What If......

Sunday in church my pastor talked about the Israelites and how  Moses sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan.  This was the land that God had promised them!  This was the land of milk and honey!  The spies went into the land and saw that it truly was the land of milk and honey.  But there, they also saw that the people there were very strong!  The spies said  "we are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger then we are".  They also said that the people there are of great stature.  There we saw giants!

The fear and unbelief  that the Israelites had, prevented them from entering the land of Canaan for another 40 years.  When my pastor was teaching on this I kept thinking, "what if ", "what if they trusted God and at that time had the trust and belief that God was going to take care of them.  After all He promised them the land, he promised them the milk and honey, he promised them that he would take care of them.  He had proved himself over and over again since they left Egypt. Had they had that faith at that time, they probably would not have had to wait another 40 years.  There are always consequences to our disobedience.

I realize that we can sit and say "what if 's" all day about the decisions and choices that we have made,  but do we really realize how much we miss out on what God has for us because of our fears, and our disbelief's.  I have had this on my  mind since Sunday morning and I wonder what I have missed out on because of my fears, disbelief and disobedience.  As my pastor said Sunday, disbelief is disobedience.  The Bible clearly states for us to trust Him with everything.

Unfortunately, I cant say that I obey and have the faith that I need all the time, although I try my hardest to put everything in God's hands and trust Him.   There was  one time in particular I did. I said yes to God, even when it did not make since to me at all.  This was a was huge step of faith for me.  And when we do this it often affects our family in some way.  This decision made a huge impact on my family.  I look at that choice I made at that time, and see how God took care of us, how he prepared and placed me where HE WANTED ME. At the time I wasn't sure where I was going to end up, and what His plans for me where, but I did trust Him and I am now in a ministry that I love and He has put a passion in me for this ministry.   I often think " what if " I had not trusted him and had disobeyed Him.  I would probably not be able to  be a part of a ministry that helps women understand that there are other choices other than abortion.  I may not have been able to talk with these women and see them later with a newborn baby.   I may not have been able to lead someone to Christ and see them make better life choices.

God has a plan for each of us.  I  don't want to say "what if ".  I might  miss out on what He wants for my life, and He isn't finished.   He is still working and has an awesome plan!!  When we disobey it effects those around us too because we are not where God wants us to be.   There were times that it was not easy, and very hard, and there are still times that are hard and stressful, but I know that God has it!!  God has "it" for each of  you that are reading this.  Whatever "it" is.

Hopes for 2015

January 1, 2015

The Christmas decorations are down and the  holidays are over.  It is the first day of 2015,  I  think about 2014 and wonder what 2015 is going to look like. We, like many, have had our ups and downs throughout the year. It has been a hard year in some ways but in many ways we are so blessed.

As I think about 2015 and things that I would like to do or change I get so overwhelmed at times because there are so many things that I see that need be changed in my life.  I need to become healthier, be more organized, strive to be the perfect Mom, the perfect wife, the perfect friend, the perfect employee at work, ....  I could even make up another whole list of things for "work only" that I need to work on.

I get so overwhelmed about all the things that I  need to do so I tend to just mess up  all things.  I think I need to look at things differently.  I need to  focus on what God has for me that day, that hour, that minute.  He has plans, He wants me to study His word, spend time with Him, and obey Him, to love others and to share God's love with others.   I will never be the perfect wife, Mom, friend and everything else that I think I need to be, but I can strive to  be the person that God wants me to be. When I do this,  I believe that I will be better at being Mom, wife, etc.

So my hopes and goals for 2015:
1.  Love the Lord God with all my heart, soul and strength.
2.  Make him top priority in my life.
3. Read and study his word,
4. Pray more and Listen more.
5. Love others more and share God's love more.

When you put Him first then often everything falls into place.

Happy New Year everyone!!

Choosing to Love and Learn Regardless of How I Feel.

July 1

It is amazing how God works,  For the past several weeks I have prayed that I would see God work throughout my day and that I would be aware of His voice and the opportunities to be a voice for Him. Today, I will call it a discussion, came up about some choices that I had made.  As I got back to my desk, I opened a devotion that spoke directly to me.  It  hit me right in the heart.   God humbled me and reminded me that I have choices on how I deal with life and situations.  I can choose to love, even when I don't feel "the love".  I can choose to to do the things that God wants me to do even though I don't "feel"  like it.  This is obedience to Christ.  Everyday we can learn who Christ is and how He wants us to live and as we do this we grow closer to Him.