Who or What is Guding You?

'So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.' These are some pretty simple, yet powerful, words. After all, every word of God is. It's quick, alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit...
Speaking of Spirit... You know His Holy Spirit - the one He sent to us to be our guide and to orchestrate our very lives. The one who saves us from destruction, who doesn't hide anything from us, but reveals to us everything we need for this life. The One who SPEAKS to God on our behalf. WOW. Grab ahold of that. Just meditate a minute...
My husband and I just got back from a wonderful vacation. We came back refreshed, renewed, and even more excited about our future. It wasn't just us - we brought along His Holy Spirit. He came, and we welcomed Him. We made room for Him, and listened for His voice. He helped my husband and I make decisions and grow together as one. He spoke things to us regarding our future, but also led us through each new and current moment. He was louder than any worry or doubt, louder than any uncertainty or question, and louder than any whim or emotion. He was our captain. There were things He spoke very clearly to both of us. He loves to be included. We were in His Word each day as He revealed new things to us, while reminding us of things forgotten. He told us where to go and what to say. He protected us from harm on two occasions (that I know of). He was faithful. He IS faithful - at all times.
We don't want to lead our 'own' lives. We want His leading for our lives. We don't want to be led by our  feelings or emotions - these things are not truth. There is such a peace and a joy in knowing that we are fully surrendered to the Lord. We are completely willing to lay it all down becasue we know that He loves and cares for us and has our lives completely in His hands. There is no place I'd rather be. <3

Love and Be Loved

"Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others,Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel,Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything,Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.
This love amazes me. His word amazes me. Yet, somehow, I am amazing to Him. This is how He loves me! If you think about God - He requires nothing from us, but hearts surrendered. He doesn't put conditions on us, doesn't force us to do right, but just the opposite. He loves us - and in turn we love Him. It's just so natural - Love and Be Loved. Then His very love is shed abroad in our hearts, and we can give t out to others; His VERY love. It's no something we have to figure out how to do or strive to do, we just love as God loves us. He gives it to us, and we give it to others. Simple. Let's not complicate it by trying to 'find' ways to love, or by 'wondering' how to love. He has shown us already, and it has been revealed to us by His Holy Spirit. There's nothing new under the sun with God, no new formulas, no special exceptions to the rule, no shortcuts, just His way. Choose God - Choose Love.

The Pursuit of Righteousness.

2 Timothy 2:22 (AMP)

"Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart."

What is your focus for 2012? Who and what will you decide to pursue? I will pursue Christ and His righteousness, for He is all I want and all I need. I will seek His very heart, His kingdom and His righteousness, becoming more intimate with Him every step of the way, knowing full well that He is providing me with all I need. (Mt. 6:33)

2 Peter 1:3 (MSG) says,

"Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust." 

His word is so clear! He has given us the power it takes to truly live for Him. And in living fully for Him we can receive all His promises, which are Yes and Amen!!

The best revalation I've ever had is this...

I can strive and try to be a 'good' Christian to the best of my own ability, but all I'm going to get are natural results, or I can abide in Him and BE who He has told me I am in Him and get supernatural results! 

This set me free. He really does ALL the work on you if you'll let Him! So choose to pursue Him today! 

Happy New Year!

"There's a brand new year just around the bend,
no need to borrow, but so much to lend,
God is the source, for me and for you,
In 2012 He's made all things new!
His grace is sufficient, His mercy new every morning,
His desire is to make His children be adorning,
So give Him your life with nothing held back,
Tis' then you'll know of 'more' and forget about lack."

Just a little poem I wrote for the New Year. Make it a point to remember these things in 2012. We are God's children, not to be tossed to and fro. We shall not want or lack for any good thing. We serve a God, who is more than enough. By His stripes we are healed, by His grace we are justified, by His strength we can do all things, by His love we can know Him and be like Him, by His mercy we can be free, and by His blood we HAVE OVERCOME!

Happy New Year! 2012 will be wonderful!

Ask and you Shall Have.

James 3:17 says, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."

God tells us who lack wisdom just to ask for it. Sounds good, huh! Well, it IS good - if practiced. In order for us to receive we must ask the Lord with a hope and a confidence. The Bible tells us (also in James) that we have not not because we ask not.Until we have made Jesus Lord over all there will be 'have nots' in those areas we choose to keep Him out of. Would you feel awkward asking your neighbor who you've only said hello to a few times to help you landscape your yard? I know I would. 

Open and constant communication with the Lord is a must. Giving Him power over all areas of life is a must. A surface relationship will never do. He searches your heart and knows your innermost being. He already knows everything, but invite Him to know you and dwell in you on purpose. Ask for His wisdom and guidance in all things. He'll never steer you wrong. His love for us is unfailing.

His Grace is Enough and Enough and Enough!

Hebrews 14:6 says "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]."
His grace is powerful and ever present. It never runs out; it's an endless supply. It is sufficient for all of our weakness and because of it we can be made whole. I'm so thankful for His grace, undeserved yet lavished in abundance. It's His grace that has taught me how to truly give an receive His love. Knowing I have a God who allows me to approach Him boldly, despite all of my shortcomings and flaws, overwhelms me and prods me to love. To love Him, to love others and to love myself. 
It allows me to see myself in His perfect image - literally see the ME that I am in HIM. This is so important in our growing as Christians. We have got to see ourselves as God does - holy and right standing. Jesus paid it all so we might live wholly and completely in Him - not so we could strive to figure it all out or be children tossed to and fro.
His grace is sufficient and will always be more than enough. Grab a hold of His grace to be who He has called you to be. No more striving! Approach Him boldly and allow Him to do the work in you.

Who's Holy Spirit Do You Think You Are?

Last night I ran into a few friends from church. We chatted for a few, and we arrived upon the subject of wifehood. I listened as this woman shared her frustration about her significant other. She said he seemed to be on a different page than her - she was growing in the Lord, and he wasn't going at her same pace. I encouraged her by saying these words... "We cannot be our husbands Holy Spirit. We cannot change them because if we do, the results we get are not real. Their behavior may have changed, but the heart is left in the same, or even worsened, condition." My husband heard me say this and shouted, "AMEN!"
I'm sure He is grateful for this revelation God has given me, since I used to take in the role of the Holy Spirit quite often in our early years of marriage. (Sometimes, it still tries to creep up on me.;-)
What I learned is that by trying to change my husband it just frustrated the situation more. He was feeling discouraged, and I was feeling worn out. If we are trying to change our spouse in to our perfect image, the insecurity really lies within us. It's when we haven't placed our confidence in Christ alone, that we take on the project of changing those around us. If our confidence was in Christ, we would know that any change HE produces is REAL. It's above and beyond anything we could ever do ourselves. Have you ever tried to do a job, but you don't have the right tool? For example - trying to mop the floor without a mop - you end up on your hands and knees and it takes a lot longer. Or, carrying the laundry all the way up the stairs without a basket. Or, trying to vacuum under the couch, but you don;t have the right attachment so you have to lift and push at the same time. (I've done all of that, by the way.) That's what it's like when we try and do things in our own strength and confidence. Sure, we can pull it off sometimes, but it's taken way longer, it doesn't get done right, and it's a really fight to accomplish it. Sure, we can nag and nag and nag until we get the husbands to shape up, but that leaves him feeling beat down and resentful, feeling unloved and shamed, and it leaves us feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted and STILL discontent at the end of the day. The same goes for your kids and your loved ones. Allow God to produce in them a new heart. If you're struggling - let go. Make a decision that you are going to hold fast to God's promises, choosing to LOVE all the while. I have seen, when I walk in love towards my husband, he wants to be a better man. He want to be who I see him as when I'm looking through Christ's eyes. Love hopes and it never gives up on a person - it never fails and keeps no record of a person's wrongdoing.
Take it from me - someone who has tried it both ways. LOVE conquers all. Choosing to love means choosing the victory.