God confidence 1st Corinthians 11:12

1st Corinthians 11:12 Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

Quit focusing on you. Your focus needs to be on God. Let him be your all. He is your everything. Don 't have confidence in yourself. You can't do anything apart from God anyway.  Put your confidence in God and see what he can do through you.  

People have put me down all my life.  So much so I have very little confidence in me.  When I start focusing on me and all I need to do in life I don't have confidence to do it.  I have a book I want to publish. In me, it wont get done.  But because my confidence is in God, I self publish in a couple week and actually hit the publish button when the time comes.  

I'm also very self-conscience about how I look.  Growing up with insults throw at home all the time damages a person at the core.  The only way to permanently rewrite those tapes is to go to God and have him tell you the things you need to hear.  Whether it is the "I love yous" that you didn't receive or "You're beautiful" or "You're smart" let God step in and fill that gap. He will sing it over you minute by minute day by day and fill you with the God confidence you need until you can do what he asks of you.  Will you be scared doing it? Yep.  But with God confidence you will have the courage to do it.

Abba, I pray for anyone reading this that is broken and needs your confidence to heal the breaks.  Step in and heal their heart and give them the confidence in you that allows us to step in faith and live for you.

Thrown Away Hebrews 4:15

Thrown Away

Hebrews 4:15

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 

Damaged goods.  I’m three times divorced now and that’s what I see.  Like a bruised melon no one wants.   How is anyone going to want me after three men have thrown me away? 

Is this how Jesus felt on the cross?  He was rejected and thrown away by everyone.  Even Peter, one of his most trusted disciples, denied even knowing him. But most hurtful had to be rejected by God, his father.  We think God rejected Him, how that must’ve hurt. But we must stop and think, his father rejected him, at the most painful point of his life. Yet he didn’t ask for all of it to stop.  He completed the path set before him.  His father welcomed him home  with open arms. Peter apologized, and some who had rejected him repented and accepted Him.  Others didn’t.  Some never will.

So in the deepest point of our rejection, we can be sure Jesus knows and shares our pain and cries with us.  He had victory over rejection and so will we.

Jesus, you know what I’m feeling. That gut wrenching pain I feel when I think I’m going to be rejected again. Thank you for your comfort.  Thank you that I can come to you and you know what I am feeling. Please be with me and help me with my insecurities.  And for those reading this let them know they are not alone.  Amen

Enough Matthew 11:30

“For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Mathew 11:30

       When do we say enough is enough? Why do we wait so long to say I’ve had enough of me and all I need is you?  Why don’t we say at the start, Lord, this is your problem have your way with it?

We all have our problems we want fixed our own way. Mine was my marriage.  I wanted my husband to come back to me.  And to God.  And he chose not to. It devastated me for a long time. But within the crisis I got to say ENOUGH. My God knows me best and wants what is best for me.

       He loves me. He was rejected for me and he held my sin and shame on the cross for me. And now He asks in return that I let Him carry my burden and I carry the one He gives me. I don’t think that is a fair trade do you? His burden is so much easier than mine. And life is so much easier when we hand our problems over for him to carry and let him handle them.

       Father, I pray for all those who are saying enough. Enough of me.   Enough of my way.  Enough of my situation and my fixes.  Enough of filling the void with things of my own choosing.  Let them say all of you Jesus.   Let them say I’ve had enough of my burden, would you carry it for me Jesus. Let them fill the void in their heart with you   Bless everyone who reads these pages, Father, and let their lives be changed.  Amen

Faith like Diamond Heb 12:1-2

Faith like Diamonds
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, had he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne

It was a simple gold cross with diamond like stones on it. The kids gotten it for me for Easter and I wore it proudly. Church was basically the same Easter service as always. This year videos of “The Passion” are shown on the screen with the heart stirring music. But this year I didn’t feel the life. I only felt the sorrow, encased as I was in my depression. My husband wanted to end our marriage. The love of my adult life was throwing me away, rejecting me, telling me that once again, I wasn’t good enough.
As Hebrews 12:1-2 was read I followed along in my bible. One phrase jumped out at me. So different from any other time in my life: He endured, because joy would be the reward, He endured. He endured and gave us eternal life.
If I could endure this trial, this time would become like one of the diamonds on my necklace. The tragedy I was facing, another divorce, my sorrow would be turned to joy. And my sorrow would be like diamonds on my cross

Daddy,
As we start this journey together, for the joy you set before us, for the diamonds on our cross, I pray for your guidance with every step.
Amen

Trials of Today 1st Peter 1:7

These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire 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 when Jesus Christ is to the whole world..

My life is so stressed right now. I cry at the top of a hat. My mom had hip replacement surgery 6 weeks ago an I have been staying with her the last 2 weeks while my dad travels 4 days a week doing taxes.  I am taking care of my grandson full time who is 15 months, and I still have to take care of my own home and animals (2 cats, 2 dogs). My daughter, who has asbergers, is in the process of getting her license at 17. (not my grandsons mom) And then there is my own health, which is a fiery trial in itself. I have fibromyalgia, mostly centered in my hips and legs., CFS, migraines, and other minor things. But Peter says these things will show my faith is genuine, and I'll be purified as gold is tested and my faith is more precious than that gold.

Okay, I'll go with that. When I start to cry I'll take a deep breath and remind myself that this is just a test. And I will pass it.  My faith will be much stronger and Jesus will get the praise, honor, glory.

Jesus, give me the strength I need to get through today for today.  Help me to focus on today, not tomorrow , next week or next month. Just today. Also help me to count my blessings in all of this.
I love you,
Amen

Down and out? Psalms 143:7-8

Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,
    for my depression deepens.
Don’t turn away from me,
    or I will die. 
 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
    for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
    for I give myself to you.

Everywhere around me was dark, a kind of darkness that permeates everything. The kind you walk in.  Wade thru.  But no light is strong enough to penetrate it.  I can feel the hand of the Lord on me but I am so deep in the pit the light wont reach me.  My marriage is over, love is gone, I'm numb to just about everything.  I want help out of this darkness.I try to climb out, but something azlways knocks me back in. I lose my grip and fall.  Why couldn't the doctors fix me? The sorrow and the depression was so deep, soul deep, that only God could reach me.I'd poke up my head and have a few good days but I'd go back to my hole and my hurt and pain.  In my hole I fed my hurt and pain.
Until one daymany years being in the darkness, years of wanting out and nnot knowing what to do.  I trusted God to show me what to do, and I gave myself over to him.  I asked him what he wanted me to do.  He wanted me to give him my hurt and pain.  I didn't want to give Him my pain.  I had nursed it and fed it and taken care of it for the last seven years.  It was mine.  He sat there, patiently waiting.  Did I want to keep hurting?  Or did I want to see?I offered it up to His hands, and I saw something I couldn't see when I was curled around it.  It was chained to me.  But as I offered it up the locks broke,the chain fell away and I was free.  Light filtered into my pit.  The hurt was gone.  I saw the ladder.  I could get out now. I took a step towards them and suddenly I was on a mountaintop, sitting beside Jesus, my head on His shoulder. In a place of freedom and joy I hadn't known in many years.

Father, 
We wander and you seek us out.  We fall into a pit, and sit and let it get deeper and deeper and all along you sit beside it waiting to hear us the tiniest cry for help. Thank you for rescuing me, and for anyone reading this, answer their cry for help. lift them up out of the pit they find themselves in..
We love you Jesus,
Amen

Have You Checked Your Idols Lately? Ezekiel 14:3

“Son of man, these leaders have set up idols^[a] in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests?     Ezekiel 14:3

The Israelites had idols galore.  And they took them into their hearts, the place reserved for God.  Then they fell into deep sin because of these idols. Temple prostitution, child sacrifice, false prophets.  They were allowing demons to dictate how they worshiped so why should God listen to them?  Why should God answer any of their requests?  By this time majority of them were already living were already living in exile, but they still hadn’t turned their hearts back to God.   Why would He do anything for an adulterous people?  To a people who couldn’t be loyal to Him and Him alone?  Simple.   At that point He couldn’t.

What are your idols?  Do you know? Have you asked God recently?  Recently,  God smashed all mine to pieces when my computer broke.  And I had pneumonia at the same time.  I didn’t even realize how much time I was spending on the internet.  Facebook, Pinterest, many different doll sites, my own website, they all took my time.  God smashed them all when I lost my computer.  After I lost them, I spent hours with God.   I ended up reading my bible cover to cover in 3 weeks.  I had no computer and no TV while I was sick, and the only book I had a desire to read was my bible.  I have never been as close to the Lord as I am today.  Or as content, because I know He loves me and he is going to take care of everything for me.  I feel  His love in everything I do, I see His hand in everything that comes my way.  I pray over every decision I make.  My sense of worth is growing because I know my confidence found in God and not in me.

Father,

Please help me to keep idols out of my life.  Help me to do a check often and to remove anything that sets itself up in place of you. I want to continue to draw closer to you, to be more intimate with you.  Help me to watch myself and to do only those things  that bring you pleasure. Strengthen me for my journey.

In your precious name I pray

Amen

Anything John 14:14

¹³ You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. ¹⁴ Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Anything means what? Any thing= all things=every thing=whatever I can think in my heads to ask for. 
It means ALL things. And he will do it for the glory of God.  And he is interested in all areas of our lives from the big stress producing event to the little things like wanting to get a certain item washed in time to wear it the next day.  We just need to talk to him about it. He is always listening, waiting for us to ask.  But we have to ask for it in his name and in line with his word and will.

Can I buy a powerball ticket and ask God to bless it before I get it? Maybe as long as I have the extra dollar to spend and it's not bill money. I can ask for healing and believe He me for the glory of God. I can ask Him to help me find the keys I misplaced last night and have him help me find them. He  alway does. I can pray for a close parking place before I get to a store. Usually there is.  God cares about all these thing.  Because He cares about us. I can ask for anything in His name and believe, and I will get an answer.

I am here. John 6:17-21

 

¹⁷ But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. ¹⁸ Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. ¹⁹ They had rowed three or four miles^[a] when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, ²⁰ but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!^[b]” ²¹ Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!

Suddenly and immediately. Such strong word. Such words that are often used to describe how Jesus works.  The disciples were in the middle of a raging storm. Things were crazy scary. And someone was walking towards them. They weren't a little bit scared. They were freakin terrified.  It was a suddenly moment. They were getting their miracle.  I'm sure they had been praying for one. But having swomeone walking on water towards them wasn't how they expected it answered. But suddenly, there it was, staring them in the face.  And they didn't know what to do.  But as soon as He spoke, they recognized Jesus, recognized that they were getting their miracle.  And immediately after He was in the boat they had their miracle.  The storm was over and they were where they needed to be.

We are often in storms during our lives. And as the storms rage we pray and pray for our miracle.  But as our miracle is coming towards us were more terrified of it than of the storm.  But Jesus whispers to us "Don't be afraid, I am here." and we let him in the boat. And suddenly we are right where we need to be with blue skies all around.  The storm is over and we have what we prayed for.

Lord,

Help me to hear you sooner when I'm waiting for my miracle. Help me not be so afraid when my miracle is coming.  Help me to fix my eyes on you not the storm that's raging outside.

Amen

I love the Lord Psalms 116:1-2

I love the Lord because he hears my voice
and my prayer for mercy
Because He bends down to listen
I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalms 116:1-2

One reason I love the Lord is because He hears us when we call out to Him.  But, of course, that is only one of many.  He hears my voice whatever I pray, but especially hears my cry for mercy. When circumstances overwhelm me and life is just to much I cry out for mercy and the Lord hears me.  And I can pray at all times and in all ways because God in heaven, God Almighty, God of Heavens Armies bends down and listens to ME. To little nothing me. Who is angry and belligerent sometimes.  Who is disobedient a lot of the times.  I'm finding out, who is more a love of pleasures than a lover of what is right.  But he still bends down and listens to what I say when I pray. Why? Why would He do that? Why would He listen to me? Wretched sinner that I am?
But since He does listen I will purify my heart, I will diligently seek out sin my life, I will strive to honor Him in all I do. I will strive to do what is right and love pleasure less.  I will intercede more and pray for me less.  I will cry out for mercy quicker so I don't struggle in my own muck and mire but let God deliver me.

Lord,
Deliver me from myself
Amen