We look forward to hearing from you.
~* Erica *~
We may not have it all together, but together we have it all. Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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We look forward to hearing from you.
We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.
We look forward to hearing from you.
We may not have it all together, but together we have it all. 
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Illusions by Michelle Meadows
Illusions
I pulled out my trusty faithful jeans. You know the ones. No matter if I have failed to exercise for the past two weeks (who am I kidding two months) or overeaten all weekend, they always fit. They stretch with me, they give just a little. Except this time...not so much. Unfortunately, jeans were getting limited in my dresser, so these would have to do. I pulled out shirt after shirt. Nothing to hide the extra luggage I was carrying in the back. So I threw on a tank top and layered it with a button down shirt. I smiled at my image in the mirror. Thankfully all the right body parts were hidden under the layers of material. I liked the illusion that it created - the illusion that I hadn't put on 15 happily married pounds.
But, it was an illusion. I couldn't help but ponder that. Illusions. The devil is the master of illusions. Often he creates a cover or finds us a "bigger shirt" to hide the real issue. As women it is easy to fall prey to the illusion that "shirt" presents. It makes us comfortable. The challenge comes in facing that we are not called to be comfortable, rather to live out God's word; to be active in our faith. Scripture tells us that faith without action is dead (James 2:17 NIV). We must not allow ourselves to get lazy in God and then try to cover it up with a bigger shirt. I felt that my laziness with my lost workout was reflective of my relationship with God. I wasn't working to keep myself fit; I wasn't working to keep myself strong in Him.
I encourage you today to build a relationship with Jesus. It has to start there. It begins by reading God's word. It begins by arming ourselves with the tools necessary to fight off Satan. God's word is truth (Hebrews 5:12). We can stand on the promises He has made. In order to become confident in what God has promised, we must know Scripture.
My goal is to allow Christ to work through me to enable me to write analogies for women of today. Women that crave for the Word of God. Women that desire that relationship with Christ. But most especially for those women that feel that they do not have a way to uncover the truth that the Bible provides us with.
I have been that woman. I have faltered when opening the Bible. I have panicked and known the uncertainty of where to turn in Scripture. I grew up barely opening a Bible. I went to church, every Sunday, but in the Catholic Church, the priest was responsible for the Gospel of Christ. Even early on I had a hunger for God's Word. I volunteered at every opportunity to read the first or second reading that the lay person was allowed to read. I didn't understand that hunger to read God's word, but knew that He wanted me to do it. I understand now that I realized the necessity of being armed in God's Army with the tools He provides us with, but at the time I just heard that small whisper from God telling me to read.
I only read out loud in church every couple of months when I was growing up, and I did not feel comfortable opening the Bible on my own. Years went by and I realized there was something so terribly wrong but could not put my finger on it.
Years later I was let to a Baptist church. Yes, from Catholic to Baptist. It was an incredible difference. However it wasn't the denomination that made the difference, only the complete and total urgency that was put on my relationship with Jesus. Change comes from that relationship. And my earlier hunger for Scripture grew to an unquenchable desire to dive into the Word and learn what He has promised.
The hunger for God's Word is so strong He told me to make a career change and focus on His word and how I can help others discover their own hunger. He called me to take classes in Spiritual counseling, so that I may lead others to Him and the change that He provides through reading His word. I still have much to learn, but the hunger continues to grow. I am still learning Scripture, as we are all still learning. Do not be discouraged by those that spout off Scripture. He will lead you to what He wants you to know first and then He will build you up in the wisdom and understanding of His word. There are no illusions in His Word. His word is Truth. You can fully rely on it.
So this is for the women who are uncertain of where to start. For those who struggle with the chapters, the length, and the overwhelming complexity they feel the Bible presents. This is a chance to breathe in God's word freely and without judgment. Sisters in Christ, we need to know His word. We have to be ready for the attacks that are certain to come. I ask you to learn with me, grow with me, dig deep withe me. I want to know.
Heavenly Father, lead us to the Scripture that you desire us to hear in this moment. You know what we need to hear, you know our very hearts. Guide us to Your words of comfort. Guide us to Your words of love and promise. Help us to write Scripture on our heart so that we may have Your Word deep within us. We want to know you. We love you. In Jesus' name we pray - Amen.
Michelle Meadows
Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.
I pulled out my trusty faithful jeans. You know the ones. No matter if I have failed to exercise for the past two weeks (who am I kidding two months) or overeaten all weekend, they always fit. They stretch with me, they give just a little. Except this time...not so much. Unfortunately, jeans were getting limited in my dresser, so these would have to do. I pulled out shirt after shirt. Nothing to hide the extra luggage I was carrying in the back. So I threw on a tank top and layered it with a button down shirt. I smiled at my image in the mirror. Thankfully all the right body parts were hidden under the layers of material. I liked the illusion that it created - the illusion that I hadn't put on 15 happily married pounds.
But, it was an illusion. I couldn't help but ponder that. Illusions. The devil is the master of illusions. Often he creates a cover or finds us a "bigger shirt" to hide the real issue. As women it is easy to fall prey to the illusion that "shirt" presents. It makes us comfortable. The challenge comes in facing that we are not called to be comfortable, rather to live out God's word; to be active in our faith. Scripture tells us that faith without action is dead (James 2:17 NIV). We must not allow ourselves to get lazy in God and then try to cover it up with a bigger shirt. I felt that my laziness with my lost workout was reflective of my relationship with God. I wasn't working to keep myself fit; I wasn't working to keep myself strong in Him.
I encourage you today to build a relationship with Jesus. It has to start there. It begins by reading God's word. It begins by arming ourselves with the tools necessary to fight off Satan. God's word is truth (Hebrews 5:12). We can stand on the promises He has made. In order to become confident in what God has promised, we must know Scripture.
My goal is to allow Christ to work through me to enable me to write analogies for women of today. Women that crave for the Word of God. Women that desire that relationship with Christ. But most especially for those women that feel that they do not have a way to uncover the truth that the Bible provides us with.
I have been that woman. I have faltered when opening the Bible. I have panicked and known the uncertainty of where to turn in Scripture. I grew up barely opening a Bible. I went to church, every Sunday, but in the Catholic Church, the priest was responsible for the Gospel of Christ. Even early on I had a hunger for God's Word. I volunteered at every opportunity to read the first or second reading that the lay person was allowed to read. I didn't understand that hunger to read God's word, but knew that He wanted me to do it. I understand now that I realized the necessity of being armed in God's Army with the tools He provides us with, but at the time I just heard that small whisper from God telling me to read.
I only read out loud in church every couple of months when I was growing up, and I did not feel comfortable opening the Bible on my own. Years went by and I realized there was something so terribly wrong but could not put my finger on it.
Years later I was let to a Baptist church. Yes, from Catholic to Baptist. It was an incredible difference. However it wasn't the denomination that made the difference, only the complete and total urgency that was put on my relationship with Jesus. Change comes from that relationship. And my earlier hunger for Scripture grew to an unquenchable desire to dive into the Word and learn what He has promised.
The hunger for God's Word is so strong He told me to make a career change and focus on His word and how I can help others discover their own hunger. He called me to take classes in Spiritual counseling, so that I may lead others to Him and the change that He provides through reading His word. I still have much to learn, but the hunger continues to grow. I am still learning Scripture, as we are all still learning. Do not be discouraged by those that spout off Scripture. He will lead you to what He wants you to know first and then He will build you up in the wisdom and understanding of His word. There are no illusions in His Word. His word is Truth. You can fully rely on it.
So this is for the women who are uncertain of where to start. For those who struggle with the chapters, the length, and the overwhelming complexity they feel the Bible presents. This is a chance to breathe in God's word freely and without judgment. Sisters in Christ, we need to know His word. We have to be ready for the attacks that are certain to come. I ask you to learn with me, grow with me, dig deep withe me. I want to know.
Heavenly Father, lead us to the Scripture that you desire us to hear in this moment. You know what we need to hear, you know our very hearts. Guide us to Your words of comfort. Guide us to Your words of love and promise. Help us to write Scripture on our heart so that we may have Your Word deep within us. We want to know you. We love you. In Jesus' name we pray - Amen.
Michelle Meadows
Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.
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