It's Monday. And I'm already looking forward to this weekend. Why? 1) It's my birthday on Saturday! and 2) Joe and I are going away for the weekend! Our first time away since getting married and it's possible now since he changed jobs and has weekends off! So I'm just a little excited!!!
But I was sitting here thinking to myself, 'Here I am already wishing for this week to fly by so I can get to next weekend and enjoy being away at the ocean.' God pricked my heart. Here I am, wishing my life away. I can get so caught up in my own life and what I'm doing that I can miss it - miss what God has for me, what He's speaking to me in His still small voice.
Lord, I don't want to miss a chance to say yes to You this week, in the midst of my excitement. I want to see You; I want to hear You. Let me know You more this week, in the middle of my busy life. Let me find You, in the middle of doing laundry, vacuuming, or washing dishes. I invite You to interrupt me this week. Amen.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Through it all, God is faithful!
Looking back over the past month and a half, God has been so good! We've had our share of trials, too, but in the midst of them, Joe and I have prayed and trusted God to move on our behalf. God is faithful!
1) In the beginning of July, we started having water leaks from our bathroom through the floor to the kitchen ceiling. We had a hole cut out of our kitchen ceiling to reveal mold. It's been frustrating, and I must admit, I've been tempted to break down and cry and have a pity party. But I keep trusting God and believing this happened for a reason.
As of today, the mold is gone, we still have a hole in our kitchen and we're waiting to get quotes from contractors about fixing/remodeling the bathroom to stop the water problem and trusting God for the finances without going into debt.
1) In the beginning of July, we started having water leaks from our bathroom through the floor to the kitchen ceiling. We had a hole cut out of our kitchen ceiling to reveal mold. It's been frustrating, and I must admit, I've been tempted to break down and cry and have a pity party. But I keep trusting God and believing this happened for a reason.
As of today, the mold is gone, we still have a hole in our kitchen and we're waiting to get quotes from contractors about fixing/remodeling the bathroom to stop the water problem and trusting God for the finances without going into debt.
2) For those who didn't know, my husband Joe went to culinary school and started working as a chef after he graduated. Working in restaurants, his schedule was hectic and life apart from work was nonexistent. When we first started dating, Joe started a new job at Wegmans as a Sushi chef and moved around to several different departments within the last 2 years he's been there.
However, his schedule was hectic, working nights and weekends and getting a new schedule every week with varying shifts. We made it work while dating and our engagement; but when we got married and talked of starting a family, his schedule began to wear on him and our relationship. Everyday he was stressed out; he was frustrated about not being promoted (when he was the go-to guy for every department); and he dreaded going to work. The final straw was when I got an unexpected bonus at work, and then got a raise a couple weeks later. He was confused and didn't understand why nothing was happening for him. When was his break going to come?
We talked and I told him we needed to pray and believe that God would open a door for him, either a promotion (with slightly better hours) or a new job. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but I trusted God to move and God pleasantly surprised both of us. About 2 weeks later, I saw on Facebook that a friend of ours had posted an opening about a job with his company, and I called Joe to tell him about it. Immediately after Joe hung up the phone with me, this friend called Joe and told him about the opening and told him to apply for it. The opening was for a sales rep for Bosch power tools. The job offered better hours (Monday-Friday with evenings and weekends off), AND it offered more money!! Joe was so excited and got his resume and paperwork together right away.
During 2 weeks of interviews and waiting, we kept praying and believing that if this job was for Joe then he would get it; and if not, then God had something better in mind. He was offered the job and started the first week of August. He absolutely loves it and he enjoys going to work now! He's home in the evenings for us to have dinner together every night; with weekends off, we can plan spontaneous things to do. And with more money in each paycheck, we can pay for our bathroom repairs. God is so good!!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
#SayWhat?
Before I started the 'Say Yes To God' online Bible study, I knew God was already preparing my heart for it. He asked me to demonstrate radical obedience and I had a big #saywhat? moment. Let me share with you.
My husband and I were married on March 30, 2013 and we had decided that while we did want kids, we wanted to wait at least a year before trying to conceive. With that thought in mind, I started taking birth control pills. We had our plan. But God had His...
On July 22, I was sitting at work and I took a few moments to read a blog someone had posted on Facebook about birth control from a Christian perspective. It wasn't anything I hadn't heard before, from other readings or from our pre-marital counseling, but all of a sudden, right in the middle of reading it, I felt God's presence so strongly! I almost began to weep at my desk when God impressed upon my heart, "Do you trust Me?"
Immediately, I was like, "Of course, God, I trust You." And He asked me again, "Do you trust Me?" He began to impress this thought upon my heart: Why am I taking birth control? So I thought about it for a moment and came to this conclusion...CONTROL! I mean, that's what its for, right? But for me, it was deeper than that; I've struggled with control issues my whole life and still do. I'm a work in progress, for sure! But I was taking birth control because I wanted to control when Joe and I have a baby because I'm scared and not ready yet. My thoughts (or excuses, rather): I have a medical condition that might cause a difficult pregnancy, and I have fears about being a bad mother that's rooted in hurtful words that were spoken over me. I just got married and I want to enjoy the married life before kids. But I felt like God was saying, "Don't you think I know that? And I know what's best for you and when you're ready."
Immediate peace came rushing into my soul and I knew what I needed to do. I talked to my husband about it and he fully supported the decision to stop taking birth control, if that was what God had told me to do. But me and my thoughts (they get me into trouble) got to thinking, and I put it off for a couple days: I'm in Joe's sisters' wedding in April and if I stop now and get pregnant right away then I'll be due around her wedding and that's a problem, or I'll be huge in a bridesmaid dress and look just awful and be uncomfortable. (Yes, pathetic, I know!) I kept trying to justify why now just wasn't the right time. Joe told me that if God told me to do it, I needed to just do it. (Isn't that what we learned in Ch. 1 - Whatever he says do, do it?) Deep down in my heart, I KNEW I had heard what God had spoken to me and it required radical obedience. What would I choose?
I wrote in my journal, Lord, HELP ME to trust you! I'm scared, but God, you've proven yourself faithful EVERY time and shown me you know what's best. EVERY time I have asked the Lord for direction, He has guided me and directed me in the way to go, and looking back on my life, it was the best for me. My life certainly hasn't gone the way I planned it to go. I had my time of rebellion and life MY WAY instead of GOD'S WAY. God was faithful when I wasn't; He was there when I didn't want Him; He took care of me when I depended on myself instead of Him; He forgave me when I needed it most. As I sit here and write this, with tears streaming down my face, I don't have words to say how thankful I am for God's goodness and mercy in my life. God has been so good to me, how can I not trust Him and say yes when He calls me to radical obedience?
I chose to say yes, to answer that call to obedience. When that fear starts to creep back into my heart, I remember the words that God spoke to me, the words that flooded my heart with peace, and they quiet my soul once again. Joe and I have given God complete control in that area; it feels good to rest in the trust that God's got it, and what will be will be, all in His time.
My husband and I were married on March 30, 2013 and we had decided that while we did want kids, we wanted to wait at least a year before trying to conceive. With that thought in mind, I started taking birth control pills. We had our plan. But God had His...
On July 22, I was sitting at work and I took a few moments to read a blog someone had posted on Facebook about birth control from a Christian perspective. It wasn't anything I hadn't heard before, from other readings or from our pre-marital counseling, but all of a sudden, right in the middle of reading it, I felt God's presence so strongly! I almost began to weep at my desk when God impressed upon my heart, "Do you trust Me?"
Immediately, I was like, "Of course, God, I trust You." And He asked me again, "Do you trust Me?" He began to impress this thought upon my heart: Why am I taking birth control? So I thought about it for a moment and came to this conclusion...CONTROL! I mean, that's what its for, right? But for me, it was deeper than that; I've struggled with control issues my whole life and still do. I'm a work in progress, for sure! But I was taking birth control because I wanted to control when Joe and I have a baby because I'm scared and not ready yet. My thoughts (or excuses, rather): I have a medical condition that might cause a difficult pregnancy, and I have fears about being a bad mother that's rooted in hurtful words that were spoken over me. I just got married and I want to enjoy the married life before kids. But I felt like God was saying, "Don't you think I know that? And I know what's best for you and when you're ready."
Immediate peace came rushing into my soul and I knew what I needed to do. I talked to my husband about it and he fully supported the decision to stop taking birth control, if that was what God had told me to do. But me and my thoughts (they get me into trouble) got to thinking, and I put it off for a couple days: I'm in Joe's sisters' wedding in April and if I stop now and get pregnant right away then I'll be due around her wedding and that's a problem, or I'll be huge in a bridesmaid dress and look just awful and be uncomfortable. (Yes, pathetic, I know!) I kept trying to justify why now just wasn't the right time. Joe told me that if God told me to do it, I needed to just do it. (Isn't that what we learned in Ch. 1 - Whatever he says do, do it?) Deep down in my heart, I KNEW I had heard what God had spoken to me and it required radical obedience. What would I choose?
I wrote in my journal, Lord, HELP ME to trust you! I'm scared, but God, you've proven yourself faithful EVERY time and shown me you know what's best. EVERY time I have asked the Lord for direction, He has guided me and directed me in the way to go, and looking back on my life, it was the best for me. My life certainly hasn't gone the way I planned it to go. I had my time of rebellion and life MY WAY instead of GOD'S WAY. God was faithful when I wasn't; He was there when I didn't want Him; He took care of me when I depended on myself instead of Him; He forgave me when I needed it most. As I sit here and write this, with tears streaming down my face, I don't have words to say how thankful I am for God's goodness and mercy in my life. God has been so good to me, how can I not trust Him and say yes when He calls me to radical obedience?
I chose to say yes, to answer that call to obedience. When that fear starts to creep back into my heart, I remember the words that God spoke to me, the words that flooded my heart with peace, and they quiet my soul once again. Joe and I have given God complete control in that area; it feels good to rest in the trust that God's got it, and what will be will be, all in His time.
#saywhat?
Friday, August 9, 2013
My Commitment to Say Yes to God
As I finish week one of the "Yes to God" Bible study, I want to share my personal prayer of commitment to God:
My Commitment to Say Yes to God
Lord, I surrender all. All that I am,
and all that I’m not. I surrender my plans, my hopes, my dreams. I surrender my
insecurities, my fears, my inadequacies. I make the choice to trust You, even
when I don’t understand. In spite of my imperfect circumstances, when I am outside
of my comfort zone – where You lead me, I will follow.
I will say yes to You when I am tired,
when I am insecure, when I am busy, when I am fearful. Instead of selfishness,
I choose to say yes to You, to give of myself to accomplish Your purposes in
and through me. Whatever You say do, I will do. I simply want You to see a
yes-heart in me.
“God, I want to see You. God, I want to
hear You. God, I want to know You. God, I want to follow hard after You. And
even before I know what I will face today, I say yes to You.”
I refuse to turn back even when
things get hard.
#palms up
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
A Beautiful Exchange
I love it when I get a fresh revelation about a Scripture, especially if it's one that I've heard again and again. Today in my Bible study, one of the questions was, "Is there something you might need to let go of in order to have the freedom to say yes to God?" I was pondering this question and reading comments on the OBS blog when I came across several comments about Jeremiah 29:11. It's a popular verse, but I realized that it contained my answer.
I could say that fear, uncertainty or even insecurity could limit my freedom to say yes to God, but I realized that a BIG issue was my need for control. Here's what I wrote in my journal:
Lord, have your way in me and give me a yes-heart, no matter what you ask of me. I surrender my plans to you today. #sayyestoGod #palmsup
I could say that fear, uncertainty or even insecurity could limit my freedom to say yes to God, but I realized that a BIG issue was my need for control. Here's what I wrote in my journal:
Lord, have your way in me and give me a yes-heart, no matter what you ask of me. I surrender my plans to you today. #sayyestoGod #palmsup
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
In the midst of it all...
This past month has been interesting, to say the least. But in all the chaos, God has made Himself real and given us peace. Our kitchen ceiling is still open, the bathroom is still giving us water issues, and we're no closer to getting things repaired. We've called a couple contractors for quotes, but we're still waiting for numbers. And then there's paying for it. But through it all, Joe and I have been praying and trusting God to provide, and we know He will.
In the midst of these house issues, Joe and I have been praying for God to open a door for Joe with his job, either a promotion to a new position or a new job in a new field. God has been opening doors for me at work and Joe was getting discouraged. His hours and schedule has also been hard on our relationship and our dream to start a family one day. We prayed and put the concern in God's hands, believing He would move on our behalf. And He did! A couple weeks ago, a friend of ours posted on Facebook that his company was hiring, so I called Joe and told him about it. A few minutes later, our friend called Joe and told him he should apply for the job. Joe got his resume together, sent it off and we kept praying that if this is what God had for Joe that God would make it happen. After several phone and Skype interviews, Joe met personally with the president of the company, and was offered the job on Friday, July 26th. This new position is a sales rep selling Bosch power tools, with a set schedule Monday-Friday (evenings and weekends off!) and better pay than his culinary position. God is so good!! Joe started his new job this past Monday, and when he left for work this morning, he said, "I want to go to work". He hasn't said that in a long time! It's a wonderful thing to see my husband happy and to see how his faith has grown in trusting God to provide for him personally.
I also started an online Bible study through Proverbs 31 Ministries for the book, What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst. This study is on point with what God is doing in my life right now. Below is the post I wrote in the comments on the Bible study blog:
This is my first online Bible study and I am so excited to do it! A couple weeks ago, I felt God speaking to my heart and preparing me for this study as he asked me to trust him with an area of my life that I really didn’t want to relinquish control. I’m sure I’m not the only woman out there with control issues! But I “prayed about it”, even though I KNOW I had clearly spoken to me already, and I decided to say Yes to God and surrendered to what He asked me to do. I’m still struggling with the fear part of it, but I remember God saying to me, “Don’t you think I know that? (that I’m afraid timing isn’t right or all the what if’s that pile up in my head) Don’t you think I care about those things? (and I know He does!) Just trust me.” Just. Trust. Me. Three little words, but oh! the meaning in those 3 little words! I know that’s what God is speaking to my heart even now as I’ve started this study and the little fears – the what if’s, or wondering what is God going to ask me to do? – keep popping into my head, I remember what He said…”Just trust me.” It’s only the beginning…#palmsup to all He has for me!
In the midst of these house issues, Joe and I have been praying for God to open a door for Joe with his job, either a promotion to a new position or a new job in a new field. God has been opening doors for me at work and Joe was getting discouraged. His hours and schedule has also been hard on our relationship and our dream to start a family one day. We prayed and put the concern in God's hands, believing He would move on our behalf. And He did! A couple weeks ago, a friend of ours posted on Facebook that his company was hiring, so I called Joe and told him about it. A few minutes later, our friend called Joe and told him he should apply for the job. Joe got his resume together, sent it off and we kept praying that if this is what God had for Joe that God would make it happen. After several phone and Skype interviews, Joe met personally with the president of the company, and was offered the job on Friday, July 26th. This new position is a sales rep selling Bosch power tools, with a set schedule Monday-Friday (evenings and weekends off!) and better pay than his culinary position. God is so good!! Joe started his new job this past Monday, and when he left for work this morning, he said, "I want to go to work". He hasn't said that in a long time! It's a wonderful thing to see my husband happy and to see how his faith has grown in trusting God to provide for him personally.
I also started an online Bible study through Proverbs 31 Ministries for the book, What Happens When Women Say Yes to God by Lysa TerKeurst. This study is on point with what God is doing in my life right now. Below is the post I wrote in the comments on the Bible study blog:
This is my first online Bible study and I am so excited to do it! A couple weeks ago, I felt God speaking to my heart and preparing me for this study as he asked me to trust him with an area of my life that I really didn’t want to relinquish control. I’m sure I’m not the only woman out there with control issues! But I “prayed about it”, even though I KNOW I had clearly spoken to me already, and I decided to say Yes to God and surrendered to what He asked me to do. I’m still struggling with the fear part of it, but I remember God saying to me, “Don’t you think I know that? (that I’m afraid timing isn’t right or all the what if’s that pile up in my head) Don’t you think I care about those things? (and I know He does!) Just trust me.” Just. Trust. Me. Three little words, but oh! the meaning in those 3 little words! I know that’s what God is speaking to my heart even now as I’ve started this study and the little fears – the what if’s, or wondering what is God going to ask me to do? – keep popping into my head, I remember what He said…”Just trust me.” It’s only the beginning…#palmsup to all He has for me!
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