One of the most challenging lessons I have learned through my walk with Christ, is learning to trust Him. Learning to trust that He has my best interest at heart and doesn't won't me to fall.
As a sinner there are times the enemy wants me to believe differently. Have you ever felt like good things happen to everyone but you? Have you ever watched someone else excellent and question why it wasn't you? Although God's word says we shouldn't be jealous of our neighbors the fact is we all are. That's where God's grace comes in. Trusting God doesn't come over night either, the more you grow in your faith the more you learn to trust Him. In fact most of us will trust a complete strangers more than we trust our Heavenly Father.
Noone is spared from the trials life will bring, but how we react to those trials say alot about who we are. Lately I've been under alot of stress worrying about the months to come, but I hear God in His word. Jeremiah 29:11 reassures that God wants to prosper us not harm us. Stay focused on Christ, He will get you through.
God Bless
GAIL
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Friday, November 20, 2015
Why?
I can't count the many times I have asked God, "why"? Why did that shirt I wanted so bad go off sale, why did that guy slam on his breaks, why do my children enjoy giving me grey hair, why do I always have to take a step back when I think I'm finally ahead.
Living with CRPS I have faced depression head on. My husband and I went from a two income family to a one income family. Our debt began to empower us and soon we were robbing Peter to pay paul. The outside world was fading. I didn't know how to be a stay at home mom, and every time a bill collector called, I heard, "this is all your fault" playing over and over in my head like an annoying Justin Bieber song. I began to consider if my family would be better off with out me, and soon the why questions became a daily part of my prayers. Why me,Lord, why won't you heal me, why this and why that.
I also suffer from PTSD and anxiety, and the more depressed I became the more anxious I became.
One day God said, "Gail why do you always ask me the wrong Why question?" Of course here I am like a lunatic talking to God wondering well which why question is the right one? Then it hit me.
Before we can ever understand our worth we need to ask, " God, why did you send your only son to die for me?" We know God's word says so we can have everlasting life. But have you ever gone into your closet, closed out the world and asked God, why He sent His son to die for you?
You see God is our Heavenly Father and he loves us more than even the one who spent hours pushing us out.
The Bible says we are to not be anxious but come to God with everything in prayer. Do you know I spend a lot of time talking to God about silly stuff. But it helps my anxiety. My husband says I talk alot especially when I haven't had social contact with a woman in a while, can't you just imagine God on the other end? I can, He sitting there listening to every word. Cause I'm doing what He prescribed, coming to Him with all that worries me or makes me anxious.
If your anxious about anything, talk to Him. Prayer is simply a phone call, a twitter feed, an instagram update, a Facebook post. He doesn't care what you are wearing, where you are, or what you're doing, He just wants you to talk to him.
When we find ourselves talking more with God we start to focus less on what troubles our minds. Tweet him today. :)
Blessings
GAIL
Living with CRPS I have faced depression head on. My husband and I went from a two income family to a one income family. Our debt began to empower us and soon we were robbing Peter to pay paul. The outside world was fading. I didn't know how to be a stay at home mom, and every time a bill collector called, I heard, "this is all your fault" playing over and over in my head like an annoying Justin Bieber song. I began to consider if my family would be better off with out me, and soon the why questions became a daily part of my prayers. Why me,Lord, why won't you heal me, why this and why that.
I also suffer from PTSD and anxiety, and the more depressed I became the more anxious I became.
One day God said, "Gail why do you always ask me the wrong Why question?" Of course here I am like a lunatic talking to God wondering well which why question is the right one? Then it hit me.
Before we can ever understand our worth we need to ask, " God, why did you send your only son to die for me?" We know God's word says so we can have everlasting life. But have you ever gone into your closet, closed out the world and asked God, why He sent His son to die for you?
You see God is our Heavenly Father and he loves us more than even the one who spent hours pushing us out.
The Bible says we are to not be anxious but come to God with everything in prayer. Do you know I spend a lot of time talking to God about silly stuff. But it helps my anxiety. My husband says I talk alot especially when I haven't had social contact with a woman in a while, can't you just imagine God on the other end? I can, He sitting there listening to every word. Cause I'm doing what He prescribed, coming to Him with all that worries me or makes me anxious.
If your anxious about anything, talk to Him. Prayer is simply a phone call, a twitter feed, an instagram update, a Facebook post. He doesn't care what you are wearing, where you are, or what you're doing, He just wants you to talk to him.
When we find ourselves talking more with God we start to focus less on what troubles our minds. Tweet him today. :)
Blessings
GAIL
Friday, November 13, 2015
The beauty of being refined.
Isaiah 48:9-11
"For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, And for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off. "Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. "For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another
Every relationship we are in undertakes some form of hardship. Whether it be that of a personal one oreason one of a working relationship. Regardless, when our relationships are able to withstand those trials the stronger our bond becomes.
When we look at marriage, trials come often in the forms of bills, work, children, temptation and so forth. But when we are able to rise above those trials the stronger our marriage becomes. The depth of that bond is determined by the binder. If God is not the ties that bind, eventually the knot begins to wither and fray and the bond is broken.
Like a marriage our relationship with God is strengthened by our trials, by the refinement of our devotion and His devotion to us. It's easy to love through the good times, how much more amazing is that love when we can excellent through the difficult times. God needs to know we are there for Him through thick and thin. We know He is there for us, so like our last lesson, we need to be rejoicing in our trials as they allow us to grow. Our Potter has shaped us and made us and when we have stood the test of times He refines us to a beauty like we've never seen.
Blessings
Gail
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Why Does God Hate Me?
Have you ever asked the question, "Why does God hate me"? Throughout my younger adult life I seemed to have asked this question almost on a daily basis. Growing up we didn't have what some would label as the finer things in life. My mother was a single mom who struggled to take care of 3 children on her own while making 5.00 an hour working at the school district. I was the only girl and I longed for my mothers attention. Eventually I left home at the age of 15 and became pregnant at the age of 17.
Although I loved God deeply my relationship with Him wasn't as strong as my love for Him. I found myself going through trial after trial and it seemed that no matter how hard I tried, no matter how good of a person I thought I was it seemed hard times remained on my door step. Eventually I began to believe that God loved everyone but me. I began to believe that I must have done something so bad in my lifetime that He could never forgive me. This only came about after years of trying to worship God the way others did, craving and feeding off of those who I admired, yet I just didn't feel that awe shattering love everyone so deeply spoke of. Why? The only conclusion was God hates me.
It wasn't until well into my adult years that I shared my pain with my mother. A woman who had raised us to know God. A woman who loves God passionately. I could see the pain in her eyes as I told her and not just a pain for me but a pain for her God that His child could think that He hated her.
It was something she said that stayed with me from then on out and I began to understand that God doesn't hate me.
Yesterday we spoke about appreciating the trials we go through because they build us up for God's glory. Today I want to talk about the Potter.
A potter takes clay and with wet hands he refines it, molds it, shapes it, and when it's just like the creator wants it, the potter then bakes it, shines it and then the clay is now a beautiful piece of art work. Isaiah 64:8 says,
"Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."
The Lord sent Jeremiah a message and told Jeremiah, "Go down to the potters house." Jeremiah talks about how he went and he saw the potter molding and shaping the clay, when the clay had something wrong with it, the potter started all over again, until he got the clay exactly as he wanted it. The Lord told Jeremiah,
"Family of Israel, you know that I can do the same thing with you. You are like the clay in the potter's hands, and I am the potter. There may come a time when I will speak about a nation or a kingdom that I will pull up by its roots or tear down and destroy it. But if the people of that nation change their hearts and lives and stop doing evil things, I will change my mind and not bring on them disaster I planned. There may come another time when I speak about a nation that I will build up or plant. But if I see that nation doing evil things and not obeying me, I will think again about the good I had planned to do for them.(Jeremiah 18:6-10)
The Lord goes on to say, " I am the potter preparing troubles for you and making plans against you. So stop doing the evil things you are doing. Each person must change and start doing good." (Jeremiah 18: 11)
What if we looked at our lives in this context. God is shaping us, every time we step away from Him, when we turn our backs away from His plans for our live, He begins again. He, like a potter, wants us to shine in His glory. A potter proudly displays his work and so to does the Lord want to boast about you. But when we turn from Him our trials become like cracks in the clay, and the potter must start again. What's the difference between God and a potter? Imagine if you took a pottery class. You're working and molding and just when you have it almost ready to be refined, the clay pot collapses and you must begin again. How frustrating that would be for us! Yet, God, in all His grace and mercy, doesn't become frustrated. He loves us so much and He continues to work on us, smiling, humming hymns, (or country music! ha!) and keeps on working until He has us just right and ready to be refined. How awesome is that!!!
Think about your life, what is in your life that is causing you to fall and God to restart? Are you following God or the world. God doesn't hate us, He loves us more than we can ever imagine, when we cry, He cries, when we laugh, He laughs. I encourage you, if you are facing trials, to reach out to God today, ask Him to mold you and make you, ask Him to show you areas of your life that are displeasing to Him. When and only when we become one with God and allow Him to mold us, can we become who He created us to be. You don't have to go through hard times. You don't have to cry yourself to sleep, you don't have to take another drink. Our Father wants to give you all His riches and glory. Not our will Father but Yours!!
I pray who ever is reading this finds comfort in their circumstances, Father. I pray for those who are struggling and feeling just as I did, that we are unloved. Lord, we know those thoughts are not from you but from the enemy. We know the enemy is the father of lies and we know, Lord that he wants to steal and rob of us of the glory you want to rain upon us. Father, I lift every hurting heart to you Lord, I pray that if there is someone is reading this and doesn't know you that they will reach out to build that relationship with you, Father. Father I pray for hurting hearts, for wounded souls, for crying eyes, and for those who are hurting emotionally. I speak your word over them, Lord and praise you for the miracles you are working! In Christ precious name I pray, Amen!
If you don't know Christ and wish to get to know Him more, I invite you to talk to me today and I would be honored to show you what a relationship with Christ is like. God bless! and remember, God doesn't hate you!!
Blessings
Gail
Although I loved God deeply my relationship with Him wasn't as strong as my love for Him. I found myself going through trial after trial and it seemed that no matter how hard I tried, no matter how good of a person I thought I was it seemed hard times remained on my door step. Eventually I began to believe that God loved everyone but me. I began to believe that I must have done something so bad in my lifetime that He could never forgive me. This only came about after years of trying to worship God the way others did, craving and feeding off of those who I admired, yet I just didn't feel that awe shattering love everyone so deeply spoke of. Why? The only conclusion was God hates me.
It wasn't until well into my adult years that I shared my pain with my mother. A woman who had raised us to know God. A woman who loves God passionately. I could see the pain in her eyes as I told her and not just a pain for me but a pain for her God that His child could think that He hated her.
It was something she said that stayed with me from then on out and I began to understand that God doesn't hate me.
Yesterday we spoke about appreciating the trials we go through because they build us up for God's glory. Today I want to talk about the Potter.
A potter takes clay and with wet hands he refines it, molds it, shapes it, and when it's just like the creator wants it, the potter then bakes it, shines it and then the clay is now a beautiful piece of art work. Isaiah 64:8 says,
"Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."
The Lord sent Jeremiah a message and told Jeremiah, "Go down to the potters house." Jeremiah talks about how he went and he saw the potter molding and shaping the clay, when the clay had something wrong with it, the potter started all over again, until he got the clay exactly as he wanted it. The Lord told Jeremiah,
"Family of Israel, you know that I can do the same thing with you. You are like the clay in the potter's hands, and I am the potter. There may come a time when I will speak about a nation or a kingdom that I will pull up by its roots or tear down and destroy it. But if the people of that nation change their hearts and lives and stop doing evil things, I will change my mind and not bring on them disaster I planned. There may come another time when I speak about a nation that I will build up or plant. But if I see that nation doing evil things and not obeying me, I will think again about the good I had planned to do for them.(Jeremiah 18:6-10)
The Lord goes on to say, " I am the potter preparing troubles for you and making plans against you. So stop doing the evil things you are doing. Each person must change and start doing good." (Jeremiah 18: 11)
What if we looked at our lives in this context. God is shaping us, every time we step away from Him, when we turn our backs away from His plans for our live, He begins again. He, like a potter, wants us to shine in His glory. A potter proudly displays his work and so to does the Lord want to boast about you. But when we turn from Him our trials become like cracks in the clay, and the potter must start again. What's the difference between God and a potter? Imagine if you took a pottery class. You're working and molding and just when you have it almost ready to be refined, the clay pot collapses and you must begin again. How frustrating that would be for us! Yet, God, in all His grace and mercy, doesn't become frustrated. He loves us so much and He continues to work on us, smiling, humming hymns, (or country music! ha!) and keeps on working until He has us just right and ready to be refined. How awesome is that!!!
Think about your life, what is in your life that is causing you to fall and God to restart? Are you following God or the world. God doesn't hate us, He loves us more than we can ever imagine, when we cry, He cries, when we laugh, He laughs. I encourage you, if you are facing trials, to reach out to God today, ask Him to mold you and make you, ask Him to show you areas of your life that are displeasing to Him. When and only when we become one with God and allow Him to mold us, can we become who He created us to be. You don't have to go through hard times. You don't have to cry yourself to sleep, you don't have to take another drink. Our Father wants to give you all His riches and glory. Not our will Father but Yours!!
I pray who ever is reading this finds comfort in their circumstances, Father. I pray for those who are struggling and feeling just as I did, that we are unloved. Lord, we know those thoughts are not from you but from the enemy. We know the enemy is the father of lies and we know, Lord that he wants to steal and rob of us of the glory you want to rain upon us. Father, I lift every hurting heart to you Lord, I pray that if there is someone is reading this and doesn't know you that they will reach out to build that relationship with you, Father. Father I pray for hurting hearts, for wounded souls, for crying eyes, and for those who are hurting emotionally. I speak your word over them, Lord and praise you for the miracles you are working! In Christ precious name I pray, Amen!
If you don't know Christ and wish to get to know Him more, I invite you to talk to me today and I would be honored to show you what a relationship with Christ is like. God bless! and remember, God doesn't hate you!!
Blessings
Gail
Monday, November 9, 2015
Who am I? That the Lord of all the earth...
Recently someone asked me, "Who am I"? and as I tried to answer this question I found myself stumbling for words to explain who I am. For years I would have answered that question with, "I'm a nurse" but after becoming disabled I have found I am unable to answer that question.
Then I realized being a nurse isn't who I am. It's merely just a label to describe what I do. It isn't me, it doesn't describe who I am as a person, as an individual, or tell you anything about my character.
Galatians 3:26 says we are God's children through Christ. This is Who I am. First and foremost. My actions, thoughts and words should reflect who I am in all I say and do. However, my actions didn't always reflect this way of life or who I say I am today, as you will learn as we journey together through this blog. Together we will learn how to overcome some tough obstacles in life. We will embark on a journey of tears and laughter, praise and worship, and growth in our faith.
Life will throw us curve balls and darkness will do it's best to encompass us but we don't have to give in. Let me show you techniques I have learned through my trials so you can succeed in life and in your walk with God. Life isn't always easy and God never said it would be, matter of fact in James 1:2-4 we are reminded to be thankful for our trials,
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4) (NIV)
Come with me, walk with me, laugh with me, and if you can't laugh eat a snickers! (oh and share one with me!)
Blessings
Gail!
Then I realized being a nurse isn't who I am. It's merely just a label to describe what I do. It isn't me, it doesn't describe who I am as a person, as an individual, or tell you anything about my character.
Galatians 3:26 says we are God's children through Christ. This is Who I am. First and foremost. My actions, thoughts and words should reflect who I am in all I say and do. However, my actions didn't always reflect this way of life or who I say I am today, as you will learn as we journey together through this blog. Together we will learn how to overcome some tough obstacles in life. We will embark on a journey of tears and laughter, praise and worship, and growth in our faith.
Life will throw us curve balls and darkness will do it's best to encompass us but we don't have to give in. Let me show you techniques I have learned through my trials so you can succeed in life and in your walk with God. Life isn't always easy and God never said it would be, matter of fact in James 1:2-4 we are reminded to be thankful for our trials,
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4) (NIV)
Come with me, walk with me, laugh with me, and if you can't laugh eat a snickers! (oh and share one with me!)
Blessings
Gail!
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