God Will Never Unfriend Me

Lately I've been having some issues about not feeling accepted by certain people and feeling harshly judged by others but I do not want to go into details about those things.  Aside from all that I logged onto Facebook today and took notice to the fact that one of my nieces had "unfriended" me.  I messaged her and she said her boyfriend went onto her phone and deleted everyone.  I immediately knew this was false because I could see she had over 1,000 friends on there, including all of our family.  I remember when I noticed when the amount of my friends had dropped by 1 but I didn't put much effort into trying to figure out who it was.  Come on, I have a life!  Today I discovered it was her and it had me confused and a bit hurt.  I've been "unfriended" before, not just on Facebook but in real life as well.  Plenty of times.  I've known people who have looked me in the eye and told me how much they cared for me and then found out they had the very opposite things to say about me behind my back.  This happens often.  It's made me lose the ability to trust anyone.  I've often wondered how anyone could be so dishonest and disheartening to others, then again, I haven't been perfect in how I have treated others at times.  We're human.  We have emotions.  We make mistakes.  We get hurt but we also hurt others, intentionally or not.

So many times in my life I've allowed people to get close to me and believed their words of how they like me and trusted that their motives were good, only to find out that they weren't who they said they were.  I wouldn't doubt that every person I've ever met has said at least one negative thing about me when I'm not around.  Here's the thing, their opinion doesn't matter.  Nope.  It doesn't.  I don't wake up in the morning and live my life for them so their judgements mean nothing.

The opinion of Jesus is what matters.

God created this world for His purpose.  He created me for His purpose. Am I living my life fully and completely for Him and the way He desires me to live it?  Those are the things I need to worry about.

Honestly, it's taken me a long time to feel this way.  My husband has the ability to brush things off his shoulders and never makes an issue out of anything that someone else says about him.  When I was hurt over some comments others had made his response was, "it doesn't matter what a person who doesn't even live with us thinks."  Since he said that I started praying to God to help me through this.  I can't change the opinions of others but I can change how I handle them.  When someone says or does something hurtful I'm going to feel that sting of pain for awhile but then I'm going to remind myself that it doesn't matter.  I'm going to focus only on the One who created me.  The One who has never given up on me.  The One who promised to never give up on me and will hold onto that promise.  The One who would never hit the "unfriend" button.  People will make promises and break them.  God makes promises and keeps them.

It's true!  Who could love you more than Jesus loves you?  No one!  So, why should the opinions of others matter so much to us?  They shouldn't.  Having this mind set has been an amazing weight off my shoulder and really helps.  I thank God for his everlasting love. 

Will You Let HIM In?

Last Sunday at church we had a guest speaker.  She is a woman who regularly attends the church and hosts a bible study group there.  The pastor asked her to give the message for that day.  She did an excellent job.  It's definitely noticed that she is a woman of GOD and knows so much.  So much that I have yet to learn but hopefully will as I grow older.

In her message she talked about how GOD made this world perfect and HE intended for man to be perfect as well, but HE also gave us free will.  The will to choose to live how we desire without a certain way being forced upon us.  HE didn't create us to be puppets; moving and making us do what HE wants.  HE gives us the choice.  Isn't that amazing?  HE created this world and all that's in it for us.  For man.

"Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." -- Genesis 1:26 (NIV)

When GOD created the world HE created it to be perfect and wonderful.  When HE created man HE intended for man to be perfect just like HIM.  However, Satan came and created sin.  When GOD told Adam not to eat any fruit from the tree of good and evil Satan came and said it was okay to take fruit from that tree (Genesis 3).  Adam decided to listen to Satan instead of GOD and that is why sin was brought to man.  We are all born with sin.  Because Adam had the free will to choose which path to take he chose the path to sin.  And here we are.  Living in a world filled with sin created by man with sin.  Yet, whenever we find trouble and whenever we see disaster in the world we say, "Where are you GOD?" and we say, "If there is a GOD why does HE allow this to happen?"  

Yes GOD has allowed all of this to happen because of the free will HE has given us.  However, GOD also wants to take it away from us.  HE's just not going to automatically come into our lives and help us.  HE's not going to take away our burdens and frustrations without us coming to HIM first.  We can't expect GOD to take away our problems without us going to HIM in prayer.  

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears MY voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with ME." -- Revelation 3:20 (NIV).  

HE's there, waiting for us, but HE won't come to us unless we allow HIM to.  HE wants to hear from us and to help us.  HE wants to take away our burdens and sorrows.  HE wants to be included in every moment of our lives.  HE wants to deliver us from the sin and evil that lives inside us and around us.  

I hear people say, "If there is a GOD then why does HE allow cancer and other diseases?  Why does HE allow sadness and anger?"  Again, GOD created the world to be perfect.  It was Satan who came and convinced man to destroy that perfection.  Then the LORD said to follow HIM and HE will "deliver you from all your enemies" -- 2 Kings 17:39 (NIV).  

GOD gave us a choice and although man chose the way of sin HE still loves us and wants to deliver us from that evil.  It's so easy for anyone, even those completely devoted to their faith, to fall to sin.  I can't even say how many times I've done so and continue to do so.  I'm not perfect, yet GOD still loves me and HE still waits for me to let HIM in.  HE's also waiting for you to let HIM in.  Have you?  Will you?  

After hearing the message on Sunday I felt compelled to share it on my blog.  I can't take all the credit for everything I have written here today.  It just spoke deeply to my heart.  It seems GOD has a way of speaking to me through these messages from church, especially lately.  This one, however, HE felt it was necessary for me to share as well.

Easter Is ...

To me Easter is so much more than dying eggs, hunting eggs, seeing the Easter Bunny and getting a visit from him on that Sunday morning and spending time with family ... however; those are the things we do each year to make it fun and exciting.

To me Easter is about the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is when Jesus died for our sins.  He did it because he loved us that much.  "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13.  It's just so amazing to think about.  Jesus was beaten and hung on a cross for our transgressions.  He did all of this for me ... for you ... for everyone.  Yet, are we giving enough back to Him?  I often wonder if I'm doing enough to show my appreciation.  

So on to talking about our Easter.  It was a good one.  The day before my husband took the kids to an egg hunt at our local community center.  I had a doctor appointment and couldn't attend.  Then our neighbors invited the kids to a little egg hunt they set up in their own backyard.  We also dyed eggs that day too ... our tradition, of course.  The next day was Easter.  We went to my father-in-law's church.  We regularly attend a different church but my father-in-law invited us along to his service.  My kids are used to going to Sunday School during the service at our church where they can run around and play.  So having to sit still for the entire hour was a challenge, especially for the three year old.  Once she spotted where the toy room was it was all over for her.  That's where she wanted to be.  After the service they had an egg hunt set up.  The kids had fun.  Then we headed home for lunch and then went to my parents' house where my oldest sister and her family were visiting.  We all had a ham dinner prepared by my sister.  I brought along dessert.  It was a great day spent with loved ones.

But we never fail to teach our kids the reason why we celebrate Easter.

Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Friday Favorites - "My Redeemer Lives"

In an effort to keep this blog going I decided to come up with some random things to write about each week/month.  I've been pondering some ideas and here is one of them.  It's called Friday Favorites.  Every Friday I will post a topic about something I like; whether it be a recipe for a favorite meal, a special keepsake, and well, anything I'd consider a "favorite."

Since it's Good Friday and Easter is in a few days I thought it would be perfect to start with a song that is perfect for this holiday. 

My Redeemer Lives

                by Nicole C Mullens

Who taught the sun
Where to stand in the morning
And who taught the ocean
You can only come this far
And who showed the moon
Where to hide till evening
Whose words alone can
Catch a falling star

Well I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
All of creation testifies
This life within me cries
I know my Redeemer lives
Yeah

The very same God
That spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary
The worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands
That hold me when I'm broken
They conquer death to bring me victory

Now I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I know my Redeemer

He lives to take away my shame
And He lives forever I'll proclaim
That the payment for my sin
Was the precious life He gave
But now He's alive and there's an empty grave

And I know my Redeemer, He lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry

I know my Redeemer
I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
I know that, I know that, I know that, I know that, I know
I know my Redeemer lives
(Because He lives I can face tomorrow)
He lives, I know, I know, I know.
He lives
(I spoke with Him this morning.)

He lives.
(The tomb is empty)
He lives.
(I'm gotta tell everybody)

Treat Others With Kindess

 "Do to others as you would like them to do to you" -- Luke 6:31

That was one of my son's memory verses from Vacation Bible School this summer.  He repeats this verse often, especially to his little sister when she's not so nice to him.  Recently after she had smacked him he said, "Treat others as you would want to be treated so that means if you hit me I have to hit you."

Okay, so he may not completely understand what that verse means entirely but we're working on it ... and no he didn't hit his sister back, I made sure of it.

 

I certainly want my children to understand that in order to receive kindness from others, as well as love, honesty and respect, then they have to give it first.  Even if others aren't so kind to them I would love for them to understand the importance of being kind anyway.  This is something that has been laying on my heart a lot recently.  As I thought about what I want to see in my children something hit me hard.  What I'm asking my children to be is something I have failed at many times for myself.  Have I always been kind to others?  No.  Have I always shown others respect?  No.  Have I always been honest?  Certainly not.   So how can I expect my children to be what I haven't been?  What kind of example have I been setting for them?  

I do not believe in the do as I say and not as I do approach to parenting.  I believe that children will become a reflection of how they were raised.  Give a kid junk food all the time and lots of television watching and that's the life they grow accustomed to.  Give them healthy food and make sure they are active and that's how they will grow up to be.  Talk badly about others and show disrespect and that's how they will treat others.  Show them kindness and love throughout everything and they will learn to be the same.  Hillary Clinton once said, "It takes a village to raise a child."  I certainly disagree.  It takes parenting ... proper parenting.  Yes, the people who our children grow up with or spend time with will have a huge influence on their lives but it starts at home and how we handle every situation our children are faced with is what matters the most.  

Last week after getting my son and his neighbor friend off of the school bus I sat on the front step with them and we started talking about different things.  We watched as the new girl in our neighborhood also got off the bus and walked to her house.  I haven't met the parents of this new girl yet but I had already spoken to her.  She's a second grader and the family moved here from another state.  The girl is shy and doesn't say very much, at least not to us.  Our friend had said, "I think she has a problem with herself."  I asked what he meant and he said, "You know, I think she has a problem with herself."  My son was watching and listening so I made sure I used this moment as a great opportunity to teach kindness to the both of them.  I responded by saying, "Well, she just moved here from another state and she's probably scared and lonely and I noticed she's shy.  So the best thing we can do is to be nice to her and let her know she is welcomed into our neighborhood.  Let's be a friend to her."  

Again, he said, "I think she has a problem with herself."  

I couldn't seem to change his point of view but I made sure I handled the situation as best as I could and I wanted my son, especially, to learn that being a friend to someone is the best thing we can do.  Throughout or conversation my son seemed to be listening, understanding and nodding his head.  At least I'm getting through to him.  

As I mentioned I certainly haven't been living up to being the kindest person in the world.  In fact, I am known to be pretty outspoken but in a not-so-friendly kind of way.  I've never been one to keep opinions to myself and unfortunately I am not one to speak so nicely at times.  I'm working on it.  I see who I am and know what I need to be.  I know the changes I need to make for myself and not just for myself but for my children.  They are watching and learning.  Showing kindness and love to others is also the best way we can be as Christians and it's exactly how God wants us to be.

Just yesterday I was watching Joyce Meyer and she talked about the topic of being kind towards others.  It was hard for me to listen since my three year old was playing and being loud but the bits and pieces I caught really spoke to my heart and made so much sense.  She said we always need to show kindness towards others and even when we are correcting them we need to do it nicely.  Recently my niece was talking about something that irritated me but instead of biting my tongue or correcting her gently I was abrupt and rude.  My comments left her and my sister feeling hurt.  I wasn't kind at all and even if I believed my viewpoints were true I should have worded myself better and shown more compassion and kindness.  I've since apologized and am working on making sure I handle each and every situation more kindly and appropriately.  I thank God for always giving me these lessons that help me grow wiser.  I just wish I hadn't hurt anyone in the process.  

"A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare." --Proverbs 15:1

"If You Want Me To"

I have been listening to this song on repeat today.  The lyrics remind me that no matter how tough life gets and whatever trials and tests are put in my path I'm not going to be walking through it alone. 

God never promised us an easy life but He promised He would always be there to help us along the way.  It also reminds me that no matter how bad my life gets Jesus is the One who made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross.  Nothing I will ever go through can compare to the sufferings He faced ... and He did it for me, for all of us.

Last week was a tough one for me but with God's help (and my husband's) I got through.  My dad had to have surgery on his shoulder and also on his hand.  With his left arm in a sling and the right hand  bandaged he couldn't do much around the house and he also couldn't take care of my mother who has been pretty helpless since her stroke two years ago.  Since I'm the only other family member in this state I had to help out.  From Thursday until yesterday I stayed with them.  I cooked, cleaned, helped my mother to and from the bathroom, helped her shower and dress and also gave her insulin she needs because of having diabetes.  Whew.  I don't know how my dad does all of that but he's willing to.  We thought we were going to lose my mother after the stroke but God graced her with a second chance and we are all so thankful for that. 

On top of taking care of my parents my daughter had (and still has) a bad case of diarrhea.  Thanks to the stomach bug that hit our home that started a few weeks ago.  Luckily my husband was willing to come by and help when he could and even took the kids home when they had enough of being at Gandma and Grandpa's house.  I know it wasn't easy for my husband, since he's still trying to fully recover from his hip surgeries a few months ago but it was only temporary. 

You know, I never would have guessed that I would someday have to help my mother to get a shower or go to the bathroom.  That's not something any kid usually thinks about.  We've also received news that the clot that caused her stroke is back and all we can do now is watch and hope that no signs of a stroke progresses.  I can't help but ask why she has to go through this but I know God has the answers and He's getting us all through it. 

I also remember back at the age of 13 when my parents said they wanted to move out of New York because the stress of trying to pay the bills was weighing on them financially and emotionally.  It was a hard move and I went through so much for so long.  Back then I questioned the reason why it all happened and felt how unfair it was that my brother and sisters were old enough to stay on Long Island but I wasn't.  There were times after I turned 18 that I wanted to go back to NY but it never worked out that way.  Now I can see the big picture and the reason why God had me stay.  My parents need me.  They may not have needed me back then but they sure need me now and they will need me more and more as the years go on.  I have a better understanding of all this now and it makes me feel thankful. 

"It may not be the way I would have chosen.  When you lead me through a world that's not my home.  But you never said it would be easy.  You only said I'd never go alone ..."

I'm certainly not going through this life alone.  I can feel God's presence with me every step of the way and even though I still don't understand a lot of things I can be certain it's all part of God's miraculous plan. 

Praying For Their Future Spouses

Before I had children I was already praying for them.  I didn't know for sure if I'd end up having children and I didn't know how many or who they would turn out to be but I knew one thing for sure; God had those answers.  He knew my children and had a purpose for them long before they were forming in my womb.  Now I have two kids and I continue to pray for them.  I pray for their health, for their happiness, for their relationship with God, I pray that the Lord would direct me to be the kind of mother He wants me to be so I can raise them to be exactly what He wants them to be.  I have prayed so much over the years on so many topics involving my children but recently I have come to realize that I have failed at something.

I haven't been praying for the relationships they will have with friends and future significant others.

I'm not sure why it hasn't dawned on me until now with just how important it is to pray for the people who will be influences in their lives.  I want my kids to have friends but I want them to have the right kind of friends.  The ones who will build them up, help them succeed, accept them for who they are instead of trying to make them into something they're not and, overall, just be good influences.

I also want the same for the person they marry someday.  I'd love to see them marry someone who is godly; who strives to be a person after God's own heart.  Someone loving, faithful, and devoted to my child in every way possible.  Someone who will have my children's best interest at heart.  Someone who would be a great parent to my grandchildren.  So I've come to the conclusion that praying for my children's future spouses is just as important as praying for my children. 

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

Putting My Trust In God

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight," -- Proverbs 3:11 (NIV)

Lately whenever I pick up my Bible I somehow always seem to go back to this chapter and this verse.  I read it over and over again and the words from this verse linger in my mind.

Trust in the Lord.  With all my heart.  And lean not on my own understanding.  Trusting in God seems like it should be such an easy thing to follow and yet it's always been something I've overlooked.  Luckily I have a God who is understanding ... forgiving ... and always finds a way to remind me.  It's as if He says "Hey I'm here!  Don't worry about anything.  Trust me!" 

I heard those words late into the night after I woke up from a bad dream.  It was a dream about my husband's upcoming surgery.  I'm not going to lie, I've been worried about it.  I know my husband is relieved to finally get this taken care of so he will no longer have to deal with the pain he's been going through for awhile.  I'm happy about that too.  I don't like knowing this sweet man has to go through pain and suffering.  I'm also grateful for medicine and doctors and that they have a way of fixing this problem.  However, since I'm only human I can so easily fall into worry and fear.  Then God reveals Himself to me and assures me it's going to be okay.  "Trust me!" 

 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by giving prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" -- Philippians 4:6-7

I've also been having other issues for a long time in regards to being judged wrongly by others.  Sometimes I do have a tendency of saying or doing something out of anger or even just jokingly.  Again, I am only human.  These people have never understood much about me or why I have acted out in any way I have.  They have never come to me with questions or considered my feelings in the matter.  They have judged me as a person, as a Christian, as a wife and as a mother.  My husband tells me that I shouldn't worry about the views of those who don't even live with us.  I've come to realize that if someone hasn't spent every moment of every day with me then they don't know me.  If they can't read every thought in my mind then they don't know me.  If they haven't asked me what my feelings are towards certain things then they don't know me.  No one knows me like God knows me so He is the only opinion that matters first and foremost.  And so my trust needs to be in Him.  Always.

 

Of course as humans we want to be accepted by other humans.  We want others to see us as good people who do good in life.  We don't want to be judged.  We don't want to be criticized.  We want to be loved by people.  I feel all of those things.  It's human nature.  As important as it may be to have those people in our lives it's more important to understand and believe that God is the one and only opinion who should matter the most.   

It's funny, as I was walking around the house thinking of these things I've been going through I decided to jump on Facebook and in my newsfeed was this:

"God loves you constantly!  You belong to God.  In His eyes you have infinite worth and value.  If you have been rejected or treated badly, don't let resentment build up in your heart.  Keep your eyes on God and follow His instructions.  Always believe what God says about you above your own feelings or what others say about you.  God's opinion is the only one that matters." -- Joyce Meyer.  

Wow!  God really has a way of getting through to me.  The moment I started thinking about the people who have recently hurt me with their harsh words and judgement this quote from Joyce Meyer pops up.  I love when God speaks to me in these ways.  He is so amazing and it's more proof that he exists and hears my prayers and knows my heart.  He knows exactly what I need to hear at the perfect time.   I am grateful for His unfailing love and I need to remember to always trust in Him.  

"Hey I'm here!  Don't worry about anything.  Trust me!"  Thank you God! 

 "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped" -- Psalm 28:7

Am I Giving Enough?

Even though it's cold outside I decided I wanted to get out and do something.  I have ideas of things I want to create and thought the dollar store would be a great place to find what I needed.  So I bundled up the little one and we drove to the store.  I don't get out much so even a simple trip to the dollar store brings me excitement.  Pathetic, I know. 

In the car I turned on my new Duck Dynasty "Duck The Halls" CD.  It was one of my Christmas gifts and I love it.  The songs, mostly traditional Christmas songs, bring me enjoyment.  I must say the Robertson family did an excellent job with all of the music.  I was quite surprised.  As the music played I could hear my two year old in the back singing bits and pieces of Silent Night.  It totally blew me away.  Then she started mumbling something about the baby Jesus.  This really had me thinking ...

I often wonder if I am giving enough of myself to God.  I haven't been as in tuned with my spiritual life as I have been years ago and I'm afraid my lack of showing faith will rub off on my children.  They know God and know who Jesus is.  My son willingly says the "God is great, God is good ..." prayer at the dinner table and sometimes my daughter joins in.  There is a painting of Jesus hanging in our hallway and every night before bed my daughter wants to give him a kiss; although in the last few nights as I carry her to her room she says, "I don't wanna kiss Jesus."  We attend church, but not regularly.  Our most recent reason for being so inconsistent with our attendance is because the little one doesn't sit quietly throughout the hour and refuses to play in the nursery.  Instead of trying we've almost given up and I hate that we've allowed that to happen.

 

I was raised going to church but I was never truly taught who God was and what He wanted from me.  I had been taught that God is there but my life is to be lived for me and I have the free will to do whatever I want to do.  I was never taught about the eternal consequences that would take place if I didn't follow a life for Jesus.  It wasn't until the age of 19 when I met some serious believers, read the Bible and attended Bible studies that I found what the truth was.  I asked God to enter my heart and to forgive me of my sins, I prayed as often as I could, attended different churches with friends and did my best to live a good wholesome life.  I married a God fearing man and the two of us decided we would have a marriage with God as the center.  Let's face it, we have both lacked in doing what we promised.  When my heart felt ready for a baby I prayed and prayed asking God to give me a child if it was in His will.  I promised to raise my child(ren) to know Him and follow Him.  During my first pregnancy I would place my hands around my stomach and prayed for the child.  Then I would hold that infant in my arms and pray as I rocked him to sleep.  Then ...

I don't know what happened but God suddenly fell on my back burner.  Not only would I forget to pray before falling asleep but I would often forget to pray at any point during the day.  This is when attending church became rare and my Bible began to collect dust.  I still had faith and I still believed but I wasn't giving God my all anymore.  I was so consumed in the busyness of life and would forget to pause and give thanks to God.  He was no longer the center of my marriage, my parenting, my daily decision making or anything.  Somehow along the way I became an impatient, easily angered, short-tempered person and it's affecting everyone around me, including my children.  Not good.

As of lately I've been talking to God a lot and telling Him my sorrows.  I've been asking for forgiveness and help.  I have in mind the kind of person I want to be but I'm not there yet.  I don't want to lose my cool when something doesn't go right.  I want to be the mother that not only prays for my children but prays with them.  I also want to pray with my husband and share our spiritual life together as we used to.  I want to remember to thank God for everything.  I was put on this earth for Him and I want to live for Him and do all I'm supposed to do.  

I am NOT giving enough.  It's time to change that.