Thursday, October 30, 2014

Doing battle God's way and paying attention

It's been quite a month. It's consisted of hours sitting before the Lord which has been good but it's involved some hard work. It's been about healing and fighting the Enemy. It's been nerve wracking and at times exhilarating.
The problem is I spent most of September exhausted. I went into October exhausted. Satan always attacks when we are most tired and vulnerable. He attacks via our mind many times at least he does to me. And my mind can go crazy on me when I give in to it. He's crafty and creative but he doesn't have to be when we fall for the same things. We make his job easy at times. He attacks at our  points of weakness but also at our points of strength because we don't always pray over those areas enough. And nothing with him ever makes sense but somehow he can make it so that it makes perfect sense. Does that make sense?!
For me walking through some of this  God has shown me that whether I'm right about something or not, I need to pay attention to red flags. He's shown me that He's in complete control. As Satan continues mind games with me, God continues drawing me closer to Himself. God uses it to build my faith and reclaim my focus. He uses all that Satan throws at me to hurl me into a pit, to bring good by showing me things I needed to be aware of and pay attention to. He was turning it for good before I ever realized the attack was on. Satan will never warn us. He's out to destroy us. He sets traps. God waves the red flag to warn us and we had better pay attention. 
God was constantly asking me, "do you seriously think there's anything I can't handle?"  I knew there wasn't. 
It took fasting for 2 and 1/2 days, hours with my face in the Word, praying and journaling to just begin to feel like my head was above the water. One day I told Him, "I'm not moving until I get some peace". 3 and 1/2 hours later I got up. I was back the next morning for another 3 hours. It took blocking out all other voices to lean in and just listen for His. Every morning I still get up and have to put on that helmet of salvation to guard my mind. Some mornings I still get up with the elephant on my chest and I have to seek out those new mercies. God is never absent. He shows up every morning. He's working to draw us in, to empower us, to show us His faithfulness. It's always worth doing the work with Him. Satan wants us to give in, to quit. I'm still fighting or rather letting God continue to fight him on my behalf. 
I'm so thankful for Jeremiah 5:22. It says, "I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannnot cross it."
If you feel like I did and at times still do, and you think the waves are about to take you under, know that He will never let them prevail no matter how loud they seem to roar in your head! He is faithful!! 

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Monday Morning Perspective

I never fail to be amazed at how God works. When Jesus is lifted up, He really does draw people unto Himself. Hearing how He uses my husband's message every week, is a highlight of ministry. To know that lives are being changed and hungry people are being fed and many are striving to live out their faith is exciting. 
Eddie brought an amazing message from James 2 as we continued our series from James, Live It! He challenged us to not have a dead faith or a demonic faith but a dynamic faith. We need to be difference makers in our community to the continents! And I would agree with the one who said it was one of the greatest gospel presentations/invitations at the end! We just need to be a people who are meeting and engaging with the lost and bring them to church so they can hear the good news and experience the life change that a relationship with Jesus brings! Don't be silent! Talk up Jesus! He will never disappoint you or make you sorry that you pointed others to Him!

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

FAVORite things for fall

 I have had about 3 weeks of feeling buried under some heavy stuff and today I need to lift my head for a bit and have some fun. So if you'll oblige me a moment just to share a few of my FAVORite, that's for you Favor girls, things for the fall. 
First of all I love pumpkins so these are across my dining room table...
I love to decorate with these but do not like to eat them. However, my dad and Justin love them so I decorate with them and they eat them...
I bought this candle warmer and love the smell of pumpkin pie burning! 
What has become my most FAVORite the last few mornings is my dining room fireplace. It's been so cold so when I sit there to study it gets things pretty toasty! 
I would show you a pic of my fave creamer for that morning coffee but I finished it this morn...pumpkin spice. 
The next two aren't really fall but I discovered them this fall so here they are...
These are fave drug store buys at the moment. 
The fall has brought lots of fun as my gorgeous man and I got to go to the mountains for a getaway. That was a blast. Our Saturdays have been filled with football games and tailgating food most of which we got to share with the whole fam so having the house full all fall has been great!  
And to wrap it up, here I am with my FAVORite person not just for the fall but for every season every year...
Feel free to share your fall FAVORites!