Hearing The Lord's Still Small Voice

I've had a rough week. Sitting down tonight reading devotionals to my kids God lead me to a devotion meant for me as well. He reminded me that in everything - good and bad- He is still working in my life for His good and intended purpose. My sister was in a really bad car accident Sunday night and doctors told her she shouldn't be alive,  I hurt my wrist a couple of weeks ago and I am on my own taking care of the kids for over a week and on top of that someone chose to vandalize my car by smearing chewing gum all over the side of it today! What more could go wrong? I pray nothing else!

 I was at my breaking point earlier today when I heard the Lord's still small voice whispering to me "Hey I'm still here with you, I'm still in control. Don't lose heart, I'm still right here." Thank you Lord for reminding me of Romans 8:28. You always know just what I need and I love you for that. Thank you for caring so thoughtfully of me. I don't deserve your goodness but I am thankful for it.

Romans 8:28:  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Forgiveness

At night either me or my husband will always read the kids a bedtime devotional before they go to sleep. The girls have a princess devotional Bible that they absolutely love :). It has really great lessons and devotions based on the scriptures. I was flipping through it looking for a story to read to them tonight and it was actually just as much of a lesson for me that it was for them! I love it when I'm going through something and I pick up the Bible to read it and it speaks directly to my heart. I just love it when God does that to me. It makes me feel so special and so cared for its absolutely amazing. Just the thought that God could take the time to say "hey I see you down there. I know you're sad and you've had a rough day but hey, I'm here and guess what? I still care for you". It almost brought tears to my eyes to feel His presence speaking to me. I always tell my daughters that they are God's little princesses and that they are special to the Lord. Well I have to remind myself that I too am God's princess and he cares for me just the same as he cares for my daughters. Maybe God just knew that I needed a hug today. Wow! Thank you Lord for loving me. Please give me the strength to forgive just as you forgave me.

Skillet Rebirthing video

This is a song about being born again. I know it's head banging hard rock but listen to the words :) This song makes me feel like I can do anything!!!!

Standing for Christ no matter what

We read a verse of scripture yesterday at church that really stood out to me.

It was Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV) which reads: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶  And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. ³⁷  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

  
v. 35- If someone that I love chooses not to Follow or believe in Christ, I have an obligation to the Lord NOT my family member to keep on following and loving Christ. God has to be more important to me than this person's opinion of me. 

v. 36 - This is hard because I do feel that I have family members who are hostile to the biblical principals that I choose to live by.  


v. 38- Taking my cross daily. What this means to me personally is that I have to leave the things of the world behind that I used to enjoy doing (that lead to death) and deny myself of these things so that I can live to please Christ.

This is major for me. In a society where everyone wants to "fit in" or be "liked by many", it can be hard to overcome the temptation to blend in with the world doing as they do. I've had a natural tendency to not want to rock the boat with my convictions on spiritual matters. The verse above tells me that I am making the right choices when I speak out against things that are wrong, regardless if it is concerning a family member, friend or anyone else. For the longest time I've kept quiet about things that have bothered me but I am saying no more to that!  


This verse talks about how the gospel of Christs' life divides and separates us. I've experienced this in my life as well. People think I'm strange because I choose not to listen to secular music, use profanity, lie, and basically sell my soul. I feel like I am at war constantly, and I know that I am spiritually without a doubt. I don't care anymore about being a people pleasing person. I care about what the Lord says and that 's the most important thing to me. I believe that people get offended when you live for Christ simply because it convicts them of the wrong that they are doing in their own lives. 

In Galatians 1:10 (ESV) Paul says "For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ". 

The bottom line for me is that I want to graciously live to please the Lord. I'm not on a quest to Bible bash or be "holier than thou" I just have the desire in my heart to please the Lord and that's what my focus is. I will not apologize for that nor compromise in any way by God's grace. I have to stand for Christ because there is no alternative! He is the way the truth and the life!! (John 14:6) To God and only God be the glory!!