In the midst

Brutally Honest Okay, can I just be brutally honest about something? Comparisons stink. They do. Just when we think we’ve gotten to a good place in some area of our life, along comes someone else or something else better. And our confidence just shrinks back, takes the hand of doubt and starts ransacking our heart and mind. Yes, there are Scriptures that can help with this. And yes, God can use it for good in our life. But honest to goodness, it’s hard on a girl’s heart. Recently, I was put in a situation where something I feel very vulnerable about was held up to another person’s near perfection. My weakness standing beside their strength. My yuck placed next to their glory. My struggle on display in the shadow of their strength. And in the private space of my most inner thoughts, I cried. And even more than that I found myself feeling so defeated by the reality, this will never be a strength of mine. It just won’t. I could work on this area until the cows come home (whatever that means) but I wasn’t designed for this to be my strength.Oh, I can make progress for sure. And heavens knows I do work on it. And on my good days I see how God is using this all for good. But when comparison sneaks in, it can be hard. Worse than hard. It can just quite simply make me forget all the strengths I do have. And when we forget, our hearts shift. We stop being thankful and instead become consumed by that little thing we don’t have. What a dangerous place to be. I guess I share all this today for two reasons. One, because many of you are coming to She Speaks this weekend and I shutter to think anyone would get caught in this trap and live distracted this weekend. Get prayed up right now. Ask the Lord to absolutely get your focus off others and onto the exciting,thrilling, unique calling He has just for you. When I was struggling recently I wasn’t prayed up. I had not asked God to help my focus. I just found myself wallowing and wallowing isn’t of the Lord. Amen! Amen! But whether you’re coming to She Speaks or not, I share this because you need to know. I struggle. Just like you. I’m on a journey of learning. Just like you. And I desperately need His truth to bump into my weaknesses every single day. Only then can I get out of the shadow of doubt and into the life giving reality of who God has made ME to be. And see it as good. Not perfect. Not even close. But good. And good is good.

I copied this from Lysa TerKeurst 's daily blog. I liked it so much I thought I should share.

From Adversity to Destiny

Copied. 

"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position" (James 1:9).
Most of us avoid pain. We keep our medicine cabinets loaded with pain relievers. We couldn't imagine major surgery without an anesthetic. We are so averse to pain that we think God must desire that we will experience pain-free lives. After all, a loving God surely wouldn't want us to suffer pain, would He? Although God takes no pleasure in our pain, we have to acknowledge that He sometimes allows painful circumstances to occur in our lives in order to shape us and make us more like Christ. Sometimes our times of despair turn out to be a much needed light into our soul.
I once came across the following poem written by an anonymous Confederate soldier, a devout young man who fought in the American Civil War. The lines of this poem express the soul of a man who has learned to view his times of adversity from a different perspective:
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health, that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among men, most richly blessed.*
Do we trust God to lead us even though we can't see the pathway in front of us? Do we trust Him to be all-knowing, all-loving, and all-powerful? Do we believe He does all things well? As Paul wrote, "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). That's why God leads us through the dark places.
Only in the darkness do we learn to walk by faith.

Abundant life

John 10:10

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 

I read this devotion that highlighted this scripture with the elaboration on the part about having life more abundantly. Saying life more abundant with everything. Challenges, opportunities, changes, etc. So, think about it. Life is abundant with those things too. Don't be discouraged with the challenges that come your way. Jesus overcame and the same power lives in us. Look at the abundance with eyes that see what our Lord sees. Live fully.  

Today I Will Make a Difference

 Awesome words I found this morning. I love it and thought I should share.

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.
I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble… . I will get up. It’s OK to fail… . I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.
I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.