ARE YOU WALKING ON TURBULENT WATERS.
"When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet." Proverbs 3:24
Hola friends!. May God bless each and every one of you, that is my most sincere wish.
Today I am so thankful for Gods mercies and His tender loving care for HIS children. I write to you today from Mukilteo, Washington. What a beautiful place. Our room is right on the water! Yes that's right, the waves are lapping right under our window and the sea gulls are announcing their presence with plenty of gusto! LOL
You know, God knows our needs so much better than we do. I was a bit hesitant to leave my home. For some reason I thought the world as I know it would come to a complete stop. All the "what if's" assailed my thoughts. My mind ran through every possible scenario and caused me to drag my feet about being excited for this trip. Praise God that my husband paid for the airline tickets and booked the hotel before I could utter all of my doubts and reasons for which I could not possibly leave. The business, the new blog, the kiddos, my princesses. How could I leave all of that for a week? What if . . . resounded loud and clear in my head.
So I prayed, and I prayed. I longed to be with my honey. I love to see his smiling eyes, to walk hand in hand with him. But more than anything thing, I wanted him to know that after GOD, he is my number one priority. I wanted him to know that I love him more each and every day of our lives together. Yes, somehow that is possible, to love your husband more and more each and every day. And so I prayed. Except that this time, while I prayed on the plane, listing all of my concerns to my FATHER. HIS answer was. I'VE got this, you rest. I giggled a bit and said "yes SIR!".
As I watched the waves from our windows, I sat there, thinking and marveling at God's creation. The sky turned cloudy and overcast and the calm and peaceful waters began to turn "choppy". I couldn't help but watch the water and wonder what did it look like when Christ told Peter "Come!" What would I have done if I were in Peters shoes. What would you do? I wondered how easily we let the choppy waters of our lives deter us from doing what God wants us to do. In my case, spend some much needed quality time with my husband, my Tangi! I call him my Tangi, because Eric is my tangible gift from God. I can feel him and touch him and I know without a shadow of a doubt that my FATHER in Heaven loves me and blessed me with my hubby. Without God intervening, we would have never met. I am so glad that God knows and orders our steps for HE knows us, and our needs, better that we ourselves do.
When I lay my head down to sleep now, this verse in Proverbs comes to mind, as if GOD was speaking directly to me. And HE says, rest my child and let your sleep be sweet! IT HAS BEEN! ;)
Trust HIM and let your sleep be sweet!
Father, let us always rest in you. Let our comfort and confidence emanate from you Father. Let us walk each day trusting fully in you and let us pillow our head knowing that because we belong to you, our sleep will be sweet. Amen and Amen!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
FEAR
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Praise God in time of fear, just like Daniel did in the lions den:
Do you ever think that because you aren't good enough for God, that HE will not save you? Do you ever feel that salvation is for everyone else but you? How many times do you hear the words whispered over and over again in your ear, "you are not good enough". "God does not want you". "Where do you get off thinking that you would ever be good enough to enter Heaven after everything that you have done?" Sometimes these thoughts kick us around and back again, until they land us right smack on our derriere. The fear that overcomes us keeps us in a state of despair and worthlessness.
We need to learn to recognize these thoughts and literally "ARREST" them. I oftentimes wonder how Daniel felt as he arrived at the entrance to the lions den. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that his GOD was with him regardless of the outcome! He faced the men and the lions in a fearless fashion! How do you face your lions? Do you have lions or am I the only one that has lions? My lions sure do like to roar in the loudest, and most ferocious manner. And at times I must confess that they do instill fear in these old bones. However, we must must NEVER ALLOW that fear to set up residence within us.
Can you imagine what would have become of Daniel if he had allowed that fear to envelop him?
Or David, as he was literally hunted by Saul? He trusted only in his God.
Friend, what hunts you down? Where are your lions? Those are somewhat important questions. But the Real questions that you should look deep down within yourself to be able to fully answer is: Are you certain, deep down to the tip of your toes certain, that Christ wants you, loves you, died for you and has risen once more to sit at the right hand of the Father while HE awaits your arrival?
YOU SHOULD BE!! For God is not a man that HE should lie; neither the son of man that HE should repent. Hath HE said and shall HE not do it; or hath HE spoken and shall HE not make it good? Numbers 23:19
You see the greatest danger lies within ourselves, as our carelessness in regards to our thoughts. My preacher tell us quite regularly "THE BATTLE IS FOR THE MIND". My friends we must watch and pray. Arrest those thoughts immediately! Turn that concern into a prayer, recognizing that your GOD is greater than any peril that may threaten to bring upheaval to your life.
FATHER in Heaven. May I always recognize the whispers that are yours and allow them to soothe my tired soul. Teach me to discern the flaming arrows that are shot my way. Father help me to immediately recognize that you are in control of every moment of my life. And because of that I need not fear.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Praise God in time of fear, just like Daniel did in the lions den:
Do you ever think that because you aren't good enough for God, that HE will not save you? Do you ever feel that salvation is for everyone else but you? How many times do you hear the words whispered over and over again in your ear, "you are not good enough". "God does not want you". "Where do you get off thinking that you would ever be good enough to enter Heaven after everything that you have done?" Sometimes these thoughts kick us around and back again, until they land us right smack on our derriere. The fear that overcomes us keeps us in a state of despair and worthlessness.
We need to learn to recognize these thoughts and literally "ARREST" them. I oftentimes wonder how Daniel felt as he arrived at the entrance to the lions den. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that his GOD was with him regardless of the outcome! He faced the men and the lions in a fearless fashion! How do you face your lions? Do you have lions or am I the only one that has lions? My lions sure do like to roar in the loudest, and most ferocious manner. And at times I must confess that they do instill fear in these old bones. However, we must must NEVER ALLOW that fear to set up residence within us.
Can you imagine what would have become of Daniel if he had allowed that fear to envelop him?
Or David, as he was literally hunted by Saul? He trusted only in his God.
Friend, what hunts you down? Where are your lions? Those are somewhat important questions. But the Real questions that you should look deep down within yourself to be able to fully answer is: Are you certain, deep down to the tip of your toes certain, that Christ wants you, loves you, died for you and has risen once more to sit at the right hand of the Father while HE awaits your arrival?
YOU SHOULD BE!! For God is not a man that HE should lie; neither the son of man that HE should repent. Hath HE said and shall HE not do it; or hath HE spoken and shall HE not make it good? Numbers 23:19
You see the greatest danger lies within ourselves, as our carelessness in regards to our thoughts. My preacher tell us quite regularly "THE BATTLE IS FOR THE MIND". My friends we must watch and pray. Arrest those thoughts immediately! Turn that concern into a prayer, recognizing that your GOD is greater than any peril that may threaten to bring upheaval to your life.
FATHER in Heaven. May I always recognize the whispers that are yours and allow them to soothe my tired soul. Teach me to discern the flaming arrows that are shot my way. Father help me to immediately recognize that you are in control of every moment of my life. And because of that I need not fear.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
TAKE NO THOUGHT
Matthew 6:25
"Therefore
I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or
what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not
the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? "
Because of the effects of worry, Jesus tells us to "take no thought" about those needs which GOD promises that he will supply. Because of worry, we end up at times in rather unfortunate circumstances. It is bad for our health, we become overtaken or consumed with the object of our worry. This in turn leads us to distracted thinking and acting. It could affect our productivity at work or our efficiency at what ever it is we may be doing. It could negatively affect the way you treat others, and like it or not, people are watching our actions and behavior. They watch how things affect us and what we do in response to the circumstance that is for the most part, thrust upon us. I believe that the worst of all of these however, is that, worry reduces your ability to fully TRUST in GOD.
That my friends, is when we are knee deep in the muck! We become stagnant. We are stuck and at times helpless in helping ourselves. We forget that the unseen hand is still there and still extended toward us, waiting only for us to reach up and grasp it! Oh my friends, grasp it with all your might, for our Jesus promises to be with us always even unto the end of the world. HE certainly is committed to you and to me. You may ask, as I do from time to time. "If HE is that committed and promises to never remove HIS hand, then why am I in this "stuck" mode?" According to my bible and my Preacher, God did not move, WE/YOU/I did. Oh my cow!! What an eye opener, that means that I feel this way, because I let worry creep up on me and I did not arrest those thoughts before they could negatively affect me! Grrr we must "take no thought"!
Trust me, I have tried hiding behind the, "I'm just CONCERNED" statement. Do you know the difference between worry and concern?
Worry immobilizes you, it renders you useless! Your nails are gone, the worry lines are etched in your face and your vocabulary does not contain the word VICTORY in it!
Concern on the other hand, spurs you into action! What does GOD want me to learn. What does GOD want me to do?
My friends, Glory in the trials of your faith! Give honor and praise to our risen Savior. Remember that we have an enemy! For if your faith was not being tried and if everything is running hunky dorey and smooth as pie. THEN AT THAT POINT I HAD BETTER BE CONCERNED IF THE ENEMY IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT ME.
Father, thank you for your faithfulness! Thank you because you promise to always be there for me and for anyone who seeks you. May i always hear when you whisper into my heart "I am here". Father may your peace reign over every area of concern. Let me remember to turn my concerns into prayers, for I know that you Father are in control of every situation. Amen
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Thank YOU JESUS!
1 Thes 5:16-18
" Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Sometimes when we find ourselves surrounded in circumstances that are so completely beyond our control, we find ourselves at a total loss for what to do, how to act, react, and what to say. I have found myself there a time or two in my journey. It is such an overwhelming feeling of utter chaos and loss. Life will never return to normalcy, and at that precise moment it feels as if peace will never again be known by you.
It is painful, I know, to reach down and pull yourself up by your boot straps, as they say. First of all do I have boot straps and second of all, how on earth am I expected to find them? Have you ever asked yourself that question? How? How? and How again? How can I go on when my heart has been ripped out of my body and torn to shreds, and then somehow I am expected to shove those shreds back inside and function as the WIFE, MOTHER, FRIEND etc. that I am. Oh my, yes we hurt, but oh my what a pity party some of us can throw. Yes my heart is in pieces, yes, life will never be the same, and yes I hurt a very real and very deep agonizing pain, that always lives as a dull ache of wanting and missing that very vital part of me.
And while I am wallowing in my self pity and blubbering my wants and needs to GOD. By the way, I am HIS princess and yes I blubber to HIM, for HE is my father and HE loves me even with all my blubber, and my teary, swollen red eyes! I love climbing into HIS lap because then HE wraps HIS arms around me and HE gently reminds me . . . . .
I know what you mean, I know what you feel, I recognize that pain! I felt the same way when my son died on that cross!
HE reminds me that it was then that HIS son looked out across time and saw me and my loved ones and you and your loved ones and HE decided then and there that HE would die for us! All of us. Whether we deserved it or not, the gift was given!
So my FATHER whispers in my ear. . .TRUST ME, for you and the ones you hurt for were born in my thoughts. I know your beginning and I know your end! I have ordered your steps, your stumbles and even those races that you win and those that you lose- I AM! And therefore I am all that you need.
Until the time in which HE chooses to make right, the shambles that are my upside down world, I will trust in HIM, for HIS word says that HE works all things for good. Even though there are fleeting moments of panic, GOD has proven HIMSELF faithful over and over! And so I continue in this journey of trusting in GOD'S will-- FOR THE COMING JOY IS INCOMPARABLE!
Father: May we rejoice evermore and may we give you thanks in and for every single moment of our lives! Father may I be able to recognize, that no matter the circumstance or joy or the pain, that it is YOUR perfect will for me! Teach me Father, in everything to give thanks for YOU are in control and therefore, i need not try to be.
1 Thes 5:16-18
" Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Sometimes when we find ourselves surrounded in circumstances that are so completely beyond our control, we find ourselves at a total loss for what to do, how to act, react, and what to say. I have found myself there a time or two in my journey. It is such an overwhelming feeling of utter chaos and loss. Life will never return to normalcy, and at that precise moment it feels as if peace will never again be known by you.
It is painful, I know, to reach down and pull yourself up by your boot straps, as they say. First of all do I have boot straps and second of all, how on earth am I expected to find them? Have you ever asked yourself that question? How? How? and How again? How can I go on when my heart has been ripped out of my body and torn to shreds, and then somehow I am expected to shove those shreds back inside and function as the WIFE, MOTHER, FRIEND etc. that I am. Oh my, yes we hurt, but oh my what a pity party some of us can throw. Yes my heart is in pieces, yes, life will never be the same, and yes I hurt a very real and very deep agonizing pain, that always lives as a dull ache of wanting and missing that very vital part of me.
And while I am wallowing in my self pity and blubbering my wants and needs to GOD. By the way, I am HIS princess and yes I blubber to HIM, for HE is my father and HE loves me even with all my blubber, and my teary, swollen red eyes! I love climbing into HIS lap because then HE wraps HIS arms around me and HE gently reminds me . . . . .
I know what you mean, I know what you feel, I recognize that pain! I felt the same way when my son died on that cross!
HE reminds me that it was then that HIS son looked out across time and saw me and my loved ones and you and your loved ones and HE decided then and there that HE would die for us! All of us. Whether we deserved it or not, the gift was given!
So my FATHER whispers in my ear. . .TRUST ME, for you and the ones you hurt for were born in my thoughts. I know your beginning and I know your end! I have ordered your steps, your stumbles and even those races that you win and those that you lose- I AM! And therefore I am all that you need.
Until the time in which HE chooses to make right, the shambles that are my upside down world, I will trust in HIM, for HIS word says that HE works all things for good. Even though there are fleeting moments of panic, GOD has proven HIMSELF faithful over and over! And so I continue in this journey of trusting in GOD'S will-- FOR THE COMING JOY IS INCOMPARABLE!
Father: May we rejoice evermore and may we give you thanks in and for every single moment of our lives! Father may I be able to recognize, that no matter the circumstance or joy or the pain, that it is YOUR perfect will for me! Teach me Father, in everything to give thanks for YOU are in control and therefore, i need not try to be.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Galations 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Hi there, my name is Carolina and for some reason I am being called to blog. I am not certain why, but I do know that there is ONE who knows why, and I will obey.
I am new, and really at this moment have no idea exactly what it is that I am doing, but God says that HE honors them that honor HIM. That is my greatest desire! I want my mind and my life to be so fixed on God and the Heavenlies, (I may have just created my own word, I am good at that. Lol) That I have no desire to focus on a future on this earth. My family and I have based our lives on living the exchange life in Galations 2:20. Won't you join me on this journey of promise?
I hope to be a blessing to all who may read my posts. Join me and let us walk into the heavenlies together!
You may also read a dear friend of mines blog, she loves the Lord and is a pleasure to read! You can find Jenny @http://sunflowersundays.blogspot.com/2013/01/minty-minerals-toothpaste-updated-recipe.htm
Pray for me as we embark on this new journey of promise. I will pray for you as well, and I will pray that God may give me the words that will be a blessing and comfort to you, my readers.
Thank you,
Carolina
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Hi there, my name is Carolina and for some reason I am being called to blog. I am not certain why, but I do know that there is ONE who knows why, and I will obey.
I am new, and really at this moment have no idea exactly what it is that I am doing, but God says that HE honors them that honor HIM. That is my greatest desire! I want my mind and my life to be so fixed on God and the Heavenlies, (I may have just created my own word, I am good at that. Lol) That I have no desire to focus on a future on this earth. My family and I have based our lives on living the exchange life in Galations 2:20. Won't you join me on this journey of promise?
I hope to be a blessing to all who may read my posts. Join me and let us walk into the heavenlies together!
You may also read a dear friend of mines blog, she loves the Lord and is a pleasure to read! You can find Jenny @http://sunflowersundays.blogspot.com/2013/01/minty-minerals-toothpaste-updated-recipe.htm
Pray for me as we embark on this new journey of promise. I will pray for you as well, and I will pray that God may give me the words that will be a blessing and comfort to you, my readers.
Thank you,
Carolina
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