Getting caught up in worldly things and trying to live with God through something or someone else can hurt us more than not even trying to build that relationship sometimes. It builds up this thought in us that makes us think we can do everything on our own, that we don’t need help from any friends or family, or for heaven’s sake God! So we keep taking on tasks and building our to-do list to the point that things are overlapping, but we still say “I’ve got this”! At this point…reality hits, and hard! We crumble at the sight of one more thing to do, we get tense with the people around us, and then[as a last resort of course] we throw everything we have on God and say “umm…so God, I haven’t talked to you in awhile, but I’m going to need you to fix all of this. Like right now”. We finally surrender and say I can’t do it anymore, the pressure is too much, but after telling God our problems we still have this burning feeling that even God might not be able to fix it! Crazy, but you know we have all though this at some point!
In Numbers [yes, the old testament] Moses finally surrenders to God. Moses was pointed out by God to lead the Israelites through the wilderness on what should’ve been an eleven day trip and instead ended up taking forty years! Talk about a major family vacation! The Israelites, like anyone on a long trip, began complaining and whining to Moses that they didn’t have any meat and were tired of eating the same fruits for every meal. They kept this up for days and it was driving Moses crazy to the point he came to God and said “I can’t do this by myself – it’s too much, all these people.” Numbers 11:14. God had been with Moses the whole trip and had already heard everything, so he told Moses to go get together seventy men from among the leaders and meet him in the Tabernacle. God promised them you will eat meat not for one, five, ten, or twenty days, but for a whole month! He said you are going to have so much meat that you will never want another bite ever again; you will even become sick at the mention of it! I always ask questions and Moses began doing the same thing. He asks God; well don’t you know I have 600,000 men with me? Boys can eat, so how do you plan on coming up with all that meat? Where are you getting the meat from? Even if you butchered all flocks and herds, would that even be enough for that many people for that long period of time? Why couldn’t Moses just say “ok, I’ll meet you there with the guys, God”? Why did he have to questions God? See here I go again with my questions, so back to the story! Then here is my favorite part! God answered Moses “So, do you think I can’t take care of you? You’ll see soon enough whether what I say happens for you or not.”
Dad gum! For God to ask “do you think I can’t take care of you” is like a slap in the face! He is the one who created us, who keeps our blood flowing, keeps us breathing, and keeps us alive and moving…I’m pretty sure taking care of us is the easiest tasks He has! So why do we doubt Him? Why do we try to provide for everyone and accomplish everything on our own? Why do we try to be the hero? Is it so that we can take all the credit when it’s done? Eventually the burdens of trying to do this will be too much and you will crumble, it’s just a matter of time. “Trust in God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen to God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
I already know...
I have been kind of all over the board this week with quiet times. As I would read things I would think, "Oh that's nice, but I've already heard that before. Next." or "That's something good to be reminded of, but I'm not going through anything challenging to where that would apply. Next." or even "Come on now, I know you love me, I have even been singing a song about it since I was kid...Jesus loves me this I know. Next." But as I take time to look back at the week as a whole I begin to laugh at how all of these "not applicable" verses really do come together and are totally applicable.
I started off by thinking about how often I just suppose God is with me as I wonder off and try to do things on my own. Yes, He is with me, but I guess I am just trying to become Jesus Jr. and handle things on my own and make decisions that I think are "best" for my life. Try that for a few seconds and you will soon realize, you can't! God makes us this promise that He has a plan for us and a specific plan of action to make it happen, that is if we follow His path and not our own or what the world is telling us. "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." [John 14:12]
I graduated nearly a year ago come May, that's completely mind blowing to me that time has passed so fast! But back in May I knew I was going to graduate, keep working my part time job, begin grad school, take on an internship the following spring, then begin searching for a full time job in the summer. Little did I know that God's plan really for me was to graduate, work a few more months at my part time job, start grad school, and replace the internship with a full time job! I knew that I either wanted to be in Lubbock or Dallas, God chose Lubbock after I tested Him with two potential job interview trips to Dallas. And man did he ever shut those doors quick! But I am thankful and grateful to be where I am today. God wants us to have these visions and life dreams. He wants them to be clear and something to look forward to, but as much as we just want to jump to the end and get what we have been wanting for so long right now, we have to remember that God is just as focused on the process of getting there as he is on the end result. Which reminded me of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13. Paul learned how to be content and satisfied to the point where he was not disturbed by whatever state he was in. He never allowed himself to get upset with where he was at the moment; he was always looking forward to where he could be. We, myself included, need to find that balance between contentment and ambition. We need to learn to enjoy where we are on the way to where we are going, and know that God is never going to put us in a situation without giving us the ability to be in it with joy.
I already knew how easy it was to go off and do my own thing, I already knew what I wanted my life to be like, and I already knew that I needed to be content with what I have and where I am. But I didn't know how much easier it is when you let God lead your day, how much smoother plans for your life will go, and how much easier it is is to be joyful each day knowing you don't have to be the one to plan every second of every day! I have made it now a daily reminder to myself to not wonder off on my own, but instead share with God my desires, visions, and dreams. I plan to enter each new day with joy knowing that when I am in line with God, His desires for me will be the same desires I have for myself. So maybe I didn't already know everything, in fact I know I didn't. I have a feeling this will be a never ending processes, that I will never know it all, but this is what keeps things new and keeps me excited for each new day!
I started off by thinking about how often I just suppose God is with me as I wonder off and try to do things on my own. Yes, He is with me, but I guess I am just trying to become Jesus Jr. and handle things on my own and make decisions that I think are "best" for my life. Try that for a few seconds and you will soon realize, you can't! God makes us this promise that He has a plan for us and a specific plan of action to make it happen, that is if we follow His path and not our own or what the world is telling us. "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father." [John 14:12]
I graduated nearly a year ago come May, that's completely mind blowing to me that time has passed so fast! But back in May I knew I was going to graduate, keep working my part time job, begin grad school, take on an internship the following spring, then begin searching for a full time job in the summer. Little did I know that God's plan really for me was to graduate, work a few more months at my part time job, start grad school, and replace the internship with a full time job! I knew that I either wanted to be in Lubbock or Dallas, God chose Lubbock after I tested Him with two potential job interview trips to Dallas. And man did he ever shut those doors quick! But I am thankful and grateful to be where I am today. God wants us to have these visions and life dreams. He wants them to be clear and something to look forward to, but as much as we just want to jump to the end and get what we have been wanting for so long right now, we have to remember that God is just as focused on the process of getting there as he is on the end result. Which reminded me of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13. Paul learned how to be content and satisfied to the point where he was not disturbed by whatever state he was in. He never allowed himself to get upset with where he was at the moment; he was always looking forward to where he could be. We, myself included, need to find that balance between contentment and ambition. We need to learn to enjoy where we are on the way to where we are going, and know that God is never going to put us in a situation without giving us the ability to be in it with joy.
I already knew how easy it was to go off and do my own thing, I already knew what I wanted my life to be like, and I already knew that I needed to be content with what I have and where I am. But I didn't know how much easier it is when you let God lead your day, how much smoother plans for your life will go, and how much easier it is is to be joyful each day knowing you don't have to be the one to plan every second of every day! I have made it now a daily reminder to myself to not wonder off on my own, but instead share with God my desires, visions, and dreams. I plan to enter each new day with joy knowing that when I am in line with God, His desires for me will be the same desires I have for myself. So maybe I didn't already know everything, in fact I know I didn't. I have a feeling this will be a never ending processes, that I will never know it all, but this is what keeps things new and keeps me excited for each new day!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Bonded
Well, here I go again with this blog thing. I tried this a couple years ago and as most things, stuff comes up and I get distracted and forget about it. But I'm hoping this time will be different, so lets jump in and get started!
In the Summer of 2009 I attended a retreat as an upcoming officer for my sorority. I entered not really knowing anyone, not even the girls from my own school all that well. I learned a lot about the sorority and its traditions, and how even though we are the same organization with 28 different chapter across 9 different state we are so much alike but yet still very different. One story that likes to be brought up by the officers [nearly each year] is from the night we all come together for the Phi Lamb, I guess you would call it song or chant, I'm still not really sure what it is. But anyways, Texas Tech, University of Texas, and Texas A&M, being the first 3 created chapters sit in the very front and they get to start and lead the...whatever you want to call it. The UT and A&M officers, either 1. really actually do this song on a regular basis or 2. are very good at making us think they do. Phi Lamb calls it some kind of bonding song. So here we go, Tech stands up, mimicking what UT and A&M are doing and we all line up in two lines facing our fellow officers. One at a time we cross arms in this unique, yet confusing way and "bond" together, fitting huh? As of course we are singing this song, that us Tech girls think goes something like this "watermelon, watermelon, peach, banana, ummmm... apple, nope watermelon?"...yep that sounds about right. We finish "bonding" with the remaining chapters and the song ends. Us Tech girls are still shaking from trying to hold our laughs in and still have no idea what's going on. But it was at that moment, we really did "bond" as a group of officers.
It's funny how things just click sometimes and finally come together. You walk into an unfamiliar place with people you don't know anything about except their name, but after opening up and spending some quality time things come together and you begin to feel comfortable. This reminds me a lot of my walk with God. I entered this world not knowing a single thing about God, but I was blessed with a family who taught me and brought me to know who he is. At the age of 10 I invited my new, still kind of unfamiliar friend, into my life for good. I took him with me through the rest of elementary school, junior high, high school, and He even came with me to college! He stayed with me day and night and He promised He would never leave. It probably wasn't for me until college that I really jumped in deep with Him. We sang our "bonding" song, crossed arms, and though rough times have come, He never let go. This friendship has been a blessing and encouragement on my life. It is something I wouldn't change for anything and something that I don't know where I would be today without.
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done." [John 15:7] I have chose to Abide in Him, have you? I need God for everything in my life, no matter how big or small the request, but if I am not in Him, He is not in me. It's time to spend that much needed time with Him and "bond" with that great friend we all can freely have. Through this new blog I plan to share things that my friend is showing me and blessing me with every single day through the relationship we are forever building. I challenge you to start or continue your relationship and join me in this exciting journey!
In the Summer of 2009 I attended a retreat as an upcoming officer for my sorority. I entered not really knowing anyone, not even the girls from my own school all that well. I learned a lot about the sorority and its traditions, and how even though we are the same organization with 28 different chapter across 9 different state we are so much alike but yet still very different. One story that likes to be brought up by the officers [nearly each year] is from the night we all come together for the Phi Lamb, I guess you would call it song or chant, I'm still not really sure what it is. But anyways, Texas Tech, University of Texas, and Texas A&M, being the first 3 created chapters sit in the very front and they get to start and lead the...whatever you want to call it. The UT and A&M officers, either 1. really actually do this song on a regular basis or 2. are very good at making us think they do. Phi Lamb calls it some kind of bonding song. So here we go, Tech stands up, mimicking what UT and A&M are doing and we all line up in two lines facing our fellow officers. One at a time we cross arms in this unique, yet confusing way and "bond" together, fitting huh? As of course we are singing this song, that us Tech girls think goes something like this "watermelon, watermelon, peach, banana, ummmm... apple, nope watermelon?"...yep that sounds about right. We finish "bonding" with the remaining chapters and the song ends. Us Tech girls are still shaking from trying to hold our laughs in and still have no idea what's going on. But it was at that moment, we really did "bond" as a group of officers.
It's funny how things just click sometimes and finally come together. You walk into an unfamiliar place with people you don't know anything about except their name, but after opening up and spending some quality time things come together and you begin to feel comfortable. This reminds me a lot of my walk with God. I entered this world not knowing a single thing about God, but I was blessed with a family who taught me and brought me to know who he is. At the age of 10 I invited my new, still kind of unfamiliar friend, into my life for good. I took him with me through the rest of elementary school, junior high, high school, and He even came with me to college! He stayed with me day and night and He promised He would never leave. It probably wasn't for me until college that I really jumped in deep with Him. We sang our "bonding" song, crossed arms, and though rough times have come, He never let go. This friendship has been a blessing and encouragement on my life. It is something I wouldn't change for anything and something that I don't know where I would be today without.
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done." [John 15:7] I have chose to Abide in Him, have you? I need God for everything in my life, no matter how big or small the request, but if I am not in Him, He is not in me. It's time to spend that much needed time with Him and "bond" with that great friend we all can freely have. Through this new blog I plan to share things that my friend is showing me and blessing me with every single day through the relationship we are forever building. I challenge you to start or continue your relationship and join me in this exciting journey!
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