Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts

Monday, May 13, 2013

32 Lessons God Taught Me This Week


Here are some lessons that I learned this past week... May they be a blessing & encouragement to you!

1) Sin will always be found out.
2) Boundaries are there for a reason
3) You will reap what you sow.

"Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner
from the error of his ways will save him
from death & cover over a multitude of sins."
- James 5:20

4) It's a "slow fade"
5) Sin has consequences6) You can become the woman that you swore you would neverbe


 "In repentance & rest is your salvation,
in quietness & trust is your strength."
- Isaiah 30:15

7) You will realize the depth of your own sin, the depravity of your soul & the magnitude of God's love, forgiveness & mercy.
8) Sin affects a lot of people (collateral damage)
9) Sometimes the Lord gives us wisdom/ knowledge before He presents the challenge. Pay attention!

 "Therefore let anyone who thinks
that he stands take heed, lest he fall."
- 1 Corinthians 10:12

10) It is possible to unintentionally hurt the people you love most
11) I have learned what real grace looks like, played out in everyday life.
12) If you aren't advancing (gaining new ground), you are retreating (losing ground you already had). It is a fact of life.
"Seek the Lord while He may be found;
call upon Him while He is near,
let the wicked forsake his way,
let the unrighteous man his thoughts,
let him return to the Lord, that He may
have compassion on him & to our God,
for He will abundantly pardon."
- Isaiah 55:6-7
13) "Integrity is doing what's right when no one is watching." - author unknown
14) Growth is mandatory, required & commanded by God (not an option).
15) A man is nothing without his character, honesty, integrity, good name, reputation etc.

"Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed."
- William Shakespeare

16) It is possible to undo months or years of good behavior with one bad decision- It's not worth it!
17) It is absolutely necessary to think through one's thoughts & actions (& the consequences of them), before doing them. Weigh the consequences!
18) If a lot of people are concerned about a certain issue, there is probably a reason why. Do not ignore the "warning signs"!!!!
"For at the moment all discipline
seems painful rather than unpleasant, but later
it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it."
- Hebrews 12:11
19) "Honesty is always the best policy." - author unknown Even when it hurts!
20) It does not work to ignore issues & problems- they only fester & grow worse. 21) Trust lost is incredibly hard to regain.
"What good is it for a man to gain
the whole world, yet lose his soul?"
- Mark 8:36
22) It is possible to put on a good front & deceive the masses. But the Truth is known by those who love you most.
23) Sometimes the Lord has to bring you to your knees before your eyes are opened to the utter depravity of your soul & the desperateness of the situation.
24) It is better to do something right the first time, rather than spending time, energy etc to go back & redo it a second time.

"If you call out for insight & cry aloud for understanding
& if you look for it as for silver & search for it as for
hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of
the Lord & find the knowledge of God."
- Proverbs 2:3-5
25) Sometimes you come to that point in your life where there is nothing YOU can "do" to "make it better." You have to put it in God's (capable!) hands & leave it there, to "surrender your precious dreams."
26) Sometimes God wants to teach you a lot of really HARD lessons in a short amount of time- Pay attention!
27) You have to constantly be in the Word, to have the weapons/ strength to fight sin.
"Love covers over a multitude of sins..."
- 1 Peter 4:8

28) It is possible to stumble & disappoint lot of people, including people who look up to you and the ones that you respect & love most.
29) Raw, open, honest accountability is essential.
30) You must take responsibility for what you have done (no more, no less). Scapegoats & blame shifiting is not an option.
31) Less is more. Keep your mouth shut, unless you have something that has to be said.
32) How quickly things can change!
"There is Power in the blood of Jesus/ to break every chain..." - Jesus Culture

"And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love Him,
who have been Called according to His Purpose."
- Romans 8:28


Similar Topics to read-
Idolatry
Faithfulness in Marriage
The Power of the Tongue
Fully Surrendering Our Dreams to God
Surrendering Our Precious Dreams to God
Only What's Done for Christ Will Last
Hearing the Voice of God
Better Hearing the Voice of God
Obeying the Voice of God
Temptation
God First
Walk with the Wise
All for the Glory of God

Hindsight
Unrepentant Sin

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Reviewing 2012 & Eagerly Expecting 2013!

HAPPY (belated) NEW YEAR!!!

  Yes, I know today is now the seventeenth day of January. Yes, I know that we are well into our way into the near year. But... It has been a busy couple of weeks & this is the first time I have had time to sit down & reflect on what God has been doing in my life... So... Here we go!

2012: A Year in Review

 Please check out my photography blog for a photo post of highlights from 2012. Thank you! :)

 My highlights/ favorite events from 2012 were...
The annual CHEF Conference (& Scottish Ball!) in June,
Traveling to Yellowstone in June
Making some new friends,
And...
Beginning a Courtship with Mark in August!

Favorite memory from 2012: Dancing at the CHEF Ball with my best friend!!! :)

The most impacting lesson I learned in 2012 was to: learn to surrender my precious dreams to God! [You can read more about that journey here, here & here]

Verse of the Year: Isaiah 55:11 (For context, click here)

Best books I read in 2012 were: Jesus Culture by Banning Liebscher & It's (Not That) Complicated by Anna Sofia & Elizabeth Botkin

Summary: 2012 was a hard year for me. Full of lots of decisions, stretching, trials & pain. But it also had its highlights, that's for sure! Not as much growth as I would have liked. God taught me a lot during the year- about Himself, His Faithfulness, myself, life, family, love, friends... He was (& still is!) Faithful, Sovereign & Good. He had a Plan & a Purpose (Romans 8:28) for the Path He took me on! Looking back now, it sure was a crazy ride, that caught me by surprise (in a good way!)... :)

My top 5 most popular devotion blog posts of 2012 were: Avery John Notgrass, What is "True Modesty?" Part II, Guard Your Heart, Joshua Steven Eddy: Go With God & A Multi-Generational Vision.

My top 5 most popular photo blog posts of 2012 were: CHEF Scottish Ball Photos I, Conference Photos Part III, Conference Photos Part I, Last Conference Photos- Part IV & CHEF Paintball Event.




                                                   ------------------------------

So, in hindsight... Some questions for you:
What were the most significant events in your life & your family in 2012?
What did you read that most impacted you the most in 2012?
How did your relationship with God change in 2012?
What was the most important life lesson you learn in 2012?
What was the most significant decision you made in 2012?
What habits (good & bad) did you form in 2012?
What is your favorite memory from 2012?

2013: Expectations!

New Year's Resolutions: None (I don't believe in them).

Some of my goals for 2013: Make improvements/ growth concerning my character, journal daily (not going too well so far), pick a verse for the year (soon!), read 52 books (one book a week) in the year (4th year running, still unaccomplished, as of yet!), as well as some personal goals, not to be blasted all over the Internet! ;)

Expectations for 2013: Growth. Change. Major life changes. Um... Yeah. We're gonna leave it at that! ;)

Prayer request: Character growth! I desperately need to grow in the areas of maturity, trust, discernment & wisdom!

Verse of the Year: ??? (undecided, as of yet!)

                                              --------------------------------



So, looking ahead... Some questions for reflection:
What are some of your "New Year's Resolutions"?
What do you expect God to accomplish this year, in your life?
What areas of your life most need improvement?
How are you a different person, than you were a year ago?

Have a blessed New Year! May 2013 be the best year yet!!! :)

Monday, October 3, 2011

Priorities


In my grandparents' generation, it was normal to be at Church every time the doors were open. In fact, it was almost expected. Now, we're "lucky" if people even show up on Sunday mornings! I'm not talking about missing Church every once in a while (being out of town or whatever). I'm talking about perpetual grumbling; the state of the heart.

What happened? Where did we go wrong? Is it too late? And most importantly, how do we change the statistics???

While things could be said towards watering down the gospel & a seeker-friendly mindset, I want to focus on our priorities. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:21

I emplore you to "fall in love with the family of God" again. Seek to pattern your heart after the hearthrobs of the Father. Let what matters most to Him be of the utter importance to you. God is jealous after the affections of His Bride.

If we can't show up for Church more than once a week (grumbling even then), what does that say about our heart? If you "don't have time" for a regular Bible study (or prayer or devotions or whatever), what does that say about your relationship with God?

We have the banquet table of the King laid out before us. But too often we take it for granted. We are Called to do more than just partake of the food. We are Called to Serve. To learn & grown & the pass that knowledge on to others. We are Called to be Salt & Light (Matthew 5:13-16).

We need a 'heart change.' We must embrace His standard of holiness, His source of power for change (the Cross) & His motive for fighting sin (grace). Let us strive to "think God's thoughts after Him"!

For further information on this subject, I would encourage you to read Stop Dating the Church! Fall in Love with the Family of God by Josh Harris