Embrace the discipline!

"My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,
    but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;
    the child he embraces, he also corrects."

Hebrews 12:10

I think as adults sometimes we forget that we aren't excused from needing to be taught. That even as wives, mothers, career women, grown adults there are still things that we need to learn. 

It's easy to get mad or frustrated with God when we're facing something difficult. We forget that life is growing and learning and God is the ultimate teacher.

Whatever you're going through may feel like punishment but it's not, it's training. 

I'm not a parent but I would think it'd be pretty irresponsible to leave a child to fend for themselves.You wouldn't tell your two year old,  "Mom and dad are going to leave you to figure out how to do everything on your own.There's food in the fridge.Peace out,See ya in two weeks!" Right? Why would we want God to do that to us? 

I tell you when I was young I didn't understand a lot of the discipline from my parents.Not that i got in trouble a lot....;) But now that I'm older I have so much more respect for it and for them.

Good parents discipline their children out of love, even when it isn't easy. They do what they think is best.We are God's children and He loves us more than we can imagine. He is doing what he knows is best for us, even when it's painful. He knows spoiling us won't teach us. It may feel good for awhile to have it all, for things to be easy but later on when trials hit we'll wonder why He didn't train us to handle them.

He wants to mold us into the best possible version of ourselves so we can bring Him the most glory. So we can reach our fullest potential. 

Discipline isn't always fun, but it is necessary. He has such a bigger purpose in mind than we can fathom.You might not understand why you're having to face the trouble you are but one day you'll see it will pay off, BIG time.

It’s the well-trained who become mature in their relationship with God and strong enough to face anything that may come their way. Be encouraged in knowing if you face hardships you're among good company of the most influential and faith-filled people in the bible. So embrace the discipline big or small and know even if you don't understand it, God is using it for an incredible purpose!

Prayer Starter: God I may not understand what you're doing or why at this time in my life but I know you have a plan. Help me embrace what I'm going through and trust you. Even when it's painful, even when I want to give up I believe you're strength will help me persevere.I can't do it alone though. I feel weak and beat down but I know in my weakness is when you are your strongest. Help me keep my eyes focused on you and help me remember that I am your child and all you do is out of unfailing love for me.

Let go, press forward, and Enjoy!

"Beloved,I do not consider that
I have made it my own;
but this one thing I do:
forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead"
Philippians 3:13-14 (NRSV)

"Ouch!" Life sure is painful sometimes, isn't it?

Yesterday I warmed up some soup in the microwave that my mom had sent home with me.Yes my mom is awesome, I know.

Well in my state of hunger I didn't do the first cardinal rule of microwave use...Eager to taste the deliciousness that is my mom's cooking I didn't check to see how hot the soup was before I put a whole steaming spoonful in my mouth. BIG mistake according to my scorched tongue.

"I wish I could change it." Was only one of the many thoughts that popped in my head in the midst of my childlike "ouchie" dance.

How often have we said that in our lives? Whether because of the consequences we face or the guilt we feel, we replay our screw ups over and over. All it does is exhaust us while we waste so much time and energy trying to reenact what we'd have done differently.

The truth of the matter is we can't change what happened.All we can do is learn from it.

God's grace is AMAZING. It's undeserved favor regardless of the circumstances! We don't lose it when we screw up, big or small! Take a minute and think about that...While we're beating ourselves up, God is saying "let it go, I have something bigger and better to show you!"

This verse is from Paul, a man who at one point in his life would torture and sometimes execute Christians! Yet God used him as one of the most influential people in the bible!

The fact is,as humans we'll always make mistakes.But it's through those mess ups that God is preparing us for something better.As hard as it can be to wait God has a big plan for each of us and just like my soup we have to be at the right temperature to be ready to enjoy it completely.

So, that thing you're holding onto that you wish you could change, let it go so you can press forward and enjoy the amazing thing God will replace it with!

Prayer Starter: God, I pray that I will let go of the past, all the hurts and mistakes. I know I can't do it without your help. I can't change it but help me to learn from it and move on stronger and better than ever. Help me to push forward trusting that you're working in my life even when I can't see it and that you are using my past and present circumstances for my good. Thank you for your grace and for not giving up on me even when I give up on myself. My future is in your hands and I'm ready to see what you have for me.  

Gettin' with it!

So awhile back I had several people tell me "you should start a blog." And being an avid lover of writing since I could form letters, I jumped at the chance and started this one. I love it! But I have to admit I've become somewhat of a slacker with it. Reasons are not important what is important is that I'm baaaaack!:)

But this time I'm going to do things a little differently. I've realized more and more how crazy busy people's lives are and while I've enjoyed writing the blogs I've already written I have to admit they've been a tad...shall we say...Long.Just a little. And I realized 'aint nobody got time for that!' I think it's because once I sit down to write if I don't have one area of focus there's no stopping me.My fingers get a mind of their own!

So awhile back I had a few ladies tell me I'm good with words and should start a bible verse devotional. Now while I was so crazy humbled and appreciative of that in all honestly I didn't really think anyone would really read it. So I didn't really give it another thought.

Well I've been praying a lot lately about a lot of things and one thing is how God wants me to use the things I'm passionate about.  Writing is a BIG one! And I realized it's not up to me to worry about who will read it or even if people will read it. It is up to me to be take the first step with what I feel he's gifted me with.

God blessed me with a compassionate heart since I can remember. I just love people and I can't help it! I love encouraging people and I love writing so who am I to say what God can or can't do with that? I'm just a tool, well you know what I mean...;) It's up to Him if and how he uses my writing. So starting tomorrow keep an eye out for my first devotional! I can't wait to see what God will show me through it and if he uses it to encourage even one person than all the better!

All I do know is life is short and there's too much hardship and pressure in the world today to not encourage others any way we can!I'm in a trial at this time in my life with my health so what better time to encourage than through that.And what better thing for encouragement than the B.I.B.L.E.?With God's help our problems can have purpose. So I'm gettin' with it!