"Let your tears come. Let them water your soul." ~Eileen Mayhew
Let this love letter for you from God speak to your heart....taken from Sheri Rose Shepherd's book His Princess...Love letters from Your King
I see how hard you to try to handle your heart, and I know you want to live a life without heartaches or pain. I'm asking you to take a step closer to your Father in heaven by crying out to Me when you hurt. Let Me heal you. Remember My chosen, King David? He cried out to Me in his fears, disappointments, and sin, and I answered. You are also My chosen one, and you are My daughter/son...so it's okay to cry. I don't expect you to pretend that pain is not real. It is truth and tears that will give you the freedom that I want you to know. Now let go of that part of your heart that only I can heal. Let your heavenly Daddy hold you while you cry.
Love,
Your King who wipes away your tears
Often times we cover up the very feelings that God has called us to reveal to Him. We hide what's underneath so that we come across as someone who has it all together. The truth is we all make mistakes and have problems, it's okay to be vulnerable and transparent with the One who knows what we feel before we share it with Him. He wants to hear from you and He wants you to know it's okay to cry.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
Whispers of His Nearness
As a lot of you know, I am now living in Colorado Springs attending the School of Worship at New Life Church. I am staying with an amazing family and they have made the transition an easy one. However, I wanted to share with you a major God-thing that happened recently because it reveals just how much he cares for each one of His children.
The first two weeks I was in Colorado I was busy with orientation for school, adjusting to the altitude (and believe me it's an adjustment), and attending the retreat planned for students in SOW. It was a whirlwind of activities, information, and new surroundings. I really didn't have time to think about missing home or my family because I was so busy. In the middle of September things started to slow down and I had more time to process everything that had happened in the last couple weeks. I began to feel overwhelmed, lonely and isolated. I felt as if I didn't fit in with my classmates or anyone around me. Backtracking a bit, a few weeks before I came out to Colorado I shared with my youth group about the nearness of God. The title was Never Alone. God has a funny way with things because within three days, he revealed himself to me in a way he never has.
Last weekend I attended Women of Faith with a group of women from New Life and while I was there I ended up going to lunch with my roomates at the conference. We went to Cheescake Factory (this has a point) and ate dinner but didn't have time to get dessert. I had never had cheesecake from there and was really wanting to get some but we didn't have time. One of my roomates offered to bring some back for me on Sunday so I told her I would really appreciate it. To my suprise, she brought it back for me and I text her later in the day to say thank you for thinking of me. A few minutes later she text back and told me she wanted me to know I was worth a trip to a restaurant and she also felt like God wanted her to tell me that he sees me and he knows where I am at. The next day I went to class and when I sat down in my usual spot, the lady I sit next to got my attention and said, "I felt like God wanted me to tell you that he thinks you are perfect the way you are and that he delights in you." Wow!! Two days in a row!! It gets better....The next day (day three), we had chapel and right after we got done worshipping, one of the interns came up to me and said, "I felt like God wanted me to come over and give you a hug and to tell you that he knows."
WHAT?!!! I was blown away. The fact that God would use three completely different people to speak into my life and tell me that God cares and he knows my needs was amazing!! He used the message I shared with the youth to minister to me in a powerful way. I know this is longer than what I usually share, but this story is an amazing testimony to the unique way that God speaks to us!! Just when I thought he'd forgotten about me, he whispered hope into my spirit and allowed the voice of those three women to reflect his love for me.
The first two weeks I was in Colorado I was busy with orientation for school, adjusting to the altitude (and believe me it's an adjustment), and attending the retreat planned for students in SOW. It was a whirlwind of activities, information, and new surroundings. I really didn't have time to think about missing home or my family because I was so busy. In the middle of September things started to slow down and I had more time to process everything that had happened in the last couple weeks. I began to feel overwhelmed, lonely and isolated. I felt as if I didn't fit in with my classmates or anyone around me. Backtracking a bit, a few weeks before I came out to Colorado I shared with my youth group about the nearness of God. The title was Never Alone. God has a funny way with things because within three days, he revealed himself to me in a way he never has.
Last weekend I attended Women of Faith with a group of women from New Life and while I was there I ended up going to lunch with my roomates at the conference. We went to Cheescake Factory (this has a point) and ate dinner but didn't have time to get dessert. I had never had cheesecake from there and was really wanting to get some but we didn't have time. One of my roomates offered to bring some back for me on Sunday so I told her I would really appreciate it. To my suprise, she brought it back for me and I text her later in the day to say thank you for thinking of me. A few minutes later she text back and told me she wanted me to know I was worth a trip to a restaurant and she also felt like God wanted her to tell me that he sees me and he knows where I am at. The next day I went to class and when I sat down in my usual spot, the lady I sit next to got my attention and said, "I felt like God wanted me to tell you that he thinks you are perfect the way you are and that he delights in you." Wow!! Two days in a row!! It gets better....The next day (day three), we had chapel and right after we got done worshipping, one of the interns came up to me and said, "I felt like God wanted me to come over and give you a hug and to tell you that he knows."
WHAT?!!! I was blown away. The fact that God would use three completely different people to speak into my life and tell me that God cares and he knows my needs was amazing!! He used the message I shared with the youth to minister to me in a powerful way. I know this is longer than what I usually share, but this story is an amazing testimony to the unique way that God speaks to us!! Just when I thought he'd forgotten about me, he whispered hope into my spirit and allowed the voice of those three women to reflect his love for me.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Trials of Refinement
1 Peter 1:7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
Just as silver and gold are sent through fire to be refined, so God refines His people through the "fire" of trials and difficulties. In life, we all face challenges that threaten to test our faith. However, God promises to refine and restore us to a better place when we step out in faith and push through to the victory that is waiting on the other side. Going through pain is never comfortable and that is the moment when we find ourselves stretching forth our arms to the King of Comfort. God never puts us through painful or uncomfortable situations without a divine reason. The next time you find yourself in the heat of the battle, remember that God is using your struggle to mold and shape you into the person He's called you to be!
Just as silver and gold are sent through fire to be refined, so God refines His people through the "fire" of trials and difficulties. In life, we all face challenges that threaten to test our faith. However, God promises to refine and restore us to a better place when we step out in faith and push through to the victory that is waiting on the other side. Going through pain is never comfortable and that is the moment when we find ourselves stretching forth our arms to the King of Comfort. God never puts us through painful or uncomfortable situations without a divine reason. The next time you find yourself in the heat of the battle, remember that God is using your struggle to mold and shape you into the person He's called you to be!
Saturday, August 25, 2012
The Love Problem
"Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value. Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point- that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you. There is only one alternative- self-value. If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved. You will always think it's a mistake or luck. Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within. Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences. Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security. Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them."
I found this a long time ago and was just reading over it again today...Wow, what a great check up!! This pretty much nails it right on. It's hard to love someone when jealousy is in the forefront of our emotions. God made us all unique, with different talents and personalities...all special in His sight. There isn't one who is more prized than another...yet as humans we are constantly finding things about people around us to compare. Did you see how perfect that woman's hair was? Wow, look at her complexion, I wish I had that!! Although I used examples for women, it is a problem that men deal with as well. Who can be the best self-made man? Who is the strongest and has the most endurance? There is an endless list of things that people can compare. However, God has made you to love who you are...just the way you are! Next time you find yourself in the comparison trap or filled with the jealousy bug, remember that you must see yourself the way God does. Wonderfully made with purpose and filled with talent.
I found this a long time ago and was just reading over it again today...Wow, what a great check up!! This pretty much nails it right on. It's hard to love someone when jealousy is in the forefront of our emotions. God made us all unique, with different talents and personalities...all special in His sight. There isn't one who is more prized than another...yet as humans we are constantly finding things about people around us to compare. Did you see how perfect that woman's hair was? Wow, look at her complexion, I wish I had that!! Although I used examples for women, it is a problem that men deal with as well. Who can be the best self-made man? Who is the strongest and has the most endurance? There is an endless list of things that people can compare. However, God has made you to love who you are...just the way you are! Next time you find yourself in the comparison trap or filled with the jealousy bug, remember that you must see yourself the way God does. Wonderfully made with purpose and filled with talent.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Think Then Act
Proverbs 15:4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Have you ever had someone spread slanderous lies about you or leaked something that was initially meant to be a private matter? Have you ever done that to someone else? The verse above tells us that a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. It hurts to have lies and hurtful words said to you or about you. However, we all have the choice to use gentle words and to spread words that will uplift someone instead of tearing them down. Next time you are about to let your deceitful tongue take over, think about how it feels when you are the one being talked about. Think then act.
Have you ever had someone spread slanderous lies about you or leaked something that was initially meant to be a private matter? Have you ever done that to someone else? The verse above tells us that a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. It hurts to have lies and hurtful words said to you or about you. However, we all have the choice to use gentle words and to spread words that will uplift someone instead of tearing them down. Next time you are about to let your deceitful tongue take over, think about how it feels when you are the one being talked about. Think then act.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Ultimate Burden Lifter
Psalm 55:22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
The most important part of this verse is the part that declares that we are to give our burdens to the Lord. There are going to be times in life when burdens of many kinds weigh upon our shoulders, however, God wants us to give our burdens to Him even though there are numerous things that people find as alternatives to the One who can truly lighten the load. He wants our burdens more than the alcohol that begs to be consumed until the burdens seem to be erased, more than the food that sits waiting to be devoured, more than the depression that wants to pull you in, and more than the person you believe can take away the pain. God is the only one who can take away the pressure of our every day lives and turn it into an everlasting joy! Learn to give Him those things that you have so willingly handed over to other people, things and ideas! He is your ultimate burden lifter.
The most important part of this verse is the part that declares that we are to give our burdens to the Lord. There are going to be times in life when burdens of many kinds weigh upon our shoulders, however, God wants us to give our burdens to Him even though there are numerous things that people find as alternatives to the One who can truly lighten the load. He wants our burdens more than the alcohol that begs to be consumed until the burdens seem to be erased, more than the food that sits waiting to be devoured, more than the depression that wants to pull you in, and more than the person you believe can take away the pain. God is the only one who can take away the pressure of our every day lives and turn it into an everlasting joy! Learn to give Him those things that you have so willingly handed over to other people, things and ideas! He is your ultimate burden lifter.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Big Dreamers & Innovative Thinkers
"Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men."
We all have dreams inside of us that are waiting to burst forth into reality. However, at times they get crushed by the things people say and do or even things that happen to us that make us discouraged to pursue what is really in our hearts. Our dreams start out big and become smaller and smaller until they become wishful thinking and eventually disappear completely. The quote above states that small dreams don't move the hearts of men, and quite frankly they don't move the heart of God. God wants us to dream big and ask for His help to accomplish them! He's right there cheering us on and He is a God of the POSSIBLE!! Philippians 4:13 says NOTHING is impossible with God!! Have you let your dreams become crushed by what others have to say? Have you stopped believing that with hard work & God's strength that they can come true? Think again! God is a God who loves big dreamers and innovative thinkers!!
We all have dreams inside of us that are waiting to burst forth into reality. However, at times they get crushed by the things people say and do or even things that happen to us that make us discouraged to pursue what is really in our hearts. Our dreams start out big and become smaller and smaller until they become wishful thinking and eventually disappear completely. The quote above states that small dreams don't move the hearts of men, and quite frankly they don't move the heart of God. God wants us to dream big and ask for His help to accomplish them! He's right there cheering us on and He is a God of the POSSIBLE!! Philippians 4:13 says NOTHING is impossible with God!! Have you let your dreams become crushed by what others have to say? Have you stopped believing that with hard work & God's strength that they can come true? Think again! God is a God who loves big dreamers and innovative thinkers!!
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