Running My Race…
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” ~ Hebrews 12:1
Many months ago I had a woman speak into my life many prophetic words, which included a couple of things from my mother, who passed on in April 2008. I wasn’t sure how to respond to this as I felt it violated my ’religion’….hahaha. Seriously. But as this woman nonchalantly delivered her last prophetic word to me, and the second one from Mom, I immediately began to weep.
The saying was one which Moma had often repeated to me, jokingly. Nobody could have known about it, and the comment was something this woman had never said before, or so she told me afterward. So I began to reexamine Mom’s first message to me. “RUN!” The woman said it emphatically, with such urgency and determination. “RUN!” It seemed almost alarming! Until today in church, I never made the mental connection between the above Bible verse and my mom’s word for me. Now, I finally understand. My mother, now part of the great cloud of witnesses cheering me on, was telling me to run! Run my race with perseverance. Wow…
Pastor Sharon Daugherty preached this morning’s sermon. She showed “The Harvest” video and as I watched I shook my head, saddened at the ironic similarity between fact and fiction. This was Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty’s favorite movie. The Harvest! Oh, God, the great harvest!! Help me to do all I can to help your kingdom! That is all I live for and truly desire.
“Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” ~ John 4:35
This was the verse Pastor’s family found on his table when they returned from the hospital. The Harvest. Pray. Give. Go. Yes, Lord! Yes, Lord! Yes, Lord! How can my response be anything less? When I think about what you’ve given me, what you’ve done for me, what you’ve sacrificed for ME! Yes, Lord, with ALL that I am and all that I have to offer, YES!
It’s so late/early and I’m actually falling asleep, but there are so many things I’d like to share. My life is so different now from what it has ever been before. I am so blessed by God Almighty to live in His will for my life and seek His face and Kingdom first, everything else is being added, indeed! He is so good, so merciful, so loving and kind. I cannot imagine serving the God I thought I knew before, the one who looked to criticize, waited to watch and scold me when I stumbled off course. This is a strange God. This God is like none other. He is personal and sweet yet firm and uplifting in a non-threatening, parental kind of way. He is everything. The Great I AM! And I… am His.
Today is our 4 month anniversary. I am thankful for His grace and mercy which allow me to celebrate that He alone has held my love and affection, adoration, for these past several months. Truly, for the first time in my life, I am free. I am free. I am so free. I cannot write this without the tears of gratitude and overwhelming love welling up in my eyes. Alas, I have never tasted this life unchained before and it is more wonderful, more beautiful, more sweet than I ever could have imagined. Thank you, my King, lover of my soul, precious Jesus, El Shaddai, Holy Spirit. Thank you…and Happy Anniversary God!
This might be the part where I look down at my feet and ponder your thoughts on the subject. 4 months…is that ALL?! How long has she been a Christian? Wasn’t she a leader in the church? What had she withheld from Him all this time? What sin was she hiding? I’d be lying if I said such things didn’t cross my mind but ultimately, I’ll do me and allow you to do you :) Fair enough?
I will take my 4 months by God’s grace and wear it proudly for all the world to see that I am in love with my Savior and my Lord, my one, true God! I have never had such joy and peace and utter satisfaction to be exactly where I am at every moment of every day. I am led by my shepherd and I know His voice, I will never again follow a stranger’s. …But not by my might, only by His grace. Always by His grace.
Moving on…today is Nov. 30th. Tomorrow is the 3 months mark since I last talked with Francis. I anticipate his call with bittersweet feelings. Things will change no matter what the conversation holds. My trust is in God to guide us along His intended path and perfect will for our individual lives. If God’s will is that our paths unite, so be it. If not, so be it. But I still await his call somewhat nervously. I am prepared for either outcome, I believe. I know I heard/saw clearly several times back in 2006/2007, and even in recent times, that Francis was the one for me but I wasn’t close to ready. I was a totally different person than I am today. Wow…LoL. I would’ve run from me back then! I was so lost, confused, sad, and unsaved, really, to be totally honest. Even though I was in Bible school, I was living a complete double life. In my heart I loved the Lord, truly! But I was still in that awkward transition between the world and the Kingdom of Heaven. Some people have an immediate, dramatic conversion. I delayed my crossing over entirely for years because of deep-rooted issues I had not resolved until this past year. Francis saw me then…raw and real, bleeding still, though passionately desiring the life God offered.
Then, this year he caught a glimpse of the woman I’d become in his absence and since Bible school. I remember for a couple of weeks I felt led by God to pray for the Lord’s perfect will to be restored to my life. I didn’t even know what it meant. Still don’t, entirely. Around the same time, on a different subject, I thought, I felt to pray for God to open up Francis’s eyes. I believe the Lord truly opened his eyes to the truth. It was rather interesting to wake up to a 3 am phone call with him on the line, rather excited and shocked all at once, his words rushing out and spilling over each other as he explained how he’d come to see that we might possibly be meant for each other. Then, there was the last phone call a few days later where he calmly and tenderly asks me to ‘just wait for 3 months and then we’ll talk about this further’ as he went away to seek the Lord’s perfect will for his life. LoL. Either way though, I’m glad the wait is nearly over. Can I be totally honest and say now that the call is so close I worry a bit if a man would interfere with this amazing love and beautiful life I have with the Lord. Well, at any rate…God knows best.
And…on another note entirely, I will never forget when the Lord asked me to step away from my job (working for Prasad’s company as a home health aide) and step into full-time ministry. I looked around me to see who God was talking to…um…I was in the shower. So, yeah, He was talking to me! Exactly seven days later I shocked everyone, including myself, and resigned. The bad seed stopped. Praise God! I began preparing for ministry by praying a lot! and seeking direction. Krystal and I were praying together and soon she also was thrust into full-time ministry. Soon, we united with Pastor Josephine and Fred as part of Bugingo Victory Ministries.
Our team began meeting M-F for several hours to pray and plan. Shortly thereafter we took our first team trip (excluding Fred due to a conflicting work schedule) to Port Saint Joe, Florida to support Christian Hedegaard, Josephine’s brother. Sometime after we returned home we also began serving a weekly dinner to several homeless people downtown. Now, we are believing God and planning on starting a church, as well as preparing and organizing a mission trip for a team from the U.S. to build a new orphanage building in Rwanda for Pastor Josephine’s children. We are blessed to be productive for His Kingdom and glory! Praise God! All this, though, did not keep me completely busy during the day and I began to feel a shifting of my life again. What next, Lord?! I asked almost timidly. I knew by then, God has me take these crazy, giant leaps of faith. LoL, oh yes! Here came another…
My children were removed from the Supernatural Academy at the mutual consent of the school and me. God revealed to me that my children needed to be homeschooled. WHAT?! Hahahaha…seriously God, which public school should I enroll them in?! (Panic ~ because I know He’s not changing His mind but I try to cover my ears.) Gently, “No…they need you right now.” (Peace) Ahhhh…And now I have the blessing, honor, and extreme privilege of homeschooling my beautiful babies! I LOVE IT! I would have NEVER thought! LoL.
I wake up, have a nice big cup of coffee, spend some quality, alone time with the Lord, and cook a huge, delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon/sausage, pancakes, etc. After our break’feast’, we all clean up and do chores, schoolwork, or take field trips, etc. It’s incredible! It’s God. And I am the most blessed woman in the world. I get to love them, teach them, watch them, enjoy them, lose my temper and patience with them, live in the best and worst situations with them, snuggle with them and grow with them. It’s more than I ever asked for or desired and it’s so much better than doing anything else!
And God continues to provide… I LOVE THE LORD & I LOVE MY LIFE!
If there’s someone out there still reading this besides me…Lol, I’m sorry. I never intended for this blog to be so long, but I really had a lot of catching up to do :) This is more for me than for you, but if you found this interesting then that’s wonderful!
Keep checking back and I’ll keep ya updated on this wild and totally out of (my) control life which I’m living :) For now, I’m going to sleep! May God richly bless you!!!
Word from the Lord, 9/13/09
[How excited Christ will be to return and discover a spotless, brilliantly radiant and ready Bride waiting on Him, beckoning Him to herself. Oh, God! I pray your people who are called by your name would walk in agape love with one another. We are brothers and sisters!
His Bride must individually seek more quality time with the Father, abiding in His love and presence before we can walk in unity and love with one another.]
{…this message was given with such a soft and pleading tone…a passionate beckoning…exclamations = pleading}
“Do you see the light? I’ve emblazoned it upon you! You ARE that light people are drawn to. The light, the peace, the very presence of God must radiate and ripple outwardly from you. Your bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, literally.
Wake up! Don’t be fooled by Prince Charming ~ wait upon me. My sheep know my voice but how can you truly know it if you’re too busy or too much ‘in control’ to seek and follow it? Stop! I am leading you beside still waters to restore your souls. Allow me. I will not force you. I’m gently calling your heart, softly rapping upon your secret chambers ~ won’t you open yourself to me?
I love you! ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jer 29:11) Stop opening up to unimportant, noncritical things and focus your eyes back on me ~ or on me for truly the first time.
Surrender ~ we haven’t much time. Allow me to become the lover of your soul that I truly am…I AM. The enemy only wants to seduce you, violate, shame, and disgrace you. He wants to KILL you! I only want to love you.
Wait on me. Stop! Slow down and stop…until there is blessed silence. ~ WAIT ~ As long as it takes and I will fill the silence. I will show up if you wait. I will shower you with gifts and pour out my love and grace like never before in the history of this earth.
Do you want me? Because, I am a gentleman. Do you truly desire and yearn ~ ache ~ for me? Are you really hungry…starving? Can you feel a pressing, physical need for my presence and power? If so be still and wait for me.
Go into your closets or secret chambers and seek me in the silence. Enough muttering and stuttering, I know you meant well but, (I say this tenderly and lovingly), it was ignorance! ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge’ (Hos 4:6) ~ No more beloved! I’m asking you… in a time where it is not popular or very becoming to put off instant gratification, in an age where time has truly become the most valuable yet wasted resource, will you break your alabaster box on me? Will you invest in eternity and my kingdom? Will you truly seek me ~ daily ~ until I am found by you?! Oh, how my heart aches for you! ~ Come back into my loving, aching arms. Let us dance, my beloved, my Bride.”
[Immediately at the end of this I heard a song in my spirit, Kari Jobe's 'My Beloved']
May God richly bless you…
Entering Jordan
(I began this post June 27, 2009)
After dipping my toes in and dangling my feet over the edge and into the water for years, I now feel I’m in over my head. In reality, I know that I am just getting my feet wet. I have entered into the river and so I am relieved, excited, hopeful and frightened all at once. At the risk of overgeneralization, I would like to expound.
May 25, 2009 was truly a Memorial Day for me. I became extremely agitated and overwhelmed, frustrated and disgusted with the confusion and chaos shrouding my mind and slowly destroying my life that finally, out of righteous anger, I declared myself free from any and all residual strongholds and entaglements that had managed, thus far, to linger on inside my soul. (Whew! ~ That was most likely a HUGE run-on, but I’m just sayin…!) I put my tongue to work that night and declared my destiny, though I had no idea, really, what I had done. I thought I was only venting…I should have known better. I was absolutely furious! I yelled and told the devil just what I thought of him and exactly what I would no longer tolerate. I stomped my feet and pounded my fist on the table that night as I shouted, and…I MEANT EVERY WORD!
*** continued writing 10/5/09 ***
July 31, 2009 was Day 1. I began my new life. At long last, a life of true freedom. Later, the wisdom and insight of a good friend connected the two dates together and revealed to me that it was my earlier declaration which had truly freed me. Thank you, Jesus! How does it feel to be free? It feels exhilarating and exciting and empowering! The Holy Spirit whispered to me…”Purity = Power.” Yes it does!
It is only by the grace of God that I am able to maintain my purity. Of course, I am not perfect and when I begin to stumble He is always there to catch me and keep me from falling. There have been moments I felt enticed to compromise or throw away my integrity and purity…I had to cling to Jesus and, like Joseph, FLEE from the temptation. And there have also been a couple times when I attempted to abandon my reason and fling aside God’s guidance in order to pursue my fleshly desire. This is precisely where His saving grace comes onto the scene! Thank you, Lord, that you saved me from myself before I could ruin the good work you are continuing in me! He is always, always faithful!
Now, these things I’m referring to…the temptations and enticements…they aren’t really big anymore. The enemy can’t come at me with major things as much as he could before. They were mostly tiny, small, seemingly inconspicous things that some may have not taken the time to even think twice about. This is exactly where the devil does his crafty work, in the minute details. His favorite line is, “It doesn’t matter; it’s no big deal.” HA ~ LIAR! Don’t fall for his cheap lies. He wants to get you to compromise with the small things so you will slowly numb your conscience and not care when it comes time to swallow his bigger schemes. Plus he’d like to keep your family in bondage for each time you choose compromise. How about that?! He doesn’t play fair; he’ll pick on your kids if you don’t bite his bait.
Anyway, enough about our defeated foe. Back to God! He is so glorious…so faithful! Everyday is a new gift straight from God. I choose to use my time wisely, serving Him by loving and serving others. Each day I choose to stand firm is another chord added to the overall strength in my belt of truth. The joy of the Lord is my strength! And oh! I thank Him for the joy within me that enables me to continue on in love and truth, pursuing His will for my life.
I have successfully entered the Jordan! “Fear not!” But I forgot to be afraid because I’m in love with my Savior and my eyes are fixed on Him alone! I will come out on the other side! I will also come out a much stronger woman of God, by His grace and mercy!
There has been so much happening in my life these past several months, I can’t touch on all of it here. In a nutshell: #1 didn’t go to The Gambia, didn’t raise the $, still owe $2000 for the ticket, which I can use in the future :( #2 dropped everything! school, boyfriend, dreams, plans, desires, etc. at the request of the Lord (some of these things I honestly felt I was doing because they were God’s will for me), nope!, He realigned EVERYTHING #3 He did a miraculous healing and restoration in me! It was really a supernatural experience! #4 He replaced my desires and godly ambitions with His desires for me, for example, I was not an intercessor! but now it’s my passion! #5 In the midst of everything, I received a very interesting 3 AM phone call which I will discuss more in depth in the future. Suffice it to say that those things we put on the shelf because they didn’t seem to happen as God said they would…they will come off of the shelf in God’s perfect time, much to our amazement!
To bring things into the real world. I’ve recently also left my job and stepped out into full time ministry. (Watching the faithfulness of God and Him providing for our every need is incredible!) My good friend and fellow VWMTC graduate, Krystal, and I are beginning a new ministry, Chapter 8 Ministries, and working on opening a 24/7 prayer room in Tulsa called ‘The Upper Room.’ Also, the Lord has been impressing upon me to write and record in my solitude. There are actually many projects He has given me, along with other people, and this is just an extremely exciting and interesting time in my life! I am definitely enjoying the journey!!!
I don’t know how this will sound. I wonder if I’ve rambled. At any rate, there it is…the truth. And to God alone be all the glory and honor!
Until next time…may His grace and peace be unto you and yours!
Amazing Grace
On this Easter Eve, I am both excited and calm at the same time. I am amazed at the goodness of God while humbled by His sacrifice.
What is man, that you should love me, Lord? Who am I? Your child, by your grace.
Thank you for loving me enough to send your son, Jesus. Thank you for his birth, both a fulfilling of prophecy and an example of humility, and thank you for his life, lived in obedience with compassion. Thank you that he was tempted, and therefore understands my struggle. Thank you for his stripes, by which I was healed, for his death and resurrection which made a way for me to love you, God. Thank you that I’m a new creature in Christ and seated at the right hand of God in Christ Jesus, thank you I’m blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, that I have the mind of Christ and I know your voice and will not follow a stranger’s. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
The pattern reveals that without Christ, the rest means nothing. That is, nothing worthwhile or beneficial. His Word is alive! God is drawing me near. He is patient, long suffering. Thank you, Lord!
Am I rambling? Well, it IS 4 AM!
I just wanted to share some amazing things God is doing in my life right now…
I opened the mailbox today and pulled out a $66,000 check! Oh, yes! It’s two and a half weeks shy of the 1 year anniversary of Moma’s passing. I was down to the last minute, moving next weekend. Would I have to quit school for a season, pay the mortgage, and sue the insurance company? No! Because I prayed, believed in faith, and God came through! The last minute thing is becoming a pattern here, Lord…
Also, yesterday I opened my mailbox and received…an acceptance letter to ORU! This is just to the school, and not the nursing program. I think I’ll go ahead and finish my pre-reqs there. Why not? I’m guessing any class would be better if taught by spirit filled teachers, right? God is so amazing….seriously! They said in my letter that they’re giving me $3000/yr and $12,000 total scholarship, off top. I still have to apply for other scholarships.
But wait…there’s more! No, seriously. God is confirming so many things in my life. Family and friends have come to me and to share what God has placed on their hearts, thereby confirming some things he’d placed on mine. (Like the timeline until I move to Africa, job opportunities, etc) As I draw near to him, and he shows himself more and more, I am left helpless and weak. As I withdraw, he is exalted. In myself, I can do nothing, but with Christ, I can do all things! Thank you for your faithfulness, Lord! Help me to rise up and reach out as I seek to love and edify others. Help me to see people as you see them.
Thank you for this, the day we celebrate your raising Jesus from the dead, God! May I never lose sight of the blood of the lamb. May I run my race and keep my eyes focused on the Lord. Praise You!
Snowflakes
Snowflakes are individually unique, magnificent and pure. There’s joy in snow!
There’s a white blanket out there covering everything; it’s beautiful, really. Snow angels, snowball fights, running and playing, carefree and content. We had a great time! I remember doing that with my mom when I was about 15, before life got complicated. We put her scarf on the snowtoddler we made :)
My babies sure are growing fast! (Can’t even keep them to stay in a size of jeans for long) I’m just going to love them and enjoy them for as long as I can, and hope in the end I’ve imparted a love for life and the Lord. They’re good and happy kids, really, and their strong spirits are a wonderful asset to the kingdom of God, even if it takes a great deal of extra strength and effort to shape and mold them.
Thank you Lord for my little snowflakes.
Plan B
God doesn’t have a Plan B for you. He doesn’t need it. Though we have free will, He knew all along what choices we would make and planned accordingly.
Isn’t it funny that we have Plan A, B, and C. In addition, we are quick to think through and weigh out 15 different scenarios and the potential outcomes in a matter of seconds. At times, having done everything else in our power, not even thinking to look for God in the situation, we finally ’resort to praying’. But He truly is the hope to the hopeless, the light to the darkness, the Alpha and Omega. The great I AM. What a mighty God we are blessed to serve.
So, I didn’t make it into nursing school. Onto Plan B. Or Plan C…I’m not sure.
Plan B – reapply and enter into the spring ’10 nursing program at TCC
Plan C - finish prereqs at TCC for an associates in pre-nursing and transfer to the ORU nursing program in the fall ‘10. I’ve desired to attend ORU all my life, that’s my obvious choice, but let God’s will be done :)
And about the ‘Plan B’ mission trip… I drafted my letter and flyer and I am believing God to raise the $3500. Thankfully, the organization sent me a book which addresses the ‘fear’ of fundraising. Perfect, these people are awesome! I also received two other books; one about the country, and the other about the difference in our religions. See, the wonderful thing is, I feel God is leading me to just love the people and let the love of God shine through me in their lives. I am so blessed and excited to serve on this medical trip!
Any path you take to God’s will result in Plan A being fulfilled if you don’t stray, or if you return when you’ve strayed. I love the verse in the Bible that says, “He restores all the years the locusts ate.” Ephesians tells us to stand firm in the armor of God, and when we’ve stood, stand some more. As long as we continue, we cannot be defeated. We all fall, but unless we remain down when we fall, we already have the victory in Christ Jesus. Our instructions are just to stand and praise God, His mighty plan will unfold. Not only for us, but for the people our lives will affect either directly or indirectly through our faith and obedience in Him.
Hey, if He will use a donkey, He will surely use everyone of His faithful children.
Lord, help me to stay on your path, at every turn, every curve, and every decision. Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil. Thank you for your angels that surround and protect my family, friends, loved ones, everyone reading this blog, and myself. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Life’s not always fair, but God is always good!
Not So Rosy
I’ve been recovering from a nasty cold all week, so you can imagine my joy upon awaking to rowdy boys at 6 AM. Oh yeah. Then to make matters worse my daughter gets up and screams and cries all morning. UGH! I don’t know if I had any patience at all when I woke up; I certainly didn’t have any by the time my aunt arrived around 7:30 to take the kids to their basketball and cheerleading. I had already given at least two or three spankings to my daughter who continuously refused to eat and get ready. My aunt, so loving and gentle, said she would take over for me. (An attempt to keep me from yellling.) How’d that work?! The kids didn’t respond well to her soft persuation either and when they finally walked out of the house it was a few minutes after 8. The pictures began at the church at 8. Nice.
It was my fault for not staying up at 6 when the boys initially woke me up. I could have laid out their uniforms, socks, shoes, etc. Okay, I admit that. But the uniforms were located easy enough and still the kids took their own sweet time playing, screaming, eating, playing, dressing, screaming, playing, brushing teeth, screaming, playing. (Now you’ve got the picture.) A person can only take so much and I believe my aunt coming this morning was a Godsend! I literally had tears in my eyes from frustration. Thank God she was here to take them. Now, I’m sitting here thinking how the morning should have transpired, but really I’m too tired to analyze the situation.
These are the moments I look to heaven and wonder how I can do this. Usually, it’s evening or bedtime and I go to sleep and wake up refreshed. In this case, the beginning of the day was overwhelming and sleep is not an option. Sometimes, I feel it’s all too much to bear. I know my feeling sick is contributing to this perspective, but understanding does not always lead to better perception. I’m tired of my children, despite my best, consistant efforts, showing disrespect and disobedience. I’m tired of the boys breaking, destroying, and roughly handling everything and everybody. I’m tired of my daughter crying. I’m just tired.
I thought about getting ready and going to the church to watch them play. (This is an every Saturday event for two months.) Then, I thought I could just relax and wait for her to bring them back. No matter, my daughter forgot her pom-poms and I need to take them to her. Today is picture day and it just wouldn’t look the same without pom-poms. So, here I go for round two…
Lord, I pray you will give me peace, understanding, wisdom, and discernment to handle the children with love, even when I am so overwhelmed and upset that I don’t feel like praying or asking for help. I pray you would help me see these children as the blessings they truly are and not the animals they act like sometimes. I pray you give them peace and a quiet, gentle spirit. For that matter, I pray for a quiet, gentle spirit!
Without you I am nothing, and can do nothing of value. I need you so bad in these moments when I feel I cannot hold up under pressure. You are my foundation, my Rock, my Jehovah Jireh, and I thank you that you are always working in every detail of our lives. I put my faith, hope, trust in you Lord and I commit this day to your will.
Thank you for always being faithful and good. Thank you for your ever-increasing mercy. Thank you for loving me first.
Amen.
Okay, much better. Here is the end of the day and it turned out wonderful because my aunt decided to take all the kids back to her house for the day and evening. I got a much needed break which restored my sanity. My aunt took them out hiking and exploring the country surrounding her house and wore them out for me. I had much more patience with the kids upon their return. :) Thank you Amikee!
Trip Update, etc :)
This summer, I’m going to The Gambia, West Africa, with a group that focuses on missions trips serving Muslim people. The same organization that was initially planning the trip to Egypt.
Seriously though, she said she would let me get my hands dirty! I will be giving shots. At least I will be getting valuable experience working with patients and understanding what diseases and illnesses they are dealing with. And I might be the only student at school this fall with hands on experience in some areas. Who knows?
On another note, I turned in my nursing application awhile back and I’m just believing God for favor! I will find out the first week of Feb. That gonna be a great week! Taxes and nursing school acceptance letter :) I’m praying about paying for my trip in full before I go. Honestly, I intensely dislike the generating support aspect.
My stomach was in knots when I kept believing for the Dominican Republic and the deadline passed, airline tickets passed and it looked hopeless….and then BAM, there was $800 from an anonymous donor. I quickly begged and gathered up the few other hundred due, booked my own airfare….the rest is history. The trip forever cemented missions in my heart. I was passionate and sure of my call before, but when I stepped on foreign soil, it hurt to come back. And the ache still drives me to accomplish school and go
To Africa…finally. And to North Carolina. That’s always a fun drive with the kids. Across the country, through the mountains…here we come, Sis!
Friendship: When to Hold Tight, When to Cut Loose
So, I had a friend ask some questions the other evening concerning friendship. It’s like we feel guilty when we realize a relationship is not productive, for either party involved; and feel even worse when we want out. All I can say is,
“Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.” ~ II Cor 15:33
and
“I’ve faced dangers in the city, in the open country, on the sea, and from believers who turned out to be false friends.” ~ II Cor 11:26 ~Paul understood
Honestly, if no one is receiving edification or enjoyment out of your time spent together, or if one or both people leave with a negative aftertaste or in a worse mood…then why would either of you wish to continue on?
Some people change and move in different directions. Sometimes, a person will begin to reveal her true self only after she feels comfortable in a relationship. Maybe she has some issues. Are you in a position to speak positive influence in her life and pray it for her as well? Great, then mentor her. If not, or if you feel stressed about it and no peace, stop. It’s not worth your time, effort, and energy. Let God be God, cut it loose, and He’ll find her help and you another, godly friend(s). People are stonger than we give them credit for. Humans are resiliant, they bounce back and adapt easily.
This seems to be an issue with many people now days. I even had a brief separation from a good friend of mine for a period of 5 or 6 months. I think we did a good job in communicating effectively and maturely. The Holy Spirit had been preparing us, I think. Anyway, when we came back together half a year later, God had worked on many things in both of our characters during the separation. Things that we could not have dealt with effectively if we were friends. (An example: when one friend intends to stop smoking but can’t because his friends smoke, etc.)
“A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
As God would have it, we remain best friends to this day. I’m glad we handled things with communication and maturity.
I pray you have peace, joy, happiness, and mutual respect in all your relationships!
A Day to Remember
What an incredible, amazing, wonderful, blessed, beautiful day!
After hurrying to see my patients (daycare closed early) and doing some last minute shopping, I was blessed with the beautiful sight of ALL THREE of my babies getting baptized! I am still so full of joy from the experience.
We’d discussed ‘being saved’ pretty recently. I volunteered to help with the Toys for Tots this year at our church and after the training session I began to think that this ‘counseling children’ thing was so incredibly easy so why hadn’t I done this with my children already. LoL Well, upon talking to the children about accepting Jesus into their heart, my two younger children said that they had, in fact, accepted Jesus with my help. (I had just forgotten.) I guess that’s a good thing. We talk about Jesus so much that I didn’t actually stop to ask Isaiah that day in the car when he repeated the simple prayer after me if that was his first time in doing so. It was. After thinking for a moment, I remembered the previous conversation and I was grateful I had played a part in both his and Geneva’s salvation!
{{This is where some people question salvation at such a young age ~ To all of you I ask, ”Are you 100% clear on every aspect of theology now?! Neither am I, but I’m sure glad I’m saved anyway!”}}
ANYWAY…
The next week I began asking them if they knew what it meant to be baptized. Nope. I explained that it was a step of obedience to God as well as a kind of show to others that they’d made a commitment to God and Jesus, an outward expression of their inward decision, etc. They told me over the next couple of days that they wanted to be baptized. You can imagine my surprise when Pastor Alex announced that the church would have baptisms before the Christmas Eve service. I was so excited! Then I got serious about whether they were old enough to take it seriously. After talking with them individually, I felt sure about Jaden and Geneva understanding and sincerely wanted to be baptized. Isaiah, on the other hand! I tried to talk him out of it…LOL He looked at me, so sincerely, with his puppy dog expression and little brown eyes and said, “But Mommy I want to obey God.” How could I refuse?!
It’s quite possibly the most beautiful moment of my life thus far, witnessing the baptisms of all my children on Christmas Eve.
Isaiah
Jaden
Geneva
Geneva, afterwards
I am so proud of my three little soldiers! This was my Christmas present! (And Moma, I know you were watching too!)
The service was great too! And it was also the kids’ first time to participate in communion. I had the privilege of teaching them the meaning behind that as well.
