Monday, May 14, 2018
What's In A Name?: My Social Media Content Analysis: Ode to the Mom w...
What's In A Name?: My Social Media Content Analysis: Ode to the Mom w...: I did a video for Mother's Day and it got me thinking. What is the best way for people to consume information? Mostly people are onlin...
My Social Media Content Analysis: Ode to the Mom with many Roles!
I did a video for Mother's Day and it got me thinking. What is the best way for people to consume information? Mostly people are online and rather than reading text content, people are watching video content.
Live streaming content is most interesting because you can immediately interact with the person streaming. It is almost like you are part of the action without doing the heavy lifting. There are, however, still lots of people who find live streaming intimidating. I will never forget the first time I live streamed on Facebook Live. I wanted to do it for the longest time, but I was so nervous about messing up. 4 minutes later, I was experiencing such a high from being live that I had a hard time ending the video.
When you prerecord your video, though, you have the ability to control the content that you put out there. You can edit the video and make it look and sound good! Along those lines, I do get why prerecorded video content is less intimidating that live streaming.
Anyway, I had so much fun creating this video with my kiddos. It made me miss my acting days.
Not sure if I'd ever start acting again...maybe I would for the right television production! My biggest focus and passion now is on a different type of content. It is important to me to provide valuable content to people online. Though I love writing and creating written content, I definitely do enjoy making videos!
I hope everyone enjoyed Mother's Day and I'd love feedback on my video. If it were you, what would you do differently? What would you keep?
*Keep it classy and constructive! ;) Thank you for your feedback and taking the time to visit!
Live streaming content is most interesting because you can immediately interact with the person streaming. It is almost like you are part of the action without doing the heavy lifting. There are, however, still lots of people who find live streaming intimidating. I will never forget the first time I live streamed on Facebook Live. I wanted to do it for the longest time, but I was so nervous about messing up. 4 minutes later, I was experiencing such a high from being live that I had a hard time ending the video.
When you prerecord your video, though, you have the ability to control the content that you put out there. You can edit the video and make it look and sound good! Along those lines, I do get why prerecorded video content is less intimidating that live streaming.
Anyway, I had so much fun creating this video with my kiddos. It made me miss my acting days.
Not sure if I'd ever start acting again...maybe I would for the right television production! My biggest focus and passion now is on a different type of content. It is important to me to provide valuable content to people online. Though I love writing and creating written content, I definitely do enjoy making videos!
I hope everyone enjoyed Mother's Day and I'd love feedback on my video. If it were you, what would you do differently? What would you keep?
*Keep it classy and constructive! ;) Thank you for your feedback and taking the time to visit!
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Ask me anything and I'll do it!
"You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father." John14:13
When I got pregnant with my first born back in 2013, it was unplanned. I cried. What on earth do I know about being a Mom? How would this turn out? After a few nice minutes of tears, I just stopped and sniffed. I took a good look at myself in the mirror and felt an incredible amount of peace. That's when I realized I could do this. God had already given me everything I needed to be the Mom I was called to be. After that, I got excited and happy.
I spent most of my time during this pregnancy doing what I did when I was not pregnant. I lead a healthy and active lifestyle. So with my son, I ate clean 97% of the time, and worked out A LOT! I am a runner, and enjoy participating in different races, so although I stopped doing half marathons while pregnant with my son, I continued running. I started flipping tires at 6 months, did a weight training program with my husband. I did Zumba, yoga, and we went on hikes.
While I was carrying my son, lots of people told me, "You need to slow down, you're pregnant now!" "You need to be careful,it's not just about you anymore. You are having a baby!" I'd usually just say, "Okay, thanks!" and keep it moving. I told my husband, "I'm not going to respond to anyone anymore. If you want to, go ahead. Our doctor isn't concerned so they shouldn't be. The pregnancy isn't high risk. I just need to be aware of my body and how I'm feeling, and pull back if necessary. AND, she said as long as I'm not doing any contact activities, like karate, or basketball I should be fine." On that note, I kept doing what I was doing throughout the pregnancy and ignored all the comments.
It was a great pregnancy, too. Everything went very well until the day he came. I had my mind made up of how this all would go down. He was due on Christmas Day, and he had to come then, because that would extend my leave until April which worked perfectly for me. Additionally, I had a birth plan that I expected to follow exactly. Well...all of those expectations went out the window. He came exactly two weeks early. At some point during the labor, I told my husband, "You need to tell them I want want something to take the edge off. I don't want an epidural, but I need something!" They gave me something to take the edge off. It didn't take the edge off. About an hour later, something happened, and my doctor told me my son's heart rate was going down. She recommended I get an emergency c-section. At that point, my plans didn't matter. The most important thing was getting him here safely. Well, he got here and I was so thankful that he was healthy and safe.
After that, I had this guilt. I felt like such a failure. I kept asking myself, "What did I do wrong? I thought I did everything right. Why did this happen?" After having conversations with my doctor and my husband and them both telling me I did nothing wrong, I had to let go of the guilt and feelings of failure.
Fast forward a couple years later. I got pregnant again in 2015, and thought, 'No problem. I know what to do." So I kept up with my very active lifestyle. That year, I'd planned to do 4 half marathons a 10K and a 10 miler.
But then something happened. I started bleeding. The first time it happened, I got nervous, called the doctor and my husband. When we went in, she checked the baby on the monitor, we saw her heart beat flickering. The doctor said, "Baby looks to be fine. This stuff happens....I don't think it has anything to do with your activity, so keep doing what you're doing. Monitor the bleeding. If it happens again, give us a call." So we left feeling relieved. Then it happened again. I cried. I called the doctor, we went back to see her. Checked the monitor, baby was fine. She said the same thing. This happens more often than you think. I still don't think it's your activity, so keep doing what you're doing, and let us know if it continues.
Left this time feeling better having seen the baby on the monitor with an active heart beat. So I continued my high activity. In addition to my normal daily routine, I completed a 10 miler with no problem. A week or so later, I did a 10K race. I felt fine after that one also. The next day, I started bleeding again. This time it was like a heavy menstrual cycle. I was devastated. I was in the middle of a big meeting, when I left and discovered this. I cried and cried, and finally had to pray and ask God to help me pull it together to go back to the meeting and make it through the day, because at that point, I couldn't see myself doing anything but sitting with my head in my hands and balling my eyes out. I made it through the day, but called the doctor and scheduled an appointment. When my husband picked me up that day, I told him what happened and let go. I cried so hard I could hardly speak.
When we went to the appointment, my doctor was very matter of fact in speaking with me. She told me that if this pregnancy was indeed terminating itself there wasn't anything we could do about it. She said that we needed to monitor it, and see what happened. This time, she also told me that although she still didn't believe it was occurring based on my activity, I should take a break from everything for 6 weeks just to rule everything out.
I took a break, and the bleeding stopped. I was so thankful and relieved. I discovered I was expecting very early in the pregnancy. So I saw my doctor several times before my first official appointment. Since the bleeding had stopped, the next time I saw her was during that first actual appointment. I was happy to report to her that there'd been no more bleeding. She was glad to hear it also, and took me off the 6 week break. I left that appointment on a high, convinced the issue was in the past. I was, however, reluctant to jump back into my high activity level.
When I started bleeding again a few weeks later, I was mortified, frustrated and scared. I didn't know what to do. I called my doctor's office and spoke with one of her partners. She told me I could come into the office if I chose to, but I f the pregnancy was going to terminate, there wasn't anything they could do. We just had to monitor it and see what happened. I decided not to go. Instead, in my frustration, sadness and worry, I went to God and I prayed. I said, Lord, I don't want to lose my baby. I want this baby to be born and live. Your word in John 14:13 says that whatever we ask of You in Your name You would do it so that the Father would be glorified through the son. So I'm asking that You would remember Your promise and hear my prayers to let this baby live and that the bleeding stop. I ask it in Your name. But no matter what, Lord, I trust You."
After I made the decision to just let it go and give it to God, I felt so much peace and relief. I recognized I had no control no matter how much I worried and held on to it. I had to come to a place of realization that God is sovereign. He's the only one that can do anything and I can't just say I trust Him, I have to truly decide to trust Him, no matter what.
Almost a year later, I sit in my living room writing this and watching my baby girl sleep peacefully. I'm not sure why God does what He does. But I do know this, there are times in our lives when we look to the things of this world, self included as having the ultimate influence and control over our lives and our outcomes. The truth is, God has that control and He has the final say; and holding on to those things, no matter how tight, will ever change that.
PAG
Friday, March 4, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Where is your focus?!
The other day I was headed to meet a friend for lunch. She and I hadn't seen each other in a long time, and she really wanted to meet my new baby and give me a gift for the little one. So we got in car and headed out to meet my friend. As I was driving on the highway, I decided it was a great time to pray. So I started praying. I prayed for me kids, my husband, family, friends, and the community we live in.
I was pretty aware of where I was, and where I was going, when suddenly, I began to panic. I noticed I was in an exit lane, and was convinced it was the wrong one. I panicked because I thought I was going the wrong way. So I sped up to get back on the highway. The moment I breathed a sigh of relief, I realized that was indeed my exit. At that point, I had to drive all the way to the next exit, which was pretty far away, make that exit and u-turn to get back on the highway. Then I had to drive all the way back to the exit I should have taken in the first place.
That's when it hit me. This happens so often in my walk with Christ. I'll ask God for something. I'm all excited about it in the beginning, until doubt creeps in and I begin to panic. I'm convinced that nothing is happening, so God must not be doing anything. Or, I see someone else successfully arriving to the place I've asked God to take me. So I get discouraged and think God has no idea what He's doing, or He's not doing anything, so I need to do things my self.
I've noticed that when I take matters into my own hands, I find myself moving outside of God's will. I either don't receive the promise, or I have to wait even longer to receive it. Sound familiar? Much like the Israelites and the promised land. They became so consumed by panicked with what they saw, rather than what God told them, and their focus shifted. Therefore, it took them 40 years to reach the promised land. Some didn't even make it.
The Bible says to Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5). God is able to do all things but lie. When we ask Him for something, we can trust that He is able to do what He said He would. We should trust that even when nothing seems to be happening, God is working, so we need to just keep our eyes stayed on Him rather than focus on fear, panic, or discouragement. He's so much bigger than that. When we take our eyes off of Him, we end up going the wrong way.
PAG
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
174/365
June 23, 2015
I have been quiet for a while on this issue. At this point, I don't even know what the relevance is for me to say this, and I don't even know who will bother to read what I write. I realize that ignoring it, and keeping quiet will not take away the thoughts and feelings I have inside; thus I feel the need to put my finger to the keyboard, so here I go...I am the mother of a black son. Before any of this racism news became so relevant, I thought about raising my son in this world as a black male. He is 18 months old and I hear ALL the time, "Your son is so cute!" In my mind, I often wonder, "What will you think of him when he gets older? Will he scare you as a black teenage boy or man?" Yes he's cute. But he's also black. Therefore, he'll grow up to be a black man! My “cute son” who will someday grow up to be a black man who someone might identify as a thug or criminal based on the color of his skin…No disrespect, I appreciate the compliment. But this is what I live with EVERYDAY. Being African American/Black, I've experienced racism, UGLY first hand from kids AND adults as a child and still as an adult. I've had family members experience it. I'm married to a black man, who happens to be one of the MOST HONORABLE, and LOVING people I know; however, because of his skin color, he has been profiled and accused of some very ridiculous things. Each day I look at social media, my heart breaks a little more seeing all the hate happening in our world surrounding race. I don't fear for myself as much as I fear for my children and their well being. It is overwhelming, and I am honestly at the breaking point. This is a reality I, as a BLACK MOM cannot escape. So what do I do? Live in fear and teach my children to be doormats to people that will judge them by their skin color in hopes that they'll be left alone??? No...that just doesn't sit well with me. Say what you will about religion. Though I wouldn't call myself religious. I'd call myself a CHRIST FOLLOWER. If that offends you, so be it. But with everything going on around me each day, my only peace and hope comes from my faith in HIM. Without it, I will continue to live in fear and worry about my children and their well being.
PAG
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1-2
I have been quiet for a while on this issue. At this point, I don't even know what the relevance is for me to say this, and I don't even know who will bother to read what I write. I realize that ignoring it, and keeping quiet will not take away the thoughts and feelings I have inside; thus I feel the need to put my finger to the keyboard, so here I go...I am the mother of a black son. Before any of this racism news became so relevant, I thought about raising my son in this world as a black male. He is 18 months old and I hear ALL the time, "Your son is so cute!" In my mind, I often wonder, "What will you think of him when he gets older? Will he scare you as a black teenage boy or man?" Yes he's cute. But he's also black. Therefore, he'll grow up to be a black man! My “cute son” who will someday grow up to be a black man who someone might identify as a thug or criminal based on the color of his skin…No disrespect, I appreciate the compliment. But this is what I live with EVERYDAY. Being African American/Black, I've experienced racism, UGLY first hand from kids AND adults as a child and still as an adult. I've had family members experience it. I'm married to a black man, who happens to be one of the MOST HONORABLE, and LOVING people I know; however, because of his skin color, he has been profiled and accused of some very ridiculous things. Each day I look at social media, my heart breaks a little more seeing all the hate happening in our world surrounding race. I don't fear for myself as much as I fear for my children and their well being. It is overwhelming, and I am honestly at the breaking point. This is a reality I, as a BLACK MOM cannot escape. So what do I do? Live in fear and teach my children to be doormats to people that will judge them by their skin color in hopes that they'll be left alone??? No...that just doesn't sit well with me. Say what you will about religion. Though I wouldn't call myself religious. I'd call myself a CHRIST FOLLOWER. If that offends you, so be it. But with everything going on around me each day, my only peace and hope comes from my faith in HIM. Without it, I will continue to live in fear and worry about my children and their well being.
PAG
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
51/365
February 20, 2015
"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine. And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32
What is the truth that Jesus speaks of? A Jewish Rabbi, a Buddist, a Pastor, and a Muslim all sit around a table discussing their religious beliefs. They talk about why they believe what they believe and why they don't believe other religions. Their conversation is peaceful and they all listen to each other respectfully. Though things get heated from their passion for their faith, they are able to have a peaceful dialogue about their faith.
So which one is true? What makes my belief more true than another? What causes one person to switch faiths, or remain in a faith, or stay faithless? Jesus said to His people that they were to continue in His word to truly be His disciples. If they did so, they'd know the truth, and this truth would make them free.
What does another faith believe to be true? And how is it they can cling to their faith so hard if it is not really true? Is it all about being right? Or is it about being in what you believe to be the truth? If I read the Koran, would I begin to believe what they believe? What is written within?
Do I only believe now what I believe because I read the Bible? Matthew 7:7-8 says ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
So I ask and seek and knock for the wisdom of God on this in order to know what is true. I mean, Jesus called us to go out and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). To think that there are people in this world that still have never heard of Jesus and do not know that He has love for them, and offers them hope and a future...this boggles my mind. So what do these people believe? And if God is all knowing, all loving and everywhere, why can't He just swoop in and supernaturally whammy them into realizing Jesus? Why does He have to use other people to spread the message?
These are all very pertinent questions, that God has yet to give me revelation about. But I am going to wait on Him for an answer to these questions. One thing I do know is that back in November 2008, I had been feeling a heavy burden for a long time. I was engaged in behaviors that were tearing me apart, and pushing me further down a black hole. All the while, God pursued me.
After being fed up with the direction I was going in, I cried out to God and asked for help. Not sure what He would do, I went to Him in hopes that He would save me from continuing down this destructive path. When He did, I was convicted beyond my wildest thoughts. Believing I had it all together, God revealed to me just how broken I truly was, and showed me that I indeed needed to be in a relationship with Him. That I was not currently in a close relationship with Him, but that no matter how far I felt from Him, He had been right there pursuing me the entire time.
I also know that once again, a few months later, I was convicted by God and led to tell my now husband (then boyfriend) of a shameful secret I'd been keeping from him for a long time. The Holy Spirit literally shut my mouth for 3 hours until I confessed to Marcus what I'd done. I mean, no matter how hard I tried, I COULD NOT SPEAK...a word!! The only time my mouth was opened and words came out was when I began confessing to him.
Finally, a few months after that, when I felt led by the Holy Spirit to fast and pray before God to take the taste of alcohol from me, he did! I struggled with alcohol for a while after I started drinking. I had many a blacked out night and got into some drunken fights. Some with strangers, and many with friends.
I decided that I needed to change that. Worried about the addiction in my family history, I prayed for help. I really felt like I could not do this on my own. I continued craving the alcohol even when I didn't drink. So during my first couple of fasts, I prayed and asked God to take away my desire to drink. I didn't even realize He did until one day we were out at a happy hour with friends and I didn't think about drinking.
I have had a few drinks since then, but none of them satisfied me like before. Most I end up not finishing or it takes me forever to finish. After that, I just didn't drink, and I do not miss it at all. Why do I bring these three instances up? Because though I may believe one way and someone who is Jewish or Muslim believes another way, I do know that in all of these instances, I felt the presence of God and believe I was transformed by Him. All of these instances were early in my walk with Him, I can't explain it any other way. It was not me! Nor was it luck! It was not even a decision. I was transformed by Him.
So what is true? Jesus told His people, it was in His word. Because to be considered His disciple they had to read His word. And in so doing, they would come to that truth. It isn't up to me to convince people of this truth. It is up to me to share it, along with my testimony with them.
PAG
"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine. And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32
What is the truth that Jesus speaks of? A Jewish Rabbi, a Buddist, a Pastor, and a Muslim all sit around a table discussing their religious beliefs. They talk about why they believe what they believe and why they don't believe other religions. Their conversation is peaceful and they all listen to each other respectfully. Though things get heated from their passion for their faith, they are able to have a peaceful dialogue about their faith.
So which one is true? What makes my belief more true than another? What causes one person to switch faiths, or remain in a faith, or stay faithless? Jesus said to His people that they were to continue in His word to truly be His disciples. If they did so, they'd know the truth, and this truth would make them free.
What does another faith believe to be true? And how is it they can cling to their faith so hard if it is not really true? Is it all about being right? Or is it about being in what you believe to be the truth? If I read the Koran, would I begin to believe what they believe? What is written within?
Do I only believe now what I believe because I read the Bible? Matthew 7:7-8 says ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
So I ask and seek and knock for the wisdom of God on this in order to know what is true. I mean, Jesus called us to go out and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). To think that there are people in this world that still have never heard of Jesus and do not know that He has love for them, and offers them hope and a future...this boggles my mind. So what do these people believe? And if God is all knowing, all loving and everywhere, why can't He just swoop in and supernaturally whammy them into realizing Jesus? Why does He have to use other people to spread the message?
These are all very pertinent questions, that God has yet to give me revelation about. But I am going to wait on Him for an answer to these questions. One thing I do know is that back in November 2008, I had been feeling a heavy burden for a long time. I was engaged in behaviors that were tearing me apart, and pushing me further down a black hole. All the while, God pursued me.
After being fed up with the direction I was going in, I cried out to God and asked for help. Not sure what He would do, I went to Him in hopes that He would save me from continuing down this destructive path. When He did, I was convicted beyond my wildest thoughts. Believing I had it all together, God revealed to me just how broken I truly was, and showed me that I indeed needed to be in a relationship with Him. That I was not currently in a close relationship with Him, but that no matter how far I felt from Him, He had been right there pursuing me the entire time.
I also know that once again, a few months later, I was convicted by God and led to tell my now husband (then boyfriend) of a shameful secret I'd been keeping from him for a long time. The Holy Spirit literally shut my mouth for 3 hours until I confessed to Marcus what I'd done. I mean, no matter how hard I tried, I COULD NOT SPEAK...a word!! The only time my mouth was opened and words came out was when I began confessing to him.
Finally, a few months after that, when I felt led by the Holy Spirit to fast and pray before God to take the taste of alcohol from me, he did! I struggled with alcohol for a while after I started drinking. I had many a blacked out night and got into some drunken fights. Some with strangers, and many with friends.
I decided that I needed to change that. Worried about the addiction in my family history, I prayed for help. I really felt like I could not do this on my own. I continued craving the alcohol even when I didn't drink. So during my first couple of fasts, I prayed and asked God to take away my desire to drink. I didn't even realize He did until one day we were out at a happy hour with friends and I didn't think about drinking.
I have had a few drinks since then, but none of them satisfied me like before. Most I end up not finishing or it takes me forever to finish. After that, I just didn't drink, and I do not miss it at all. Why do I bring these three instances up? Because though I may believe one way and someone who is Jewish or Muslim believes another way, I do know that in all of these instances, I felt the presence of God and believe I was transformed by Him. All of these instances were early in my walk with Him, I can't explain it any other way. It was not me! Nor was it luck! It was not even a decision. I was transformed by Him.
So what is true? Jesus told His people, it was in His word. Because to be considered His disciple they had to read His word. And in so doing, they would come to that truth. It isn't up to me to convince people of this truth. It is up to me to share it, along with my testimony with them.
PAG
Monday, March 9, 2015
50/365
February 19, 2015
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
I am an administrative assistant. I love my job. I love my boss. I love the people that I work with. I could not be more thankful for all things related to my job. Sure, there are moments when things I dislike try to overrun my day, but in the second part of my first year, I made a decision to act like I chose to be there. Why? Because I did, in fact, choose to be there. I also had a very large desire to be a true reflection of Jesus to the people around me.
I figured that I could not do that with a cranky and sour attitude. I needed to be the light in whatever way possible. So...I chose joy to frustration. I chose to focus on the positive rather than on the negative. And I chose to have an attitude of gratitude rather than a stinky attitude and complain. I'm not saying I am perfect in this position. I have messed up so many times, I cannot help but believe God has truly given me favor in this place. I still fall and make mistakes. But each day I go to work, I strive to be a good example of a Christ follower in every way.
Lately, I have been challenged with the fact that I feel like I've outgrown the position and where I am. Do I want to move into another role in this same place? No. I feel like God has a plan for me, and it is bigger than the role I am currently in. Not only is it bigger than my current role, it is also elsewhere. The thing is, I am not certain He is ready to move me yet. So I stay until He gives the go ahead.
Remaining in this position with these thoughts have challenged me. It is like being a recently turned millionaire who continues scrubbing toilets. Not that there is anything wrong with scrubbing toilets. That's a role that someone needs to fill. I thank God for the people that do the job. It is just challenging because my heart desires to be doing something else. It is challenging because I know God has another plan for me, which He has revealed, yet I must wait on Him. It is very humbling because although I believe I have outgrown this role, I must remain in it and serve others. Not only must I serve others while God has me here, but I must serve others with a God attitude.
I believe that in all roles, God calls His people to serve others. But I guess its like the example I gave earlier. Imagine, a toilet cleaner who just inherited millions of dollars. Maybe he invented this incredible project that he has been working on for years. He finally got his breakthrough, but he still has to wait a little bit longer before he can leave his current role and take up the new one God has commissioned him to do. Although his value far exceeds his current position, he must remain in this role, humbly doing as he is told.
I am reminded of the verse in Romans 12:3, to not to think of myself better than I am. Have I really outgrown this place? Or am I exactly where I need to be in the role I need to be in? Is it pride that has me feeling like I need to move on?
I don't know for sure, although I do believe that God puts desires in each of us, and He has a purpose for His children. The purpose is to make Christ known and bring Him glory. But in that, we are given a task to do so. We may be called to sing, act, write, preach, or teach. We might even be called to be an administrative assistant who encourages and shares the gospel exactly where she is.
I also know that just because God has revealed His purpose to us doesn't mean it is time for us to walk in it. Jesus had a purpose, yet He did not complete the ultimate task set out for Him until He was 33 years old. He had to wait. While He waited, He had to be in a position of humility.
Furthermore, as He walked in His purpose to the cross, He had to continue walking in a position of humility. Jesus was the son of God who humbled Himself to die on a cross. He is the example I follow as I follow Him. I cannot think myself higher that I am in my current position, or even for whatever role God moves me.
I must continue walking in humility as Jesus did. And I must remember that wherever God places me, it is not about me, but about Him.
PAG
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
I am an administrative assistant. I love my job. I love my boss. I love the people that I work with. I could not be more thankful for all things related to my job. Sure, there are moments when things I dislike try to overrun my day, but in the second part of my first year, I made a decision to act like I chose to be there. Why? Because I did, in fact, choose to be there. I also had a very large desire to be a true reflection of Jesus to the people around me.
I figured that I could not do that with a cranky and sour attitude. I needed to be the light in whatever way possible. So...I chose joy to frustration. I chose to focus on the positive rather than on the negative. And I chose to have an attitude of gratitude rather than a stinky attitude and complain. I'm not saying I am perfect in this position. I have messed up so many times, I cannot help but believe God has truly given me favor in this place. I still fall and make mistakes. But each day I go to work, I strive to be a good example of a Christ follower in every way.
Lately, I have been challenged with the fact that I feel like I've outgrown the position and where I am. Do I want to move into another role in this same place? No. I feel like God has a plan for me, and it is bigger than the role I am currently in. Not only is it bigger than my current role, it is also elsewhere. The thing is, I am not certain He is ready to move me yet. So I stay until He gives the go ahead.
Remaining in this position with these thoughts have challenged me. It is like being a recently turned millionaire who continues scrubbing toilets. Not that there is anything wrong with scrubbing toilets. That's a role that someone needs to fill. I thank God for the people that do the job. It is just challenging because my heart desires to be doing something else. It is challenging because I know God has another plan for me, which He has revealed, yet I must wait on Him. It is very humbling because although I believe I have outgrown this role, I must remain in it and serve others. Not only must I serve others while God has me here, but I must serve others with a God attitude.
I believe that in all roles, God calls His people to serve others. But I guess its like the example I gave earlier. Imagine, a toilet cleaner who just inherited millions of dollars. Maybe he invented this incredible project that he has been working on for years. He finally got his breakthrough, but he still has to wait a little bit longer before he can leave his current role and take up the new one God has commissioned him to do. Although his value far exceeds his current position, he must remain in this role, humbly doing as he is told.
I am reminded of the verse in Romans 12:3, to not to think of myself better than I am. Have I really outgrown this place? Or am I exactly where I need to be in the role I need to be in? Is it pride that has me feeling like I need to move on?
I don't know for sure, although I do believe that God puts desires in each of us, and He has a purpose for His children. The purpose is to make Christ known and bring Him glory. But in that, we are given a task to do so. We may be called to sing, act, write, preach, or teach. We might even be called to be an administrative assistant who encourages and shares the gospel exactly where she is.
I also know that just because God has revealed His purpose to us doesn't mean it is time for us to walk in it. Jesus had a purpose, yet He did not complete the ultimate task set out for Him until He was 33 years old. He had to wait. While He waited, He had to be in a position of humility.
Furthermore, as He walked in His purpose to the cross, He had to continue walking in a position of humility. Jesus was the son of God who humbled Himself to die on a cross. He is the example I follow as I follow Him. I cannot think myself higher that I am in my current position, or even for whatever role God moves me.
I must continue walking in humility as Jesus did. And I must remember that wherever God places me, it is not about me, but about Him.
PAG
49/365
February 18, 2015
"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
Have you ever met someone that says they are something but when you observe their lifestyle and daily activities they look nothing like what they say they are? For example, what if you had the opportunity to spend the day with a professional gymnast training for the Olympics?
You go to breakfast and they eat pancakes, bacon and cheese eggs. They wash that down with a diet soda. Later in the day, they take you to one of their conditioning sessions and they workout for 15 minutes. After that, you go to lunch and they scarf down a double cheese burger with chili cheese fries and an extra large chocolate milk shake. A few hours later, they go to a practice session and do 5 minutes worth of floor work, 5 minutes on the bars and don't bother with the beam because they are "not feeling it today." They finish up with a couple of minutes on the uneven bar. After about 30-45 minutes at practice, they take you out for a long night on the town.
When asked, they explain that this is pretty much how their entire training season looks. They do, however, admit to you that once a week they spend 6 hours training and conditioning. On this day, they leave the double cheese burger and bacon and eggs alone, and go for a "healthier nutritional fair".
How would you respond to this? If you had to put your faith in their final placement in the Olympics, what would you say? Do you think they would even make it to the Olympics with such a relaxed training program? If it were me and I had spent all day with someone who said they were a gymnast training for the Olympics with these habits, I'd wonder if they truly were a gymnast.
Year ago, when I was pursuing acting, a coach of mine addressed his class. He mentioned an actress from old Hollywood and how protective she was of her craft. She said that whenever someone claimed to her that they were an actress, she'd respond with, "Oh really? What did you do today to work on your craft?" If their answer was nothing, she'd tell them they weren't really an actor. "If you haven't done anything related to your craft today, then you are not really an actor." That seems fair to say about anything we claim to be.
If this is the case for so many other trades and fields, how can a Christian claim to be a Christ follower and put so little into it? They don't go to church, they don't pray and speak to God regularly, and the reflection that they carry each day looks nothing like Jesus. How is this possible?
A gymnast is a gymnast for a short amount of time. An actor may be an actor for their entire life, but in terms of eternity, this is but a vapor of time. In order for a gymnast or actor to be successful, they understand that they must act the part at least 95% of the time. Often times, Christians act like Christ followers some times, then act like the world other times.
For the record, there isn't a set way that Christ followers need to act. We are not perfect, we do fail--A LOT! We are like a rainbow. We come in all different shapes, sizes with all types of personalities. The connection, is that we are to honor God in all that we do. Furthermore, God does not expect perfection from us, nor does He expect us not to fail. He does, however, expect us to use Christ as the example we are to live like. That way, when people see us, they see something different about us. They see a Christ follower.
When people look at a gymnast, you see a gymnast. Someone that does what is necessary to set themselves apart during competition. They sacrifice, and are willing to do whatever it takes in order to be recognized as an elite gymnast. As a Christ follower, we must do what is necessary to be set apart for Jesus. Although we are in the world, we are not of the world (John 17:16); therefore, we are to be set apart, so that when the world sees us, they see Jesus and not the world.
Paul tells the people of Corinth to be an imitator of him because he follows Jesus. We have an example of how we are to act. We must follow this example. If we are the only Christ follower someone sees, what kind of reflection will we be to them? Matthew 7:15-20 speaks on false prophets. It states that we shall know these false prophets by the fruit that they bear. Much like a true gymnast, if we look closely, we will know a true Christ follower by the fruit they bear. As a Christ follower, are you bearing good fruit?
PAG
"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
Have you ever met someone that says they are something but when you observe their lifestyle and daily activities they look nothing like what they say they are? For example, what if you had the opportunity to spend the day with a professional gymnast training for the Olympics?
You go to breakfast and they eat pancakes, bacon and cheese eggs. They wash that down with a diet soda. Later in the day, they take you to one of their conditioning sessions and they workout for 15 minutes. After that, you go to lunch and they scarf down a double cheese burger with chili cheese fries and an extra large chocolate milk shake. A few hours later, they go to a practice session and do 5 minutes worth of floor work, 5 minutes on the bars and don't bother with the beam because they are "not feeling it today." They finish up with a couple of minutes on the uneven bar. After about 30-45 minutes at practice, they take you out for a long night on the town.
When asked, they explain that this is pretty much how their entire training season looks. They do, however, admit to you that once a week they spend 6 hours training and conditioning. On this day, they leave the double cheese burger and bacon and eggs alone, and go for a "healthier nutritional fair".
How would you respond to this? If you had to put your faith in their final placement in the Olympics, what would you say? Do you think they would even make it to the Olympics with such a relaxed training program? If it were me and I had spent all day with someone who said they were a gymnast training for the Olympics with these habits, I'd wonder if they truly were a gymnast.
Year ago, when I was pursuing acting, a coach of mine addressed his class. He mentioned an actress from old Hollywood and how protective she was of her craft. She said that whenever someone claimed to her that they were an actress, she'd respond with, "Oh really? What did you do today to work on your craft?" If their answer was nothing, she'd tell them they weren't really an actor. "If you haven't done anything related to your craft today, then you are not really an actor." That seems fair to say about anything we claim to be.
If this is the case for so many other trades and fields, how can a Christian claim to be a Christ follower and put so little into it? They don't go to church, they don't pray and speak to God regularly, and the reflection that they carry each day looks nothing like Jesus. How is this possible?
A gymnast is a gymnast for a short amount of time. An actor may be an actor for their entire life, but in terms of eternity, this is but a vapor of time. In order for a gymnast or actor to be successful, they understand that they must act the part at least 95% of the time. Often times, Christians act like Christ followers some times, then act like the world other times.
For the record, there isn't a set way that Christ followers need to act. We are not perfect, we do fail--A LOT! We are like a rainbow. We come in all different shapes, sizes with all types of personalities. The connection, is that we are to honor God in all that we do. Furthermore, God does not expect perfection from us, nor does He expect us not to fail. He does, however, expect us to use Christ as the example we are to live like. That way, when people see us, they see something different about us. They see a Christ follower.
When people look at a gymnast, you see a gymnast. Someone that does what is necessary to set themselves apart during competition. They sacrifice, and are willing to do whatever it takes in order to be recognized as an elite gymnast. As a Christ follower, we must do what is necessary to be set apart for Jesus. Although we are in the world, we are not of the world (John 17:16); therefore, we are to be set apart, so that when the world sees us, they see Jesus and not the world.
Paul tells the people of Corinth to be an imitator of him because he follows Jesus. We have an example of how we are to act. We must follow this example. If we are the only Christ follower someone sees, what kind of reflection will we be to them? Matthew 7:15-20 speaks on false prophets. It states that we shall know these false prophets by the fruit that they bear. Much like a true gymnast, if we look closely, we will know a true Christ follower by the fruit they bear. As a Christ follower, are you bearing good fruit?
PAG
Friday, March 6, 2015
48/365
February 17, 2015
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20
Ever since I had my son I've felt this heaviness over me. In the beginning, I was so excited about him finally being here I didn't notice it. But when life settled in, I started to feel like something terrible was about to happen.
I remember being with him when he was only a few weeks old and playing with him. I took a moment to stare at him, and take in the miracle that he truly is. All of the sudden, my joy was interrupted by an enormous crushing feeling in my heart. I felt this incredible urge to cry, and hold him tight. I felt like now that he's out of my stomach, I just wanted to put him back in and keep him safe from the dangers of this world.
I mean, I was a bit conflicted. I wanted him out so I could hold him, and look at him. But I also wanted to put him back because I felt like he would be much safer in the womb. Then there was that feeling of impending doom. Any time I was away from my husband or son, I'd get this unsettled feeling in my gut. When I was with them, my thoughts were consumed with worry over my sister and mother. Every time I said goodbye to one of them, I would wonder if it was the last time I saw them or spoke with them. These worries ate at my heart, my mind and my energy. I tried to convince myself that if that happened, it was okay because Heaven is better and we would see each other again. Heaven is better, and Jesus is better. But this didn't help put my mind at ease.
What is it about this world that makes us hold on so tight? God blesses us in this life, but we are told that what Jesus has gone and prepared for us is so much better (John 14:3). If we are citizens of Heaven, then we should look forward to going home. It is important to keep that in mind, that this is not our home. This is really just a short stop before we reach our eternal home. And yes, God did bless us with people and things. And not to say that we don't love them and take care of them. We just need to live knowing that this is not our home.
Obviously God doesn't want us living in fear to the point that we feel frozen by it and cannot move. He does, however, want us to keep our live here verses our eternal life in perspective. This is not our home. All that we have belongs to God. We have family and things that God has given us to enjoy. We are to love and take good care of both. But we must always have the eternal perspective.
PAG
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Philippians 3:20
Ever since I had my son I've felt this heaviness over me. In the beginning, I was so excited about him finally being here I didn't notice it. But when life settled in, I started to feel like something terrible was about to happen.
I remember being with him when he was only a few weeks old and playing with him. I took a moment to stare at him, and take in the miracle that he truly is. All of the sudden, my joy was interrupted by an enormous crushing feeling in my heart. I felt this incredible urge to cry, and hold him tight. I felt like now that he's out of my stomach, I just wanted to put him back in and keep him safe from the dangers of this world.
I mean, I was a bit conflicted. I wanted him out so I could hold him, and look at him. But I also wanted to put him back because I felt like he would be much safer in the womb. Then there was that feeling of impending doom. Any time I was away from my husband or son, I'd get this unsettled feeling in my gut. When I was with them, my thoughts were consumed with worry over my sister and mother. Every time I said goodbye to one of them, I would wonder if it was the last time I saw them or spoke with them. These worries ate at my heart, my mind and my energy. I tried to convince myself that if that happened, it was okay because Heaven is better and we would see each other again. Heaven is better, and Jesus is better. But this didn't help put my mind at ease.
What is it about this world that makes us hold on so tight? God blesses us in this life, but we are told that what Jesus has gone and prepared for us is so much better (John 14:3). If we are citizens of Heaven, then we should look forward to going home. It is important to keep that in mind, that this is not our home. This is really just a short stop before we reach our eternal home. And yes, God did bless us with people and things. And not to say that we don't love them and take care of them. We just need to live knowing that this is not our home.
Obviously God doesn't want us living in fear to the point that we feel frozen by it and cannot move. He does, however, want us to keep our live here verses our eternal life in perspective. This is not our home. All that we have belongs to God. We have family and things that God has given us to enjoy. We are to love and take good care of both. But we must always have the eternal perspective.
PAG
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
47/365
February 16, 2015
"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Deuteronomy 28:1-2
Have you ever tried to pick something up while holding onto something else? It's a challenge, isn't it? If you are unwilling to let go of that object you have in your hand, you are most likely not going to be able to pick up the other object.
I've often heard people talk about that in terms of blessings. how can one receive God's blessing while holding on to anger or bitterness? Sometimes feelings of anger or bitterness consume us so much that we end up missing out on our blessings. We may be blinded by these things to the point that we don't recognize our blessing when God sends them our way. We may be so focused on our bitterness and anger (or the object of that bitterness and anger), that we are unable to recognize the blessing hanging right in front of us.
Is it possible for God to bless us while we're holding on to anger and bitterness? Yes it is. All things are possible with God. It is, however, hard for us to recognize those blessings, or receive them because we are so filled with that bitterness and anger. Bitterness is not in God's nature. God was never once bitter about anything related to us. Yes, God may have been angered by us, but He has also always been quick to forgive us.
Ephesians 4:26 says, be angry, but do not sin. So we can be angry. But not to the point where our anger becomes an obsession. We must learn to let go of the anger so that it does not harden our hearts. When in sin, how close are we to God? How is our relationship with God when we are knee deep in sin? If we are far from God, how can we receive His blessing?
In order to receive God's blessing, we must obey Him and turn away from sin. We must draw close to Him, and remain in a close relationship with Him. He has told us that we need only listen to His voice and follow His commands in order to be blessed. God wants to bless us, and as He promised, He is able to bless us overwhelmingly. Above all, God desires a relationship with us. So if that means holding His blessings back from us while pursuing us and drawing us out of sin, He will do it.
PAG
"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Deuteronomy 28:1-2
Have you ever tried to pick something up while holding onto something else? It's a challenge, isn't it? If you are unwilling to let go of that object you have in your hand, you are most likely not going to be able to pick up the other object.
I've often heard people talk about that in terms of blessings. how can one receive God's blessing while holding on to anger or bitterness? Sometimes feelings of anger or bitterness consume us so much that we end up missing out on our blessings. We may be blinded by these things to the point that we don't recognize our blessing when God sends them our way. We may be so focused on our bitterness and anger (or the object of that bitterness and anger), that we are unable to recognize the blessing hanging right in front of us.
Is it possible for God to bless us while we're holding on to anger and bitterness? Yes it is. All things are possible with God. It is, however, hard for us to recognize those blessings, or receive them because we are so filled with that bitterness and anger. Bitterness is not in God's nature. God was never once bitter about anything related to us. Yes, God may have been angered by us, but He has also always been quick to forgive us.
Ephesians 4:26 says, be angry, but do not sin. So we can be angry. But not to the point where our anger becomes an obsession. We must learn to let go of the anger so that it does not harden our hearts. When in sin, how close are we to God? How is our relationship with God when we are knee deep in sin? If we are far from God, how can we receive His blessing?
In order to receive God's blessing, we must obey Him and turn away from sin. We must draw close to Him, and remain in a close relationship with Him. He has told us that we need only listen to His voice and follow His commands in order to be blessed. God wants to bless us, and as He promised, He is able to bless us overwhelmingly. Above all, God desires a relationship with us. So if that means holding His blessings back from us while pursuing us and drawing us out of sin, He will do it.
PAG
46/365
February 15, 2015
"I planted. Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." 1 Corinthians 3:6
I made a decision to follow Jesus November 2008. Before that, I cannot tell you how many times I heard the gospel. What was different about this time? I'm not sure. I guess after all those planted seeds, one eventually began to grow. I got my degree in social work. I used to work as a high school counselor. One of the hardest things for me as a counselor was always when I put in lots of time and effort with students and they ended up getting kicked out of school. Far worse was when they decided to drop out of school on their own. It was always such a huge disappointment for me to see them fail after all the time and effort I put into them.
My first supervisor would often try to encourage me by saying, "Remember you're just planting seeds. This is just a tiny piece of their life. You never know what the future has in store for them." This gave me a bit of hope. I always tried to envision them finding much success after figuring things out. While working at a warehouse sales job in Los Angeles, I was moved next to this gay male. He did not like Christians. He spoke to me once very politely, and then found out I was a Christian and it was like a switch went off.
Not sure what happened, but all exchanges after his discovery of my faith were always awkward and draining. He was constantly rude to me, and I felt like I had to absorb many smacks to the face. I did my best to steer clear of him whenever possible. In an attempt not to provoke him and keep my sanity. So when the boss moved me from one side of the room directly next to him, I knew God was up to something.
I endured his rudeness, and gave him love. It was tough. But I did let most of his rude comments go without a side glance. I felt like I was on the firing squad every time I went to work. I could barely ask a simple question without him biting my head off. Fortunately, I rode the train and bus in to work, so I always arrived 1.5-2 hours before they opened the doors. This gave me plenty of prayer time to prepare my mind. This quiet time with God really helped strengthen me against going off on him, and either hitting him, or saying something that would have been a poor reflection of Christ.
So although I was not a door mat, I endured many of his harsh comments. Rather than dishing them back, I ignored them, or did my best to have a loving attitude through it. I do recall a couple of times when I addressed some very ugly interactions with him. I prayed about those interactions. I asked the Holy Spirit to be present before saying a word. I asked Him to let my words be lead with God's love. And of course, He did.
After those two conversations, my coworker became a little more cordial with me. I remember the day he left. He even said goodbye to me, shook my hand and wished me well. I told him that it had been a pleasure meeting him, and wished the very best for him also. It was a genuine, cordial goodbye. Not one ounce of phoniness was present. I have to say, had he left a month earlier, things may have been different.
I prayed for him every night that month that I sat next to him. I prayed that God would soften his heart, and open his eyes to Him. Though he did not leave that place a Christ follower, God gave me an opportunity to plant a seed. Will he ever become a follower of Jesus? I don't know. But like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6, he planted to seed, Apollos watered it, and God gave the increase. So maybe it was me that planted the seeds for my former coworker. Hopefully after that, someone watered those seeds that were planted. Then, if it is meant for him to become a follower of Jesus, God shall give the increase.
PAG
"I planted. Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." 1 Corinthians 3:6
I made a decision to follow Jesus November 2008. Before that, I cannot tell you how many times I heard the gospel. What was different about this time? I'm not sure. I guess after all those planted seeds, one eventually began to grow. I got my degree in social work. I used to work as a high school counselor. One of the hardest things for me as a counselor was always when I put in lots of time and effort with students and they ended up getting kicked out of school. Far worse was when they decided to drop out of school on their own. It was always such a huge disappointment for me to see them fail after all the time and effort I put into them.
My first supervisor would often try to encourage me by saying, "Remember you're just planting seeds. This is just a tiny piece of their life. You never know what the future has in store for them." This gave me a bit of hope. I always tried to envision them finding much success after figuring things out. While working at a warehouse sales job in Los Angeles, I was moved next to this gay male. He did not like Christians. He spoke to me once very politely, and then found out I was a Christian and it was like a switch went off.
Not sure what happened, but all exchanges after his discovery of my faith were always awkward and draining. He was constantly rude to me, and I felt like I had to absorb many smacks to the face. I did my best to steer clear of him whenever possible. In an attempt not to provoke him and keep my sanity. So when the boss moved me from one side of the room directly next to him, I knew God was up to something.
I endured his rudeness, and gave him love. It was tough. But I did let most of his rude comments go without a side glance. I felt like I was on the firing squad every time I went to work. I could barely ask a simple question without him biting my head off. Fortunately, I rode the train and bus in to work, so I always arrived 1.5-2 hours before they opened the doors. This gave me plenty of prayer time to prepare my mind. This quiet time with God really helped strengthen me against going off on him, and either hitting him, or saying something that would have been a poor reflection of Christ.
So although I was not a door mat, I endured many of his harsh comments. Rather than dishing them back, I ignored them, or did my best to have a loving attitude through it. I do recall a couple of times when I addressed some very ugly interactions with him. I prayed about those interactions. I asked the Holy Spirit to be present before saying a word. I asked Him to let my words be lead with God's love. And of course, He did.
After those two conversations, my coworker became a little more cordial with me. I remember the day he left. He even said goodbye to me, shook my hand and wished me well. I told him that it had been a pleasure meeting him, and wished the very best for him also. It was a genuine, cordial goodbye. Not one ounce of phoniness was present. I have to say, had he left a month earlier, things may have been different.
I prayed for him every night that month that I sat next to him. I prayed that God would soften his heart, and open his eyes to Him. Though he did not leave that place a Christ follower, God gave me an opportunity to plant a seed. Will he ever become a follower of Jesus? I don't know. But like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6, he planted to seed, Apollos watered it, and God gave the increase. So maybe it was me that planted the seeds for my former coworker. Hopefully after that, someone watered those seeds that were planted. Then, if it is meant for him to become a follower of Jesus, God shall give the increase.
PAG
45/365
February 14, 2015
"Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee."
I recently changed my name. It has been very interesting. Although I have been married for quite some time, I made a decision at the beginning of this year to finally change my name. I'm not sure why I didn't change it immediately, but I think I was just not prepared to take on that responsibility and commitment. I mean, I love my husband. I married him. Changing my name to match his last name wouldn't make us any more married. So I held on to my maiden name a little longer than I probably should have.
Also, I was not sure I was ready to let go of my old name. It has been such an important part of me for my entire life. It helps define who I am. So I held on. The thing is, I am no longer single. That was my single name, and I am not longer single Patricia, but I am married Patricia. Although I look the same, and have the same personality, things have changed. Therefore, I needed to update my name to match this new identity.
I was amazed at how this new identity made me feel like a different person. Whenever I hear my old name, it seems odd to me. I am reminded that I am no longer that person. I am someone else, with a new identity.
God also changed a few names in the Bible. I thought about this and wondered, What is the significance of a name change? When God changed Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah and Jacob to Israel, it was attached to a blessing and a promise.
God changed Abraham's name because He promised to make him a father of nations. In Hebrew, Abraham means father of many. God changed Sarah's name for the same reason. He promised her a son and to make her the mother of many. He also promised her that kings would come from her. The definition of Sarah is noblewoman, princess. When I realized the significance of name change has two key parts.
1) When God changed names, He usually did so with a promise of a blessing attached to it.
2) When God changes a name, it changes our identity and prepares us for a new role God is about to bring us into.
Abraham was to become the father of nations. God told him that through him, all nations on earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). That's a pretty significant role.
Name change in marriage signifies that you are with that person. I imagine to have your name changed by God must be a significant way of showing you are His. Not only does the name change mean that you are His, you are also a part of His family.
PAG
"Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee."
I recently changed my name. It has been very interesting. Although I have been married for quite some time, I made a decision at the beginning of this year to finally change my name. I'm not sure why I didn't change it immediately, but I think I was just not prepared to take on that responsibility and commitment. I mean, I love my husband. I married him. Changing my name to match his last name wouldn't make us any more married. So I held on to my maiden name a little longer than I probably should have.
Also, I was not sure I was ready to let go of my old name. It has been such an important part of me for my entire life. It helps define who I am. So I held on. The thing is, I am no longer single. That was my single name, and I am not longer single Patricia, but I am married Patricia. Although I look the same, and have the same personality, things have changed. Therefore, I needed to update my name to match this new identity.
I was amazed at how this new identity made me feel like a different person. Whenever I hear my old name, it seems odd to me. I am reminded that I am no longer that person. I am someone else, with a new identity.
God also changed a few names in the Bible. I thought about this and wondered, What is the significance of a name change? When God changed Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah and Jacob to Israel, it was attached to a blessing and a promise.
God changed Abraham's name because He promised to make him a father of nations. In Hebrew, Abraham means father of many. God changed Sarah's name for the same reason. He promised her a son and to make her the mother of many. He also promised her that kings would come from her. The definition of Sarah is noblewoman, princess. When I realized the significance of name change has two key parts.
1) When God changed names, He usually did so with a promise of a blessing attached to it.
2) When God changes a name, it changes our identity and prepares us for a new role God is about to bring us into.
Abraham was to become the father of nations. God told him that through him, all nations on earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). That's a pretty significant role.
Name change in marriage signifies that you are with that person. I imagine to have your name changed by God must be a significant way of showing you are His. Not only does the name change mean that you are His, you are also a part of His family.
PAG
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
44/365
February 13, 2015
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
For as long as I can remember, I have had this dream. I'm in a car, driving somewhere. Traffic is flowing quickly and smoothly. I feel comfortable behind the wheel and all is well. It must be a road trip because I find myself still behind the wheel after what seems like a while.
At some point during the dream, I realize that I am no longer in the driver's seat. I am either in the back seat laying down, or sitting in the passenger seat, and no one is driving. Immediately, I begin to panic and scramble to get to the driver's seat. But I almost never seem to gain back control of the car.
I have dreamed this dream so many times, I often wonder if this is a reflection of something going on in my life. Is God behind the wheel? And if so, am I such a control freak that I cannot comfortably allow God to be in control? When I look and don't see anyone, do my doubts keep me from remaining calm?
Faith is the substance of things hoped for. On the same note, faith is the evidence of things not yet seen. God is omnipresent. He is everywhere. He has engraved us on the palms of His hand (Isaiah 49:16). Just because we cannot see Him, doesn't mean is He isn't with us. Through faith, we believe that He is with us. Through faith, we trust that He is able to take care of us and be our hedge of protection. These dreams are symbolic of my relationship with God. I start with something in control, and in a comfort zone. I get tired, because doing the work of God is tiring when I do it on my own.
I allow God to have His rightful place as captain leading the way. Things are great, then I allow doubt and fear to get in my way. Rather than focus on God, I shift my focus to thoughts of, "Nobody is driving!" "How am I going to gain back control in time?"
How many times do we take surrender something to God, only to take it back for fear that we'll crash if we let Him keep leading us? I've done this more than I care to admit. "Lord, I submit this to you. Do what you will with it. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen." But then things don't go the way I expect them to go, or everything seems to be out of control, or better yet, I start to worry because things don't look like they're going to work out the way I expect them to. Whatever the reason, I quickly take back what I submit to God, in a desperate attempt to "fix" it.
It's almost like I say to God, "Whoa! What is going on? This is not at all what I expected....let me handle it!" When our expectations do not match our circumstances, we often freak out, and take back what we already submitted to God. In so doing, our hope is that we are able to salvage more comfortable and familiar ground.
The other day I heard an incredible message related to our comfort. The pastor said, "You cannot fulfill your calling in your comfort zone." Anyone else feel convicted by that statement? God has a purpose for for each of us. He wants us to follow Jesus and do His will. If we follow Jesus, He will lead us into that purpose He has called us to. Through our obedience, He promised to bless us. He wants to bless us. One thing God did not promise was comfort through this calling.
In reality, there's a sense of insecurity in the idea of being in a car barreling down a highway at 60+ miles per hour with "no one" appearing to be in the driver's seat. But with God, no matter how scary, He has given us assurance that when we just have faith and trust in Him, we will eventually come off the highway and arrive safely at our destination. We trust Him, no matter how scary and uncomfortable things may seem, remembering that our faith in Him has nothing to do with what we see, but everything to do with who He is and what He is able to do. He wants to move us from where we are, to where we are called to be. Are you willing to relinquish your control?
PAG
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
For as long as I can remember, I have had this dream. I'm in a car, driving somewhere. Traffic is flowing quickly and smoothly. I feel comfortable behind the wheel and all is well. It must be a road trip because I find myself still behind the wheel after what seems like a while.
At some point during the dream, I realize that I am no longer in the driver's seat. I am either in the back seat laying down, or sitting in the passenger seat, and no one is driving. Immediately, I begin to panic and scramble to get to the driver's seat. But I almost never seem to gain back control of the car.
I have dreamed this dream so many times, I often wonder if this is a reflection of something going on in my life. Is God behind the wheel? And if so, am I such a control freak that I cannot comfortably allow God to be in control? When I look and don't see anyone, do my doubts keep me from remaining calm?
Faith is the substance of things hoped for. On the same note, faith is the evidence of things not yet seen. God is omnipresent. He is everywhere. He has engraved us on the palms of His hand (Isaiah 49:16). Just because we cannot see Him, doesn't mean is He isn't with us. Through faith, we believe that He is with us. Through faith, we trust that He is able to take care of us and be our hedge of protection. These dreams are symbolic of my relationship with God. I start with something in control, and in a comfort zone. I get tired, because doing the work of God is tiring when I do it on my own.
I allow God to have His rightful place as captain leading the way. Things are great, then I allow doubt and fear to get in my way. Rather than focus on God, I shift my focus to thoughts of, "Nobody is driving!" "How am I going to gain back control in time?"
How many times do we take surrender something to God, only to take it back for fear that we'll crash if we let Him keep leading us? I've done this more than I care to admit. "Lord, I submit this to you. Do what you will with it. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen." But then things don't go the way I expect them to go, or everything seems to be out of control, or better yet, I start to worry because things don't look like they're going to work out the way I expect them to. Whatever the reason, I quickly take back what I submit to God, in a desperate attempt to "fix" it.
It's almost like I say to God, "Whoa! What is going on? This is not at all what I expected....let me handle it!" When our expectations do not match our circumstances, we often freak out, and take back what we already submitted to God. In so doing, our hope is that we are able to salvage more comfortable and familiar ground.
The other day I heard an incredible message related to our comfort. The pastor said, "You cannot fulfill your calling in your comfort zone." Anyone else feel convicted by that statement? God has a purpose for for each of us. He wants us to follow Jesus and do His will. If we follow Jesus, He will lead us into that purpose He has called us to. Through our obedience, He promised to bless us. He wants to bless us. One thing God did not promise was comfort through this calling.
In reality, there's a sense of insecurity in the idea of being in a car barreling down a highway at 60+ miles per hour with "no one" appearing to be in the driver's seat. But with God, no matter how scary, He has given us assurance that when we just have faith and trust in Him, we will eventually come off the highway and arrive safely at our destination. We trust Him, no matter how scary and uncomfortable things may seem, remembering that our faith in Him has nothing to do with what we see, but everything to do with who He is and what He is able to do. He wants to move us from where we are, to where we are called to be. Are you willing to relinquish your control?
PAG
43/365
February 12, 2015
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts, unto y our children: how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask Him." Luke 11:13
My son has a habit of asking for something over and over again. He is 14 months and at the age where he is pretty much like, "Gimme, gimme, gimme! NOW!" He does not have all the words yet to express himself, but he has enough to tell me what he wants.
When I was a little girl, I used to ask for things over and over again. There were times I'd get a No, so I figured continuing to ask would change the person's heart. There were also times when I would receive a Yes, but I would keep asking. For example, I would ask for a Popsicle. My Great Aunt (who raised me) would say Yes, you can have one after you eat! Okay, I'd say, Thank you. Then I would get impatient. So I would ask again. To this I would receive one of the following answers, "Yes." "I already said yes." And depending on how many times I asked, I'd also get a, "Stop asking or my yes will become a no!"
Fortunately, God does not get tired of us asking. But there is something to think about. Jesus told us whatever we ask the father in His name, we will receive it. So then why do we continue asking after we've already prayed about it? There is something to be said about continuing to pray. In Luke 18:1-8 the persistent widow got what she wanted by not letting up and continuing to ask the judge.
But there is something to be said of our faith when we ask God only once and follow Jesus' example, we believe that we receive it. Then rather than continuing to ask God for what we already have in prayer, we thank Him for it believing we have received it until we do.
Much like my Popsicle. Had I followed the example, I would have said thank you. And gone about my business with the faith and knowledge that I would receive my Popsicle after I ate.
We often pray with an reluctant spirit, as if to say, "Lord, would you do this? But if not...okay, no problem..." If your child asked you for a snack at breakfast time, and you told them, "Yes, you can have one later." How would it look for them to continue asking for one? You've already given the answer. So then, the most sensible response is to say, "Thank you." and move on.
Let's take it a step further, if you request time off from your boss, and they tell you yes. Would you continue asking them to take time off for that same time period? If so, they might have some concerns.
Jesus tells us that we are evil in comparison to God. But we, much like God, love our children. So if our children ask for something, we give it to them. God is so much more holy and wonderful than we will ever be. He is also so much more loving of us than we could be toward our own children. Imagine that. Take all the love you have for your child, multiply it by the biggest known number and cube it. Whatever amount you get doesn't even come close to the amount of love God has for us. So if we as "evil" parents can give our children good gifts, how much more will God give to us who ask Him?
Yes, sometimes we do have to be persistent like the widow in our prayers. But when we ask for something and God says yes, we must learn to be patient. We thank Him, and praise Him as we wait. In the praise and thanksgiving, there is trust. There is trust that God will do what He said He would do. There is trust, because we believe He is able and He will answer our prayers. Finally, there is trust that we need not keep asking Him because He already said Yes!
PAG
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts, unto y our children: how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask Him." Luke 11:13
My son has a habit of asking for something over and over again. He is 14 months and at the age where he is pretty much like, "Gimme, gimme, gimme! NOW!" He does not have all the words yet to express himself, but he has enough to tell me what he wants.
When I was a little girl, I used to ask for things over and over again. There were times I'd get a No, so I figured continuing to ask would change the person's heart. There were also times when I would receive a Yes, but I would keep asking. For example, I would ask for a Popsicle. My Great Aunt (who raised me) would say Yes, you can have one after you eat! Okay, I'd say, Thank you. Then I would get impatient. So I would ask again. To this I would receive one of the following answers, "Yes." "I already said yes." And depending on how many times I asked, I'd also get a, "Stop asking or my yes will become a no!"
Fortunately, God does not get tired of us asking. But there is something to think about. Jesus told us whatever we ask the father in His name, we will receive it. So then why do we continue asking after we've already prayed about it? There is something to be said about continuing to pray. In Luke 18:1-8 the persistent widow got what she wanted by not letting up and continuing to ask the judge.
But there is something to be said of our faith when we ask God only once and follow Jesus' example, we believe that we receive it. Then rather than continuing to ask God for what we already have in prayer, we thank Him for it believing we have received it until we do.
Much like my Popsicle. Had I followed the example, I would have said thank you. And gone about my business with the faith and knowledge that I would receive my Popsicle after I ate.
We often pray with an reluctant spirit, as if to say, "Lord, would you do this? But if not...okay, no problem..." If your child asked you for a snack at breakfast time, and you told them, "Yes, you can have one later." How would it look for them to continue asking for one? You've already given the answer. So then, the most sensible response is to say, "Thank you." and move on.
Let's take it a step further, if you request time off from your boss, and they tell you yes. Would you continue asking them to take time off for that same time period? If so, they might have some concerns.
Jesus tells us that we are evil in comparison to God. But we, much like God, love our children. So if our children ask for something, we give it to them. God is so much more holy and wonderful than we will ever be. He is also so much more loving of us than we could be toward our own children. Imagine that. Take all the love you have for your child, multiply it by the biggest known number and cube it. Whatever amount you get doesn't even come close to the amount of love God has for us. So if we as "evil" parents can give our children good gifts, how much more will God give to us who ask Him?
Yes, sometimes we do have to be persistent like the widow in our prayers. But when we ask for something and God says yes, we must learn to be patient. We thank Him, and praise Him as we wait. In the praise and thanksgiving, there is trust. There is trust that God will do what He said He would do. There is trust, because we believe He is able and He will answer our prayers. Finally, there is trust that we need not keep asking Him because He already said Yes!
PAG
42/365
February 11, 2015
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16
When I originally thought to write about this, it was based on the second part. How often we hear the second part of this verse quoted unattached to the first part. God created us for community. The definition of fellowship is friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests.
Christ followers are not called to live in a bubble away from the rest of the world. But they are called to be in fellowship with each other. Hebrews 10:25 says that we are not to forsake the gathering of ourselves together. We are to encourage one another and confess to each other and pray for each other. As we confess our sins to each other, we shine light on dark areas. Hebrews 3:13 says, encourage one another daily as long as it is called 'Today', so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
When we see a brother or sister fall into sin, we are to bring it to their attention. We first confront them in love (Matthew 18:15). Jesus said that if we have anything against our brother or sister (in Christ) we are to confess it to them and attempt to make peace with them before presenting an offering. Confession clears the way to prayer.
The second part is that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much. We confess our sins and our brother and sisters pray for us. Sin holds us down. It keeps us chained to a burden God never meant for us to bear. Confession helps free us of that burden. It sheds light in dark areas, it can help you begin taking steps to work on the area you have confessed about. Sharing it with someone also helps hold you accountable over that area where sin lurks. Furthermore, confession of sin to another is helpful because when they pray for us, it can help encourage our hearts through the words they speak.
Confession also opens the door for prayer and receiving God's blessings. It is hard to receive blessings when you are holding on to a burden. Let it go.
When we confess our sins, we are able to draw closer to Jesus, we ourselves are not righteous. The Bible says that none are righteous. Romans 3:10. Not one! But Jesus is. Through Him, we have salvation. Through Him, our sins are forgiven and through Him, we are made righteous. We confess and recognize that we are out of alignment with Jesus. We admit that we need Him to remain in that alignment. He is the only one able to forgive us of our sins.
We confess to one another are are made righteous through the redeeming blood of Jesus.
PAG
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16
When I originally thought to write about this, it was based on the second part. How often we hear the second part of this verse quoted unattached to the first part. God created us for community. The definition of fellowship is friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests.
Christ followers are not called to live in a bubble away from the rest of the world. But they are called to be in fellowship with each other. Hebrews 10:25 says that we are not to forsake the gathering of ourselves together. We are to encourage one another and confess to each other and pray for each other. As we confess our sins to each other, we shine light on dark areas. Hebrews 3:13 says, encourage one another daily as long as it is called 'Today', so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
When we see a brother or sister fall into sin, we are to bring it to their attention. We first confront them in love (Matthew 18:15). Jesus said that if we have anything against our brother or sister (in Christ) we are to confess it to them and attempt to make peace with them before presenting an offering. Confession clears the way to prayer.
The second part is that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much. We confess our sins and our brother and sisters pray for us. Sin holds us down. It keeps us chained to a burden God never meant for us to bear. Confession helps free us of that burden. It sheds light in dark areas, it can help you begin taking steps to work on the area you have confessed about. Sharing it with someone also helps hold you accountable over that area where sin lurks. Furthermore, confession of sin to another is helpful because when they pray for us, it can help encourage our hearts through the words they speak.
Confession also opens the door for prayer and receiving God's blessings. It is hard to receive blessings when you are holding on to a burden. Let it go.
When we confess our sins, we are able to draw closer to Jesus, we ourselves are not righteous. The Bible says that none are righteous. Romans 3:10. Not one! But Jesus is. Through Him, we have salvation. Through Him, our sins are forgiven and through Him, we are made righteous. We confess and recognize that we are out of alignment with Jesus. We admit that we need Him to remain in that alignment. He is the only one able to forgive us of our sins.
We confess to one another are are made righteous through the redeeming blood of Jesus.
PAG
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