Clearheaded - NLT

This word is in a verse that I read this morning in the New Living Translation.

"But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation." 1 Thessalonians 5:8

So, here's why I'm writing about it. This is a very recent testimony in my life.
I have been taking a non-narcotic pain killer to manage back pain. Recently, I found myself taking more than necessary to try to take away a non-physical pain. An emotional pain. As if this pill were like zoloft and would numb the very real presence of pain. I knowingly was not turning to Christ for this area of my life.



Due to some medical tests, I had to go off of this medication for a few days. It was in that time that the conviction came from my Sweet Father. He gently challenged me to turn to Him with my "pain." I have a sign hanging on a wall that simply says:

"Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Philippians 4:13... The Message

What is the point of having these reminders on the walls within my home if I am not willing to obey. This is something that looked pretty but I was not willing to really do. I was trying to "make it" by taking pills.

There is so much more to this story and how God brought all of this beautifully to a success story for me. It is way too much to write. The details are not as important as the praise that I can now offer clearheadedly to our Amazing, Great God!!! I can now live in the light and be clearheaded!!!

Trash or Treasure

One man's trash is another man's treasure. Big Trash day in my parents neighborhood always makes me excited. Getting hand-me-downs is wonderful! I like getting new to me things. I have just gotten an iPhone from someone who wanted a Blackberry. I have found within me this excitement about this new thing. What's crazy to me is that it is a thing. I feel so spiritually shallow that something like an iPhone can bring me so much excitement. When I hear the word "treasure," I think of a couple of things. One is a pirate which has nothing to do with this and the other is the verse in Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

But, I guess when I really get to the depths of me and what it is that I truly treasure, it is way more than an iPhone. I've been sitting at this coffee shop working on a video with music of my kiddos. I treasure memories that I have made with my children. I treasure friendships. I treasure the Word of God and what I learn from it to help me in this life. This is treasure that was never anyone's trash.

Something Fun!!!

Lately my posts have sounded sad. I want to express that I have had circumstances in life that are less than desirable, but through it all I recognize that GOD is GOOD and that He is in the midst of it all. I completely trust His Sovereign plan for my life.

Every morning during my time in the word, I struggle read through the Old Testament, then some of the New and then quite a bit of Psalms and finally onto Proverbs. No matter what my selected reading is for the day, I cherish ending on the note of some Psalms and then a Proverb.

So, for the "something fun" part: I want you (the reader) to leave a comment of your own Psalm or Proverb. I want to hear you cry out to God in your life's circumstances just like David or Asaph. If you need to think about it and come back, please do, because I'd love to hear them!!! I accept anonymous comments :)



Fun, huh? Once I think of a great one, I might even leave a comment on my own!!!

Wind

It is very windy in Oklahoma. Today was a particularly windy day. With it, came some sort of sinus headache but also an energy that I felt. I have thought about how most of the things I write about are the struggles and the hardships in my life. I'm like Oklahoma.... Winds of frustration are continually blowing in my life.

I used to love the "Life is good" logo and all things by them. I think Jake is such a cute little face :)

But now, I have thought with all the winds of frustration that blow in my life, overall, life isn't good. I would buy the sticker and put it on my car maybe in hopes that I would feel that way about life. But, reality has brought me to the conclusion that God is good and life is hard.
So, maybe I can find their font (that I love so much) and print a great Jake smile face and say "God is good" and it will help with the yuck of life that isn't so good!

Nothing I Can Do

That is the title of a song written by Charlie Hall like 15 years ago. I don't know if you're supposed to get permissions to type out lyrics or simply give credit where credit is due. So, I'm just giving the credit to him for writing what I've so often thought and felt myself. I will paraphrase to how I would have written it:

I'm so busy being busy that there's just no time to sit and listen awhile.
I'm not sure that I'm looking through your eyes or through mine.
And I'm always trying to see something I'd rather see. Why can't I only see what you do?
And put the masks away and step from the shade.
Let the Son of God come shine upon my face.
Apart from you, Lord, there's nothing I can do. There's nothing I can do.

Oh, we sing and we play, but we never think to take our masks away.
We have needs and we all have pain on the inside.
It's deep on the inside in the places where not too many get to see.

But we're all just trying to be someone we'd rather be.
Well, why can't we all just be in You?

My Heart

There is such division within my heart. I can almost see a visible line drawn through it. One side represents the Spirit that lives, dwells, directs and consumes me. The other is quite a bit darker. I had an accountability group when I was single and we would preface a lot of our confessions with: "I have such a black heart." This black side is full of weakness. It is fueled by evil. It is full of deception and is easily swayed toward darkness.
In high school I memorized Gal. 5:13-26. The passage speaks for the sin nature and the Spirit. I believe that is exactly what I am talking about when I evaluate or assess my heart. It is so exhausting to fight or even feel the pull all day long between the two natures.
For today,

Lord, help me in this struggle to choose to listen only to You. To keep my eyes focused on You. To think about what is pure, right, honorable, praiseworthy, true and admirable. I know that my Spirit is willing and that my flesh is so weak. In this weakness, I plead with you for help. I know that you can do anything and I can do nothing. I choose to abide in You. I invite you to reign in my heart today! Thank you. Amen <><

Friendships

I think that I have a lot of friends. Then, I stop to evaluate who I spend time with and it is like only family. This is fine by me because I absolutely LOVE my family. When I get free time (from life with my kiddos) I spend it with Nick, Gwyneth or Mom. I don't think this is bad. I do have a long list of friends and people that I treasure, but by how my time is spent, you'd think that I don't have any other friendships than the ones in my family. Having my husband, sister and mother to hang out with is a blessing. Many people desire to have functional relationships with their family members. So, today I am thankful that I am friends with my family!