Sunday

Look at this...I get started again and I can't stop!! You know what will happen don't you? I'll go on my blurping splurge and then it will stop...almost like shopping for some, but me, I'll type. Of course, I can't promise quality, because once I get started, I'm either rushing through, or all kinds of stuff will want to come out throught my fingertips. Yes, I know; I have amazing fingertips..who would have thought they could think all on their own?! Ha. Enough of their jokes, they aren't very funny anyway.

Aside from procrastinating, I've been wanting to write about this all day. I don't know that I'm eloquent enough to get my thoughts across, or anything, but I'll try!

Let me first start out with how blessed in life I am. I sadly don't recognize it all the time, nor give God enough of the glory that He so deserves, but He has done amazing things for me, and when it hits me, it just hits me. I can't even say that I could name all the things right now, but I hope to be more aware of what He does for me everyday. Anyway, I was at how blessed I am; it's true. I've been so lucky to have so many people in my life who love the Lord with all they have. They are so beautiful on the inside and the Spirit just truly shines through, even in the midst of so many trials; my friends constantly give glory to God and praise Him, and just keep their focus on Him.

A friend was telling me at church today, and it really struck me, how some events came about this last week, that were understandably difficult, and she was telling me how in the midst of it, she had to look back and realize that the focus had come off of God and was focused on the negative things that were happening, and how when that happens; when we take our focus off of our Father, then that is when the enemy succeeds. And she was so right! What is his goal? To get our focus off of our Heavenly Father and put our thoughts and energies into things not above, on things that don't honor our Father. And I thought, you know? Of all I know and have learned in the last two years, how often have I not given Him glory? How often did I start to think about the things that were going on in my life, and while knowing that God is in control and He has a magnificant plan for all that I go through, my focus did not stay ON HIM. It too often is easily diverted to the mundane, the things I'm missing out on, and it's easy to start to feel sorry for myself! The everyday pressures start taking up my thoughts instead of my Lord...How sad.

In church recently the sermans have been excellent (which you can download if you want to hear them too). Today was on 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. About walking by faith, knowing that nothing is impossible for with God. How human fears stifle our excitement about what God has done and will do. Our hope in God, our faith that he WILL do what he promises in the Bible. It was all a wonderful serman and I encourage anyone to subrcribe to Pastor Cece's podcast, or download it from the church website (it's on the blog). We are supposed to be going out and spreading God's word. Ministering to others, and always living for Him. Ephesians 2:10 - for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. He gave us all we need...

The concluding challenge for the week (and for life) is to imagine the abundant fruit of our ministry if we were all walking together by faith, working together in love, waiting together in hope and worshiping together as God's Elect...because He elected us, He chose us. Can you imagine??

We are to be bold; don't be afraid to stand for what you believe in. I know some fabulous people who aren't afraid to be bold...I wish I could say the same for me, but I can't. I hope to one day, but I don't think people see me as bold and strong. Someday, I hope so. Maybe this is my first step, actually posting this blog. I want to stand firm in the face of others in what I believe. Don't get me wrong, I don't have an unwavering faith by any means. It's easy when I'm with other believers to stand tall, stand firm; when I am by myself with acquaintances that I wonder if I do enough. And it's just that my selfish desires get in my way too much. My need to feel accepted or loved when I'm lonely. Because that seems to be the case lately anyway. I love the Lord with all my heart and I want to live for Him, and never have anyone mistake that I am His child and I love Him.

Anyway, I don't know that this made sense at all, I can't articulate very well, but I wanted to get this out...I've been wanting to for awhile, but I never did, and then I was going to create an anonymous blog just to write on, but I didn't, and now you get to read it...if you made it this far! Anyway, those were my thoughts...