Do you Feel Deformed?

Don't let your insecurity

cause you to miss the gifts around you!

I posted some pictures on facebook.
A lady in one of the pictures remarked at how horrible she looked!

I immediately took the picture off,
did a little editing and put a more complimentary picture of her on facebook.

She thanked me for 'taking all the bad stuff off'.

Wow.  
I realized, what I saw and what she saw were two entirely different people.

I put up for her who she wanted to see.

I realized how I have done this before........when.......

My lovely daughter-in-laws both gave me what they were thinking
that I would love as beautiful gift pictures.

But, I gasped, as all I could see were my deformed hands.
It looked like this to me....

I have arthritis in my hands.
In my mind all I saw were huge deformed blown up hands.

They are an embarrassment to me.

I immediately dismissed the gifts trying not to think about my hands.

I was grateful for their thoughtfulness but that was as far as I went.

I realized today

how I had missed the gift.

They were trying to bless me with the reminder of love in my life,
.......and all I saw was deformity.

I couldn't receive the gift because of my insecurity.

God, I know I do this with Your gifts for me too.

Thank you for these two beautiful ladies in my life.

Thank you for their reminders

of how blessed I am

with love

and relationships.

Dancing with my dad at my son's wedding.

Holding my mom's hand in the hospital.             

Father daughter dance at my son's wedding with my dad,
my other son and his daughter.

"Come close to God and He will come close to you.

Recognize that you have divided interests.

Humble yourself.

Know who He is and who you are.

He will lift you up and make your life significant.  

Instead of being envious or comparing ourselves to others,

see the God in them."

James 4

"Do not be sympathetic to the smallest hint of jealousy or envy in your soul.

Pray blessings and protection on your sisters. 

Choose life.

Choose to trust Me. 

Be a gracious, noble woman.

And whenever those winds of

jealousy and envy and insecurity start to blow,

step back and look up.

Lay hold of My promise and refuse the enemy's bait."

-Susie Larson

Trust God with your story!

Ever come home and feel unloved, and unappreciated?

"Love isn't easy.   Especially when you are tired, or feel unloved, or have gone the distance for someone who (we think) hasn't returned the favor.   Yet that is what God wants us to be willing to do.   That kind of love changes people.  It leads by example, and it asks nothing in return." -Susie Larson

Lord I am definetly not there yet! 

I get tired, angry, depressed, hurt, confused, detached, withdrawn.
I think I have sacrificed and may be oblivious to their sacrifice. 

God has patience with us

in spite of our often ignorant sense of entitlement!

   "For our fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities."

Ephesians 6:12

If we compare ourselves to others this is what happens:

"If the comparision puts us on top, we start to think we're something apart from God, if we find ourselves on the bottom, we're tempted to think we are nothing in spite of God.  How do we anchor ourselves in Christ amidst the strong currents of selfishness, envy, and pride?  

We trust God with our story. 

 

We embrace a heart of thanks and faith by looking for Him in every nook and cranny of life.   And we refuse to be petty in spite of all the opportunities to do so.   We are never more fully alive then when we consistently give thanks to One who gives and gives and gives again."

 -Susie Larson

 

Cancer. I am with you at all times.

I was told today that my dad has prostate cancer.

And that it has spread to other organs.

They will not be doing anything to fight it because of his age.

He may have a few months.

He may have a few years.

It occurred to me that:

1. We don't know how to handle news like this.
2. We don't know how to behave with news like this.
3. NO ONE knows how much time they have.

"I am with you at all times. 

Be conscious of My presence."

Never leave any unfinished business.

No one is promised the next moment in this life.

If there is someone or something that needs your attention.

Do it now.

Don't assume that tomorrow is yours.

Help me to hold Your hand and Trust.

Lord, Please help me to hold Your hand,

trusting that You will take care of everything

even better than an earthly father possibly can.

 

"I have all your affairs in My hands.

Joy.

Not one test too much will I lay on you."

 

 

And the Peace of God which (doesn't make sense to us, isn't logical)

passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds

through Jesus Christ. 

Phil. 4:7

 

 

Beautiful day!
Woke up today thinking,
there are so many things I want to get done!

Which one first!?
The garden? The shed? The front yard? Paint?
Make lunch? Dinner? Do dishes? Clean?
Take care of the dogs?

I was thinking, my job employment has cut back hours.
Shouldn't I be looking for things to sell to help with the money?

"Cry out for insight.
Seek wisdom.
Raise your voice for understanding.
Seek wisdom as you would seek money.
Search for skillful and Godly wisdom as if you were searching for hidden treasure." -prov. 3:3-10

THEN

I will find wisdom, knowledge, understanding.
I will know the right path to take.
I will do what needs to be done.

Prayer time IS where I seek my treasure.
Prayer time is where I find my path.
Prayer time first.

Living in Survival Mode

I know I had a lifeless look in my eyes.  
I know I did.
I stopped dreaming.  
I shut down.
I went into survival mode.
Existence mode.

You are bringing me back to life.

Sometimes I can't believe the raw sin that comes from the depths of my heart and spills right out of my lips! Just when I think I am doing so good,
SURPRISE! ......out it comes!

"If we trust God with our fears and insecurities,
He'll entrust us with a call that puts those fears to shame.
This faith walk is about intimacy with God.
As we follow His lead, He'll lead us to rely on Him in ways big and small.Life is too precious to live simply in reaction to our busy schedules
or to our binding fears.
Don't miss the importance of the present moment.
Walk with purpose in every step.
We need to live as ones who are spoken for.
God knows where we should go
and what we should do." -Susie Larson

Do you not see it with My followers?

Timid, faithless followers,

and then, so soon,

 themselves leaders, healers, conquerors,

through Me.

I forgive you as you have asked Me to.

Start anew today.

It is not what you do,

But who you are that is the miracle working power.

-God Calling

 

Be less concerned with your purpose,
Be more concerned with your relationship with God.

Don't forget that prayer time.

But...

Maybe it is time to get connected.

To others.

Maybe a church?