Unfortunately, I have not been true to my word, about posting every day something that God has shown me. It's not that God hasn't shown me things, it's that I got caught up with the craziness and laziness in this world. I have no excuses. However, God has shown me things through this craziness and laziness I've come to the past 2 weeks. I am disappointed in myself for losing the desire to post here every day and not keeping up with it.
There will always be craziness in life, but it's what you do with the craziness that can define many areas of your life. For me, God revealed to me that when the craziness happens...what truly are my priorities in life. It was a rude wake up call to me...that I thought my priorities were where they should have been...But that is what God shows me now...
All I ask is for God's forgiveness and I pray to God that He would instill in me the desire to get my priorities straight. I pray Lord Jesus that I would turn to you and not get caught up in every day craziness that may occur...and that every day you are in front of me guiding me and walking beside and revealing to me the things in this life. I thank you for waking me up and catching me in the craziness.
Lord Jesus, I ask today, for the rest of the day that is to come, that you would reveal to me something I am in need of to learn and something that you desire for me to have revealed to me.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Warning! Snow storm coming...
I've lived in Wisconsin my entire life (except 1 year in North Carolina when I was in 6th grade) and every year we deal with the same thing...the first snow storm of the winter! It's always a fun time to see the snow falling, lots of it, have cancellations and go home early and just sit at home and curl up in a blanket and just watch it snow. I love it.
Well, our first BIG snow storm is SUPPOSE to hit this afternoon and all day tomorrow. There have been cancellations that have started since yesterday! YESTERDAY!! Why? I always have to laugh, because it's 2 days before it suppose to hit and we are already freaking OUT! People are canceling appointments, events, school... Now, don't get me wrong, I do think it's going to happen too, it isn't going to be good. But here is the thing...many times in our winters we hear of these BIG storms coming and they amount to 2 inches of snow, when they had predicted 10. I'm not saying that is going to the case for this one...but here is my point...
We HEAR something from a news channel or a certified weather person, and we think they have all the RIGHT answers. We begin to be like, "o my, did you hear about this storm that is happening? I better cancel all my appointments and run to the grocery store and do this and do that, so I'm PREPARED!" Again, don't get me wrong, I'M GLAD people are preparing and I'm not saying I'm laughing at that part...
Why do we freak out when we hear something and go to all measures to prepare ourselves? Do we do the same thing with our Christian walk with Jesus? Or do you see people running around when they hear about Jesus Christ and that He is going to be coming back someday, and someday soon, at any time and moment? NO! This really bothers me. These same people HEAR the same news from Pastors, from friends & family. But do we find them listening? Not many! Isn't it interesting that they would rather listen to a complete stranger of a news channel or certified weather person(where the predictions tend to be off) then to listen to their CLOSE dear friend or family member?
We should be living everyday as if we have snow storm ahead of us. We should be preparing our hearts and our minds for the return of Jesus Christ...and let me tell you, that will be an amazing snow storm! :) We should be telling others of the "storm" that lies ahead of us as well. Just like everyone is reaching others to warn them of the storm coming today/tomorrow, we need to be reaching people for the Lord Jesus Christ!
O Lord Jesus, I thank you so much for laying this on my heart this morning. I pray right now for this storm we have coming, for the lives of people and the safety you will protect us with. I pray that I may live this day to reach people for you. I pray that we don't get caught up in the storm and the craziness but really dwell on you during this time.
Jesus, I want to reach more people to You. I pray that those opportunities you give me, that I will take them with all my might and hold on to them and use them for what you've given me. Thank you Jesus for all you have done to give me these thoughts Lord.
Well, our first BIG snow storm is SUPPOSE to hit this afternoon and all day tomorrow. There have been cancellations that have started since yesterday! YESTERDAY!! Why? I always have to laugh, because it's 2 days before it suppose to hit and we are already freaking OUT! People are canceling appointments, events, school... Now, don't get me wrong, I do think it's going to happen too, it isn't going to be good. But here is the thing...many times in our winters we hear of these BIG storms coming and they amount to 2 inches of snow, when they had predicted 10. I'm not saying that is going to the case for this one...but here is my point...
We HEAR something from a news channel or a certified weather person, and we think they have all the RIGHT answers. We begin to be like, "o my, did you hear about this storm that is happening? I better cancel all my appointments and run to the grocery store and do this and do that, so I'm PREPARED!" Again, don't get me wrong, I'M GLAD people are preparing and I'm not saying I'm laughing at that part...
Why do we freak out when we hear something and go to all measures to prepare ourselves? Do we do the same thing with our Christian walk with Jesus? Or do you see people running around when they hear about Jesus Christ and that He is going to be coming back someday, and someday soon, at any time and moment? NO! This really bothers me. These same people HEAR the same news from Pastors, from friends & family. But do we find them listening? Not many! Isn't it interesting that they would rather listen to a complete stranger of a news channel or certified weather person(where the predictions tend to be off) then to listen to their CLOSE dear friend or family member?
We should be living everyday as if we have snow storm ahead of us. We should be preparing our hearts and our minds for the return of Jesus Christ...and let me tell you, that will be an amazing snow storm! :) We should be telling others of the "storm" that lies ahead of us as well. Just like everyone is reaching others to warn them of the storm coming today/tomorrow, we need to be reaching people for the Lord Jesus Christ!
O Lord Jesus, I thank you so much for laying this on my heart this morning. I pray right now for this storm we have coming, for the lives of people and the safety you will protect us with. I pray that I may live this day to reach people for you. I pray that we don't get caught up in the storm and the craziness but really dwell on you during this time.
Jesus, I want to reach more people to You. I pray that those opportunities you give me, that I will take them with all my might and hold on to them and use them for what you've given me. Thank you Jesus for all you have done to give me these thoughts Lord.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Over Disciplined?
Is there such a thing as over disciplined? Yesterday at church we had a sermon titled: Lack of Discipline: Mismanagement.
Lack of discipline is just as much a toxin as greed, lying and pride, Lack of self-control hinders Christians from experiencing life to the fullest, as Jesus promised. Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligetn are prospering. (Prov. 13:4)
This sermon made me think in a different direction, which was being over disciplined where it controls my life a different way. If you haven't figure it out about me yet, I'm an organized person, to the point I think I may have a problem! :) I love it so much, I consider it a hobby! hahhahaa...okay, maybe not to that extreme, but I do love to be organized!
The sermon talked about having self-discipline. Healthy self-discipline is the ability to do what should be done. Not necessarily what I want to do, but what I need to do and/or what I should do. You see, for me it's not that I don't want to do them or don't know that I needs to get done...its the matter of I WANT to do them BEFORE I can do anything else.
Then we talked about the multiple responsibilities we have in our lives such as: God, Family, Employer, Neighbors, Personal Development, Friends, Church, Society.
It's what you do with your time that is most important. We are to be careful to time wasters. Everyone is given 24 hrs in a day, how do I spend my 24 hrs? I thought about this all day yesterday after we came back from church form hearing this. My husband wanted to go pheasant hunting, but I kept thinking about all the laundry and cleaning I needed to get done.
Here is where I struggle and think I'm over disciplined. I knew all the things that needed to get done at home and knew that it would take a 1/2 day to a full day to get all of it done. If I didn't do it then, I wouldn't get around to it till Tuesday. I wanted to go with my husband because I knew it would be a fun walk in the woods for the whole day and to spend time together. I was torn. Which do I do?
Well, I ended up staying home and getting ALL my laundry done and cleaning. I kept wondering the whole time if I would have went, what that would have been like. Being I got all my stuff done, I no longer was thinking about it the back of my head...but if I would have went with my husband, I have a feeling I would have been still thinking about and nervous about getting it all done! Which is better? Was it better for me to stay home to get it all done, or would it have been better for me to go with my husband? Did I spend my 24 hrs yesterday wisely?
I know I did some time wasters yesterday as well, becuase I ended up taking a 15 min. nap too, because my back hurt. But I don't see it as a time waster, because if I wouldn't have rested, I wouldn't have been taking care of myself. Right?
This is so much think about it for so many ways this could go.
Lord Jesus, show me ways I need to disciple myself better and show me ways that I may be OVER disciplined. Jesus I thank you for the time I was able to have at home to get all the things I needed to get done and I thank you my husband was able to still go hunting and able to provide for us some more dinners! :) O God, I pray you show my husband and I the balance we need to for each other, but also the balance we need to get things done as well. Help us to help each other out where we need it most during these times and to be understand with each other. I thank you so much for the understanding and loving husband you have given me who is willing to stand by me to figure these things out! Lord Jesus, I want to use my 24 hrs a day to the best I can and the best that will glorify you. I pray you will show and give me opportunities in every day that I won't waste! Help me to be alert and aware of ways I can show your love and care to others.
Lack of discipline is just as much a toxin as greed, lying and pride, Lack of self-control hinders Christians from experiencing life to the fullest, as Jesus promised. Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligetn are prospering. (Prov. 13:4)
This sermon made me think in a different direction, which was being over disciplined where it controls my life a different way. If you haven't figure it out about me yet, I'm an organized person, to the point I think I may have a problem! :) I love it so much, I consider it a hobby! hahhahaa...okay, maybe not to that extreme, but I do love to be organized!
The sermon talked about having self-discipline. Healthy self-discipline is the ability to do what should be done. Not necessarily what I want to do, but what I need to do and/or what I should do. You see, for me it's not that I don't want to do them or don't know that I needs to get done...its the matter of I WANT to do them BEFORE I can do anything else.
Then we talked about the multiple responsibilities we have in our lives such as: God, Family, Employer, Neighbors, Personal Development, Friends, Church, Society.
It's what you do with your time that is most important. We are to be careful to time wasters. Everyone is given 24 hrs in a day, how do I spend my 24 hrs? I thought about this all day yesterday after we came back from church form hearing this. My husband wanted to go pheasant hunting, but I kept thinking about all the laundry and cleaning I needed to get done.
Here is where I struggle and think I'm over disciplined. I knew all the things that needed to get done at home and knew that it would take a 1/2 day to a full day to get all of it done. If I didn't do it then, I wouldn't get around to it till Tuesday. I wanted to go with my husband because I knew it would be a fun walk in the woods for the whole day and to spend time together. I was torn. Which do I do?
Well, I ended up staying home and getting ALL my laundry done and cleaning. I kept wondering the whole time if I would have went, what that would have been like. Being I got all my stuff done, I no longer was thinking about it the back of my head...but if I would have went with my husband, I have a feeling I would have been still thinking about and nervous about getting it all done! Which is better? Was it better for me to stay home to get it all done, or would it have been better for me to go with my husband? Did I spend my 24 hrs yesterday wisely?
I know I did some time wasters yesterday as well, becuase I ended up taking a 15 min. nap too, because my back hurt. But I don't see it as a time waster, because if I wouldn't have rested, I wouldn't have been taking care of myself. Right?
This is so much think about it for so many ways this could go.
Lord Jesus, show me ways I need to disciple myself better and show me ways that I may be OVER disciplined. Jesus I thank you for the time I was able to have at home to get all the things I needed to get done and I thank you my husband was able to still go hunting and able to provide for us some more dinners! :) O God, I pray you show my husband and I the balance we need to for each other, but also the balance we need to get things done as well. Help us to help each other out where we need it most during these times and to be understand with each other. I thank you so much for the understanding and loving husband you have given me who is willing to stand by me to figure these things out! Lord Jesus, I want to use my 24 hrs a day to the best I can and the best that will glorify you. I pray you will show and give me opportunities in every day that I won't waste! Help me to be alert and aware of ways I can show your love and care to others.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Communication #2
Just only a few days ago, God had a very cool situation happen with communication. This must be an area I need to work on or something, because it happened again! I think this will always be a life-long thing to learn. ???
This time I learned how lack of communication can catch up to you and bit you in the butt! (to put it plain and simple)
It's probably hard to explain this...
Basically I had just assumed something with Ben and thought...nah I don't have to tell him that is what I am going to do with something, because, eh...I have a right to do it this time. Well...that sure stung me later.
All I know is, from now on, I will communicate about things, because he does with me on this same thing, so why shouldn't I? I feel horrible for how it played out today, but at the same time, I don't regret it because you always learn something from your mistakes.
Lord Jesus, I thank you for revealing to me once again today that this communication thing is very important in a relationship! Thank you for letting me "get caught" and for having Ben and I be able to talk about it, because once again, it probably wouldn't have been a conversation I would have been willing to have, if not forced to. I know you are showing me more and more things with this and I pray you'll continue to reveal to me my flaws in this area and that you "force" us to deal with it right away. Lord Jesus I pray that I will become a better wife through this and that my husband and I will be able to continue to help each other out through this as we figure out the difference from being on our own to now marriage. Even though we've been married over a year, I pray we can continue to learn these things and not let it become an issue. Guide us Lord in the way that honors you!
This time I learned how lack of communication can catch up to you and bit you in the butt! (to put it plain and simple)
It's probably hard to explain this...
Basically I had just assumed something with Ben and thought...nah I don't have to tell him that is what I am going to do with something, because, eh...I have a right to do it this time. Well...that sure stung me later.
All I know is, from now on, I will communicate about things, because he does with me on this same thing, so why shouldn't I? I feel horrible for how it played out today, but at the same time, I don't regret it because you always learn something from your mistakes.
Lord Jesus, I thank you for revealing to me once again today that this communication thing is very important in a relationship! Thank you for letting me "get caught" and for having Ben and I be able to talk about it, because once again, it probably wouldn't have been a conversation I would have been willing to have, if not forced to. I know you are showing me more and more things with this and I pray you'll continue to reveal to me my flaws in this area and that you "force" us to deal with it right away. Lord Jesus I pray that I will become a better wife through this and that my husband and I will be able to continue to help each other out through this as we figure out the difference from being on our own to now marriage. Even though we've been married over a year, I pray we can continue to learn these things and not let it become an issue. Guide us Lord in the way that honors you!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Communication is Joyful
I just learned a great and wonderful thing! I have two things that God has been working on my heart TODAY on, and it's only 1:30pm! That excites me.
I just had a great conversation with my sweet husband. I love it when he calls me thought the day to just say Hi. This conversation went a direction I had prepared for, but one that was NEEDED! :) I've had some built up emotions for about 3 months now. Ya see, my husband is a hunter. He hunts ducks, pheasants, grouse and deer. I think that is all. So since end of September, he has been non stop hunting. I appreciate it so much because it brings a freezer full of delicious dinners that you can't get from the grocery store or from a restaurant (without pay the price). At the same time, it also requires him to be gone out hunting a lot. I don't mind most times, but when it gets to be constant and when he comes home exhausted and then our evening is shot because of him being tired, then it wears on me. Can you see where this is going yet?
I've had this built up for months! When I think about talking about it, for some reason I chicken out and make an excuse for why not to talk to Ben about my concerns. Like, "o he helped me with hanging lights in the basements, so how can I get upset with him". Or stuff like that.
Well today when he called he told me about a trip he wants to take with his dad at the end of December. I immediately sunk! And thought, ah, I thought I wouldn't have to have this conversation, I thought we were going to be OK and I'd be fine till next season. Well, WRONG!
I know this is all because God wanted to teach me a lesson on communication. Yeah see, Communication is VERY important, right?! Well I thought I could get away with communication! :) And you know what, sure our conversation wasn't easy and it took awhile to talk things through, but you know what else? My husband is now aware of my feelings I have been having and will now be able to help me out through them! And that is the best thing...otherwise I'd have it all built up inside me and someday I could just explode and that wouldn't be helpful to anyone!
God also showed me something else through this...
Immediately after talking to my husband, I felt content and peaceful. Not because we just solved a conflict we had, yeah that was part of it. But you see, our communication hasn't been great for the last month, I'll be honest! So it felt good to TALK to him again.
This is exactly like my relationship with God. Many times I feel I just solve things on my own and I don't need to go to God for everything. But you know, I do! Just like with my husband, I need to go to him about the feelings and frustrations I am feeling, the joys and excitements...all of it. As do I need to go to God to TALK to him about my feelings and frustrations, my joys and excitements. The minute I stop, is the minute I feel alone! Just as the minute I loose touch with husband, I feel alone and like I need to defend for myself. But I don't need to! Not only is my husband there for me, even when we loose communication for awhile, but God is ALWAYS there and I need to remember and know that God there with open communication. I have the same feelings when I miss communication with God! I find that amazing! I love that I can tell when I haven't been talking with God how I am use to or should be, because I feel all BLUE inside! So whenever I feel disconnected, I know its because I need to be right on track with my communication with God!
Lord Jesus, first of all I thank you for always being here for me to be able to talk to. Thank you for showing me the love you show and the joy I feel when I do talk with you. Jesus I appreciate so much the opportunity YOU GAVE me today to talk with my husband. I know I needed to have that conversation and you gave it to me! Thank you! Thank you for being there through our conversation and having us both be open to our talk. You continue to show me amazing things in my life and I thank you that I opened to it. I pray I will continue to open to communication with you!
I just had a great conversation with my sweet husband. I love it when he calls me thought the day to just say Hi. This conversation went a direction I had prepared for, but one that was NEEDED! :) I've had some built up emotions for about 3 months now. Ya see, my husband is a hunter. He hunts ducks, pheasants, grouse and deer. I think that is all. So since end of September, he has been non stop hunting. I appreciate it so much because it brings a freezer full of delicious dinners that you can't get from the grocery store or from a restaurant (without pay the price). At the same time, it also requires him to be gone out hunting a lot. I don't mind most times, but when it gets to be constant and when he comes home exhausted and then our evening is shot because of him being tired, then it wears on me. Can you see where this is going yet?
I've had this built up for months! When I think about talking about it, for some reason I chicken out and make an excuse for why not to talk to Ben about my concerns. Like, "o he helped me with hanging lights in the basements, so how can I get upset with him". Or stuff like that.
Well today when he called he told me about a trip he wants to take with his dad at the end of December. I immediately sunk! And thought, ah, I thought I wouldn't have to have this conversation, I thought we were going to be OK and I'd be fine till next season. Well, WRONG!
I know this is all because God wanted to teach me a lesson on communication. Yeah see, Communication is VERY important, right?! Well I thought I could get away with communication! :) And you know what, sure our conversation wasn't easy and it took awhile to talk things through, but you know what else? My husband is now aware of my feelings I have been having and will now be able to help me out through them! And that is the best thing...otherwise I'd have it all built up inside me and someday I could just explode and that wouldn't be helpful to anyone!
God also showed me something else through this...
Immediately after talking to my husband, I felt content and peaceful. Not because we just solved a conflict we had, yeah that was part of it. But you see, our communication hasn't been great for the last month, I'll be honest! So it felt good to TALK to him again.
This is exactly like my relationship with God. Many times I feel I just solve things on my own and I don't need to go to God for everything. But you know, I do! Just like with my husband, I need to go to him about the feelings and frustrations I am feeling, the joys and excitements...all of it. As do I need to go to God to TALK to him about my feelings and frustrations, my joys and excitements. The minute I stop, is the minute I feel alone! Just as the minute I loose touch with husband, I feel alone and like I need to defend for myself. But I don't need to! Not only is my husband there for me, even when we loose communication for awhile, but God is ALWAYS there and I need to remember and know that God there with open communication. I have the same feelings when I miss communication with God! I find that amazing! I love that I can tell when I haven't been talking with God how I am use to or should be, because I feel all BLUE inside! So whenever I feel disconnected, I know its because I need to be right on track with my communication with God!
Lord Jesus, first of all I thank you for always being here for me to be able to talk to. Thank you for showing me the love you show and the joy I feel when I do talk with you. Jesus I appreciate so much the opportunity YOU GAVE me today to talk with my husband. I know I needed to have that conversation and you gave it to me! Thank you! Thank you for being there through our conversation and having us both be open to our talk. You continue to show me amazing things in my life and I thank you that I opened to it. I pray I will continue to open to communication with you!
His Perfect Time...is all things!
I think God is trying to tell me something about being patient. There are a few things going on in our lives right now and all them require patients! Hmmm...
Yep, teaching me patients!
My husband has been looking for permanent full time employment for about 2 years now. It hasn't been easy, more so for him than me. I'm content where we are, partially because I love my job and I don't really want to leave it and I love the area we live in. But at the same time I am not content because it sure would be nice to know where we are going to end up and live for a longer period of time, probably...and so we get steady income and better income for that matter. Well, my husband applied for a job a couple days ago. Every time he tells me he applied for a job, we get all excited about it (especially one that we THINK he is REALLY qualified for!) and think something will actually happen with this one! Well, that has happened to us a could number of times, needless to say nothing great has come out of it, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't be writing about this. Well, we both find ourselves this week with the same feelings we have every time this happens. We CAN'T wait to hear something!!! We are so IMPATIENT!
Then, there are other opportunities that we face and I just think...ah I wish time would fly by so I know what God wants for us! Well, it doesn't work that way does it?! NOPE! Again, I'm impatient!
God is teaching me to be patient is BIG THINGS, like my husbands job & our living situation. And God is teaching me to be patient is small things (a opportunity I am exploring for a hobby). And I'm realizing that God cares about those, big or small, important or non important. God knows all and He knows we get impatient about the littlest things...
But He also teaches us things through those things. For me, yeah, I'm learning just play SLOW DOWN KELLY!!!! I tend to get excited about something and I just RUN with it!!!!!!! and FAST!!! I can't do that right now, because things are holding me up, but I know there is a reason why things are holding me up, its God. He wants me to just slow down and research and take it easy...because He has our best interest in mind! And I feel at peace just knowing that!!
Lord Jesus, I know I am not done with this one. I know you are still teaching me and having me process this one through! I pray that you continue to show me what you are showing me through being patient. I thank you for this opportunity that you have set before us, that we can lean on you and trust you to bring us to the next place you have for us. May you give us both peace and continued patients in this all.
Yep, teaching me patients!
My husband has been looking for permanent full time employment for about 2 years now. It hasn't been easy, more so for him than me. I'm content where we are, partially because I love my job and I don't really want to leave it and I love the area we live in. But at the same time I am not content because it sure would be nice to know where we are going to end up and live for a longer period of time, probably...and so we get steady income and better income for that matter. Well, my husband applied for a job a couple days ago. Every time he tells me he applied for a job, we get all excited about it (especially one that we THINK he is REALLY qualified for!) and think something will actually happen with this one! Well, that has happened to us a could number of times, needless to say nothing great has come out of it, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't be writing about this. Well, we both find ourselves this week with the same feelings we have every time this happens. We CAN'T wait to hear something!!! We are so IMPATIENT!
Then, there are other opportunities that we face and I just think...ah I wish time would fly by so I know what God wants for us! Well, it doesn't work that way does it?! NOPE! Again, I'm impatient!
God is teaching me to be patient is BIG THINGS, like my husbands job & our living situation. And God is teaching me to be patient is small things (a opportunity I am exploring for a hobby). And I'm realizing that God cares about those, big or small, important or non important. God knows all and He knows we get impatient about the littlest things...
But He also teaches us things through those things. For me, yeah, I'm learning just play SLOW DOWN KELLY!!!! I tend to get excited about something and I just RUN with it!!!!!!! and FAST!!! I can't do that right now, because things are holding me up, but I know there is a reason why things are holding me up, its God. He wants me to just slow down and research and take it easy...because He has our best interest in mind! And I feel at peace just knowing that!!
Lord Jesus, I know I am not done with this one. I know you are still teaching me and having me process this one through! I pray that you continue to show me what you are showing me through being patient. I thank you for this opportunity that you have set before us, that we can lean on you and trust you to bring us to the next place you have for us. May you give us both peace and continued patients in this all.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Envy vs. Jealousy
On Sunday, Pastor Andy Hahn had a message at our church called "Greener Grass: The Toxin of Envy".
I knew this would be a good one, because we all fall short when it comes to Envy. I knew God would speak to me with something through this.
I know I'm an envious person, but what I didn't know was that there are different forms of Envy, which are:
Material - things
Relational - people
Positional - status
And that they different forms of envy all are in the 10 commandments, in one verse, Exodus 20:17...
"You shall not covet your neighbors house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
What I realized was Envy is a condition of the heart. And how do we develope a heart of peace? Well, we need to start with the heart first! Interesting, huh?
It makes me thinking about where did this develope and how and when did it start to reside in me? I need to remember to cultivate a heart of thanksgiving. Which goes back to a couple blogs ago when I talked about Thanksgiving should be everyday! Hum....
Am I thankful today?
I think the hardest part about all of this is to learn to rejoice in the well-being of others (to not be jealous). I think that is where it all starts for us all, that it becomes a factor that we dwell on and think how did that happen and not to me...we not only become Envious, but we become Jealous. And when Jealous eats us up, our heart becomes bitter and sour, and then we start to ACT that way towards people and to the person that we are jealous or envious of...and do they deserve that?
This makes me think about being satisfied with what God has given me. We all tend to get restless in our lives. I have felt that in the last 6 months probably, and maybe longer. Ben and I so badly want a house, but even before that, we desire to be a in place were we know we are going to live (meaning Ben gets a full time job!!). But we need that before we can get a house...so we tend to get anxious. Now is anxious different than being envious? I guess if I were envious of people that had a full time job and new were they were going to live for awhile. But you see, I don't think I am. I think its just more we desire to have that, becaust at the same time we are content we're we are too. But that is something I need to pray about and see what God is showing me more there.
But I need to be satisfied with were we are. Sure Ben might not have his full-time permanent job just yet, but he has a job and we live in a nice place and area that God has provided for us. There are many out there who don't even have a job, which forces them to move to a different place. I'm thankful for this!
I'm thankful for the wonderful husband I have!
Lord Jesus, I ask you now to search my heart and search my life of areas I need to be shown with Envy. I pray that you would continue to show me areas in my life that I need to work out and through and look at my heart and see that it is Christ-centered. Show me the areas in my life which are not! I thank you Jesus for the things you have show me through the message on Sunday. May this dwell in me and may I search more in depth to what you will show me!
I knew this would be a good one, because we all fall short when it comes to Envy. I knew God would speak to me with something through this.
I know I'm an envious person, but what I didn't know was that there are different forms of Envy, which are:
Material - things
Relational - people
Positional - status
And that they different forms of envy all are in the 10 commandments, in one verse, Exodus 20:17...
"You shall not covet your neighbors house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
What I realized was Envy is a condition of the heart. And how do we develope a heart of peace? Well, we need to start with the heart first! Interesting, huh?
It makes me thinking about where did this develope and how and when did it start to reside in me? I need to remember to cultivate a heart of thanksgiving. Which goes back to a couple blogs ago when I talked about Thanksgiving should be everyday! Hum....
Am I thankful today?
I think the hardest part about all of this is to learn to rejoice in the well-being of others (to not be jealous). I think that is where it all starts for us all, that it becomes a factor that we dwell on and think how did that happen and not to me...we not only become Envious, but we become Jealous. And when Jealous eats us up, our heart becomes bitter and sour, and then we start to ACT that way towards people and to the person that we are jealous or envious of...and do they deserve that?
This makes me think about being satisfied with what God has given me. We all tend to get restless in our lives. I have felt that in the last 6 months probably, and maybe longer. Ben and I so badly want a house, but even before that, we desire to be a in place were we know we are going to live (meaning Ben gets a full time job!!). But we need that before we can get a house...so we tend to get anxious. Now is anxious different than being envious? I guess if I were envious of people that had a full time job and new were they were going to live for awhile. But you see, I don't think I am. I think its just more we desire to have that, becaust at the same time we are content we're we are too. But that is something I need to pray about and see what God is showing me more there.
But I need to be satisfied with were we are. Sure Ben might not have his full-time permanent job just yet, but he has a job and we live in a nice place and area that God has provided for us. There are many out there who don't even have a job, which forces them to move to a different place. I'm thankful for this!
I'm thankful for the wonderful husband I have!
Lord Jesus, I ask you now to search my heart and search my life of areas I need to be shown with Envy. I pray that you would continue to show me areas in my life that I need to work out and through and look at my heart and see that it is Christ-centered. Show me the areas in my life which are not! I thank you Jesus for the things you have show me through the message on Sunday. May this dwell in me and may I search more in depth to what you will show me!
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