Monday, December 17, 2012
Arm Yourself for Battle
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. (Ephesians 6:11-13 NLT)
It's been a particularly rough few days with the news of Sandy Hook and tragedy close to home. I feel like I have been crying or fighting back tears non-stop. We live in a world of sin with a devil ready to bounce on our weaknesses and prey on our insecurities.
How interesting The Lord lead me to these verses. In such dark times, we cannot ignore the existence of the devil. He is real and he is out to destroy us. That is why God instructs us to put on our armor. Prepare yourself for battle everyday. Get in the Word and get on your knees. Darkness shall not prevail and will not win. Don't let the enemy steal your joy. Do not let the devil make you cower in fear. You have the Lord's army on your side.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)
In the name of Jesus, I urge you! Fight back!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
What I Wish I Would Been Told
I have been thinking about this a lot, because of the latest topic at Wings and a few other instances. This is to all my ladies, who have been there or are there currently. This is not going to be easy to hear, but I wish someone would have told me these lessons.
When I was in my late teens, early 20s, I had the "savior" complex. So I was great at choosing the wrong guys, because I was going to "fix" them, I was going to get them to see the light...
There is many problems with settling... yes, settling. First, you will never "fix" a person. As many redeeming and good qualities you might see in that person, if they don't know they are "broken" they will not want to be fixed. And who do you think you are? Do you possibly think you are capable of what only God can do? Do you think you can cure, alcoholism, drug use, the tendency to stray and so on? Take it from me, when I say, these red flags, are something you should run away from. This person might have good qualities and great potential, but God never intended for you to wait for that person to catch up. God will work on that person's heart, in His timing, not yours. God has someone perfect for you, who doesn't have serious flags... I'm not saying be super picky... you also can't cure a slob, but that's not a reason to throw an otherwise good guy to the curb.
Another important lesson is, there's a reason why your loved ones (i.e. friends and family) don't care for the person you are with... They love you, they care for you and they know you. They want what's best for you. They aren't being necessarily difficult, they just don't want you to settle. Been there, done that... when you do find the right person, they will like him.
Never, ever, fall into the trap of lowering your values to be with someone. If you find yourself doing stuff, you never thought you would do, sinning and so on, because you think you will "connect" better with that person, that maybe they will think you are cool and relate. That doesn't work, you might start "relating" with that person, but before you know it, you are the one changing and you forget to witness to that person. A great analogy I heard after I learned the hard way, was imagine yourself standing on a chair with someone directly below you. Try and pull the person below you up onto the chair... hard isn't it? Now have the person on the floor pull you off the chair... simple, huh? It's so easy to fall onto the wrong path.
I am not saying to not witness to people who are on the wrong path, but getting too close (dating them) is never a good idea. God never intended for you to fall from Him in order to save another. Remember God has to prepare this person, change this person's heart. If it's not their time, they won't be ready. So ultimately not ready for you. Plant the seed, then let God do the rest. God has a wonderful person out there for you, who you don't have to compromise your beliefs for, and who will help grow your faith, not hinder it.
Do not settle, wait for God to move in your life.
When I was in my late teens, early 20s, I had the "savior" complex. So I was great at choosing the wrong guys, because I was going to "fix" them, I was going to get them to see the light...
There is many problems with settling... yes, settling. First, you will never "fix" a person. As many redeeming and good qualities you might see in that person, if they don't know they are "broken" they will not want to be fixed. And who do you think you are? Do you possibly think you are capable of what only God can do? Do you think you can cure, alcoholism, drug use, the tendency to stray and so on? Take it from me, when I say, these red flags, are something you should run away from. This person might have good qualities and great potential, but God never intended for you to wait for that person to catch up. God will work on that person's heart, in His timing, not yours. God has someone perfect for you, who doesn't have serious flags... I'm not saying be super picky... you also can't cure a slob, but that's not a reason to throw an otherwise good guy to the curb.
Another important lesson is, there's a reason why your loved ones (i.e. friends and family) don't care for the person you are with... They love you, they care for you and they know you. They want what's best for you. They aren't being necessarily difficult, they just don't want you to settle. Been there, done that... when you do find the right person, they will like him.
Never, ever, fall into the trap of lowering your values to be with someone. If you find yourself doing stuff, you never thought you would do, sinning and so on, because you think you will "connect" better with that person, that maybe they will think you are cool and relate. That doesn't work, you might start "relating" with that person, but before you know it, you are the one changing and you forget to witness to that person. A great analogy I heard after I learned the hard way, was imagine yourself standing on a chair with someone directly below you. Try and pull the person below you up onto the chair... hard isn't it? Now have the person on the floor pull you off the chair... simple, huh? It's so easy to fall onto the wrong path.
I am not saying to not witness to people who are on the wrong path, but getting too close (dating them) is never a good idea. God never intended for you to fall from Him in order to save another. Remember God has to prepare this person, change this person's heart. If it's not their time, they won't be ready. So ultimately not ready for you. Plant the seed, then let God do the rest. God has a wonderful person out there for you, who you don't have to compromise your beliefs for, and who will help grow your faith, not hinder it.
Do not settle, wait for God to move in your life.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Goodbye- Final Part
I had a journal entry I wrote while waiting to fly home after visiting my uncle the last time. I thought I would at some point type it up and share. Honestly, I haven't even brought myself to open it up and read it. Maybe later, but for now, I will keep it sealed up.
Instead for my final entry on my Goodbye series, I'm going to focus on lessons I've learned from loved ones past. It was interesting in reading in Francis Chan's Crazy Love about a 14 year old girl who died and the impact she had on her friends and family. It made me ponder what I wanted people to remember about me when I died.
It's funny how the more deep the impacts people make on you the older you get. For instance, my memories of my Grandma Cram are so not very deep as I could give you for my Grandma Spencer. But then they died approximatley 15 years apart from each other. So time and age play a factor.
The memories I take of my Grandma Cram is service. She was always serving someone whether it was serving food or helping someone out. Her heart was one of caring service.
The memory I take from my Grandpa Spencer is joy. There was something so joyful about his demeanor. He just made you smile.
The lesson I learned from my Grandpa Cram is sticking up for people. He might not have been graceful with this, but he wasn't going to take someone messing with his loved ones. I find myself sticking up for the underdog a lot. Fighting the good fight.
My memory of my Grandma Spencer is determination. I will never forget how she took a pamphlet from a Jehovah's Witness, just so she could study the pamphlet and then studied her bible, because she was determined to debate with them the next time they showed up.
I hope someday that my loved ones can pick out some good traits of mine and hold on to those lessons after I die. The legacy we leave is up to us.
In loving memory of my grandparents and my uncle. May they all rest in peace.
Instead for my final entry on my Goodbye series, I'm going to focus on lessons I've learned from loved ones past. It was interesting in reading in Francis Chan's Crazy Love about a 14 year old girl who died and the impact she had on her friends and family. It made me ponder what I wanted people to remember about me when I died.
It's funny how the more deep the impacts people make on you the older you get. For instance, my memories of my Grandma Cram are so not very deep as I could give you for my Grandma Spencer. But then they died approximatley 15 years apart from each other. So time and age play a factor.
The memories I take of my Grandma Cram is service. She was always serving someone whether it was serving food or helping someone out. Her heart was one of caring service.
The memory I take from my Grandpa Spencer is joy. There was something so joyful about his demeanor. He just made you smile.
The lesson I learned from my Grandpa Cram is sticking up for people. He might not have been graceful with this, but he wasn't going to take someone messing with his loved ones. I find myself sticking up for the underdog a lot. Fighting the good fight.
My memory of my Grandma Spencer is determination. I will never forget how she took a pamphlet from a Jehovah's Witness, just so she could study the pamphlet and then studied her bible, because she was determined to debate with them the next time they showed up.
I hope someday that my loved ones can pick out some good traits of mine and hold on to those lessons after I die. The legacy we leave is up to us.
In loving memory of my grandparents and my uncle. May they all rest in peace.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Goodbye Part 2
I was listening to Pandora the other day and a Joshua Radin song came on. The first part talks about sad things like Hurricane Katrina and so on and wondering if things will ever be better again. It ends with this.
But I look at you, warm in your dream
While your mobile dances above
And I think to myself
It’s a beautiful night
And I know everything
Is gonna be alright
Yes now I know It’ll be alright.
Circle of life… no wonder Haylie brightens all sad days… It puts life into perspective. One lfe ends and new ones begin. Life goes on and on. We'll never forget our loved ones who've left us. Put we surge on and hold onto our memories.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5: 4
More to come....
But I look at you, warm in your dream
While your mobile dances above
And I think to myself
It’s a beautiful night
And I know everything
Is gonna be alright
Yes now I know It’ll be alright.
Circle of life… no wonder Haylie brightens all sad days… It puts life into perspective. One lfe ends and new ones begin. Life goes on and on. We'll never forget our loved ones who've left us. Put we surge on and hold onto our memories.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5: 4
More to come....
Goodbye Part 1
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. - Irish proverb
Today I remember the look my aunt gave him every time he tried his best to make the game Scategories PG13 instead of PG or G in front of her impressionable nieces, then he would just get more and more creative to try and get away with it. So ornery and such a character. I remember gourmet cooking, Christmases, and vacations to Colorado. I remember how you could so easily tell how crazy he was about my aunt and how it made my heart sing that she had someone who cared so deeply for her. I remember how he took charge of decorations at my wedding and did an amazing job doing them. My wedding was more than I could imagine, because of loved ones helping out, and that includes both my aunt and uncle. I remember his son’s (my cousin) wedding last year and how happy we all were that he was there to see it.
The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die. Psalm 116:15
To be continued...
Today I remember the look my aunt gave him every time he tried his best to make the game Scategories PG13 instead of PG or G in front of her impressionable nieces, then he would just get more and more creative to try and get away with it. So ornery and such a character. I remember gourmet cooking, Christmases, and vacations to Colorado. I remember how you could so easily tell how crazy he was about my aunt and how it made my heart sing that she had someone who cared so deeply for her. I remember how he took charge of decorations at my wedding and did an amazing job doing them. My wedding was more than I could imagine, because of loved ones helping out, and that includes both my aunt and uncle. I remember his son’s (my cousin) wedding last year and how happy we all were that he was there to see it.
The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die. Psalm 116:15
To be continued...
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Remembering
It's never been easy for me to express my feelings of 9/11, let alone put them in words. I think I felt unworthy of writing anything because I felt like a fraud. I was not there and no one I knew died. How could I be so affected and so sad, when I wasn't directly affected?
Expect it did affect me and did change me. For years, I couldn't pinpoint the reason. I mean I am my mother's daughter, so that's probably one reason I'm so emotional, but it was looking back this anniversary that I figured it out.
Ten years ago, I stared blankly at my phone after listening to a confusing message from my mom. My mom must have assumed I knew what was going on. I had literally woke up, dressed and ran to my first class. And after my first class, I'm explaining my weird expression to my friend, Erin, "I don't know, my mom said my sister is ok and something about bombs in NY?"
I remember thinking nothing of it and not calling my mom back, because she was working. But when I got to my dorm and walked by two rooms with their TV's on, I started sprinting down the hall. Gaping at the TV, I tried to call my sister. Of course, I couldn't get through. Hearing from my mom that she was ok wasn't enough. I had to hear her voice. I wouldn't get to until 6 pm that night. That was the longest day of my life.
For a college freshman, freshly into a new experience, I think one of the hardest things to grasp was that life wasn't always rosy. It wasn't easy. The sheltered life I came from crashed before me. My eyes were open.
But this past week the most important lesson I realized I learned from all this? Life is precious. Never take anyone or anything for granted. I was so self centered and absorbed in myself back then. Jealous of a smart, successful older sister. How silly and stupid. She is smart and successful, and beautiful and kind, but I'm proud to call her my sister not jealous. I am thankful for the chance to bond with my sister. I am thankful that God kept her safe that day.
Life is truly precious, tell the people you love that you love them TODAY! I love you Jen.
Expect it did affect me and did change me. For years, I couldn't pinpoint the reason. I mean I am my mother's daughter, so that's probably one reason I'm so emotional, but it was looking back this anniversary that I figured it out.
Ten years ago, I stared blankly at my phone after listening to a confusing message from my mom. My mom must have assumed I knew what was going on. I had literally woke up, dressed and ran to my first class. And after my first class, I'm explaining my weird expression to my friend, Erin, "I don't know, my mom said my sister is ok and something about bombs in NY?"
I remember thinking nothing of it and not calling my mom back, because she was working. But when I got to my dorm and walked by two rooms with their TV's on, I started sprinting down the hall. Gaping at the TV, I tried to call my sister. Of course, I couldn't get through. Hearing from my mom that she was ok wasn't enough. I had to hear her voice. I wouldn't get to until 6 pm that night. That was the longest day of my life.
For a college freshman, freshly into a new experience, I think one of the hardest things to grasp was that life wasn't always rosy. It wasn't easy. The sheltered life I came from crashed before me. My eyes were open.
But this past week the most important lesson I realized I learned from all this? Life is precious. Never take anyone or anything for granted. I was so self centered and absorbed in myself back then. Jealous of a smart, successful older sister. How silly and stupid. She is smart and successful, and beautiful and kind, but I'm proud to call her my sister not jealous. I am thankful for the chance to bond with my sister. I am thankful that God kept her safe that day.
Life is truly precious, tell the people you love that you love them TODAY! I love you Jen.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
If I Knew
If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself to wait
If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself I am beautiful
If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself I am worth it
If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself that time heals all wounds
If I would have listened
I would have stopped and been still
If I would have listened
I would have stopped and prayed
If I would have taken the time to see You
I would have stopped and praised You
If I would have realized Your heart
I would have looked to the Heavens for answers
If I would have known what I know now
I would have known You were the only way
If I would have opened my eyes
I would have known You were always there
If I would have looked to my side
I would have known that You never leave
If I would have opened my heart
I would have known that You love me
Knowing what I know now
I know I am beautiful, worth it, and healed
Knowing what I know now
I know You are always there
Knowing what I know now
I love You, Thank You, and Praise You
Amen.
I would have told myself to wait
If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself I am beautiful
If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself I am worth it
If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself that time heals all wounds
If I would have listened
I would have stopped and been still
If I would have listened
I would have stopped and prayed
If I would have taken the time to see You
I would have stopped and praised You
If I would have realized Your heart
I would have looked to the Heavens for answers
If I would have known what I know now
I would have known You were the only way
If I would have opened my eyes
I would have known You were always there
If I would have looked to my side
I would have known that You never leave
If I would have opened my heart
I would have known that You love me
Knowing what I know now
I know I am beautiful, worth it, and healed
Knowing what I know now
I know You are always there
Knowing what I know now
I love You, Thank You, and Praise You
Amen.
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