I've made a decision. It's a big one, and I know it's going to change things for me, and for my family. It's been in the making for awhile, God has been telling me that I would walk a road I haven't walked before. Once this decision was made, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, this is the right thing to do. My life doesn't have to always be a battle, I'm choosing to not engage. I know what God is asking me to do, I know what He is calling me to do, so I will choose to surround myself with people that support HIS choice. This does not make me unwilling to submit, it makes me wise, through Him. He continues to tell me to focus on Him, so I will focus on Him. He is my Provider. He is my Rock. He is my safety. He is my Refuge. He is my Path. He is my way. He is my Door. He is my Light. He is my strength. He is the one that sustains me. It is He, not me. It is because of HIM that I exist. It is because of Him, my little life is free.
So, I've made a decision. I'm stepping forward in faith. I'm believing that He will do as He says He will do. My life is His life, my heart is His. We are in this together.
Jesus, I need You to Say That Again because sometimes I am weary and my faith is weak and I need constant reminders of who you are!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
The Coffee Snob
I had a cup of instant coffee for the first time in years yesterday. It will be the last time I have it again, unless I become very desperate. After my cup of instant coffee, we went in search of a coffee shop, and found the Canadian favorite Tim Horton's. I ordered a medium drip. It was good, but not Starbucks! Working through my coffee process, God boldly pointed out to me that I am a coffee snob! "What? I just like good strong coffee!"
I was given the gift of instant coffee, and that wasn't good enough. So, I had to go look for something better, and that was okay. but I really wanted what I considered the 'best' gift of all, and was a little bummed that it wasn't available to me. Yeah, God's right, that's a snob!
It reminded me of a skit I saw where God gave the women a 6 oz can of coke as a gift and she loved it. But, when she saw that He gave her friend a 12 oz can of coke, she wanted her friends gift instead. The skit went on with this lady continually wanting her friend's gifts rather than her own!
I'm pretty happy with my gifts, just not my coffee! But, there is that mentality of wanting something other than what I don't currently have. Yesterday,God gave me instant coffee so I will praise His Holy name. Today, on this morning, my husband drove to Tim Horton's and came back with a large coffee for me, and I was not a snob about it at all! I was thrilled! In fact, I didn't think about Starbucks even once!
Say That Again, Jesus, your gifts are for today, and they are good. You are good, and You touch our lives in glorious ways. I love YOU!
I was given the gift of instant coffee, and that wasn't good enough. So, I had to go look for something better, and that was okay. but I really wanted what I considered the 'best' gift of all, and was a little bummed that it wasn't available to me. Yeah, God's right, that's a snob!
It reminded me of a skit I saw where God gave the women a 6 oz can of coke as a gift and she loved it. But, when she saw that He gave her friend a 12 oz can of coke, she wanted her friends gift instead. The skit went on with this lady continually wanting her friend's gifts rather than her own!
I'm pretty happy with my gifts, just not my coffee! But, there is that mentality of wanting something other than what I don't currently have. Yesterday,God gave me instant coffee so I will praise His Holy name. Today, on this morning, my husband drove to Tim Horton's and came back with a large coffee for me, and I was not a snob about it at all! I was thrilled! In fact, I didn't think about Starbucks even once!
Say That Again, Jesus, your gifts are for today, and they are good. You are good, and You touch our lives in glorious ways. I love YOU!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Jeans
I grew up believing that wearing a pair of jeans was sinful. My mother in law also believed that it was not okay to wear jeans. In fact, my mother in law is 84 years old, and this is her first pair of jeans! I think they look great on her, and just the fact that she is wearing them brings an element of freedom to her life that she did not have before.
When I try something new on in my life after years of always doing it the same old way I experience a new freedom. God shows me light. He reveals Himself to me in a new and bigger way. It's good. He lifts the veil.
Jesus, Say That Again. Give me The Jeans, challenge me today to grow, change, learn, and live Your way.
The Slower I Go, the Longer it Takes
We started on a road trip to Canada yesterday. We originally intended to leave by 6:30 am, but I wanted to see a friend first, so we pushed it out til 8:00 am. Then, when I got home at 8:00 am and walked in the bedroom, Cliff was still in bed working on his computer. The 8:00 plan wasn't going to work. We slowly made our way through a haircut, suitcases, dog feeding, kid feeding, car packing, and finally we were driving on the road. We only made it as far as the office, and then two more stops before the border!
Yup, the slower I go, the longer it takes! And this took a long time. This can be just like my trip to The lap of Jesus. Of course it's a direct path, and He's right there, arms wide open. But, there are those days that I might say " oh wait a minute, I have to go see my friend first" and then I'm sidetracked for the rest of the day. I'm slow getting back to Him, and it takes me a long time. He waits, His arms open.
Jesus, Say That Again, if I don't come to You first thing, I'm going to just go slow, and it's going to be long!
Yup, the slower I go, the longer it takes! And this took a long time. This can be just like my trip to The lap of Jesus. Of course it's a direct path, and He's right there, arms wide open. But, there are those days that I might say " oh wait a minute, I have to go see my friend first" and then I'm sidetracked for the rest of the day. I'm slow getting back to Him, and it takes me a long time. He waits, His arms open.
Jesus, Say That Again, if I don't come to You first thing, I'm going to just go slow, and it's going to be long!
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Assumptions
Sometimes I can make assumptions about others that are not true. I can see the way my friend is sitting and assume she is uncomfortable. I can see the way someone is walking off by themselves and assume they want to be alone. I can hear a tone in someones voice and assume they mean a particular thing. Assumptions can be dangerous and hurtful. I know this, because many assumptions have been made about me. People have observed me in various situations and made assumptions like, distant, depressed, outgoing, happy, must be in control, etc. When in reality, I'm not even in relationship with the people making assumptions. I have caught myself doing the same thing, and I ask myself why I do it? What's the purpose behind assumptions? If I have a need to figure out someone that I barely know anyway, why don't I just go up and ask them how they are doing? And, it that's too bold of an approach, then I could slowly start a relationship with them, friendship. I could learn about them, so I don't have to make assumptions.
I didn't like the assumptions made about me today, but I learned from them. And, it brought me to a new resolve. It brought me to a place before God, a place of confession about my own assumptions. It brought me to a place of asking Him to remind me of the times I have done the exact same thing and to show me when I do it now. It brought me here today before Him, to ask Him to remove assumption from all areas of my life!
Jesus, You take me at face value. I like that. I want to do the same for others. Just because someone is being quiet doesn't mean they are distant, maybe they have a headache, right God? Help me remember that! Say That Again, God, You are a God of face value. You are real, alive, and You do not make assumptions about anything!
I didn't like the assumptions made about me today, but I learned from them. And, it brought me to a new resolve. It brought me to a place before God, a place of confession about my own assumptions. It brought me to a place of asking Him to remind me of the times I have done the exact same thing and to show me when I do it now. It brought me here today before Him, to ask Him to remove assumption from all areas of my life!
Jesus, You take me at face value. I like that. I want to do the same for others. Just because someone is being quiet doesn't mean they are distant, maybe they have a headache, right God? Help me remember that! Say That Again, God, You are a God of face value. You are real, alive, and You do not make assumptions about anything!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Wet Carpet and The Bumpy Sheets
We stayed in a hotel room in Seattle that I did not like. As soon as I walked in the door, my feet hit wet carpet. "Ick the carpet is wet" I grumbled! My husband was already aware of the issue, but totally unconcerned. I couldn't understand how he could be okay with paying for a room with wet carpet. It got worse.
We went to bed. He pulled back the sheets and got in bed, no problems. But, when I got in bed,there were many problems. The sheets were covered in those tiny, annoying bumps. I tossed this way and that way. With each toss, the bumps bothered me more, and my attitude declined.
I was tired. I was hungry. I had just traveled several hours. I, I, I !!
Life does have a way of throwing me wet carpet and bumpy sheets. And God asks "Bethany, are you going to look up here at me or step on the carpet and roll in the sheets?" if I continue to step and roll I'm going to get wet and my body will be bruised, and I will be unpleasant. I know this is why my focus must stay on Him.
Say That Again Dear Jesus. Focus on You, stay off the wet carpet and out of the bumpy sheets!
We went to bed. He pulled back the sheets and got in bed, no problems. But, when I got in bed,there were many problems. The sheets were covered in those tiny, annoying bumps. I tossed this way and that way. With each toss, the bumps bothered me more, and my attitude declined.
I was tired. I was hungry. I had just traveled several hours. I, I, I !!
Life does have a way of throwing me wet carpet and bumpy sheets. And God asks "Bethany, are you going to look up here at me or step on the carpet and roll in the sheets?" if I continue to step and roll I'm going to get wet and my body will be bruised, and I will be unpleasant. I know this is why my focus must stay on Him.
Say That Again Dear Jesus. Focus on You, stay off the wet carpet and out of the bumpy sheets!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Threads
I arrived home today. It is a short visit, for in just a couple of days we leave again for a family vacation to Canada. Upon my arrival, my son excitedly told me that while I was gone he had gone to a garage sale and purchased "for free" some threads for me! He asked me to close my eyes so he could give them to me. I had no idea what he was about to present to me, but I was very curious, and he was very excited.
When he told me to open my eyes I saw a plastic container full of plastic beads and strings for necklace making. Lots of colors and beads with letters. I opened the lid and made a necklace for him with his name, it was fun.
The joy of gifts, the joy of watching his delight in giving me a free gift! This is what Jesus does for me everyday. He has purchased for me with His blood my freedom. He has purchased with His blood a free pass to heaven and it is good. My name is written on a golden crown and I am sitting on the throne, right there beside Him. It's exciting, it's free for me to take, it's lovely.
So, Jesus, Say That Again, because I like to hear it. You have purchased the gift of freedom for me with Your blood, Oh how I praise Your Holy Name!
When he told me to open my eyes I saw a plastic container full of plastic beads and strings for necklace making. Lots of colors and beads with letters. I opened the lid and made a necklace for him with his name, it was fun.
The joy of gifts, the joy of watching his delight in giving me a free gift! This is what Jesus does for me everyday. He has purchased for me with His blood my freedom. He has purchased with His blood a free pass to heaven and it is good. My name is written on a golden crown and I am sitting on the throne, right there beside Him. It's exciting, it's free for me to take, it's lovely.
So, Jesus, Say That Again, because I like to hear it. You have purchased the gift of freedom for me with Your blood, Oh how I praise Your Holy Name!
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