"I Was Not Made For Yesterday!!"

Oh Father,
We have been made to praise you. (Psalm 148:4-6)

But, there are days when I awaken,
and before my feet hit the ground,
I am completely overwhelmed, with thoughts of yesterday...
While thoughts of the coming day...are lining up too.
just clamoring for attention.
I can feel worn out, before I even get started. 
Sometimes, everything
just seems,
like a sad repeat of yesterday.

But that is so not!!...what You!!.. intended Lord..

Sometimes I do forget..that you have so much more in store...

All along you had much more in mind, for your children..
(Jeremiah 29:11)

Your Word is so abundantly clear..

I have within me,.....
the ability to take every! thought! captive!! (2 Corinthians 10:5)
and hold them,...each and every one....up to the piercing light of truth.

Lord, I know it ultimately begins..
between You and me.
It seems when I take my thoughts, to the Light of Your Word, things start to make sense.
Amazingly, my fears and worries when shared with another who is seeking hard after Your ways,
lose their power when exposed to the light of trusted fellowship.....It's amazing...

When I finally get honest with You, You set me free.

Father, if what I am thinking, is in not in line with Your Word...
Show me how to throw it far...out of my own reach...
And Lord, if I am too weak to lift my arms..to surrender these thoughts to you...

then Father, I will simply offer them to You...

Humbly, one by one, again and again, over and over.
They are yours for the taking.

And then....
I will wait,
I will wait !!.. in anticipation..,
for your gentleness,..to work within my heart.
Because I know You will...

You have loved me through so much..
Even when I had no idea...
I'm just so very glad..
You were never willing to leave me, the way You found me.

Lord, if I haven't positioned myself to receive your peace,
if I have aligned myself, with anyone but You or Your way.
Forgive me Father..and let me start fresh.
May I, determine to take even the smallest step towards You this day.

The old ways of thinking must be replaced with truth..

Father God, I know with certainty...
I was not made for yesterday...

I am made to live today!!!...

I have been made in detail, to reflect the intricacy of your work..(Psalm 139:13)
When I realize this..
that I have been made..
by You and for You...
I'm literally, relieved!!!
I am not by own. (1 Corinthians 6:19,20)
I am filled with hope, instead of regret...
I am compelled to lift my arms before you and wave in surrender...
Lord, I can no longer wait, to "feel" like praising You.
Instead, I will cling to the truth of who You say I am,
and praise You through the storms of life.

Lord...take my yesterday..today and my tomorrows...
Be Lord!! (be in charge!!)
over those moments that are..

or the ones that have passed
or are yet to come...
All I have is now.
Please, be my God..take every thought..
Hold them captive to Your truth and light,
so I might finally be free,..
to really live.

Please, be me my God...my risen King...
over all my little moments, that add up to become today.

I give you the here and now..
I give you this moment..and yes Lord..

I am Yours...
Doing things my way..Father,
really never has worked....
Instead of filling my mind with the world,

I will find ways to invite You in!!  


Application: 
When is the last time you sat still before him?
Write out a prayer, with your own words, and
*just talk to Him.
He loves you with an unfailing love, and He finds delight in you (Psalm 147:11)
If you feel like a disappointment to Him..(throw that one far, far away..because it's just not true)

If you are having trouble "feeling" His presence or direction.
*Position yourself to hear Him.
For example;
*actively seek out a place to worship
*get out a Bible, or look up on the internet these scriptures that were referenced.

Remember:
He will never force any of us to praise Him,
or to spend time with Him.
or to open our heart to a trusted friend or counselor.
He just isn't like that.
Instead, He patiently waits to meet you,...right where you are...
Lovingly showing each of us right from wrong....so we can finally live free.

James 1:22-25
But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. 
Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. (NLT)

LISTEN TO THIS POWERFUL SONG, I ASSURE YOU, YOU WILL BE BLESSED

http://youtu.be/FvU0i3gvtxc

photography: courtesy of Jennifer Bullard

"Something So Simple"

I spend a LOT of time on airplanes..However, I don't always have the time to longingly gaze out the windows at the horizon. Today's flight was different.

Nice..

Relaxed..

I had time...

As I peered out, I could see nothing but a thick white blanket of fluffy clouds laying folded ever so neatly below.

Solid..

Thick...

Appearing impenetrable...

Nothing but a clear, azure sky pushing it firmly into place...

Beyond the blue skies, the sun glistened on the tip of the wing...reflecting a wondrous beauty never to be seen with the human eye. 

The moment was stunning amidst the chilling temperatures and falling snow, just beneath the surface that I could see....

A moment of warmth and hope amid the drudgery of our daily lives.

It is good to remember...

Yet, sometimes we forget,... all the wonderful blessings God has chosen to bless us with.
We don't mean to take it for granted..

We just do...

I think it is important to be very diligent in our thinking

It is important to measure the thoughts we allow into our minds. For surely these thoughts will grow and become the essence of our future selves...

So, today as you look outside, and if it is a 'trudge through your day'....'kind of day'...

Remember, it hasn't always been this way...

Keep your head up, recall your blessings

"Name them one by one..."

Soon your heart will follow... 

To a place where the sun glistens

And where you find yourself soaring between the clear blue skies and layers of fluffy clouds..

When you choose to remember all the wonder...

It changes the way you see,...all the things you wonder about...

Psalm 139:8-10

"If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
 even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast."  

'What Leads To Peace'

Hanging on a balance on our screen door, is a green leafy wreath peppered delicately with little purple flowers. Across the center of the wreathe is accented the word "RELAX"... in matching bold colors.
I placed it there as a reminder to slow down and breathe and to 'live in the moment'.

I often catch myself ,....thinking way ahead of the...'moment', or drudging, wearily.. in the 'if only's' or 'what if's' of yesterday!!

Sometimes, we forget don't we?
Always three steps ahead of ourselves or reliving a past that cannot change.

So what is the remedy?..Where is the cure for a heart...that is aching for the peace that so often eludes us?

I believe... like the journey that begins with a single step...Our trek toward freedom in this life begins with a single thought.

The Scriptures in 2 Corinthians chapter 10...(in the second part of verse 5) instructs us....
to..'take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.'

The beginning of our peace of mind,.....
is borne out of the knowledge that 'every thought' must be made,
to be held captive unto Christ.

I can remember reading a book by Stormie O'Martian years ago. She gently reminded the reader that just because a thought comes into your mind, does not mean it should be entertained as truth.
What a 'lightbulb' moment for me. At that time in my life, I worried a lot, and let go of a little. That one statement began a transformation in the renewing of my mind.

Sweet relief...and peace..... soon followed, as I examined my heart and mind. I began to weigh my thoughts carefully against the Word of God and who HE said I was...
My fears of the unknown or concerns over the past eventually came to rest at the foot of the cross.
And, It all began with a single thought resonating in my mind...

I know now, it is a willful obedience that leads to peace.

The past is gone the future is yet to be seen.

Choose to live in "this" moment and RELAX..

For HE really is, the only One....
who will...... always hold every moment and every single life.

"And the PEACE of God,
which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things.  
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—
put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:7-9