The speaker in chapel the other week said something that I very much like. (I'm not quoting word for word. and I'm definitely explaining in a different way but the main point is still the same)
When we pray God doesn't say wait. When He says yes, sometimes we have to wait to get His answer, because we are bound by time, and sometimes His answer has to travel through time. So when we feel like God isn't answering us. It's not because He hasn't, it's just because it hasn't gone through the time layer. :)
(and this is me now)
I was thinking about it and ya know, I think sometimes the angels have two layers to go through: time and Satan's army. Or maybe Satan's army is the layer of time (Because Satan is the ruler of all evil and time is a consequence of evil so ya know... maybe. I'm still processing this.)
In Daniel, Daniel was praying for a long time before the angel came to him. And the angel said that he was sent directly but couldn't get there because he was warring with Satan's army and had to get through them first, before he could get to Daniel.
so I don't think God says wait. I think I very much agree with this speaker.
but anyway these are my current thoughts on this subject. Like I said, still processing. :)
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Prayer
So often when I hear people talk about prayer the way they describe it is like they are talking to some big distant creature. Or like they have to have this assigned prayer to be heard. \
No. Stop thinking of prayer as prayer. I know this sounds really weird, and I haven't entirely developed my thoughts on this yet. But here's the start.
You guys, prayer is not a time where we sit down, shut our eyes, and talk to "the big man in the sky".
It is not a time that allows us to get what we want. like a little girl fluttering her big eyes at her daddy for the stuffed unicorn. No. Not like that at all.
It is not something that we have to do to be good enough.
Prayer is a time when you can get to know the man who died for You. Who gave you the breath to breathe your words to Him. The one who is closer than your next heart beat. because He makes it beat.
Prayer is about building a relationship with Jesus.Your Pappa.
Prayer is sitting on your Pappa's lap and talking about the day with Him.
Prayer is spending alone time (or going on a group date) with Jesus!
Prayer is building a relationship with this guy we call God.
All relationships are built off of talking to one another. Sharing, with mutual love and honesty. They are built off of tears, and laughter, sorrow and joy.
You guys. Prayer is the time that you get to build your relationship with our Pappa God. When you get to hang out with Him!
throughout the day if you see your friend at school or something, you make side comments all day to them. "oh my eye is twitching!" "I spelled Galatians wrong!" "you broke my physics final." "oh cheese! I broke your kite! let me help you fix that!"
God is just like your friends. You don't build a relationship with any friend by saying hello in the morning, and goodbye at night. You build a relationship by sharing the random things that happen. By sharing responsibilities. Telling them "I'm tired" or "I feel like dancing down the halls"
Jesus is the same way! We don't build a relationship with Him by saying good morning and good night and thank you for the meal. We build a relationship by talking to Him throughout the day. Sharing the big things AND the little random things that are funny or weird or hard.
So. Stop thinking of prayer as prayer my friends. Think of it as time to hang out with the man who loves you the most.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Poem - In Your Arms
In
Your Arms
©
Alainna Norland 5/25/2015
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
I can stand through every
storm
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
my heart's secure and warm
though I face trials
though I sink in sinking
sand
though I'm in denial
though I cannot see Your
hand
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
I know that can stand
though I cry to sleep each
night
I know you will not send
a battle that I cannot
fight
that will cause my soul to
bend
I bear such heavy weight
that tries to drag me down
Yet I will reach for
Heavens gate
till I can touch Your gown
So as I trudge along this
road
my shoulders heavy with
sorrow
I will give Your hands
this heavy load
and look forward to
tomorrow
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
I can look upon Your face
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
I am covered with Your
grace
Though I may still fall
and stumble
I never shall forget
How You loved and became
humble
And never had regret
Lord please make me more
like You
more loving every day
Don't let me hate
but give me grace
to share along my way
There are so many who do
not know
the peace found in Your
arms
There are Christians who
do not show
that they are free from
Satan's harm
I want to show the world,
my Lord
that I don't live in fear
I want to show the hurt
and lost
that there is joy amidst
the tears
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
I find peace among the
shame
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
I don't have to be afraid
You have overcome the
wicked one
and paid my endless debt
You have darkness,
overcome
and Your pain, You don't
regret
Now You share each tear
and laugh
with all who will accept
You
And still when all the joy
past
I cry in darkness with
You
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
I cry but am not feeble
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
I dance on wings of eagles
And as I dance
I cry and laugh
through all the pain in my
heart
I know I will see better
days
when only laughter's in my
heart
In Your arms Lord
I am strong
I can stand though I am
weary
In Your arms Lord
I find peace
though nights grow dark
and eerie
In Your arms Lord
I will rise
though my heart is week
and broken
In Your arms Lord
I will hear
the promises You have
spoken
I may not be a perfect
child
I know I am a sinner
But I'm a child of the
king
and because of Him I'm a
winner
In His arms
my sin's forgiven
I do not live in shame
In His arms
my tears are His
I stand firm in His name
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
I am Your perfect creation
In Your arms Lord
in Your arms
You call me bride
Your good creation
Your good creation
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Love verses Trust
I just read (and edited and re-posted) my "True Love" blog post from about a year and a half ago and I realized that I should probably clarify the difference between love and trust.
Like love, trust is a choice, but it is a choice that we are to make wisely. The Bible's greatest commandment says "love thy neighbor as thy self", note how it does not say anywhere, (that I can find), trust your neighbor as yourself, or your husband, or daughter, or mom, or dad, etc.
We, as christians, are commanded to love unconditionally all who we come in contact with. (that does not mean fall in love with them. there is a difference.) We are also commanded to forgive all the time. If we are supposed to love unconditionally and forgive always, then are we supposed to trust unconditionally? Not necessarily.
When someone consistently lies, you don't have faith in them to tell the truth. Right?
So when someone hurts you, like for instance, someone you have known for several years that you have been best friends with for a long time, starts being rude to you, ignoring you and spreading rumors about you. Do you still love the person? yes. Do you forgive them? absolutely. But do you trust them to not say something rude to or about you the next time you see them? no. probably not. So you don't always share everything with them. (Yes, talk to your friend and reconcile the relationship. damage has been done and it needs to be fixed!)
(side note: verbal and emotional abuse is just like physical abuse, except in some ways it's worse. Because the victims of verbal and emotional abuse don't always have physical bruises to show it, they have to deal with it on their own. Physical abuse, shows up on them and they can be removed from the abuser. Whereas verbal abuse can repeat in their head for the rest of their life and continue to damage them without anyone ever knowing about the abuse.)
You can love a person without trusting them. You don't trust your five year old with the glass dishes. He/she hasn't proven yet that he/she is strong enough, responsible enough, or careful enough to handle it without breaking it, (or maybe he/she has already proven that they cannot handle it because they broke some of the dishes already) but you love that kid so much already. They are worth more than those glass dishes to you and you can forgive them when they break the glass dishes, but you don't give the glass dishes back to them until they are older, stronger, more careful, and responsible.
The same goes for any relationship, at any level, anywhere from acquaintance to husband!
Your heart is that glass plate. When you trust someone, you are depending on them to not drop that glass plate. When they drop the glass plate and it shatters on the ground, you don't always hand them another plate. You love them and forgive them, but usually you don't trust them with your heart again, until they have proven they are mature enough to handle it.
However, you have to make sure that when you are not trusting them with whatever part of your heart, that you are not shutting God out, and you are not hardening your heart against the plate breaker! This is not a punishment for them. It is protection for you, and an opportunity for the Lord to heal you both if you allow it! If you don't allow that, then it becomes the most fertile ground for Satan to grow bitterness in the both of you, and that would ultimately destroy you both.
So, do we always hand back the plate? no. not always. But we never hold back out of hate, or unforgiveness. We hold back because we are waiting, in patient love, for our friend to grow up a little older than the 5 year old that isn't quite strong enough to be trusted with the good dishes, (metaphorically speaking). That way we protect both us and them, and allow the Lord to work in both of our hearts.
Once they do prove themselves to be capable of handling the glass without dropping it, then we happily, and proudly hand them back the "plate", at first it's a salad plate, then it's the dinner plate, and then, if they have not dropped it so far, the good china.
No we don't always trust unconditionally. But we do always love unconditionally, waiting and praying for the Lord to work in those we love.
Loving unconditionally: is giving of yourself, and choosing to accept the other person for all of who they are, have been, and will be.
Trusting unconditionally: is allowing another person to love you unconditionally, receiving what they give of themselves freely (be it judgement or love), and allowing them to see all of who you are, have been, and will be.
May the Lord help you forgive unconditionally, and love unconditionally. May He keep your heart soft in His hands and guard it from the wiles of Satan's lies. May He teach you and your loved ones more about Him and who He is daily. May He show you how to love, and how to be loved. May He guide you in your life and protect you from harm, and lead you through the hurt, with comfort as He has me. Lord I ask that you would cover these people with your armor. Put on their feet the shoes of peace, on their shoulders the breast plate of righteousness, on their head the helmet of salvation, gird them with the belt of truth. Help them take up the sword of the spirit, the shield of faith and the spear of prayer. Keep them from hatred and bitterness. Grow them closer to You Lord. Teach them to love unconditionally and wait patiently for You to move, and teach, and work in their hearts and the hearts of their loved ones.Bless them all with You Lord, and Your love and joy and peace!
In Your name, Amen!
Like love, trust is a choice, but it is a choice that we are to make wisely. The Bible's greatest commandment says "love thy neighbor as thy self", note how it does not say anywhere, (that I can find), trust your neighbor as yourself, or your husband, or daughter, or mom, or dad, etc.
We, as christians, are commanded to love unconditionally all who we come in contact with. (that does not mean fall in love with them. there is a difference.) We are also commanded to forgive all the time. If we are supposed to love unconditionally and forgive always, then are we supposed to trust unconditionally? Not necessarily.
When someone consistently lies, you don't have faith in them to tell the truth. Right?
So when someone hurts you, like for instance, someone you have known for several years that you have been best friends with for a long time, starts being rude to you, ignoring you and spreading rumors about you. Do you still love the person? yes. Do you forgive them? absolutely. But do you trust them to not say something rude to or about you the next time you see them? no. probably not. So you don't always share everything with them. (Yes, talk to your friend and reconcile the relationship. damage has been done and it needs to be fixed!)
(side note: verbal and emotional abuse is just like physical abuse, except in some ways it's worse. Because the victims of verbal and emotional abuse don't always have physical bruises to show it, they have to deal with it on their own. Physical abuse, shows up on them and they can be removed from the abuser. Whereas verbal abuse can repeat in their head for the rest of their life and continue to damage them without anyone ever knowing about the abuse.)
You can love a person without trusting them. You don't trust your five year old with the glass dishes. He/she hasn't proven yet that he/she is strong enough, responsible enough, or careful enough to handle it without breaking it, (or maybe he/she has already proven that they cannot handle it because they broke some of the dishes already) but you love that kid so much already. They are worth more than those glass dishes to you and you can forgive them when they break the glass dishes, but you don't give the glass dishes back to them until they are older, stronger, more careful, and responsible.
The same goes for any relationship, at any level, anywhere from acquaintance to husband!
Your heart is that glass plate. When you trust someone, you are depending on them to not drop that glass plate. When they drop the glass plate and it shatters on the ground, you don't always hand them another plate. You love them and forgive them, but usually you don't trust them with your heart again, until they have proven they are mature enough to handle it.
However, you have to make sure that when you are not trusting them with whatever part of your heart, that you are not shutting God out, and you are not hardening your heart against the plate breaker! This is not a punishment for them. It is protection for you, and an opportunity for the Lord to heal you both if you allow it! If you don't allow that, then it becomes the most fertile ground for Satan to grow bitterness in the both of you, and that would ultimately destroy you both.
So, do we always hand back the plate? no. not always. But we never hold back out of hate, or unforgiveness. We hold back because we are waiting, in patient love, for our friend to grow up a little older than the 5 year old that isn't quite strong enough to be trusted with the good dishes, (metaphorically speaking). That way we protect both us and them, and allow the Lord to work in both of our hearts.
Once they do prove themselves to be capable of handling the glass without dropping it, then we happily, and proudly hand them back the "plate", at first it's a salad plate, then it's the dinner plate, and then, if they have not dropped it so far, the good china.
No we don't always trust unconditionally. But we do always love unconditionally, waiting and praying for the Lord to work in those we love.
Loving unconditionally: is giving of yourself, and choosing to accept the other person for all of who they are, have been, and will be.
Trusting unconditionally: is allowing another person to love you unconditionally, receiving what they give of themselves freely (be it judgement or love), and allowing them to see all of who you are, have been, and will be.
May the Lord help you forgive unconditionally, and love unconditionally. May He keep your heart soft in His hands and guard it from the wiles of Satan's lies. May He teach you and your loved ones more about Him and who He is daily. May He show you how to love, and how to be loved. May He guide you in your life and protect you from harm, and lead you through the hurt, with comfort as He has me. Lord I ask that you would cover these people with your armor. Put on their feet the shoes of peace, on their shoulders the breast plate of righteousness, on their head the helmet of salvation, gird them with the belt of truth. Help them take up the sword of the spirit, the shield of faith and the spear of prayer. Keep them from hatred and bitterness. Grow them closer to You Lord. Teach them to love unconditionally and wait patiently for You to move, and teach, and work in their hearts and the hearts of their loved ones.Bless them all with You Lord, and Your love and joy and peace!
In Your name, Amen!
Sunday, October 12, 2014
True Love
ok. Now I know what a lot of you are thinking. Either, "how can a christian girl be talking about this", or "seriously, another stupid article about how God is this person's true love".
And if you aren't thinking that, good for you!
I am writing this, because I have recently made a very personal discovery of what true love is. Not because I found it, but because I didn't find it. To surmise I experienced first hand that loving someone is a choice. It is not a feeling, an emotion, how excited you get when you see that person, how much you enjoy touching or kissing the person. It is a choice. Finding true love, doesn't mean that you've found the person that makes your stomach fill with butterfly's when they touch you, it means you've chosen to love someone no matter what, and they have chosen to love you back no matter what.
I have found so often that people are defining love by how much the person wants to touch them, or be around them, or how many fireworks go off when you touch. That is SO unhealthy and it is SO wrong, in fact, if you that is why someone "loves" you now, if they don't make a decision to love you later, you will get your heart broken.
Choosing to love someone means that you have seen their hurt. You've shared their pain. You know their bad side. You know how annoying they are. You know at least some of their sins. You know that they sin more than you know. BUT! You have chosen to love them because you have seen how wonderful and beautiful they are, and you have decided that they are worth going through ALL the yuck (that we mentioned before), because of that small part of them that is wonderful and beautiful.
That is what love is. It is a choice. To go through the yuck, to feel the pain, to put up with all the little things, all the big things, because you have decided that what is good in them is so wonderful, that it outweighs the bad.
Finding true love is not always possible, because it takes two people choosing to love the other like this to find it. But it does happen, if you choose to love without reason, forgive without limit, and lay your heart and your life on the line.
That is how you find true love; by choosing to love, and choosing to love, and choosing to love, and choosing to love again, and again, and again and again and again.
Yes some people are lucky, and they find love at first sight, and they do "fall in love". But if they marry that person, have they made the choice to love them forever no matter what? Do you know someone who fell in love at first sight? Are they still married? If they are, then they made that choice, and let me tell you, they have made it more than once! If they aren't, then they didn't make that choice, if they made it once then one or both of them chose to stop loving the other, whether consciously or subconsciously. Whether in an instant or slowly, and that is SO sad, and SO hard, and SO devastating, for both of those people. Not only the person who was left, but the person who chose to stop. When you choose to stop loving someone, at any level. You shut part of your heart off to them, and you shut part of your heart off to God. And that is the most devastating thing you can ever do; is shut the Healer, your Papa God, out. Because then you are left empty, filled only with your own hurt, cowardice, and fears. Upon occasion you may stumble across happiness. But you will never experience the joy of the Lord. until you let Him back in.
Now my prayer for you is that God gives you the strength to choose to love your friends, your future (or current) spouse, your children, your family. That He gives you peace when they choose not to love you back. That He becomes your stronghold when they leave you, with your heart broken into pieces. That He gives you hope, that you ARE loved, and will be loved again. If you are hurting for any reason, but especially over losing someone you love, or being deserted by someone you love. Then I hope and pray that you will find purpose, and a true love in your heart for God, as well as for others. If you are in a calm spot, then I pray that you will build up your faith, build up your strength in Christ and in your friends, that you will choose to love now, and that if/when trouble comes you will find love. True love in Christ. That you will find hope and strength to choose to love, and to be a chosen recipient of love, again.
May the God of hope, faith, peace, and love, fill you with a desire to love without reason, forgive without limit, and give up yourself for those you love and who love you.
Amen.
And if you aren't thinking that, good for you!
I am writing this, because I have recently made a very personal discovery of what true love is. Not because I found it, but because I didn't find it. To surmise I experienced first hand that loving someone is a choice. It is not a feeling, an emotion, how excited you get when you see that person, how much you enjoy touching or kissing the person. It is a choice. Finding true love, doesn't mean that you've found the person that makes your stomach fill with butterfly's when they touch you, it means you've chosen to love someone no matter what, and they have chosen to love you back no matter what.
I have found so often that people are defining love by how much the person wants to touch them, or be around them, or how many fireworks go off when you touch. That is SO unhealthy and it is SO wrong, in fact, if you that is why someone "loves" you now, if they don't make a decision to love you later, you will get your heart broken.
Choosing to love someone means that you have seen their hurt. You've shared their pain. You know their bad side. You know how annoying they are. You know at least some of their sins. You know that they sin more than you know. BUT! You have chosen to love them because you have seen how wonderful and beautiful they are, and you have decided that they are worth going through ALL the yuck (that we mentioned before), because of that small part of them that is wonderful and beautiful.
That is what love is. It is a choice. To go through the yuck, to feel the pain, to put up with all the little things, all the big things, because you have decided that what is good in them is so wonderful, that it outweighs the bad.
Finding true love is not always possible, because it takes two people choosing to love the other like this to find it. But it does happen, if you choose to love without reason, forgive without limit, and lay your heart and your life on the line.
That is how you find true love; by choosing to love, and choosing to love, and choosing to love, and choosing to love again, and again, and again and again and again.
Yes some people are lucky, and they find love at first sight, and they do "fall in love". But if they marry that person, have they made the choice to love them forever no matter what? Do you know someone who fell in love at first sight? Are they still married? If they are, then they made that choice, and let me tell you, they have made it more than once! If they aren't, then they didn't make that choice, if they made it once then one or both of them chose to stop loving the other, whether consciously or subconsciously. Whether in an instant or slowly, and that is SO sad, and SO hard, and SO devastating, for both of those people. Not only the person who was left, but the person who chose to stop. When you choose to stop loving someone, at any level. You shut part of your heart off to them, and you shut part of your heart off to God. And that is the most devastating thing you can ever do; is shut the Healer, your Papa God, out. Because then you are left empty, filled only with your own hurt, cowardice, and fears. Upon occasion you may stumble across happiness. But you will never experience the joy of the Lord. until you let Him back in.
Now my prayer for you is that God gives you the strength to choose to love your friends, your future (or current) spouse, your children, your family. That He gives you peace when they choose not to love you back. That He becomes your stronghold when they leave you, with your heart broken into pieces. That He gives you hope, that you ARE loved, and will be loved again. If you are hurting for any reason, but especially over losing someone you love, or being deserted by someone you love. Then I hope and pray that you will find purpose, and a true love in your heart for God, as well as for others. If you are in a calm spot, then I pray that you will build up your faith, build up your strength in Christ and in your friends, that you will choose to love now, and that if/when trouble comes you will find love. True love in Christ. That you will find hope and strength to choose to love, and to be a chosen recipient of love, again.
May the God of hope, faith, peace, and love, fill you with a desire to love without reason, forgive without limit, and give up yourself for those you love and who love you.
Amen.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Who, What, and Why Am I?
Who am I?
What am I?
Why am I?
Many times I have asked myself different forms of these questions; Who am I supposed to be? What am I supposed to do? What is my purpose? Why do I exist? What is the point to my existence? Although these questions are not exactly the same, they all root from those first three questions. Who am I, what am I, and why am I.
Where do these questions come from? It varies for everyone, but here are a few sources; Societies/Medias' portrayal of the perfect woman, or man. The words people say about you. The way you are treated. How you feel about your actions. How others feel about your actions. What you would like to be, vs. what you think you are.
Now, I know I've given quite a few examples here, but let me give the examples.
societies portrayal of the perfect woman or man. This can bring up all three of those questions. "Who am I compared to that woman/man", "Why don't I look/act like that" or even "Why can't I look/act like that", "What am I worth. Those people look, act, and seem perfect. I'm just a big, fat, ugly, blob who can't even remember what I did yesterday! I'm no where close to where I should be."
the way you are treated; "what did I do wrong?", "Why am I being treated this way when I'm trying so hard to be nice and forgiving to them?", "Why did they stop talking to me?", "Why do they hate me?"
How you feel about your actions; "Why can't I just turn the other cheek?", "Why am I letting them treat me this way?", "What did I do wrong.", "Why do I feel hurt when it's all my fault?"
do you follow all of those why questions with a "I must have done something terrible, but I thought I was being so nice." or a "I can't say anything because it's my fault anyway." or even a "I shouldn't be hurt/angry because it's my fault they're being mean."
First, ask yourself "What is wrong with this picture?"
Now, ask yourself "Do I think this way about myself or someone else?"
Well if you do think this way, let me be the first to say "Welcome to the club!"
Let me also be the first to say, "let's put an expiration date on that club membership shall we?"
Now I have to say that I do not know whether you are in the wrong or not. But I can tell you that if someone's words or actions are hurtful, and even possibly are using you. Then there is something seriously wrong. You may have played a part in the way they treat you, however, as Christians we are supposed to go to each other and discuss, resolve, forgive, and change the hurtful ways we act and things we say. You must make the first step; take it to the Lord and examine the situation before Him. THEN you can talk to the other person.
ok, now back to the main subject.
What you would like to be vs. what you think you are; Now the phrase "what you think you are" is very important. You are probably a lot closer to what you would like to be than what you think;
Do you want to be there for people, and/or help them but feel it's useless to try? Do you want to thin and beautiful, but think you are overweight and ugly? Do you want to have a long-lasting friendship, but think you are not worth it?
As your sister in Christ I am here to tell you;
you are beautiful.
your efforts are not useless
you are worth it
you are a priceless treasure
you are perfect you are more beautiful each day
you have been declared perfect
you are declared righteous
you are forgiven
God has called you "beloved"
There is no end to the lies Satan puts into your head by using these things. Whether they come from you or another person. If you think, that you are worthless, ugly, unwanted, impossible to love. It is a lie. I'm not saying you don't sin, and that you can just shove that off. NO! you have to get yourself right with God. However, just because you sin, does NOT make you filthy, unwanted, worthless, ugly, impossible.
YOU ARE NOT any of those things.
What am I?
Why am I?
Many times I have asked myself different forms of these questions; Who am I supposed to be? What am I supposed to do? What is my purpose? Why do I exist? What is the point to my existence? Although these questions are not exactly the same, they all root from those first three questions. Who am I, what am I, and why am I.
Where do these questions come from? It varies for everyone, but here are a few sources; Societies/Medias' portrayal of the perfect woman, or man. The words people say about you. The way you are treated. How you feel about your actions. How others feel about your actions. What you would like to be, vs. what you think you are.
Now, I know I've given quite a few examples here, but let me give the examples.
societies portrayal of the perfect woman or man. This can bring up all three of those questions. "Who am I compared to that woman/man", "Why don't I look/act like that" or even "Why can't I look/act like that", "What am I worth. Those people look, act, and seem perfect. I'm just a big, fat, ugly, blob who can't even remember what I did yesterday! I'm no where close to where I should be."
the way you are treated; "what did I do wrong?", "Why am I being treated this way when I'm trying so hard to be nice and forgiving to them?", "Why did they stop talking to me?", "Why do they hate me?"
How you feel about your actions; "Why can't I just turn the other cheek?", "Why am I letting them treat me this way?", "What did I do wrong.", "Why do I feel hurt when it's all my fault?"
do you follow all of those why questions with a "I must have done something terrible, but I thought I was being so nice." or a "I can't say anything because it's my fault anyway." or even a "I shouldn't be hurt/angry because it's my fault they're being mean."
First, ask yourself "What is wrong with this picture?"
Now, ask yourself "Do I think this way about myself or someone else?"
Well if you do think this way, let me be the first to say "Welcome to the club!"
Let me also be the first to say, "let's put an expiration date on that club membership shall we?"
Now I have to say that I do not know whether you are in the wrong or not. But I can tell you that if someone's words or actions are hurtful, and even possibly are using you. Then there is something seriously wrong. You may have played a part in the way they treat you, however, as Christians we are supposed to go to each other and discuss, resolve, forgive, and change the hurtful ways we act and things we say. You must make the first step; take it to the Lord and examine the situation before Him. THEN you can talk to the other person.
ok, now back to the main subject.
What you would like to be vs. what you think you are; Now the phrase "what you think you are" is very important. You are probably a lot closer to what you would like to be than what you think;
Do you want to be there for people, and/or help them but feel it's useless to try? Do you want to thin and beautiful, but think you are overweight and ugly? Do you want to have a long-lasting friendship, but think you are not worth it?
As your sister in Christ I am here to tell you;
you are beautiful.
your efforts are not useless
you are worth it
you are a priceless treasure
you are perfect you are more beautiful each day
you have been declared perfect
you are declared righteous
you are forgiven
God has called you "beloved"
YOU ARE NOT DEFINED BY THE MEDIA, SIN, HURT, ANGER, BITTERNESS, SHORTCOMINGS, FAILURES, WORDS, ACTIONS, ANYTHING IN OR OF THIS WORLD.
YOU ARE NOT any of those things.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
My Pappa God ( and prayer)
Prayer is not just a way to communicate with a God who is all powerful and almighty. It's not just a way to revere and respect Him. It's a way to talk to your Pappa God. The one who made you. In Psalms it says that God "knit me together in my mothers womb." The One who touched me, made me, came up with the idea that Alainna is going to exist, and lovingly took the time to set aside all His business and make a piece of art that turned out to be me. Sure I've fallen off the table a few times and I've got a few cracks, yes I'm not perfect and I'm not flawless. But He thinks I am. Everytime I tip over and roll of the workshop table and crack a bit more. He has picked me up and glued me back together. Now there have been times when I haven't just rolled off the table and cracked (so to speak) I got caught in a wind and a fell off and broke! But He always picks me up and makes me new again. Because He is my Pappa and He genuenly loves me.
Sometimes when I prayed I used to get so focused on "oh no what if I say a wrong word and people laugh at me or think I'm silly." That I wouldn't talk to my Pappa, I would sit there and nervously drone on like I was reading a script.
NO! that's not the way it's supposed to be! If my best friend sat there, stared at the wall, and read a script, and that was our conversation for the day; I would feel so hurt and rejected. I wouldn't feel like I was actually their friend. I would feel like an invisible blob that they *had* to talk to not a person that loved them and they *want* to talk to.
That's how it is with Jesus too. He wants to talk to you like your friend. 'Cause that's what He is, a friend.
Feel free to talk to Him any time, all the time. He is a friend that walks with you, and waits patiently for you to notice His presence. and He wants to talk to you. If I had my choice I would spend all day with my best friends, and talk, laugh, and cry with them, enjoying every moment. That's what Jesus wants. He wants to be our Pappa God, and our friend. Someone to talk to laugh with, and the One who will hug, cuddle, and cry with us when we get hurt.
~ Pappa God.
Today was really hard. I fell off the table and broke into thousands of little pieces, and it hurt. It still hurts, even though Your working on piecing me together. I have nothing left to give right now to anybody except Your hands that are working to repair me. So my Lord Jesus I thank You that I broke, so now I'm closer to You. I thank You that You can fix me, and You won't ever pick me up and throw me on the ground to stay there shattered into millions of pieces. Thank You that even though I hurt so badly I can have joy in You. I ask that You would teach me to be Yours in all I do; in my actions, words, thoughts, heart, and soul. So I can one day help You piece another broken pot back together too.
I love You my Jesus. Help me to love You more!
~Your Beloved
Sometimes when I prayed I used to get so focused on "oh no what if I say a wrong word and people laugh at me or think I'm silly." That I wouldn't talk to my Pappa, I would sit there and nervously drone on like I was reading a script.
NO! that's not the way it's supposed to be! If my best friend sat there, stared at the wall, and read a script, and that was our conversation for the day; I would feel so hurt and rejected. I wouldn't feel like I was actually their friend. I would feel like an invisible blob that they *had* to talk to not a person that loved them and they *want* to talk to.
That's how it is with Jesus too. He wants to talk to you like your friend. 'Cause that's what He is, a friend.
Feel free to talk to Him any time, all the time. He is a friend that walks with you, and waits patiently for you to notice His presence. and He wants to talk to you. If I had my choice I would spend all day with my best friends, and talk, laugh, and cry with them, enjoying every moment. That's what Jesus wants. He wants to be our Pappa God, and our friend. Someone to talk to laugh with, and the One who will hug, cuddle, and cry with us when we get hurt.
~ Pappa God.
Today was really hard. I fell off the table and broke into thousands of little pieces, and it hurt. It still hurts, even though Your working on piecing me together. I have nothing left to give right now to anybody except Your hands that are working to repair me. So my Lord Jesus I thank You that I broke, so now I'm closer to You. I thank You that You can fix me, and You won't ever pick me up and throw me on the ground to stay there shattered into millions of pieces. Thank You that even though I hurt so badly I can have joy in You. I ask that You would teach me to be Yours in all I do; in my actions, words, thoughts, heart, and soul. So I can one day help You piece another broken pot back together too.
I love You my Jesus. Help me to love You more!
~Your Beloved
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