Category: new christians

My Kryptonite

FaithFueled Friday

Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

The Truth Hurts

like to think of myself quick witted, my husbands says I give out “zingers,” my mother says that I am sarcastic and smarty pants, but the Bible says I must train my tongue.[James 1:26}

Ouch! As I read the words it was like God was talking directly to me; confirming my biggest character flaw. I feel like I wasn’t born with a filter, it pops in my head and out my mouth before I even realize the thought has occurred. Sometimes making people laugh, sometimes taking them down for the count or knocking the wind right out of their sails. No matter what the delivery, it is not how God intended me to use my words. I am not proud of it at all, and honestly, it is one of my daily prayers: Lord, please help me to be mindful of what I say.

I was reading, “Becoming more than a good Bible Study girl ,” by Lysa TerKeurst. I love her realness and ability to admit her flaws and grow from them to teach others to grow too. Lysa said: “Our words can be used to build up or tear down. We can speak words of encouragement or we can speak words of destruction. We can think before we speak or we can react without thinking about the effects of our words. These are choices we make every time we open our mouths.”

Learning the Right Choices

There are a few suggestions Lysa makes for women who are “filterless” like me. (I thought maybe specifically me, but I don’t know Lysa personally so I am assuming there are more women out there with the same disability). Some are warnings or things to avoid, and others are words of wisdom. All are just what I need to be mindful of on a day to day basis. “Guard your tongue to keep out of trouble” Phew! Talk about eat the frog.

James 3:5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

Since being saved, I have strive to do right by God and also seek truth; meaning just because one of my favorite authors says to do something I am responsible to research for myself and learn.

James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

Double blow, so I now had to figure out a way to hold my tongue. I am not always successful, but I now have that ingrained in my mind. There are some instances when I lose my senses but God know I am a work in progress and when those times I may have to bit my tongue, say a little prayer and count to 100; sometimes 300, but I am getting better.

Another suggestion, “Limit your words to be wise,” I think that is even harder when you think you are wise and need to speak your wisdom. Again, guilty! Some may say that I am a bit of a know it all, but I thank God every day for His grace, and I am working on it.

Using your words for good

Your words can be used a variety of ways but as a Christian, it is our job to us them to honor God in all things we say or do. I now make a conscious effort to use a filter even if it wasn’t my instincts. God has given me one to use. In my research, I have found some wisdom from the Bible when it comes to how to use your words for good. What is your Kryptonite? How do you use it for God’s honor?

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Tags bible, choices, Christian, christian women, christianity, God's word, Jesus, speech, tongue, weakness, words

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Idolizing Success

FaithFueled Friday

Psalm 31:6 (NIV) I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord.

Idols

Chasing the impossible dream

Did you ever have to read the poem, A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes? I loved it; I used to think of it when things would go wrong in business. It now has new meaning. I used to be an Entrepreneur I was so obsessed with the “Success” of my business; fulfilling my dream. At the time, I had two little girls 10 and 6 and one on the way. I don’t know if it was the pregnancy hormones, but I was on a mission to put my business on a stable platform before I had my baby. My need to succeed placed on any other priority. I relentlessly pursued every opportunity right or wrong. Looking back I have realized; my business never would be successful because God was not in the equation. I did not commission Him to help me reach my goals. I took it on my shoulders to carry that burden and became weak. Spending wasted ours chasing money and success.

Ecclesiastes 1:14 (NIV) I have seen all thins that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Idol

Flaws in the dream process

Now, the poem has new meaning. What happens to a dream deferred? It remains, it’s not going anywhere sometimes it needs to rest and placed for a later time. Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? It all depends on where your heart is. My heart now belongs entirely to God any dream that doesn’t glorify him has shriveled and died. I have new ideas that I am finding out can incorporate some of the old thoughts but unless it’s foundation is placed in the Lord it’s on shaky grounds. Or fester like a sore and then run? It did rot, I thought about “What will people think?” “What about all that energy I put into it?,”What about others who can obtain their dreams?” at one point all sore points but I have now found contentment in God and those wounds have healed.

idol.

Gaining the focus I need

Does it stink like rotten meat? Not anymore that has been thrown away. There is a new dream, one that involves God who can make it better than anything I could have done on my own. Or crust and sugar over– like a syrupy sweet? The peace I have, the lack of angst, the new focus is so much more pleasing. I sit back and look at those who I used to run with towards the shiny gold medal. I see the error of our ways and rather than be sore or smell the agony of defeat, I feel contentment. That is so much sweeter than being in the rat race. Maybe it just sags like a heavy load? Not for me I have someone to help me carry that burden, someone to give my yoke to so that I can be free from burdens. Or does it explode? Only through his grace has my business taken on new heights. The delivery has changed, but it is far exceeding anything that I could have done on my own. All because I put my idol of “success” away and leaned and relied on God. Is there something that you are making a priority over God? Is there something that you’ve done a priority and want to give it over to him now? Either way, what were your results?

Philippians 3:12-14 (12) Not that i have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (13) Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But on thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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Tags awakening, choices, chrisitanity, christian mom, christian women, dreams, goals, God's plan, idols, priorities, success

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Outside of my Comfort Zone

Post author By De
Post date December 3, 2015
12 Comments on Outside of my Comfort Zone

The voice of the Lord twists the oaks ad strips the forest bare. An in his temple all cry, Glory! Psalms 29:9

Lacking the ability of direction

I have a horrible sense of direction. Always have not sure if it’s inherited but my mother does too. Get us together and we are the blind leading the blind. I learned when my daughter was in 2^nd grade that we all have certain genius’. And spatial genius-being good a directions and space, that is something that I lack.

So, for the last year I have felt lost. Like, I know I am going in some sort of direction but a little confused. I have been seeking God’s guidance and his response has been, “be still.” Well they tell you when you are lost to stay still till someone finds you, right? I am not the stay still type of person. I have been pursuing different directions trying to find the direction of this evolving new me for about 4 years, but still lost. Again, seeking God’s direction and again, His response “be still.” This time is different, I am tired of thinking I am heading in the right direction only to be getting further and further lost. I want to stay still, but how does one stay still?

How does one stay still?

Have you ever tried to stay still? I have stayed still in moments, each time progressively longer but never till I found an answer. Never committing fully or entirely grasping the concept of “staying still.” If someone put a gun to my head I could probably master it but honestly;

Who wants a gun held to their head?

I rather voluntarily submit. I am trying to be still before God forces me too. He has gently reminded me from time to time for some time now. I have decided that I really really want to obey.

The definition of be still is-not moving or making a sound; deep silence and calm; stillness; and quieten. I am someone who is constantly moving. I always having an idea that needs to be brought to fruition. I am loud, not calm (calmer now that I am older but still I wouldn’t characterize me as calm), constantly active and quieten-I had to look that one up and nope not that either. To sit still is literally torture to me which makes me think:

“Why does God want to torture me?”

Yet, I really feel that God wants me to be still, so what does that mean for me? I honestly have no clue what to do when you are still and my husband jokingly says,

“that means do nothing.”

So, I go to google because clearly someone has had to created steps to “doing nothing.”

Yea, no.

Next, I got to the source the ultimate instruction manual the Bible. What does the Bible say about being still?

Figuring out the steps

I am being still to honor and serve God therefore, once I achieve being still then I need to wait on God. Okay, waiting now that is something that I am very familiar with. I am not am an impatient person. So, not only does God want me to be still, but He also wants me to wait. Who ever said this being a Christian thing is easy- is a LIAR! So, I now take this journey down a path to strengthen my faith I find that God is working on three things in me- my ability to be obedient, my ability to be still and to be patient and wait on Him to come guide me where I need to go. Let’s tackle one thing at a time: be still.

In my google search there was not a Wiki-How on how to be still but there was a quote that resonated with me. “You can only see your reflection in still water.” Did you get the same “Aha” that I did? Praise God for shining a little light on the subject. Here I am lost trying to find my way trying to find my calling. I told a friend one time I felt like a Spaghetti noodle being flung on the wall trying to see if I stick. I have so many talents, passions, ideas but every time I go to God to see where to take them I get the “be still.” Then, this quote brought so much clarity. I can’t figure out how to use these talents, pursue my passion until I am still enough to see my reflection. God wasn’t trying to torture me at all He was trying to give me the direction that I have been praying about for years and my hard headed self was trying to figure it out myself. When He really was answering me. How many times do we do that? Ask God to answer our prayers and then ignore Him when He actually does? (You can put your hand down, now.)

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:14

He makes things so easy sometimes I feel like we are the ones who complicate it. So, I need to be still so that I can figure out and hear God better and start going in the direction of whatever purpose He has for me. Yep, easier said than done. So, actively trying to be still which for me is taking a step back from everything but raising my family. Daily devoting into the word, reading books, the Bible and just learning and growing in Him. For when I am actually still enough to see my reflection I want to be ready. I hopefully don’t have to wait too long.

Be Patient and Wait

This brings me to the next growing pain from God. I haven’t completely achieved being still and obedient. Although, I am honestly giving it all that I have growing that muscle daily but being patient and waiting is a lesson that I have learned before from God. Again, haven’t mastered it but I think He was preparing me for this phase of life so I have some understanding on how it is done. There are a few passages, highlighted, sticker-ed (Yes, I put stickers in my Bible) and heavily noted on waiting. My absolute favorite and another “Aha” is:

We wait in hope for the Lord;

He is our help and our shied.

In him our hearts rejoice,

For we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

Ever as we put our hope in you.

Psalms 34:20-22

4 Essentials to Waiting

WAIT. Although, we don’t want to we must wait on the Lord. He is only conspiring for our good and although it may seem like a long time for us it is only a moment for Him. His plan supersedes our plan and He wants more for us than we can even imagine all we have to do is wait for His provision. For your salvation I wait, O Lord. Genesis 49:18
HELP. If it really gets too hard to wait, too much to bear then we need to rely on Him but to be impatient with God and try to do things our own way means that we don’t trust in Him to provide. We are so used to instant gratification but doesn’t meant that is how things should be. God is our refuge our strength in ever present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
REJOICE. One of my favorite quotes is: When times are sweet give thanks and celebrate. When times are bitter give thanks and grow. We should always rejoice in the Lord, “For this is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24 It can always be worse but it is only a day, a moment, a season and blip in time that the Lord gives us, We should rejoice. So when waiting rejoice for where you are presently. Rejoice for where you will be in the future and rejoice and praise the Lord always for his provision. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
TRUST. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and not lead to your own understanding Proverbs 3:5 because honestly, you just won’t get it. He has a upper story a meaning and a purpose planned out. What we are looking at here and now is not the full picture. It is a narrow perspective. We have to have trust in Him that He is conspiring for us in all things (which He is). How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, on those who take refuge in you.

I know what I need to be doing and I kind of know how to do it. So, I am just going to take a seat before He makes me take a seat and let God do His thing. I will try to rejoice and not look at it as torture because He could ask me to do far greater and harder things than to just be still. (ie. Moses, Abraham, Gideon, David….just for example)
Has God ever asked you to do something out of your comfort zone?

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Tags being a christian, challenge, Christian, comfort zone, faith journey, help, rejoice, trust, wait

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Closing the Gap

So, I accepted Jesus, now what?

When you become a believer there is a gap between the world and Christ. I have always known Christ. I knew He was a higher power and when you were really strapped and your back was against the wall it wouldn’t hurt to send a little prayer of “fix it Jesus” to help you. I didn’t realize that He was so much more. His grace, mercy, love, predetermination, protections, guidance, motivation, power, glory and fulfillment; still that doesn’t even describe the character of who God truly is there is so much more.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry, witchcraft; hatred, discord jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like I warn you, as I did before that those who live like this will no inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 4:19-21

Getting rid of worldly views

I was raised and taught of a condemning God who was jealous and vengeful. A God with such high standards of how to live that, we as sinners will never achieve them. I gave up and took the easy road and found comfortable discomfort in the world. Where the standard was so low that it was easy to excel and achieve. That is how we do it in the world, “dog eat dog”, “every man for himself,” “one up” the next person, turn off their light so yours can shine brighter. Honestly at the end of the day there is no fulfillment in living like that. There is no dollar, house, car, or anything that can replace happiness, joy and unconditional love.

Then one day, back against the wall I came to God again to “fix it Jesus” but this time it was different. I wasn’t coming from that flawed mentality that I had of “what can Jesus do for me?” Again, limiting His power and my own faith tremendously. I was coming from a broken person who had achieve worldly success, figured out a way to earn cash fast but still wanting something more.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the rule of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5

What is a “New Believer”?

Then I accepted Jesus as my Savior, what did that mean? I accepted that Jesus had adopted me as His daughter and gave me the privilege of inheriting His kingdom. That took me a lot to accept, you mean “I am in the will just for being me? And being grateful for Jesus for sacrificing His life for me, (like enduring grueling pain, ridicule, torture, being nailed to a cross and left to die, for me?) How can you not be grateful and thankful? I know some are but I guess since I am on the other side of that fence I find it really hard to understand at this point. Yet, to think that I once was there and I don’t know if I didn’t accept it because it seemed unfathomable or I didn’t accept it because I felt undeserving but either way it happened and I am thankful because I don’t know anyone who would take that bullet for me or bear that cross. With that same mentality of “who would do that for me?” I tried to navigate this faith journey all by myself. At least I tried to at first.

In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will- to the praise of His glorious grace, when he has freely given us in the One he loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1:5-7

Initially I was going it “alone” I was going to do and say all the right things because I was a Christian by name only but my heart wasn’t truly convicted yet, I don’t know if it was a lack of understanding of what it truly meant or an inaccurate definition but needless to say it was flawed. It was missing the most essential component and that was God’s direction.

The Lord makes firms the steps of the one who delights in him though he may stumble he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. Psalms 37:23-24

Doing things alone is a bad idea

Seeking to conquer my journey the only way I knew how, alone, by myself and forging ahead all on my own. Again, flawed and hindsight is 20/20, right? Looking back I was clearly in a transitional phase into where I wanted to be and where I am today. Going it alone made me realize that A) I don’t have the stamina, training or knowledge to do it myself and B) that is not what this “Christian” thing is about, we are meant to lean on God. I truly wish that my Church had a mentorship program for new Christians, I know they exist but I haven’t been privy to that. So, I accepted Jesus as my Savior got baptized and then was set free to roam. Thank God for His grace and love because once I realize I need to lean on Him and seek His guidance it became clear my path. When we go it alone we fail miserably and through my failure it introduced me to God. It gave me the yearning to have an active daily ongoing relationship in my life. He led me to the people that I needed to continue me on the path to maturity in Christ.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

How did I figure it out?

What was the path? Who were the people? The answer: Christ and His believers and I found them in the unlikeliest of places. I pray every day for God to surround me with Christian people who love me unconditionally and support me. Who can help me grow and get to know Him better? Through this prayer I have found people who have taught me how to study the Bible. I have found the Bible, the ultimate Study Guide, Instruction Manual, devotional. I was reading books, devotionals, online studies and they are all great supplements to God’s word but the power of His word is indescribable. I am so much closer, dependent and strengthened through my relationship with Christ.

4 Ways to Close the Gap

So, I accepted Jesus now what?

Praise Him every day-no matter good or bad. If something good happens-praise Him and celebrate; If something bad happens-praise Him and grow.
Come to Him in prayer-It’s the best and easiest way to reach Him at any time, use it!
Trust in His Word-God cannot lie and His word is infallible
Rejoice always and give thanks always– for all that He does and let Him do the rest.

It doesn’t matter how big the gap is as long as I seek Him, he will close it. What have you done to build a relationship with Christ?

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Living in or on purpose?

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

What I thought I wanted

Day in and day out, we are moving, are day and our lives by choices. From the moment we wake up, till the moment we rest; Each day a set of new choices. What do I wear? eat? Do I exercise? Stay in bed? Do I say this or that? When I was living in the world, my choices were impulsive. I was getting by day-to-day just trying to get through the day, moving ahead and living in purpose. I didn’t stop to take into account what I was doing till after it was done. I could easily be influenced by outside circumstances and was going with the masses. Looking back I was living a very meaningless life not making a true difference. Although, my intentions were to make a difference and I thought I was achieving. I wasn’t making true connections with anyone or thing. When you live in purpose,you are just going through the motions; doing what is popular. It wasn’t until I woke up and chose more for my life, a legacy for my daughter and a positive contribution to society.

What I really wanted

When I started living on purpose the mundane day-to-day became something more. I am not going to lie it became difficult in all the right ways. I had to be more conscious in my actions, speech, dress. I had to think ahead and plan more and I had to place more direction and guidance in God. Living by impulse is easy, living intentionally is hard; you might set out daily to tackle your to do list but that is not intentional. Tackling your to do list is just taking care of your daily task that need to be done. How does that impact your salvation? How does that encourage others to consider their salvation? I thought I was positively contributing to society but in all actuality I was serving myself. Getting the things done to make me more comfortable to achieve my goals and to execute my plans.

Accepting I was wrong

When I found God it was self-serving at first, I was looking for a ways to ease my pain. Make my life better, fix my life but as I started to grow in Him I discovered that was not fulfilling. I wasn’t really content until I started spreading His word, shining His light was much more powerful, purposeful and that contribution to society that I was looking for.

Psalms 63:1 You God, are my God, earnestly I see you; I thirst you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

I think the hardest part was realizing that my own desires and dreams weren’t getting me where I thought I wanted to be. It’s hard to think of others and not myself. When I realized that His dreams far exceed anything that I could dream myself.

It’s better than you think

To live day-to-day thinking, how can I be a light while check off my to-do’s? Years ago, if someone would have said to me, “Leave all you know,dreams,aspirations and follow Jesus. It will be the most fulfilling thing you’ve ever done and you will still achieve all your dreams and more. I would have said, “Put down the purple kool-aid,” but I am here today to tell you, it’s true! (I don’t even like Kool-aid, so I am not sipping, I promise just sharing what I have found to be true.) It’s hard following, learning, being obedient, going against your nature but it’s the best thing that I have ever done. My days are no longer mundane they are meaningful and rich. My dreams are not a struggle its just a different path and I am no longer living in purpose. I am living on purpose-this is the life I was meant (we were meant) to live.