The Six Letter Cuss Word

I mentioned in an earlier post that I love getting to the real stuff in friendships. I have a couple of friendships in my life that consist only of the real stuff. I LOVE these friends and the conversations that we have. A lot of these friends live in different cities, but as soon as we get on the phone or sit across the table to share a meal together, we jump ten feet in, right into the middle of the real stuff. It doesn't matter what it is. If it's awesome news we celebrate with each other, if it's sadness we cry together, if it's confusion we pray together. It's the friendship where the question "how is it going?" is asked with the desire to know how things are REALLY going!

My friend Lauren, is one of these friendships for me. We met at a bible study that I taught one summer and over the years she has become one of my best friends. I don't know that we have ever lived in the same city, except for summers. When I moved home from college, she left for college! We keep in touch through email, phone calls, text messages but one of my favorite parts about our friendships is the times when one of us is in town and we get to talk for a couple of hours. We almost always try to block out a lunch or dinner that we can catch up on all the good stuff.

A couple of months ago we got together for dinner at Panera. If you ask anyone about Lauren they will talk about her passion and love for God. She is so completely animated when she talks about what He is doing in her life. I love this!

We got settled, prayed over our food, talked about life, family, our walks with God, laughed at crazy stories, all the usual things. Eventually I asked her how college was going and if it was stressing her out. She said almost in a whisper "oh I don't say that word anymore." I was confused. There was a pause, and I whispered back, "what word?" Lauren mouthed the word "stress". She said with every bit of conviction she had, "it's almost like a curse word to me now, God is teaching me to watch my words and that is a word that I have decided not to say anymore."

Wow! I sat back in the booth and laughed a little. I automatically loved this thought and I got the biggest kick over it. This is why this girl is one of my best friends, I learn from her! Here I was sitting across the table from her, probably in one of my "worn down, pulled tight in my schedule, this is just one of those seasons I am going to have get through" days, and it dawned on me, the little words that I have been speaking just might have an impact on my life.  And though I don't curse, if stress was a cuss word, I had more than likely been cussing up a storm.

I decided to implement adding the word stress to my "cuss word list" effective immediately! :) I love a little challenge. So to be honest about my bad choice in words, I threw the words anxious and overwhelmed onto the cuss word list just for fun.

It was kind of hilarious at first how many times throughout the week I caught myself wanting to say these three little words. But it showed me just how often I was confessing this state of mind and being over my life. Confessing out loud for myself to hear and believe "I AM stressed! I AM anxious! I AM overwhelmed!" And I am not talking about crying out to God in my quiet time or asking him for solutions. I am talking about just saying it and believing it and in return, living it!

The best part of this challenge was the outcome that it produced. Instead of saying these things out loud, I closed my mouth and prayed. I was exchanging my "stress" for peace and a closer relationship with God. Instead of saying "I am just so anxious about this paper" without giving a thought to God. I quietly prayed within myself  "Lord you know my heart and anxiety help me to have a calmness and peace about getting this done." Over and over, prayer by prayer, my level of anxiety and stress reduced and instead of confessing stress I was confessing FAITH. After praying I would have the FAITH to say out loud "the Lord is going to help me get through this day, accomplish this task, talk to the person..." or whatever the situation was, God was now IN it, instead of stress!

Watching our words can be especially hard, but being aware of our words and their impact can be something that spurs us forward in our walk with God. I always knew to pray about my problems or burdens but that day I learned that by controlling my words, I could use my stress and anxiety to push me closer to God, not further away!

Below is one of the verses I decided to memorize during this time period:

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

To be honest, this is still something that I am working toward and that challenges me. I can't tell you how many times I have stopped talking mid-sentence! I still get stressed, I still find myself anxious and at times I am definitely overwhelmed! The difference is now I go to the Lord with these feelings and thoughts, and give Him the time to replace my stress or anxiety with a peace that is more than I could ever accomplish on my own.

Be blessed today!

Love.

My sister Courtney is six years older than me. My mom says that when I was born, Courtney thought I was her very own, real-life baby doll. We would play dress up, sing songs at the top of our lungs, pick on our brothers, laugh together ... all the normal sister stuff :) She loved me, and I thought she was the best thing since sliced bread.

I was five the first time she spent the night at someone else's house. I wore one of her t-shirts to bed and cried myself to sleep. I colored her so many pictures that they surrounded the walls of the bedroom we shared. For real! The first time she came home from college, she surprised me at my seventh grade volleyball practice and I was so happy, I cried, in front of all my friends. We have been through thick and thin. We are sisters and no one can take her place.

Don't get me wrong, we have definitely had our battles! What sisters haven't? But valentine's day is about the love, so the battles will have to be for another day :) When we were really young, we shared a room and one night before bed I remember asking Courtney how much she loved me. I must have been around six years old and she sat there for a while and said "If every car in the world was a heart, that's how much I love you."

That little phrase sure stuck in my head and I still sometimes tell people that I love, just how much, in hearts. Words are a powerful thing and just one sentence from someone can alter your course and even control your thoughts or mood. I thought today, "when's the last time I asked God how much he loved me? How much would one sentence from him change me and stick with me?" I know that one word or sentence from the Father can make an impact that a person is not even able to put into words. I know it has happened to me before. I try to tell someone else... and words are not enough to express how much it meant to me, or changed me. Love and words are powerful things.

I really believe God shows his love for us each day in the small, simple things. Ask God to show you all the ways he has been showing you his love and just how much he loves you. He is a good God, he lavishes us with love. And His words will change you forever.

1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

Be blessed today and know that you are loved more than anything.

Getting Out of the Freeze.

Last Friday school was canceled because of an ice day. The kids were happy, I was happy; it was overall awesome!

I spent my day waking up late and scrolling through the channels. I wore two pair of pajama pants, my ski socks from last winter, and an over sized hoodie as I sat on the couch buried under a huge blanket. I resigned myself to the fact that I was stuck and it would be WAY too much effort to get out in the ice.

Yesterday, I found myself again, in ice (what is going on Texas!?). I ran from the school building out to my car; put my hand on that ice covered door knob and yanked. Nothing. I pulled again, nothing. Determined to get to my seat warmers ASAP, I yanked and this time put some effort into it. FINALLY, the ice broke free and I scooted into my equally freezing car!

Sometimes, we go through a freeze in our life. Nothing is moving! It can last a day, a week, month or even years and we can be stuck. The freeze can be financial, spiritual, family-related, relational, physical. We can get our self into a freeze or it can be caused by situations out of our control. Some of my causes have been fear, failure, and even hurt. Many times, my life freezes have left me feeling weak and powerless.

If you are like me, these freezes can make you so frustrated! You pull and push with all your might and nothing is moving. Or... maybe you just resign yourself to the freeze, put on your comfy clothes, find the remote and sit on the couch, living up the excuse "it's freezing!" I would never do this! ;)

On the way to school this morning I heard the song by Chris Tomlin, "Our God is Greater". Talk about an awesome confession. I was sad that it was on the radio and that I couldn't push the repeat button when it ended. But it got me thinking about freezes and about God's promise. This song reminded me how much my outlook changes once God is on my radar. It is not up to me alone to break out of a "freeze", to mend a relationship, heal my hurt, conquer my fear, get past my failure or have the strength to try again. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says,

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

I LOVE this verse. God's power is made perfect in MY weakness. God's power is made perfect in YOUR weakness. I have to say it again, I love this verse. When I finally get to the place where I am too tired, or exhausted and don't have the energy to make stuff happen. Or when I am backed into a corner and I can't move and all my abilities, efforts and ideas have failed and I give up. That's when God finally gets to show off and show me what HIS power can do. Man, I need to give up more often!

These times give us another chance to see our creative and powerful God move on our behalf.  He makes a way, so that we know it could have only been Him. These are the times that our life and testimonies give God glory and honor. Psalm 42:11 says,

But, O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that He will do. He is my help! He is my God!

Here is the link to the Christ Tomlin song. I pray it encourages your heart and stirs your faith that God is greater than any situation, or freeze, that you might be in! Invite him into your situation and that He will move on your behalf.

Be blessed today!

On a side note: I would recommend turning up the volume and singing/proclaiming this song as loud as possible... lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_t_87NyHx0&feature=related

Watcher in the Window.

Every weekday morning sometime between 6:00-6:15 a.m. I make the scary trek from my apartment down to my car. I know this may seem silly, but it's pitch black outside! And after being raised by a firefighter, and now married to a police officer... (not to mention all the scary commerical/movies where people get taken) I have become a little TOO aware of what could happen... or maybe just overly imaginative :) On a normal day, I walk slowly, checking around my car from the second floor balcony. I listen for unfamiliar sounds, I check by my tires for shadows, I look to see if there any any random cars parked near by. I walk, at any point, ready to drop my three heavy bags and fight... or run! Part of being a teacher is the requirement that you carry over sized bags and preferably multiples... When I finally get into my car, I shut the door quickly behind me, throw my bags in the passenger seat unaware of where they land and lock the door. Even writing this, makes me laugh, because it's true!

On rare occasions my husband and I are up at the same time, getting ready for work. Sometimes, on cold mornings, he even wakes up from his sleep to start my car. Lately there has been a large, unfamiliar van parked right by my car! And I don't mean to judge, but it looks sketchy!

This morning, I asked my husband to watch me walk down to my car. He rolled out of bed, stood inside the window and told me he would watch. It wasn't until after I was safe in my car that I realized I hadn't done ANY of my normal safety check routine. I didn't care that I heard a door open above me on the third floor, that across the lot was a Camaro that had it's engine running. I didn't even glance at that van. I didn't check, because I knew someone was watching me and I was safe.

I couldn't see him this morning and neither could anyone else. But I knew he was there because I had asked him. Normally, I don't include Tyler in my safety equation, but what a difference putting him into the equation makes! I walked with confidence, knowing my man would TAKE any enemy DOWN!! lol (even if he was half asleep!)

This thought made me smile as I was driving to work. I felt like the Lord impressed upon my heart, what if you included me in your life equation? What if you asked me in advance, to watch? How much more confidence would you have in how you lived your life?

What a difference that would make! Before starting each day, recognizing and knowing that a powerful GOD is standing watch over me, ready to come to my assistance at any time of need. This is our God! He is our protector, shield, defender. He is our comfort, peace, and safety and he is standing watch over you and I.

I believe that as we include God into our daily equation and ask Him to be more present, we become more aware of just who we are, who we belong to, and who has our back. This simple thought helped me remember to ask God to be present in my every day. Even though he already is :) And to help me remember He is there and that He hears our prayer.

Psalm 18:6
In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

Be blessed today!

Faith in the Tough Times

Recently, I sat down to visit with a dear friend.  We talked about the obvious things and gradually began to talk about the real stuff. I love getting to the real stuff. Great friendships are based on getting to the real stuff. We began to talk about something that she is believing God for. Tears filled her eyes as she explained how much she has been believing and hoping for this to come to pass. She said "I know God can, just why isn't he?"

I think we have all been there. I know he can, but why isn't he? It is an emotion that when it is happening to you, is so real and present and pressing.  It can be painful, uncomfortable, confusing and stretching. One day you are full of faith and the next you feel like you are at the bottom of a pit. When my husband was without a full time job last year, I experienced this very real pain. I know it's a scary place to be, but I think it's a real place to be, the place where you are fighting not to ask, why?

Sitting with my friend as she choked back those words reminded me of two things.
It reminded me of what faith truly is, and what the body of Christ is supposed to be.

Everyone would agree that it is easy to have faith through good times, but many of us have felt the times when our faith is truly stretched. When it's a need; God has to move or we might not make it out okay. It might be a physical, financial, spiritual or emotional need, but we know that God has to move on our behalf.  Hebrews 11:1 says

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

I mentioned before about my husband's job last year. God was faithful to provide for us during that time, but that's not to say that it wasn't stretching our faith to believe that God was going to do something wonderful on our behalf. It took every ounce of our faith to speak out loud that God was going to work in an amazing way. During this time period, Tyler was working part time at his police department and a new full time spot had become available. This was it! This was what God was going to do for us! The email came out announcing that another person had been chosen for the spot. We were heart broken. Somewhere deep within, my heart screamed, why!? I didn't understand. It is at times like these that I believe people have to take a time-out. A life, time-out. We had to get together and get past the hurt and put "why" to the side. Why doesn't matter! We are believing for something we HAVE NOT SEEN yet! So Lord, we trust you to bring on the good stuff! Not only knowing that he can, but believing that he will. I found this verse and posted it to my computer at work:

Psalm 138:2 I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.

Now trust me, this is TOUGH and it certainly wasn't my first response! I won't even write about my first response! :) God says that he will strengthen you in your inner spirit and I find myself praying that OFTEN! I had to refuse to speak doubt and also surround myself with people of faith. Which leads me to the second thing: the body of Christ. It is SUCH a powerful thing!

Galatians 6:2 says:
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

God knew that there would be some tough times in life and that we would need each other.  God gave us the body to encourage each other, pray for each other. When one person is weak in their faith it's our role to step in and say "I can believe for that, I can have faith for that with you!" It saddens me to think of all the opportunities we may miss as believers to share in what God is doing for someone else.

During this same time, I remember one person who was the body of Christ to me, in a very practical way. I was outwardly believing for God to do something but inwardly, I was sinking. I needed the body of Christ. I sat down with a dear friend and had a conversation much like the one I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, only I was the one crying out. Later during the day, I got an email from her. It said, I love you and I am praying for you guys and for God's provision and direction in your life and then there was a link attached to an encouraging song.

That email meant the WORLD to me! It meant so much to me, that someone was thinking about me after the fact, and that they were actually praying for me. My point is this, it was an EMAIL! :) Something short and easy and it encouraged my faith and made me feel strong. We all have time to write an email, make a phone call, send a card, go out for coffee, send a text, say a prayer. We have time to be the body of Christ.

How do we keep faith in the hard times? Believe that God can and will; gain strength through prayer and the body of Christ. Be blessed today!

New.

My husband is an avid movie watcher and I have been... blessed, to watch many movies with titles that I would have NEVER thought twice about ever watching! Most of the time I start off uninterested. You know, reading a book, painting my nails, walking in and out while flat ironing my hair. Slowly, I find myself engrossed in the plot. I am adding up all the facts and clues and predicting what will happen next. I triumph in my ability to know what happened and what will happen next. MANY times, just when I think I have it figured out, some new element comes onto the scene! My reaction to this is always different: surprise, confusion, happiness... it sure would have been nice to see that coming!

At times, my life is a reflection of my awesome movie-watching habits! :) I know what has happened and THINK I know how it's going to go in the future. I may get suprised or frustrated when things are not happening exactly how I thought or planned. This morning I read:

Isaiah 42:9
"See, the former things have taken place, and NEW things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."

See, I think God likes to bring new stuff into the movie of our life.

Looking back, I see how God was always doing something new. We may be so caught up in the former things that we fail to see all the NEW things that God is doing or they take us by surprise. I love that the first part of this verse starts with the word SEE. God wants us to see the former things so that we can place it as part of the past. It is not always easy to put the former things behind us. We get stuck, we are hurt, we are afraid to let go, but we have a promise from a faithful God that he will and IS doing something new. Once the former things are in their right place, we can more readily enjoy and embrace all the new things. The Lord even says that he will announce them to us before they come into being. Wouldn't it be nice to have glimpse of what God will do next? I think the key is taking time to ask Him and hear what He is saying.

Matthew 7:7 states "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Putting this into practice definitely takes some faith!

Today, I sat still in silence, and let God show me some new things that are to come. New things to pray for, to believe for and to look forward to; new ideas, thoughts, inspiration and words from Him. New comfort, peace, strength, love, forgiveness. His mercies are new each morning. God has new things for us.