My impatience is daunting today. I love my life but I am impatient with its progress - I'm READY for things to start happening - I'm READY to move forward - I'm READY for the promises God has made. All of which takes obedience, discipline, and courage.... and time... and I am not a fan of things taking time. I am Mrs. Right Now!! If it were not for Microwaves, I would live on cereal!!
When things don't happen quickly I begin to doubt, I begin to worry, I begin to take charge and I don't let God continue to do his divine work - Even when I know his ways are far better than my own!
We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
--Romans 5:3-5
Today, Heavenly Father, I embrace your timing as my own. Today I place my faith in the divine wisdom that unfolds the seasons each at its proper time. I am a verdant field in the care of your mighty hand. I allow myself to be nurtured by Your Divine providence at the proper tempo for my perfect blossoming.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
"If I acted crazy, I did it for God."
Never before have I been one for quotes -- this Blog Experiment has made me search for things that will help me open up - Quotes serve as an excellent conduit.
"All that is necessary to make this world a better place to live is to love - to love as Christ loved..." Isadora Duncan
And if I could also insert a passage from 2 Corinthians 5:11-14 (The Message)
"It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care. We're not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we're on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are. If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do."
I don't believe that people come into our lives for no reason. Every relationship has a purpose in our lives. I believe there are some relationships that are only meant to last a season or two; but it is in those short seasons that we leave impressions on them as well as learn from them. We are all here to help one another IF we understand our spiritual strengths and only WHEN we allow God to use those strengths and the help is NOT to be done by our own devices.
I have tried forcing God on some in my life - I have not let God touch others. I can stand in the way so often. BUT here are my strengths --- Forgiveness. Humility. Empathy. I may pry, as some might say, but I find it a God-given ability to be curious and intrigued on topics of human nature that so many chalk up to mere casualties of their existence. I believe in deeper meanings in the most shallow waters.
I have acted crazy -- I have been overly serious. These times are not always for God but for my beliefs, and my strongest belief is in the Power of the Holy Trinity. Assume what you will on that.
I know I have gathered strength, self-knowledge, world-knowledge, patience, and understanding by allowing my spiritual gifts to come into contact with others.
What are your spiritual strengths? What has God equipped you with?
Are you making this world better by letting those strengths shine?
Has Christ's love moved you to any extreme?
"All that is necessary to make this world a better place to live is to love - to love as Christ loved..." Isadora Duncan
And if I could also insert a passage from 2 Corinthians 5:11-14 (The Message)
"It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care. We're not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we're on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are. If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do."
I don't believe that people come into our lives for no reason. Every relationship has a purpose in our lives. I believe there are some relationships that are only meant to last a season or two; but it is in those short seasons that we leave impressions on them as well as learn from them. We are all here to help one another IF we understand our spiritual strengths and only WHEN we allow God to use those strengths and the help is NOT to be done by our own devices.
I have tried forcing God on some in my life - I have not let God touch others. I can stand in the way so often. BUT here are my strengths --- Forgiveness. Humility. Empathy. I may pry, as some might say, but I find it a God-given ability to be curious and intrigued on topics of human nature that so many chalk up to mere casualties of their existence. I believe in deeper meanings in the most shallow waters.
I have acted crazy -- I have been overly serious. These times are not always for God but for my beliefs, and my strongest belief is in the Power of the Holy Trinity. Assume what you will on that.
I know I have gathered strength, self-knowledge, world-knowledge, patience, and understanding by allowing my spiritual gifts to come into contact with others.
What are your spiritual strengths? What has God equipped you with?
Are you making this world better by letting those strengths shine?
Has Christ's love moved you to any extreme?
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
10 Days VS. 10 Years
I'd like to start tonight with a quote from Merle Shain: "We tend to think of the rational as a higher order, but it is the emotional that makes our lives. One often learns more from ten days of agony than from ten years of contentment."
I have spent the past 4 days in peace after spending my fair share of ten days in agony. This agony was (as always) caused by a failed/failing relationship - and it seems when things begin to crumble you come to the end of yourself. This end is a sharp realization of who you are and what you've become. You can choose at this point to walk off that end into a new you which inevitably brings you to another "end" OR you can choose to turn around from that end to who you used to be.
The past 4 days I have chosen to turn around. I choose to not be content. I choose to go back. I choose to change. And change again. I choose to find who I used to be - when I was younger, braver, stronger in my faith, weaker in my fleshy confidence. I am repenting. I am turning my face back to God and away from the same relationship and sin I keep committing. The unloving, impatient, whirlwind of meaningless commitments type of relationship. I am redefining my love, my acceptance, my joy, my holiness, my righteousness, my solace, my meaningful relationship with the Divine. My agony brought me here. My discontentment will hold me to a steady pace and I will keep on moving towards Him.
And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
--- Luke 11:9
I have spent the past 4 days in peace after spending my fair share of ten days in agony. This agony was (as always) caused by a failed/failing relationship - and it seems when things begin to crumble you come to the end of yourself. This end is a sharp realization of who you are and what you've become. You can choose at this point to walk off that end into a new you which inevitably brings you to another "end" OR you can choose to turn around from that end to who you used to be.
The past 4 days I have chosen to turn around. I choose to not be content. I choose to go back. I choose to change. And change again. I choose to find who I used to be - when I was younger, braver, stronger in my faith, weaker in my fleshy confidence. I am repenting. I am turning my face back to God and away from the same relationship and sin I keep committing. The unloving, impatient, whirlwind of meaningless commitments type of relationship. I am redefining my love, my acceptance, my joy, my holiness, my righteousness, my solace, my meaningful relationship with the Divine. My agony brought me here. My discontentment will hold me to a steady pace and I will keep on moving towards Him.
And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
--- Luke 11:9
Monday, August 15, 2011
Julia Cameron's Words for Me Today
Friendships require honesty and honesty requires courage. In all friendships there are moments when we must choose to be courageous. Our friendships have become root-bound and so must be repotted, transplanted and transformed into a larger and healthier vessel. This transition requires us to speak the difficult truth. Speaking our hearts' truth, while not always easy, yields us the bedrock on which the friendship stands firm. As I choose to speak with integrity and openness, I commit more deeply both to myself and to others. As I learn to trust the safety of open communication, I find that I open like a plant responding to the sun. Honesty is healing and nutritious to my heart and its friendships.
Quoted from Julia Cameron's "Transitions: Prayers and Declarations for a Changing Life"
Quoted from Julia Cameron's "Transitions: Prayers and Declarations for a Changing Life"
Friday, August 5, 2011
My Wish Came True
I remember being young - teenager time of life - and hearing people at different functions or at church tell their testimony. I would sit in awe at the things they had been through; the hard times, the pain, the torture, and then the revelations times and the change to the good and the better. I recall always walking away thinking "God, my life is so dull!" I wished I had a testimony to move someone towards salvation or towards reexamining their life or just bringing hope but I always saw my life as dull. Nothing major had happened to me at that point so what was their to really talk about?
I sit here ten years later and WISH my life were still as simple and "dull."
I've been faced with so many challenges, obstacles, heartaches, disappointments - and with each one I've managed to get through and it's all been thanks to the Grace of God! It has been my belief in Him that the hard times have not stayed rocky and that level ground has been found for me to walk once again.
I'm not here to share my testimony - not yet anyway - but I am here to recall the time when I wished THIS life that I am currently living into existence. I hope I have made the seventeen year old Tess proud.
"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you." Job 22:21
I sit here ten years later and WISH my life were still as simple and "dull."
I've been faced with so many challenges, obstacles, heartaches, disappointments - and with each one I've managed to get through and it's all been thanks to the Grace of God! It has been my belief in Him that the hard times have not stayed rocky and that level ground has been found for me to walk once again.
I'm not here to share my testimony - not yet anyway - but I am here to recall the time when I wished THIS life that I am currently living into existence. I hope I have made the seventeen year old Tess proud.
"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you." Job 22:21
Thursday, August 4, 2011
My First Blog
I'm not a writer-
I'm not a blogger-
I'm not even a BIG IDEAS kind of gal-
But I am someone that needs an outlet - like so many others - and instead of feeling frustrated with the loneliness of a journal to express myself I have decided to turn my efforts toward this. Will anyone read it? I don't know - Will anything I say be worth reading? I don't know - Does any of that matter? No. I'm doing this for me! If it leads to helping someone along the way - Icing on the Cake! mmmmm Cake....
SO Here's My Current Project: I recently started a juice detox to get rid of the harmful pollutants that have been living in my body for ... FOREVER! I'm only on day 3 and I can honestly say I feel better! I started off VERY hungry and tired and even had a headache most of day 1 but I'm on day 3 and all those things have disappeared. It's kind of amazing. We become so consumed with our daily fixes to get us by (coffee and caffeine being my main poison) that we stop giving our body the things it needs to survive perfectly on its own. We don't need stimulants - uppers - downers - fixers - we need the right kind of nutrients and we can have the energy we need.
Ok so I'm on a health kick right now, but it's only because I see and feel the reward of being good to myself. I've actually been on a health kick for a while now - working out consistently, being mindful of the types of food I eat, being mindful how often I eat - I've pretty much kicked out fast foods since the beginning of the year. I'm not a perfect body type but I am a healthy heart type! However, I have felt complacent in my efforts and have watched myself sinking back to a more lax lifestyle - thus the starting of a stringent detox. I'm not trying to lose weight (but again - ICING) but I am trying to regain a more passionate drive to better myself. I've set the goal for a 5 day detox but if things continue to improve I will make it a 7 or 10 day detox.
If you are reading this - I miss salt! So if you eat ANYTHING with salt in it or on it please do it and think of me... do it FOR me. Thank you!
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to perservere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36
God Bless
I'm not a blogger-
I'm not even a BIG IDEAS kind of gal-
But I am someone that needs an outlet - like so many others - and instead of feeling frustrated with the loneliness of a journal to express myself I have decided to turn my efforts toward this. Will anyone read it? I don't know - Will anything I say be worth reading? I don't know - Does any of that matter? No. I'm doing this for me! If it leads to helping someone along the way - Icing on the Cake! mmmmm Cake....
SO Here's My Current Project: I recently started a juice detox to get rid of the harmful pollutants that have been living in my body for ... FOREVER! I'm only on day 3 and I can honestly say I feel better! I started off VERY hungry and tired and even had a headache most of day 1 but I'm on day 3 and all those things have disappeared. It's kind of amazing. We become so consumed with our daily fixes to get us by (coffee and caffeine being my main poison) that we stop giving our body the things it needs to survive perfectly on its own. We don't need stimulants - uppers - downers - fixers - we need the right kind of nutrients and we can have the energy we need.
Ok so I'm on a health kick right now, but it's only because I see and feel the reward of being good to myself. I've actually been on a health kick for a while now - working out consistently, being mindful of the types of food I eat, being mindful how often I eat - I've pretty much kicked out fast foods since the beginning of the year. I'm not a perfect body type but I am a healthy heart type! However, I have felt complacent in my efforts and have watched myself sinking back to a more lax lifestyle - thus the starting of a stringent detox. I'm not trying to lose weight (but again - ICING) but I am trying to regain a more passionate drive to better myself. I've set the goal for a 5 day detox but if things continue to improve I will make it a 7 or 10 day detox.
If you are reading this - I miss salt! So if you eat ANYTHING with salt in it or on it please do it and think of me... do it FOR me. Thank you!
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to perservere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36
God Bless
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