Wow! What an amazing weekend. Yesterday, I attended Daughters of the Most High a ladies conference at Unity (my home church). We were blessed by two amazing speakers: Reba Bowman and Darmaris Carbaugh. Both ladies were used by God to touch my hearts core. Throughout this conference, I had several eye opening moments. One such moment was when the question "are you a follower of Christ" was asked.
Well, obviously my initial answer was "yes...I'm saved and in His word daily". As the day unfolded I was really convicted of how much more there is to following Christ then simply those things. It is a daily surrendering of ourselves to our Lord. We must deny ourselves so that God can work through our lives to impact others. One of the speakers really convicted me with, when we do not deny ourselves we are disobeying Christ. We as Christians were made to bring honor and glory to Christ. We must decrease so he must increase (John 3:30). As a true follower of Christ we have to learn to get behind Him and allow Him to lead and guided all of our decisions. All God wants is for us to be like Him and to serve others with whatever means he has gifted us to do so.
One of the things about being a true follower that really convicted me was a daily surrendering. We must consciously surrender to His will on a daily basis. This is not some project we are starting on that "oh, I will just get to it when I can". This is our Heavenly Father and The King of Kings! We should begin our day with a prayer of total surrender to whatever His will is for our lives. God has never asked to much from us. He has always been there for us and has NEVER quit. Begin your day my laying down yourself and picking up your cross. That way God can receive all of the glory that He is due.
I definitely was blessed by going to this conference. It was a time to refocus on how to surrender to the Lord, and now I am going to react by daily taking up my cross and following Him!
:) Kristin
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Made to Crave
"Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you will I wait all the day long" Psalm 25:5
This year I have had the desire to increase the amount of reading I was (or wasn't) doing. I especially wanted to increase my Bible reading but also read more books by Christian authors. One day I was listening to K-Love while working in my classroom. In between singing at the top of my lungs (thank the Lord the rest of the school could not hear me, lol) the radio announcers began discussing a book they were currently reading: Made to Crave. The title immediately caught my attention. Their discussion centered around how we as Christians have the ultimate support system in our strongholds, GOD! As I worked and listened, the more I wanted this book.
After purchasing the book, I immediately dove right in. The message behind the book is to not let food, weight,working out or our skinny jeans be our stronghold. If we try to find happiness in those things we will set ourselves up for failure. When we let failure get root in our hearts and minds we are letting Satan win. This was one of those WOW moments for me while I was reading. The author, Lysa TerKeurst write that we are made to crave however "we'll have to redirect our cravings to God.". Mark 8:34 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Lysa adds "with Jesus, if we want to gain, we must give up. If we want to be filled, we must deny ourselves. If we want to truly get close to God, we'll have to distance ourselves from other things." This was such an easy read. It will definitely change your perspective on making sure God is the center of your hearts desires.
I really loved this book. It is amazing all the lessons God can teach your through a book designed to give you a biblical perspective to healthy living. I really learned that I had a stronghold with certain friends in my life. I really had to pray and seek Gods face to know whether or not they should be in my life. Instead of having my pity party of one I had to rely on God's strength to follow His will. While following His will in this situation I have left myself feeling weak however, "weakness is hard, but doesn't have to mean defeat. It is my opportunity to experience God's power firsthand."
This book was eye opening. I am so glad that God identified the strongholds in my life and is still doing so. It is a daily battle to not let Satan win. I must daily get up "take up my cross, and follow Him." My prayer this year has been "Lord, use me". I pray that by letting go of the strongholds in my life, that will be true.
:) Kristin
This year I have had the desire to increase the amount of reading I was (or wasn't) doing. I especially wanted to increase my Bible reading but also read more books by Christian authors. One day I was listening to K-Love while working in my classroom. In between singing at the top of my lungs (thank the Lord the rest of the school could not hear me, lol) the radio announcers began discussing a book they were currently reading: Made to Crave. The title immediately caught my attention. Their discussion centered around how we as Christians have the ultimate support system in our strongholds, GOD! As I worked and listened, the more I wanted this book.
After purchasing the book, I immediately dove right in. The message behind the book is to not let food, weight,working out or our skinny jeans be our stronghold. If we try to find happiness in those things we will set ourselves up for failure. When we let failure get root in our hearts and minds we are letting Satan win. This was one of those WOW moments for me while I was reading. The author, Lysa TerKeurst write that we are made to crave however "we'll have to redirect our cravings to God.". Mark 8:34 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Lysa adds "with Jesus, if we want to gain, we must give up. If we want to be filled, we must deny ourselves. If we want to truly get close to God, we'll have to distance ourselves from other things." This was such an easy read. It will definitely change your perspective on making sure God is the center of your hearts desires.
I really loved this book. It is amazing all the lessons God can teach your through a book designed to give you a biblical perspective to healthy living. I really learned that I had a stronghold with certain friends in my life. I really had to pray and seek Gods face to know whether or not they should be in my life. Instead of having my pity party of one I had to rely on God's strength to follow His will. While following His will in this situation I have left myself feeling weak however, "weakness is hard, but doesn't have to mean defeat. It is my opportunity to experience God's power firsthand."
This book was eye opening. I am so glad that God identified the strongholds in my life and is still doing so. It is a daily battle to not let Satan win. I must daily get up "take up my cross, and follow Him." My prayer this year has been "Lord, use me". I pray that by letting go of the strongholds in my life, that will be true.
:) Kristin
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Learning
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
Right now I am listening to Chris Tomlin's "Indescribable", what an awesome description of our Saviour. He is "Indescribable, uncontainable,You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God". Lately, I have been reflecting on how good God has been to me. It is crazy when I think about how He has brought me to where I am at in life. I have always been a planner but friend, God is THE ultimate planner. Every time I think my plan is wonderful God blows me away with something I would have never considered.
This has been on my mind since starting Beth Moore's study on David. David must have been blown away by God's plan for his life. Here he was a simple shepherd boy, performing his daily duties and all of a sudden he was being anointed to be the future king! Wow, talk about plan altering. One thing that has stuck out to me so far in this study (we are only halfway through) is David's relationship with God. Every time David was planning to do something he consulted God. He made sure that The One who anointed Him and knows everything was the FIRST place he went. What conviction....how many times do I fail to go to God first with my plans?
The verse above is one of the 2 that I am memorizing this month. It truly is a reminder that I can go to God with any plan I have because He is the ultimate supplier.
Have a wonderful day friends!
Kristin :)
Monday, February 21, 2011
The Blog Bandwagon
Sooooo... I finally jumped on the "blog bandwagon". I have been considering it for a while but finally took the plunge this morning. I want this to be a place where I share my heart for God. I really want to have a heart that seeks to please Him and am striving to daily. I am currently studying David with a group of ladies from my church and it is AMAZING. One of the lesson this week is about finding strength in the Lord, not in others. Its crazy how we all, myself included, seek encouragement of others first then, when they cannot meet our needs (or how we would like them to) we finally go to God. He should be the one that defines us, not those around us. I am striving to seek God first and find strength in Him. (1 Samuel 30:6). There are many days that I fail at this, however with consistent prayer, studying the word and accountability my heart will be molded to please only God.
I know this is short....I am so not a writer. More to come soon :) Any suggestions of topics would be great!
Here is Barlow Girls, Mirror. The lyrics and video are posted below. Take time to watch and listen. I hope God blesses you all with a wonderful day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsptGe50J40
I know this is short....I am so not a writer. More to come soon :) Any suggestions of topics would be great!
Here is Barlow Girls, Mirror. The lyrics and video are posted below. Take time to watch and listen. I hope God blesses you all with a wonderful day!
Mirror, Mirror on the wall, Have I got it?
'Cause Mirror you've always told me who I am
I'm finding it's not easy to be perfect
So sorry you won't define me
Sorry you don't own me
Who are you to tell me
That I'm less than what I should be?
Who are you? Who are you?
I don't need to listen
To the list of things I should do
I won't try, I won't try
Mirror I am seeing a new reflection
I'm looking into the eyes
of He who made me
And to Him I have beauty beyond compare
I know He defines me (Yeah)
Who are you tell me
that I'm less than what I should be
Who are you?
Who are you? (Yeah)
I don't need to listen
To the list of things I should do
I won't try, no, I won't try
You don't define me (You don't define me) [x4]
Who are you to tell me
That I'm less than what I should be
Who are you?
Who are you?
Yeah!
I don't need to listen
To the list of things I should do
I won't try, no, I won't try
Yeah
Who are you to tell me
That I'm less than what I should be
Who are you?
Who are you?
Yeah
I don't need to listen
To the list of things I should do
I won't try, no, I won't try
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsptGe50J40
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