No Time to Lay Down- Running to Your Arms

God has been doing a lot of work in my life the past couple of weeks which is what He does I think at times when things are the hardest and things are not going how you think they should be. The last two weeks have been a series of events that I would not have chosen to happen. Things have gone wrong and things have been taken away....everyone has an idea of the way they think their lives should go and when things don't, we all react in different ways. I am one to shrink up, push people away, escape from the world, and shut down. I had that temptation on Wednesday morning when I woke up feeling hopeless and confused. I opened the Word and began to pray and the Holy Spirit pushed me out of the bed (I know that sounds weird, but I didn't do it on my own!!) and I got ready and went to work. Throughout that morning I connected with several friends, accomplished a lot at work, and the Lord began to speak to me. I realized what an idiot I've been!! Wasted so much time when things didn't go my way or something was taken from me.....just feeling sorry for myself and what use was I to anyone around me, or more importantly to God?? I decided that I would not waste another minute of my life in regret. God has a plan for me, for my life, but even for today. And I dishonor Him when I spend time thinking about what I don't have instead of working on what He has for me to accomplish that day. Wednesday ended up being a great day. I had some great conversations with friends, I spent some amazing time with my daughter, and more importantly, I realized that I needed to change. My reactions to disappoint in life will not be to shrink away anymore but to move forward and fight for the day that God has given to me. It doesn't mean that there isn't sadness, tears, or moments of pain. But it's what we do with those emotions that count. The world has taught us a different way to deal with our emotions and it's all lies. We need to run to Jesus every time......
I was also talking to a friend and I was reminded that when things are taken away from us it's hard but it can be an opportunity to realize that whatever it was is not God and can never replace Him. And He is the only one that will ever satisfy completely. We read about it and we sing about it but it's made real when we experience it. I've been listening to this song a lot lately.....I'm running to Your arms, the riches of Your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to Your embrace......Nothing compares. NOTHING. If we can get that through our heads then when we experience loss, pain, heartbreak, betrayal....we know we can move on and still have all that we need. It's not just words, it's not just a song. It's truth.

So thankful for Brandon Reed and the college ministry at GCC....check this out!!

http://aquacollegeministry.com/

Everyone has a story to share!!!!!

http://www.michaelbayne.net/2011/02/gcom-familieswe-want-to-hear-your-story.html

Blessings & Good Times the Past 6 mos....

last post

In my last post, I talked about the sermon from Matt Chandler that I had recently listened to. When I was thinking about that sermon again last night and today, I realized that He had not yet known that he was going to suffer from a brain tumor. The amazing thing about that is that you can read and listen to him since he has gone through surgery, chemo, and all kinds of suffering, and he is still saying the same thing: God is enough. Wow, it just really hits home with me! How I desire to be a woman like that.....through tragedy, heartbreak, loss, disappointments, loneliness, fear....God IS enough and I really believe it and I really live it. My prayer is that one day I will be that woman.
Here are a few things you can read and see about Matt and his situation.....

http://www.youtube.com/user/villageChurchTX#p/u/26/SMerKVKssQU


http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/

"God is most glorified, most seen as powerful, glorious, worthy, when everything has gone wrong....and He's enough." M.Chandler

We all have our days...when things are going wrong....work is stressful. kids are testing us. relationships are hard. health is declining. I've had one of those weeks...and honestly I've been trying hard not to feel sorry for myself, thinking about all the horrible things that so many people are going through. There is so much pain and sorrow out there and I am so blessed and should be continually grateful for my life. And I am. But my human nature creeps in and I have been extrememly melancholy and even broken the last few days. The Lord is so good and continues to watch over me....I don't know why I still get suprised about that at times:) I opened an old email and saw a sermon link someone sent me and listened to it. My favorite pastor.....Matt Chandler. It was amazing....so much truth that I needed to hear JUST for today, JUST for this moment. How can I ever doubt that God is real? And that He loves me so incredibly that He will do whatever it takes to encourage me and remind me He is there. No matter what.....
I put a few of the quotes from his sermon on twitter but if you have some time at work, or while you're on the comp at home, driving down the road.....listen. You won't regret the time you spent. It's a good reminder for all of us that God is there no matter what and that we don't always know why things happen like they do but He has not left us. And He never will.

http://denton.thevillagechurch.net/resource_files/audio/200805250900HWC21ASAAA_MattChandler_LukePt18-HopeInRealLife.mp3

Cross Street Live!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iAggb_6efc