I am going to be doing a series these next couple of weeks about how we are free and why we are free- free to hope, free to love, free to pray and free to live (really live) We are going to start with how we are free to hope.
Hope is something we always have but we become blind to things that bog us down that we can't see it. We can also place our hope in the wrong things. things that are temporary. For example, we can have hope in our job and become almost dependent on it to make us feel good and if we lose it unexpectedly then we feel we lost all hope. We place hope in money- that if we have enough it will give us our basic needs and more. Our hope is not in us and what we can do. Hope is only found in God and what He can do. That is why hope is all about. We don't have to do it alone or have all the answers.
Just this week, we had a tragedy stike us in Columbus. It is affected a whole community. A father killed his 2 young sons- only 8 and 6 before taking his only life. The same thing happened last year here in December when a dad killed his 2 girls 15 and 11 before taking his only like. On Sunday night when the wife/mother came home, she found her family dead- her husband and 2 little boys. He wrote a letter saying he wanted to protect the boys from the misery that he has lived with. This is how destructive depression and the feeling of hopelessness can be.
Hopelessness is just a feeling. There is always hope. I know what's like to be what seems a hopeless situation and I also know how to come out of it. In a way I am going through it through right now. I know I'll come through it victoriously and the fustrastion and even anger I have will one day really soon will go away- when I least except it to. I have faith that God is going to something big, something wonderful. I just have to keep going and cross the finish line on my part, give God the baton and let Him do the rest.
So, why can we have hope? We can have hope because God says He will never leave us or forsake us. We have hope in His abundant and obsessive love for us. We have hope in the Cross and the blood Jesus shed for us. We have hope in being His child. and being able to talk to him anytime of day about anything. I don't know what you are going through right now but God does. He desperately wants to your hand and comfort you. He feels every tear you cry and it makes Him sad, He loves you and know what you need and what you want. You are free to hope.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Peace And Trust: How They Come Together
We are going to talk about how peace and trust are connected together in perfect harmony. We can't have one without the other especially in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Let me first share with you 2 experiences in my own life.
During my senior year of high school (and part of my junior year) I had some issues with depression. I had a hard time accepting myself for who I am. I have a hard time accepting all my challenges (Tourettes, Pseudo Seizures, and even a little bit of a hard time accepting Turner Syndrome). In January 2008, I went with my Youth Group to West Virgina for Central Ohio Nazarene Youth International Winter Retreat. God really spoke to me that weekend, in such a way I'll never forget or stop living off of. I completely gave God complete of my life that weekend. I had such a peace and excitement that I still get today. To have that sense of peace though, I had to trust God and believe His ways were better then mine and so much higher and that He knows what He's doing.
Every night before I had an interview I prayed long and hard and gave God complete control of what was going to happen. I just simply said "Lord, have your way." Did I get the job- no I didn't but I went into the interview with a calm having given God control and having it out of my hands and into His. I plan on doing this the night before I have an interview or anything big in my life.
There is such a peace in letting God be God and placing our lives in His hands. I know in our human nature we like to have control of our destiny and do things by ourselves but when we leave things in front of God's feet, things become soooo much better because He can do things for you that you can't even imagine, all because of His deep love for you. I don't know what is going happen in my life. There are so many things up in the air, just like your lives. I have such a peace though in my heart, and I know God is going to great in my life, real soon, I just have to get some hurdles but I'll get there. God keeps bringing such a strong peace over me and telling me that everything is going to be OK.
Peace comes in total surrender to Jesus Christ and placing ALL of our life in His hands. Peace takes trust and also having the faith to believe that God will do what He says He's going to do. It requires patience and taking God at His words and letting Him be God and you being still. Allow Him to speak to your heart. He desperately wants to show you something- no matter who you are or where you are in life. He loves you. He wants to give you a peace that surpasses all understanding. Will you trust Him and have peace in Him today. Just ask Him. He's waiting for you.
During my senior year of high school (and part of my junior year) I had some issues with depression. I had a hard time accepting myself for who I am. I have a hard time accepting all my challenges (Tourettes, Pseudo Seizures, and even a little bit of a hard time accepting Turner Syndrome). In January 2008, I went with my Youth Group to West Virgina for Central Ohio Nazarene Youth International Winter Retreat. God really spoke to me that weekend, in such a way I'll never forget or stop living off of. I completely gave God complete of my life that weekend. I had such a peace and excitement that I still get today. To have that sense of peace though, I had to trust God and believe His ways were better then mine and so much higher and that He knows what He's doing.
Every night before I had an interview I prayed long and hard and gave God complete control of what was going to happen. I just simply said "Lord, have your way." Did I get the job- no I didn't but I went into the interview with a calm having given God control and having it out of my hands and into His. I plan on doing this the night before I have an interview or anything big in my life.
There is such a peace in letting God be God and placing our lives in His hands. I know in our human nature we like to have control of our destiny and do things by ourselves but when we leave things in front of God's feet, things become soooo much better because He can do things for you that you can't even imagine, all because of His deep love for you. I don't know what is going happen in my life. There are so many things up in the air, just like your lives. I have such a peace though in my heart, and I know God is going to great in my life, real soon, I just have to get some hurdles but I'll get there. God keeps bringing such a strong peace over me and telling me that everything is going to be OK.
Peace comes in total surrender to Jesus Christ and placing ALL of our life in His hands. Peace takes trust and also having the faith to believe that God will do what He says He's going to do. It requires patience and taking God at His words and letting Him be God and you being still. Allow Him to speak to your heart. He desperately wants to show you something- no matter who you are or where you are in life. He loves you. He wants to give you a peace that surpasses all understanding. Will you trust Him and have peace in Him today. Just ask Him. He's waiting for you.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Being Short, Living Tall
I am a very short woman- I stand at only 4 ft 8 in tall. In a society where so much focus is placed on look, so being short can be really challenging especially when you become an adult and seek competitive employment. I know I have been hindered from getting a job just because of how I look. I don't look my age at all so it can be hard for me to prove I am a capable adult.
To me, height is just like age, it means nothing! I have learned to compensate for my height in many ways through out my life, one of them is obviously how I communicate. Even when I was child, my parents were told, I get through life just be my communication. I have learned that my height doesn't define me- unless I let it. I don't feel my height impairs me in too many ways, expect in how people perceive me and how I interact with other adults.
Before my Grandmother passed away she told me that "Big things come in small packages." Even though I am short I can still be tall in other ways- where it truly counts. I have learned that looks truly aren't everything. We live in a society where we are taught how to dress and how to be beautiful. We see commercial after commercial on products that will make us look good. Well I am all for dressing well and looking good, I feel we tend to take it too an unhealthy level and lose ourselves gradually in the process.
We are such more then how we look. Stand tall in the ways that truly matter. Stand tall in love, stand tall in humility, stay tall in God, stay tall in relationships. That's what life is all about. It doesn't matter how tall we stand. It is that heart that is all that matter. That's what God looks at, we ought to do the same.
To me, height is just like age, it means nothing! I have learned to compensate for my height in many ways through out my life, one of them is obviously how I communicate. Even when I was child, my parents were told, I get through life just be my communication. I have learned that my height doesn't define me- unless I let it. I don't feel my height impairs me in too many ways, expect in how people perceive me and how I interact with other adults.
Before my Grandmother passed away she told me that "Big things come in small packages." Even though I am short I can still be tall in other ways- where it truly counts. I have learned that looks truly aren't everything. We live in a society where we are taught how to dress and how to be beautiful. We see commercial after commercial on products that will make us look good. Well I am all for dressing well and looking good, I feel we tend to take it too an unhealthy level and lose ourselves gradually in the process.
We are such more then how we look. Stand tall in the ways that truly matter. Stand tall in love, stand tall in humility, stay tall in God, stay tall in relationships. That's what life is all about. It doesn't matter how tall we stand. It is that heart that is all that matter. That's what God looks at, we ought to do the same.
Monday, September 6, 2010
The Trail
This story is about a hike I took with my family back in 2004. Before we get there however, I need to tell you about my life the months leading it to it.
When I was 14, my life was awful. I had at the time an undiagnosed seizure disorder and no one knew what was wrong with me. I could hardly attend school and had no friends. I was scheduled to repeat 8th grade the following year. I had a depression that was MUCH more severe then the typical teenage depression. I was on the edge of taking my own life and was so close many times to actually having what it took to pull it off. On March 9, 2004 when my Grandfather committed suicide I was driven even further to the edge.
2 weeks after he committed suicide it was Spring Break and my family and I went on vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. One day during the week we took a very long and strenuous hike. It was unbelievably hard on me. It was an incline all the way to the top of the mountain. The length of the hike made it that much harder. I was so tested- not only physically but emotionally as well. I wasn't sure if I could make it all the way and back. At one point I just sat down and started crying. I was so sore, so frustrated and so done. My parents gave me a little time to collect myself. I decided to keep going despite how sore I was and I made it all the way and back.
I was so proud of myself! I learned that if I just push myself a little then I can doing anything. I learned I can overcome anything that stands in my way of getting to where I want to me. I still went through hard times. to come and a long road to recovery but the lessons I learned on the trail that day I will never forget.
So, why I am telling this to you? No matter what you go through God will not leave your side. He will hold you in His hands and give you the strength to keep going. If you feel like giving up don't lose heart. God will keep you save in his arms and carry you further then you've ever been.
When I was 14, my life was awful. I had at the time an undiagnosed seizure disorder and no one knew what was wrong with me. I could hardly attend school and had no friends. I was scheduled to repeat 8th grade the following year. I had a depression that was MUCH more severe then the typical teenage depression. I was on the edge of taking my own life and was so close many times to actually having what it took to pull it off. On March 9, 2004 when my Grandfather committed suicide I was driven even further to the edge.
2 weeks after he committed suicide it was Spring Break and my family and I went on vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. One day during the week we took a very long and strenuous hike. It was unbelievably hard on me. It was an incline all the way to the top of the mountain. The length of the hike made it that much harder. I was so tested- not only physically but emotionally as well. I wasn't sure if I could make it all the way and back. At one point I just sat down and started crying. I was so sore, so frustrated and so done. My parents gave me a little time to collect myself. I decided to keep going despite how sore I was and I made it all the way and back.
I was so proud of myself! I learned that if I just push myself a little then I can doing anything. I learned I can overcome anything that stands in my way of getting to where I want to me. I still went through hard times. to come and a long road to recovery but the lessons I learned on the trail that day I will never forget.
So, why I am telling this to you? No matter what you go through God will not leave your side. He will hold you in His hands and give you the strength to keep going. If you feel like giving up don't lose heart. God will keep you save in his arms and carry you further then you've ever been.
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