Day 17 - Today I will embrace my identity as a follower, a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I had this horrible gut feeling this morning as I read through my devotions that there isn't much in my life that visibly points to my identity as a disciple of Christ. Yeah, I'm a fairly loving individual but so are a lot of other people...people that aren't disicples of Christ. I vowed this morning to change that.
But once I got back into the craziness of work - 4 babies, 10 kiddos between the ages of 12 months and 20 months, and about 20 different problems...I forgot all about what I read this morning. As I came home I took a few minutes to relax before starting dinner...when I realized that I had again put my Christianity on the back burner. It was then that I asked myself the question - what does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? It means to walk in His very footsteps. Since I cannot physically do that without having a physical presence, what does that mean for me in the modern world? It means to be like Him. To do what He did, what He would have done. I know it sounds cliche but what would Jesus do? He definitely wouldn't talk to a co-worker about how another co-worker has seriously annoyed you. He would try to understand what the underlying cause was in why the co-worker was annoying in the first place (aka...He wouldn't get annoyed). He would have a better attitude about coming home to make dinner after a long stressful day at work.
I am supposed to be learning from Him...as a disciple. The one thing I did do right today was read His word. I read from John about remaining on the vine in order to bear fruit...(15:1-6). God was definitely reiterating what I had read that morning. I have to remain in Christ, I have to follow Him. Obviously easier said than done. But I'm ready to face tomorrow with the question on my mind: what would Jesus do? I need to look to His example in all that I do, all that I say. Maybe then people will be able to SEE that I am following in His footsteps.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
All at Once Heads are Spinning...
Day 16 - Today I will meditate on your amazing, infinite, and unconditional love for me.
So the whole meditation thing didn't happen. With only so many hours in the day and so many things to do I, unfortunately, tend to put meditation and quiet time on the back burner. This is where the honesty things gets a little tough. My priorities aren't always where they need to be. As much as I want to and as much as I need to, time spent listening to God doesn't usually make the priority list. I find it easy to make time during the day to read my devotional and the Bible at least once a day, if not twice...but it is VERY hard for me to just listen or meditate. I can't sit still for more than 2 seconds (ask Justin, he says it is my most annoying habit).
However, I did spend some time in thought today among all of my business. God loves me! No matter what I've done, no matter what I do - He still loves me! That love never wanes, never falters. Through all of my ups and downs, my good days and my bad, He loves me relentlessly! I know I relate a lot of things to songs but music has such a passion. It brings real emotion to the surface. Music is all throughout the Bible...it is beautiful, powerful, and speaks to so many people in so many different ways. Anywho...two songs come to mind. First, "You Love Me Anyway" by the Sidewalk Prophets. The chorus speaks of how we mess up but God loves us anyway - "But you love me anyway/ It's like nothing in life that I've ever known." The full song can be found here. Second - "Hurricane" by Samestate. I just recently started hearing this on the radio and I absolutely love it! God's love doesn't make any sense! We haven't done a single thing to deserve it! And the crazy thing - love still came! Every time I hear this song I'm lost in awe at how wonderfully amazing God really is. The lyrics to "Hurricane" can be found here and the song can be found here.
I hope for the few people that actually read this you take some time to ponder the awesome relentless love of Christ. You may not deserve it, none of us do, but He loves you anyway! Nothing you can do will ever, ever, EVER change that! Isn't it wonderful?? I can't quit smiling if I truly focus on that fact! :D
So the whole meditation thing didn't happen. With only so many hours in the day and so many things to do I, unfortunately, tend to put meditation and quiet time on the back burner. This is where the honesty things gets a little tough. My priorities aren't always where they need to be. As much as I want to and as much as I need to, time spent listening to God doesn't usually make the priority list. I find it easy to make time during the day to read my devotional and the Bible at least once a day, if not twice...but it is VERY hard for me to just listen or meditate. I can't sit still for more than 2 seconds (ask Justin, he says it is my most annoying habit).
However, I did spend some time in thought today among all of my business. God loves me! No matter what I've done, no matter what I do - He still loves me! That love never wanes, never falters. Through all of my ups and downs, my good days and my bad, He loves me relentlessly! I know I relate a lot of things to songs but music has such a passion. It brings real emotion to the surface. Music is all throughout the Bible...it is beautiful, powerful, and speaks to so many people in so many different ways. Anywho...two songs come to mind. First, "You Love Me Anyway" by the Sidewalk Prophets. The chorus speaks of how we mess up but God loves us anyway - "But you love me anyway/ It's like nothing in life that I've ever known." The full song can be found here. Second - "Hurricane" by Samestate. I just recently started hearing this on the radio and I absolutely love it! God's love doesn't make any sense! We haven't done a single thing to deserve it! And the crazy thing - love still came! Every time I hear this song I'm lost in awe at how wonderfully amazing God really is. The lyrics to "Hurricane" can be found here and the song can be found here.
I hope for the few people that actually read this you take some time to ponder the awesome relentless love of Christ. You may not deserve it, none of us do, but He loves you anyway! Nothing you can do will ever, ever, EVER change that! Isn't it wonderful?? I can't quit smiling if I truly focus on that fact! :D
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
I will...
Day 15 - Today I will choose to be open with a trusted fellow believer about one of my failures or weaknesses and let God minister to me through that person.
I knew this morning when I read this that I wasn't going to see very many people that this would include. Yeah, my boss and one of the girls at work...but today was pretty crazy...no time for serious conversation (which is pretty usual). I thought about calling my mom or dad but phone conversations of that matter aren't as easy as talking to someone in person. The obvious choice, even from the beginning, is my wonderful hubby. But the fact of the matter is that my failure, my weakness, like I've mentioned before, is my lack of forgiveness. And Justin doesn't exactly enjoy talking about that situation.
But I did mention it. Before we started another episode of Bones on Netlfix, I mentioned that I needed to blog but that I hadn't done what I was supposed to which was talk to someone. And then I continued to talk to him. He didn't get upset or irritated at all. You see, he also tends to struggle with the same thing. He reminded me that we are supposed to support each other in our weaknesses. God gave us each other for that purpose. So not only does God have my back, Justin does too! I can do this! And as Justin reminded me, it is a process. I'm not going to wake up tomorrow and completely forgive everyone for everything they've done...but if I continue to make a conscious choice, it will eventually become a habit, a truth. I will forgive.
Sidenote - I am so very thankful for a husband who has been with me through some pretty hard times already. Though he may get frustrated at moments, he has my back. He would go to the end of the earth for me! Every time I hear the song God Gave Me You, I get that giddy, girly grin. I moved 1200 miles away and somehow God still gave me a wonderful, amazing man from home. He knew just what I needed...even when I didn't.
I knew this morning when I read this that I wasn't going to see very many people that this would include. Yeah, my boss and one of the girls at work...but today was pretty crazy...no time for serious conversation (which is pretty usual). I thought about calling my mom or dad but phone conversations of that matter aren't as easy as talking to someone in person. The obvious choice, even from the beginning, is my wonderful hubby. But the fact of the matter is that my failure, my weakness, like I've mentioned before, is my lack of forgiveness. And Justin doesn't exactly enjoy talking about that situation.
But I did mention it. Before we started another episode of Bones on Netlfix, I mentioned that I needed to blog but that I hadn't done what I was supposed to which was talk to someone. And then I continued to talk to him. He didn't get upset or irritated at all. You see, he also tends to struggle with the same thing. He reminded me that we are supposed to support each other in our weaknesses. God gave us each other for that purpose. So not only does God have my back, Justin does too! I can do this! And as Justin reminded me, it is a process. I'm not going to wake up tomorrow and completely forgive everyone for everything they've done...but if I continue to make a conscious choice, it will eventually become a habit, a truth. I will forgive.
Sidenote - I am so very thankful for a husband who has been with me through some pretty hard times already. Though he may get frustrated at moments, he has my back. He would go to the end of the earth for me! Every time I hear the song God Gave Me You, I get that giddy, girly grin. I moved 1200 miles away and somehow God still gave me a wonderful, amazing man from home. He knew just what I needed...even when I didn't.
Monday, September 12, 2011
The Energizer Bunny
So yeah...I really slacked off this past week...or so... *sigh* I did just a couple of devos and exactly no blogs. But I'm hoping to get back on track....with each of the aforementioned.
Day 14 - Today I will take another step toward forgiving someone I've struggled to forgive.
Apparently God is really wanting to work on this forgiveness thing with me...because it is probably the biggest struggle I have right now. I do have to say, the bitterness is beginning to subside. For that, I am much happier....literally. Have you ever had that shirt where the tag just bugs the back of your neck all day long? You scratch, you adjust, you do anything you can think of but it still just irritates the heck out of you? Getting rid of bitterness is like getting rid of that tag!
Unfortunately, just because I'm not bitter does not mean that I have forgiven. Through reading this devotion this morning I realized what is holding me back - I want justice. But as Sheila Walsh puts it, "When we forgive...We realize that we won't find justice in this world - it doesn't live here." I may not feel like forgiving because I don't think its fair. Well guess what folks, as our parents have continually told us, "Life isn't fair!" Forgiveness isn't a feeling, it's a choice. But, oh, what a choice that is! It isn't just a one time thing. Choosing to forgive is a daily choice. Yes, I have forgiven today...but tomorrow, when all of those hurtful thoughts and feelings resurface I have to choose to forgive again...and again...and again.
Today, I choose to forgive. And hopefully tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day...and the next day...
Well, you get the point : )
Day 14 - Today I will take another step toward forgiving someone I've struggled to forgive.
Apparently God is really wanting to work on this forgiveness thing with me...because it is probably the biggest struggle I have right now. I do have to say, the bitterness is beginning to subside. For that, I am much happier....literally. Have you ever had that shirt where the tag just bugs the back of your neck all day long? You scratch, you adjust, you do anything you can think of but it still just irritates the heck out of you? Getting rid of bitterness is like getting rid of that tag!
Unfortunately, just because I'm not bitter does not mean that I have forgiven. Through reading this devotion this morning I realized what is holding me back - I want justice. But as Sheila Walsh puts it, "When we forgive...We realize that we won't find justice in this world - it doesn't live here." I may not feel like forgiving because I don't think its fair. Well guess what folks, as our parents have continually told us, "Life isn't fair!" Forgiveness isn't a feeling, it's a choice. But, oh, what a choice that is! It isn't just a one time thing. Choosing to forgive is a daily choice. Yes, I have forgiven today...but tomorrow, when all of those hurtful thoughts and feelings resurface I have to choose to forgive again...and again...and again.
Today, I choose to forgive. And hopefully tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day...and the next day...
Well, you get the point : )
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Passenger's Seat Anyone?
Day 13 - Today I will, by your grace, be aware of when I'm tempted to take the easy way out or to take a situation into my own hands and, by doing either, turn away from you.
Fortunately, unlike many days in my life, today was not a very tempting day. I'm almost 100% sure I was never tempted to take the easy way out or take a situation into my own hands. But I did have a few moments to reflect on times when I have taken the easy way out and when I have tried to take a situation into my own hands. It never turns out very pretty. Sheila Walsh puts it best, "...when we take things into our own hands, we lose the opportunity to allow God to work on our behalf for the greater good" (40). Why do we try to do things on our own when God will take care of things for us?!?! Um...me? God? No contest! He can do such a better job than I can. If I had just let Him handle the situation in which I took over or when I decided to take the easy way out things would be much different. At most I would have a completely different life or at the very least I would have learned a good lesson or two. But in the end I have learned a lesson today after all...stop taking the easy way out and stop trying to take control! God can handle my life much better than I can...I am so very ready to take the passenger's seat for a change.
Fortunately, unlike many days in my life, today was not a very tempting day. I'm almost 100% sure I was never tempted to take the easy way out or take a situation into my own hands. But I did have a few moments to reflect on times when I have taken the easy way out and when I have tried to take a situation into my own hands. It never turns out very pretty. Sheila Walsh puts it best, "...when we take things into our own hands, we lose the opportunity to allow God to work on our behalf for the greater good" (40). Why do we try to do things on our own when God will take care of things for us?!?! Um...me? God? No contest! He can do such a better job than I can. If I had just let Him handle the situation in which I took over or when I decided to take the easy way out things would be much different. At most I would have a completely different life or at the very least I would have learned a good lesson or two. But in the end I have learned a lesson today after all...stop taking the easy way out and stop trying to take control! God can handle my life much better than I can...I am so very ready to take the passenger's seat for a change.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Amazing Grace
Day 12 - Today I will extend to others the grace Jesus himself has shown me, looking beyond the outer shell to the heart within.
Extending grace to other is pretty easy when all is fine and dandy. But it isn't easy when people are harsh, rude, unfriendly, or hurtful. I've been hurt a lot in the past...and it isn't easy for me to extend grace to those that have hurt me. Today I tried, in a small way. I didn't get anything in return but today I looked at things differently - I didn't expect anything in return. That isn't what grace is about. Grace is giving freely without expecting anything in return. Christ knew that the gift of His grace was going to hurt, literally hurt, but He did it anyhow! I've received His grace now it's my turn to give it to others! I have to look at people through His eyes instead of my own. I wish I were able to do it more often but sometimes I boldly pray - "Lord, help me to love them as You love them, help me to see them as You see them"...I'm making it a point to pray that everyday!
Extending grace to other is pretty easy when all is fine and dandy. But it isn't easy when people are harsh, rude, unfriendly, or hurtful. I've been hurt a lot in the past...and it isn't easy for me to extend grace to those that have hurt me. Today I tried, in a small way. I didn't get anything in return but today I looked at things differently - I didn't expect anything in return. That isn't what grace is about. Grace is giving freely without expecting anything in return. Christ knew that the gift of His grace was going to hurt, literally hurt, but He did it anyhow! I've received His grace now it's my turn to give it to others! I have to look at people through His eyes instead of my own. I wish I were able to do it more often but sometimes I boldly pray - "Lord, help me to love them as You love them, help me to see them as You see them"...I'm making it a point to pray that everyday!
Monday, August 29, 2011
The Land of 1,000 Mistakes
Day 10 - Brief pause here to celebrate 10 days!! I'm so excited about this mile marker. No, I haven't blogged everyday but I have done my devotions everyday...and, if I can say so myself, that is a bit more important. And even so, I have been much more consistent in my blog...I think I've already doubled my entries. lol.
So...back to the challenges
Day 10 - Today I will ask you to show me an opportunity to be a good Samaritan!
This was actually Saturday's challenge but I ended up home sick with a stomach ache and eventual severe headache. Ugh. Seeing that the couch didn't really need a Samaritan, there wasn't an opportunity that really presented itself... So Sunday it was. And Sunday picked up Saturday's neglected chores. AKA - grocery shopping. My opportunity to be a good Samaritan was nothing major. While we were at checkout I simply let the woman in line behind us go ahead of us. It added a few minutes of time to our day but nothing major. I do hope that what I learned this weekend was to keep a better eye out. I tend to miss simple opportunities to help someone else out because I'm too preoccupied in the business of my own life. The truth of the matter is that we should never be too busy, or tired, for God's work...simply doing the right thing when the opportunity presents itself. I'm going to be watching for those opportunities...like a hawk!
Day 11 - Today I will choose to trust You rather than fear the very real things there are to fear in this fallen world.
Rejection is real. And I fear rejection like my brother fears an empty refrigerator. When I read that statement this morning I didn't think I had any "real" fears. I thought all of my fears were either conquered or unrealistic. But throughout the day I really thought about it. Rejection could come from many places - work, friends, families, etc. But I can trust God to get me through that rejection. He can give me the strength that I need to face that rejection head on. While I was facing this fear head on today, admitting that it was there, God reminded me of the last few days of challenges. Who am I in Christ?!?! What does it matter if my friends reject me? Or if someone at work rejects me? Christ will never reject me! Never! And in Him I am a princess, I am relentlessly loved, I am "the apple of His eye" (Psalm 17:8). Nothing can change that - not a bad hair day, not a forgotten phone call, not 1,000 mistakes. He will always be there...just like my shadow (even when I can't see it, that shadow is still there!).
So...back to the challenges
Day 10 - Today I will ask you to show me an opportunity to be a good Samaritan!
This was actually Saturday's challenge but I ended up home sick with a stomach ache and eventual severe headache. Ugh. Seeing that the couch didn't really need a Samaritan, there wasn't an opportunity that really presented itself... So Sunday it was. And Sunday picked up Saturday's neglected chores. AKA - grocery shopping. My opportunity to be a good Samaritan was nothing major. While we were at checkout I simply let the woman in line behind us go ahead of us. It added a few minutes of time to our day but nothing major. I do hope that what I learned this weekend was to keep a better eye out. I tend to miss simple opportunities to help someone else out because I'm too preoccupied in the business of my own life. The truth of the matter is that we should never be too busy, or tired, for God's work...simply doing the right thing when the opportunity presents itself. I'm going to be watching for those opportunities...like a hawk!
Day 11 - Today I will choose to trust You rather than fear the very real things there are to fear in this fallen world.
Rejection is real. And I fear rejection like my brother fears an empty refrigerator. When I read that statement this morning I didn't think I had any "real" fears. I thought all of my fears were either conquered or unrealistic. But throughout the day I really thought about it. Rejection could come from many places - work, friends, families, etc. But I can trust God to get me through that rejection. He can give me the strength that I need to face that rejection head on. While I was facing this fear head on today, admitting that it was there, God reminded me of the last few days of challenges. Who am I in Christ?!?! What does it matter if my friends reject me? Or if someone at work rejects me? Christ will never reject me! Never! And in Him I am a princess, I am relentlessly loved, I am "the apple of His eye" (Psalm 17:8). Nothing can change that - not a bad hair day, not a forgotten phone call, not 1,000 mistakes. He will always be there...just like my shadow (even when I can't see it, that shadow is still there!).
