Do you trust me?

One of my favorite Disney movies is Aladdin.  Do you remember how all Jasmine wanted to do was to get out of the Palace walls?  Now here comes Aladdin on his magic carpet, with his hand reaching out to Jasmine, asking one simple question, "Do you trust me?"  At that moment, Jasmine had a choice to make, did she trust Aladdin and even though she may not of trusted the Magic Carpet, did she trust Aladdin enough to follow him.  Of course this is Disney, so of course she trusted him and off they went on a wonderful adventure.  Can you imagine what she would have missed, and how the story would have been different, if she didn't trust him?  It is one of my favorite parts and songs of the movie.

Well we don't live in a Disney movie, but God is asking us, "Do you trust me?"  When God tells us to, "Be anxious for nothing", he is telling us to trust him.  God tells us to, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thy own understanding."

Our own understanding would say, but carpets do not fly, carpets can't hold our weight..., but do we trust him?

I have learned to trust God over the years and to take God at his word.  When he says he will supply all my needs, I trust him.  When he tells me that his plans for me are to give me a hope and a future, I trust him.  When the Bible says, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!  Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!  There is no want to those who fear Him.   The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. I trust that.

I trust God because of who he is.  When I have moments of doubt, I ask myself, "Why am I not trusting God right now?"  Is God a man that he should lie?  No!!!  If God does not lie, then what causes me not to trust him?  Do I compare him to man?  Do I think that his promises must be for someone else?  Surely, they can't be for me, I've messed up, I've....., fill in the blank.  But his promises don't depend on who I am, his promises depend on who he is.  I've come to realize that for way too long, I had a very small God, and I kept him in a small box.  But now, I let him be who he is, "Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?"

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

So I have come to trust him in a way I never thought possible.  I have learned to give my anxious thoughts to him. (One of the things I love most about God, when I find that I can't do what he asks of me, I can ask for his help and he is always willing to help). So when he says be anxious for nothing, I can, because he helps me.  I have learned to pray and let go.  I have learned to give thanks in all things, and I have that peace of God that surpassed all comprehension.

This is what I pray for you, this is what God wants for you.  What ever you are going through right now, take your eyes off the problem, and spend time in God's word meditation on his promises.  I can assure you when you start doing this, everything in your life will change.  That peace of God, is for you.  It is God's promise and gift for just trusting God. 

If you are going through something right now, and you would like prayer, please feel free to share, knowing that I will pray for you, but also know that God already has everything in control and nothing, and I mean nothing is going to happen to you that God has not allowed.  But please don't get that twisted, just because, God has allowed something to happen to you, you can not blame God for what has happened.  Sometimes things happen because of our own sin, sometimes it is because it simply rains on the just and the unjust, but all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.

So trust Him, He loves you.  And He is there for you, even during the difficult times.  And that peace of God is not dependent on your circumstances, it is dependent on resting in the assurance of who God is.

DO YOU TRUST HIM?

Fear is not an Option

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7

Fear, it can over take us, it can stop us, it can cripple us, and it is not from God.  

Yesterday was a hard day, I just didn't feel like doing anything, but couldn't quite put my finger on what was wrong.  But then last night, I remembered the dream that I had the night before and God revealed to me what was causing me so much angst.

So here is my dream and what God and I talked about last night.  I hope it encourages you.

In my dream my husband and I were looking for a place to live.  We walked into this house and it was dark, ugly and dated.  It had dark wood paneling all over, even on the ceiling.  And although I hated the place, I was telling myself, well just be happy to have a place to live.  You'll get used to it.  

But then we walked out into the backyard and there in the backyard there was this beautiful walkway that lead to this beautiful glass building.  This place was so big and bright and cheery.  I wanted to go there immediately.  So I ran toward the walkway, but then I was stopped, I noticed that there were no sides on this walkway and it was extremely high.  Now you must know that I am terrified of heights, so I stopped on the steps to the walkway and just cried.  There across the walkway was this beautiful place, and here was I was, was this dark and dreary place.  Instead of going toward what I wanted, what was there for me to have, I let my fear overtake me and stop me.  

I woke up yesterday very sad and stayed like that all day.

Last night, as I was driving, God reminded my of my dream.  He reminded me that He wants more for my life.  He has more for my life.  This spirit of fear is not from Him, it is the enemy stopping me from having and being all that God has for me.  So God asked me, what are the fears that I have, that are preventing me from being what God made me to be?

1. Fear of Heights prevents me from enjoying God's beautiful world.  You would never find me looking at the Grand Canyon, or at the top of a mountain looking to the valley below.

2. Fear of looking stupid or appearing dumb, being wrong, keeps me from trying new things, asking questions, giving answers.

3. Fear of rejection keeps me from making phone calls, sharing what I do, talking to others, sharing who I am.  

Ok, well there are  probably more, but I think this is a good start.  So in order to stop my fears from controlling me, I will take control of them.  I will look out a window and enjoy the view.  I will ask more questions, try something new, make a fool of myself.  An I will make my phone calls.  I will call you even to just say hi, how are you?  

God has created me for greatness, he's created all of for greatness.  Please share your fears, that I may be able to pray for you, and if I can help in anyway, please contact me.  

Ok just looking at these pictures freaks me out.  But here they are.

National Day of Prayer

2 Chronicles 7:14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Today is the National Day of Prayer here in the USA.  I have only recently come to be what I would classify as a prayer warrior.  In the past, I always listen to people pray and thought, I would love to pray like them, they sound so great when they pray.  Or I wished that I was the one, who said, let's pray and then just did it, right where I was at.  But God has a way of changing a person and helping you become who you never thought that you were.

Like making Moses a great speaker, or Gideon a great warrior, that is one of the remarkable things about God.

So God has called me to pray.  But if you read the verse from II Chronicles, He has called all of his people to pray.

It's noteworthy to notice that God does not say, "If my people elect the right people" or "If the whole nation prays", no God only calls on His people to pray, and then not only must His people pray they must also seek God's Face and turn from our wicked ways.  Again, God does not call for the Nation to turn from their wicked ways, although that would be a good thing, but first it must start with His people.

So what about you, is God calling you to pray?  Why not start today, on the National Day of Prayer.  But before you can pray, you must humble yourself.   To humble means to bend a knee, to bring low into submission.  We must know our position with God, bring ourselves low to Him and submit to His will.
And then we are called to seek God's Face.  Basically we are to search Him out, to strive after Him, beseech Him, request, inquisition.  When was the last time your prayer life was like that, on your knees, beseeching God, inquisitioning God for his will,  wanting to submit to His will?  And finally turning from our wicked ways.  I know, I thought "wicked" I'm not wicked.  But wicked is just something bad, naughty, hurtful, harmful, grievous. 

But then the promise, God's wonderful promise to us, He will forgive our sin and He will heal our land  Like I said before, it will not be a politician that heals our land, it will not be Greenpeace, or the United Nations, it will be God.

So on this National Day of Prayer, will you take time to pray?  Will you humble yourself before God?  He's calling us to, each of us.  Maybe today God will turn you into a prayer warrior.

 

Licking the Spoon and Taking out the Trash

Esther 4:14
For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Luke 19:40
But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cryout.”  

I can remember as I was raising four boys that sometimes things went to the closes son.  So if you were in the kitchen while I was baking, then you got to lick the spoon, likewise if I saw you when it was time to take out the trash, then you got that duty.  It was much easier than looking for another son, when one was always close by.  All I knew is that something was there to be offered or something needed to be done, it didn't matter as much by whom, just that is got done.  Some things were met with excitement and other things were met with "Awww, why me, I did it last time"  But sometimes there would be a blessing given to the one who did what was asked of him.
It seems that God often works in the same way.  When Esther wasn't sure whether or not she wanted to go before the King regarding the plot to kill her people, Mordecai assured her that God would deliver the Jews, even if He had to use someone else.  
When the Pharisees wanted Jesus to quiet the people and stop them from praising Him.  Jesus told the Pharisees that even if the people didn't praise Him, the rocks would. 
God's will, will get done, either with us or in spite of us. 
But how much more exciting it would be, to be the one that God uses.  
So how does God pick who to use?  Does He look for the brightest, strongest, handsomest, richest?  No, although being those things does not disqualify you from being used, it is not what God looks for.  Much like when I would call the son closest to me, God is also looking for those close to Him.  
Are you spending time with God?  Are you in His word?  Are you spending time in prayer?  
When you are close to God, you will hear His voice when He calls and believe me He will call.  
What will you do when He calls, will you joyfully do what is ask or will you argue "why you?"  
I pray that you will step up and do whatever it is that God calls you to do.

During my 90 days transformation, I have been asking God to use me.  I have been praying for the eyes of Jesus to see what needs to be done, and asking for a servant's heart to do whatever is asked.
Some examples where God has used me in this last few weeks have been:  
1.  I was able to pray with an elderly man on the bus who had just broke his cane and was worried about getting home.  He was also feeling that God must be mad at him, and I was able to share with him, God's love.
2. I was at the right place and time, when my step grandson was having difficulty breathing.  I was able to first calm him down and then get my son and his mom, who called the paramedics.  I was also blessed to use this as a teaching moment for my three year old grandson, as we prayed together for brother Joey and his parents. And then;
3. This weekend when we had a yard sale, God told me to put up a sign that said, "Need Prayer" and I was able to pray with several people that came to the yard sale.
See God did not look for anything that the world would look for, I am not some great prayer warrior, what I was, was staying close to God and then obedient when God called my name.
God wants to use you too.  
Please leave a comment about how God is using you, or any prayer request that you may have.

www.tshelp4life.com

Staying the Course

1 You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. 2 You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. 3 That's right - you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. 4 You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. 5 Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; 6Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. 7 I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. 8 I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me.

Yesterday God showed me how important it is to stay the course.  

My niece is having open heart surgery today, so I was taking the bus from my home to Orange County to be at the hospital today during the surgery.  I was already on the bus, had my day pass for all my connections, when I get a call from my aunt, "surgery had been postponed due to problems with insurance".  Ok what to do, I'm already on the bus, although I could get off at the next stop and get another bus back home, but something said, no stay the course.  Then I get a message from a friend, can I come over and help clean her house.  "God, I could really use the money, maybe I should change course and go help her". "No, stay the course".
So I continued, praying for God's peace wondering did I hear him correctly, am I doing the right thing?   Am I doing the prudent thing?  Doubts, doubts, doubts.  But hearing the words, "Stay the course".  So almost four hours later I arrive at my destination, I get a call from my aunt,  surgery is a go, insurance has been worked out.

Thank you God, for showing me how to trust you, and to trust myself when I hear your voice.  Thank you for reinforcing how important it is to stay the course.  The enemy, will throw all kinds of things your way, making you doubt your commitment, making you doubt which way to go, but God says stay the course.

What did I do today?

Transformation is a day by day event.  It is not about looking to the future, and saying I will do it tomorrow.  For the Bible tells us that tomorrow is not promised.  It is about today, this moment and how you will spend this moment.  
If you think about moments, as if they were money, and at the beginning of your life, we are each given so many moments.  Some are given lots of moments, and some not so many, but it is not about how many moments you are given, it is how wisely you spend what you are given.  And like money, when you spend the moments correctly there is great reward and lasting treasures.
So how will you spend now?  That is all you are guaranteed.  If you have a list like I do, great, if not make a list today of what you think at this point in your life you would like to do, accomplish before you spend all of your moments.
Don't worry about tomorrow, just focus on where you are right now and where you would like to be.  A list like this should be fluid, for tomorrow, next month, next year, in ten years the list can change.  Keep the list in plain view every day.  If you need to change or tweak your list go ahead.  This is your list, not someone else.  It is not about what others tell you, you should do or not do, it is not about what you wanted to be when you grow up, unless of course deep down inside you still want that and only took it off the table because someone told you that it was silly, not practical or something, this is about you and right now in your life.
I would love the chance to encourage you, pray for you, help you, if you would like to share your dreams below or email me at thbear59@hotmail.com
Then use the 7 steps below to go for your dreams and goals.    
 
Step 1
– Take affirmative action towards living your dream life. Don’t just talk it, do it. Without some positive mind tinkering and action, passion is void. Step 2 – Pledge to yourself and your loved ones that you will accomplish your goals with passion. You will be amazed at the transformation, once you commit to tackle each goal from your heart and soul, than from a place of fear.
Step 3 – Embrace everything you do, regardless of outcome. When we take action on difficult tasks, the outcome may not always be positive. Embrace it regardless, learn from the experience, and be proud that you took the action.
Step 4 – Approach life from a place of gratitude. When you are thankful for all the simple pleasures of life, you learn to live as if everything were a miracle. Repeatedly shift towards gratitude, and you will see your life go from deficiency to abundance.
Step 5 - Use a positive life transformation formula. Start using terms like “I can” and “I will”, instead of “Shoulda”, “Woulda”, and “Coulda”. The former is based on increased awareness and abundance while the latter focuses on scarcity and lack.
Step 6 - Laugh at yourself often. Humor heals the mind, body, and soul. So go ahead loosen up, and laugh at the silly things you do instead of indulging in self-pity. Laughter is very attractive and shows a passionate side you may have never knew existed.
Step 7 - Believe you can design your destiny. Only you can use enthusiasm to create a positive future for yourself. There is no limit to how much you can create in a lifetime. Once you believe you can do it, watch all the opportunities fall right into place.

Read more: http://yourrock.com/7-easy-steps-to-positive-life-transformation/#ixzz2wSTMDMgX
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