God is faithful to always send encouragement. #Godstiming

I got a card in the mail today from a friend of mine’s mom. She has always been encouraging to me and found some scripture that she felt would be encouraging to me. God’s timing is perfect because I had a long week. It was a good week, but draining after a while. 

The story does not stop there. Then I was asked to meet with a church about a job which they offered me a position. I did not tell many people but I did seek wise counsel and even in that the Lord stripped me of having them to run to for THE answer. Instead, I had no one around me and I knew I had to make a decision so I had no one but the Lord to depend on for the answer and the PEACE that surpasses all understanding. All of the points of the job offered to me was RIGHT UP MY ALLEY… but I could not seem to get a peace. I could not pinpoint why but I think the timing of it was the only explanation I could come up with. I didn’t feel like the Lord was done with what I could do at CSU next year.

I’ve often wondered what it really mean to have a peace from the Lord felt like, sounded like, looked like. And I have had people ask me how I knew I had a peace about staying. I think in the pit of your gut you will know what is the right thing. Being a logical reasoner and relying on that so often was tough when Jon said that peace overrides logic. So I had to almost “retrain” my heart and mind to know what to look for and what the voice of God sounds like. As you saw above His voice sounded like a praise song, His voice sounded like a conversation with a friend, His voice sounded like the truth straight from His truth in the scriptures.

I am thankful to have finally been obedient to slow down long enough to hear what the Lord was speaking to me through so many ways. How do you hear the voice of God? Do you have big decisions coming your way and you’re looking for a peace about it? Don’t overlook the answer…God will use people, things, circumstance, His word and other ways!

A few years ago, I had the privilege to meet Kelsey who played basketball for CSU. She is from Abilene, TX and was a stellar player. Over time she and I became close and I began mentoring her. I had a very neat opportunity to visit her and her amazing family in Abilene, TX over that summer for my Birthday. We got to see John Mayer and Colbie Callait in concert in Dallas, ate snow cones and mexican, and did the touristy thing! I also had the privilege to see her Baptized at the beach. (check out that blog http://tamodom.net/2008/09/08/kelseys-baptism/)

Over time we went different directions again with her being busy with basketball and me with work. Hard to believe that the the final game has come and gone in the Buc Dome. None the less, I am definitely one proud fan and friend!

Kelsey – I want you to know that you have so much to offer the world! My prayer is that you would seek the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding but acknowledge HIM (prov 3:5-6). I also pray that you would fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith that Paul tells us about in 2 Timothy 4:7. I know you have a kind heart and the Lord longs for you to bring Him and the Father in Heaven all the praise and glory. Keep your eye on the prize and always turn to the living WORD of GOD for wisdom and comfort. You’ll always be my thug even back to the rock band in Club 535, the iChat days, texting long conversations, my trip to Abilene, sonic talks, and cheering you on in the Buc Dome. Thank you for the privilege and life lessons! I love you THUG!

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Dr. Waylon B. Moore has a website where he shares 8 tips to memorizing scripture so that you will instantly recall it. Here they are:

1. Plan & Prepare
2. Passage
3. Paste the Reference
4. Phrase by Phrase
5. Perfect
6. Partner
7. Ponder
8. Persistence

And, here’s how I apply each suggestion in memorizing Scripture so that I never forget!

• Plan & Prepare: Make a commitment to the Lord to memorize one to three verses per week over at least a 6-month period. Use a tried memory system you can recommend to others, such as the Navigator’s Topical Memory System, instead of having to select verses from scratch. After you’ve mastered this system, add your own verses. Put each verse on a blank calling card or something of similar size. Put the cards inside a plastic or leather cardholder, which you will take along on your daily routine.
• Passage: Start memory work in your Quiet Time when possible, perhaps early in the morning. Commit to begin memorizing the first verse for the week before you eat Monday lunch. Read the Bible passage (context) where your memory verse is located. See how your verse flavors and is flavored by the verses before and after it.
• Paste the Reference: The Bible reference is like a street and house address. Learn to “glue” the Bible reference to the first words of the verse. Use this sequence: topic, reference, verse phrase, reference.
• Phrase by Phrase: Learn the verse by sections, versus all at once. For example, say “John 16:24: ‘Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name,’ John 16:24.” Quote the reference before and after, and repeat that phrase over and over. When you’re ready to add another section of the verse, start again with the reference. Learning it only a few words at a time, you can easily memorize long verses or even a chapter. “It’s a cinch by the inch, but hard by the yard.”
• Perfect: Strive for word perfection. Use whatever translation touches your mind and heart. I have learned more verses in the King James Version, but certain verses hit me better in newer translations. I want to eat the word ( Jeremiah 15:16) and have it in my heart like a fire ( Jeremiah 20:9).
• Partner: Memorize with a friend. Team up with your mate, brother or sister, or best friend. Check each other out. Make it fun!
• Ponder: “Chew up” the verse with meditation. Ask questions about different words. Visualize how you can apply the verse. Pulverize the verse’s meaning. The goal of meditation is the Word becoming flesh, infusing our beings! We want to be “doers of the Word, not hearers only deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22) Ask God to let this verse “dwell in your heart richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). There is a whole chapter on how to memorize and meditate with delight in our newest book, Living God’s Word, published by LifeWay Press.
• Persistence: Review, review, REVIEW the verse daily for 100 days. Reviewing isn’t the same as meditation; it’s recalling the reference with the verse and saying it perfectly. The best way to review a verse is to use the verse. Use spare time during the day, quoting the verse multiple times. Say it as you travel or wait in line. Stick a verse card on your auto dashboard, by the sink, or on a bathroom mirror. Find a small box to place verses into for later review. You can average reviewing 30 verses per day quickly.

(http://www.mentoring-disciples.org/HowToMem.html)

1. Stretched – There are two ways that I feel like I am stretched right now. One way is that  I am being stretched with my time. I don’t know how much more I could manage my time in a way to fit more in without dropping something. I am unsure that dropping something would be the first choice of someone else. The other way that I think I am being stretched is by the Lord to think about things in ways I have never thought about them. Learning to be open minded but stand firm in what I believe.

2. Weary – The bible says in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” I can confess that in the first couple weeks of the semester I was definitely growing weary. Whether or not I was doing good is questionable. My attitude was horrible and unfortunately I believe it came out at the wrong times and I was ready to give up. Is that where I am now? I don’t know but I can see how I could quickly give in to physically and emotionally being weary.

3. Doubt – I am thankful for Jude 1:22, “Be merciful to those who doubt;” Not only do I doubt who God is and His timing, but I doubt the gifting that He has given to me. I am thankful that God does not doubt me nor does he tell others to give up on me.

“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:1-2).

Doubt is everywhere. And it doesn’t cease with the coming of Jesus, either. The apostle Peter often had great faith, but he also had his moments of doubt. When Jesus walked on the water, Peter stepped out of the boat and by faith stood on the stormy sea. But then his faith gave way, and he began to sink. Jesus saved him from drowning, but he said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”(Matthew 14:31).

And of course the poster child for doubt in the Bible is the disciple Thomas, who for all time has earned the nickname “Doubting Thomas.” On the first Easter Sunday afternoon, as all the disciples were huddled in fear, the risen Christ appeared among them, to give them peace and to breathe into them the Holy Spirit. Thomas had stepped out for a few minutes, and when he returned, they all told him what had happened. What was his response? “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). He was still questioning.

Faith isn’t an emotion; faith is a decision. We decide we want to believe. Then we behave as if we do believe. Our doubts can help move us down the road of faith, as long as we don’t let them hijack the bus. The more we act faithfully, the more our relationship with God will grow.

Isn’t it funny how some times we will allow situations and people to torture us even when we KNOW it is not healthy or worthwhile? Do you ever find yourself being lured in to situations like this? Why do we open that gate and let it flood, but then whine when it does not stop? How is it possible to shut down your feelings without any baggage especially is this “trip” has been going on for an extended amount of time.

Take time to answer some of those questions and you might find that you’re not as prepared to battle this  journey alone.

I have to admit that I find myself allowing my heart to go unguarded when I am around people who I feel are trustworthy. Then in that weakness you add emotional circumstances, physical attraction, and encouraging affirmation from friends AND you just might find yourself in a mess! Now mind you this recent situation is not the FIRST time I have slipped into this trap. Yes! I went over 4 years of liking, hoping, waiting, hurting, serving and even loving this one guy who come to find out was not mutually engaged with me. Talk about tough to swallow. Why would I continue on for so long you may ask? Well, I wanted to be faithful to the desire in my heart about this guy. I listened to the words of hope, faith and promise that he said to me over those years so I continued to wait on him. More recently I struggled through the emotional roller coaster of developing feelings for someone that isn’t exactly mutually in with me! Why would I allow myself to get BACK in to a similar situation. I believe some times our desire to be loved and to love comes in different sizes and circumstances. My circumstances is that I was attracted to this man of God who knows that he has a “calling” on his life. BUT if you have ever had this happen to you then you KNOW it is not easy to hear the truth, yet very essential. Thanks to some consistent and protective friends I have been forced to see reality in TRUTH (not so sweet) and love…

This past Elevate, Jon was speaking about how Jesus became human as a test from God. He suffered and CHOOSE to be like human man to show us his allegiance to the Lord. God tested Jesus’ heart for the sake of humanity. Just like he tested his HEART…He will test our HEARTS for allegiance to His will in your own life. Webster defines allegiance as devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause. We pledge allegiance to the United States of America as we salute the American flag. Do we pledge our allegiance to the Comforter, Provider and Savior?

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?” (Pr. 20:6)

You might be asking how this relates to my trials and tribulations. Well, I believe that everything happens for a reason and as God tests my heart then He is going to use my circumstances and testimony to reach more people who are seeking wisdom! Jon went on to say, “the greater the obedience the greater the test.” I am also reminded in 1 Corinthians that God will not bring more trial on you than you can handle. Just as we were reminded that temptation does not come from the Lord, but from Satan. God just allows us to show our loyalty to His word, promises, and love by resisting that temptation. What does not kill us will only make us stronger, right?

So when I look back to these trials I am reminded that God loves me and wants me to know this kind of LOVE from a guy. The places I am seeking to “create” this love is my problem. So for mission Monday,  I am commissioning myself to seek the Lord and pledge my allegiance to HIS will. Will you do the same thing?

I want the girls I am ministering to will discover who God is and His beauty, but then discover who they are in Christ. Through this we will find ourselves to bond together and overstepping cultural boundaries. It would also drive us into community.

I hope to live rooted in the Word of God so that I can be renewed and bold!

We long to see the power of Jesus Christ come upon the people of God!

I hope this year does turn out to be “God glorified! Jesus magnified! Holy Spirit inspired!”