tell Him enough or show him enough how much we love Him. We let too much of our flesh get in the way, then we forget why we're really doing what we're supposed to be doing.
  

Just to give an example:

I'm no stranger to the church platform. Sang my first solo when I was four. Then around the age 11 or 12 I began to play in our church band/orchestra. At age 16 singing became more of my passion and I began to pursue that direction. I knew that God had blessed me with musical talents and gifts. As I got older, the passion for singing just kept getting stronger, but where was I at with my walk? I can say that I barely had one. The only thing I could say was that I was "saved". The seriousness of my walk didn't come into play until March 2003 at a Winterfest Conference in Knoxville, TN. This was the weekend that God knocked on my hearts door and said, "Are you ready?"  I said "Yes!" The next night I was filled with the Holy Spirit. What an amazing feeling!!

Well, I've become so comfortable and content with what I was doing, my focus began to slip. I wanted to excel in what I did, but I was beginning to want it for the wrong reason. I could care less about leading, or having a solo. I just wanted people to know that I knew what I was doing and that I knew it well.

Eventually, that would have turned into a very ugly picture. Thank God though for answered prayers and for his confirmation. Do I necessarily like the answer? No, but it's okay. Some of us Christians are so ADHD that God needs to take out our energizer battery and put us to a halt. He says, "WHOA!!! Hold it!!! I need for you to just BE STILL!"

Beautiful To Me

Saturday night was an emotional night for me. God has really been dealing with me on praying and on fasting. I am constantly thinking about it. As I was reading the Word, something inside me just said to begin praying. All I could do was get down on my face before God and literally cry out to Him. Even though God already knew my heart and my thoughts at that particular moment, He wanted me to talk to Him. He wanted me to communicate with Him.

Anyway, I began to pour out my heart to Him. I did not know what to say and honestly, I did not know how to pray. So I began to cry. Tears within themselves are a language that only God can understand. It does not matter if they are tears of sorrow, tears of hurt, tears of heart-break, or even tears of joy and happiness; God knows and understands tears.

I opened up my the next blank page in my journal and I just asked God to write me something. I asked God to write out my story. I was getting frustrated and upset, but at the same time I am in the presence of my Daddy God. What could be more soothing and comforting? After a few moments, without hesitation this what ended up on that blank journal page:

Thank you for loving me as if you are my husband. After all, you are my first true love. You provide for me like a husband should. You encourage me like a husband should. You love me like a husband should. It is not just any kind of love either, but you love me with an unconditional love.

I love you in return for everything that you have done for me. I love you for who you are. I worship you for who you are.

My love, hold me close to you. Hold me tight and never let me go. You lift me up when I am down. You make me feel so special and beautiful on the inside. You even tell me that I am beautiful on the outside.

Thank you for being my rock. Thank you for being that solid foundation in which I can stand on. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for assuring me that you will never leave me. You always know what to say and when to say it.

Thank you for giving me strength, courage, and boldness.

Thank you for everything. Thank you for being that one I can always trust. I can always rely on you. I can just call your name and you will be there. Every time you remind that you have never left; you have been there the whole time.

Thank you for being my peace throughout the storm. You make everything so calm.

Knowing that you are always near me, warms me up. You love me so much. When you make a promise, you keep it. Thank you for being a man who keeps His word. I can tell you anything and not even be afraid about it. You already know it all.

My love, I love you.
You are beautiful to me!!

Attitudes

Unhealthy to Healthy Attitudes

Excerpt from Joyce Meyer Study Bible:

“It has been proven that if people believe something about themselves strongly enough, they will actually begin to behave the way they perceive themselves to be. But I have good news: Your mind can be renewed by the Word of God. This does not happen instantly, but it is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. God wants you to bear good fruit, and He will help you do so by replacing bad roots with good roots as you meditate on His word. Jesus invites us to be rooted and grounded in Him and in His love.”

Helpful Scriptures

• Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].”

• Luke 6:44, “For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit; for figs are not gathered from thorn-bushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a bramble-bush.”

• Ephesians 3:17, “May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.”

• Colossians 2:7, “Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.”

Don't worry if you think you're alone on this topic. You're not. I'm in the same boat. I get caught up in my flesh and in the worldly things around me, that I'm not thinking about what's healthy for my spirit.

I've learned that people are watching even when you think that they're not. Sometimes you might get away with it, but if you're serious about changing, then you won't. God will correct you some way and some how. He can use someone in your life to correct you. Your attitude could be unintentional. Things happen. Life is going to happen. As long as we are still breathing, then we can do nothing to stop it. However, we can control our actions and our attitudes. Take it from me, sometimes its not all that easy.

We need to remember to stay on our guard and pay more attention to what kind of fruit we're allowing in our spirit. I want people to be able to see Christ through me and that I'm different from the rest of the world. I want my faith to be strong. I want to be grounded in my Father and rooted within His word. That way when the enemy or just life itself throws something at me, I'll be ready to throw it right back in its face.

As mentioned earlier, this is not an overnight, instantaneous act, but its not impossible. Nothing is impossible with God. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!!!

A prayer:

Lord, it's important as your servant, but even more your child for me to have a good and healthy attitude. I don't want to seem like my life is show at church or in public. The attitude needs to be the same throughout my life. Daddy God, help me. Replace the bad roots, bad fruit with ALL good roots, and good fruit.

Admiration

I think everyone could say that there is an actor and/or actress whom they would say they admire. Some of my favorites include: Meg Ryan, Amy Adams, Tom Hanks, Patrick Dempsey, Adam Sandler. These are just to name a few. Now notice how I said the word "admire". What does that word mean? The word admire means to regard with wonder, pleasure, or approval. So if I had to really pick someone from my list of people who I truly admire as an actress, she would be Audrey Hepburn.

Audrey had poise.
Audrey had true modesty.

Listed below are some of my favorite quotes from Ms. Hepburn. I hope that they encourage and speak to you as they do to me. God bless!

"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles."

"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."

"If I get married, I want to be very married."

"Let's face it, a nice creamy chocolate cake does a lot for a lot of people; it does for me."

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, I'm possible!"

"The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years." 

"The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides."

"True friends are families which you can select."

I could go on and on...these are just to list a few.

Resolutions

My New Year's Resolution is very simple for this year. I want to do the best that I can that I may glorify God and I want to accomplish more of His will for my life. This is my goal. While some tasks may be easier than others, or they could just be flat out difficult, I know this...God deserves all the glory and praise for everything.

God bless you! Happy New Year!!!

Why 21 Days?

The time has come. It is time for the annual 21 day Daniel Fast. What does God have in store for you this year? What does He have in store for me? At first, I thought that Daniel had only fasted 10 days and then the extra 11 days came from a practice that man had determined from studies in order to break a habit. That's not the case at all. While Daniel had fasted ten days, the number 21 also comes in through the scripture and story of Daniel.

Check it out!

Daniel 10:2-3," In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."

Daniel 10:13, " But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and be hold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia."

So we fast for 21 days because Daniel did indeed fast for three straight weeks. I'm excited to see and experience what God is going to do. God will bless you for your sacrifice. If you have never fasted, I encourage you to do so.

Desire List

1. Born again
2. Filled with the Holy Spirit
3. Faithful in tithes in offerings
4. Accountable
5. Loves Praise and Worship
6. Leader of Worship
7. Works hard
8. Loves family
9. Wants family
10. Musically inclined and involved
11. Strong
12. Courageous
13. Easy to talk to
14. Stands up for what is right and just
15. Not afraid of discipline
16. Actively in the Word
17. Actively involved in church and community
18. Tall about 6'3"
19. Not afraid to show emotion
20. Not afraid to pray out loud
21. Likes to travel
22. Likes to host others
23. Wants to help those in need
24. Likes to cook
25. Financially stable
26. Always has a shoulder for me to cry on
27. Affectionate
28. Patient
29. Has wisdom and ecouragement
30. In good health
31. Built and not too hairy
32. Knows the voice of the Lord
33. Funny, but knows when to be serious