Invisible

"When you approach Me in stillness and in trust, you are strengthened. You need a buffer zone of silence around you in order to focus on the things that are unseen. Since I am invisible, you must not let your senses dominate your thinking. The curse of this age is over stimulation of the senses, which blocks out awareness of the unseen world." (Jesus Calling-Sarah Young)

Those are the words I found yesterday in the beginning of my quiet time. I know it is very extremely important to not confuse these words with the actual words of the Bible, and God's true words. The words above from the devotional are true and inspiring to me.

It may just be a "girl thing", but I can tend to let my senses dominate my thinking. It isn't a hard thing to do at all! I just need to trust in His presence.

2 Corinthians 4:18

King James Version (KJV)

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Different To Make A Difference!

Every once in a while I have what a few people call "Martha Moments". I get these crazy spur of the moment spiritual ideas. Sometimes I act upon them and other times I don't. At the time my thinking truly is this is what should do and needs to happen. I will normally laugh about it after realizing it probably wasn't the smartest or easiest way to complete task. :)  I am sometimes asked by girls in the Jr. Church class I help with, or by other girls in the youth group as to why I do what I do. I like to answer that with, because it made a difference.

As a Christian a lot of times people think we are suppose to be different or will associate being different with being a Christian. Those people don't quite have it right. When we are Christians we are to strive to live like Christ would. Christ did lived the perfect life. He wasn't weird or different. He was normal, and the only normal one! He lived a righteous, just and pure life. Jesus Christ was not different, He made a difference!

Since sin entered the world (Rom. 5:12) every thing became different, but it didn't start that way. That's why we call it different. Dictionary.com has the following listed as a definition for the word different: dif·fer·ent/ˈdif(ə)rənt/Adjective

1. Not the same as another or each other; unlike in nature, form, or quality.

2. Novel and unusual.

Difference is suppose to go away, for the most part, after a person comes to Christ and is reborn. (John 3:3) Sadly, this doesn't always happen. The world considers me different, because I try not to live to worldly morals/standards. Even though they are the different ones, we Christians that don't sway to some their habits get the label different.

A lot of teens struggle with being "different" and not feeling like they belong. (Romans 12:2) I used to be one of those teens! A while ago my attitude changed. If the people living of the world want to call me different, then I will be proud to be different and will strive to make a difference!

You see being different isn't bad or good. It really depends on how you view it. The important thing is to make a good difference!

We all need to be willing to not be afraid to be Different (from worldly morals and standards) and make a Difference!

A New Routine

‎2 Cor. 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Luke 9:23
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

To die and become new each day is quite some task! Have you even been in a bad mood; then you go to church or hang out with a certain group of people and are in a good mood only to go back to where you were before and be in a bad mood again?

Some may think "No, I haven't.....what is wrong with you?" but I had been going through this. For me that place of a bad mood or a bitter spirit would start when I'd start my day on face book. 

I had gotten in a routein of waking up, checking face book,  taking a shower, getting back on face book to see what a certain person was up to, then I'd get all upset and bitter. As soon as I left the apartment and got my mind off of what I saw I would be fine. I was starting my days completely wrong! The Bible tells us to take up our cross daily and to follow Him. Now I'm no expert on following Jesus that's for sure, but face book is NOT the place to start! I'm not saying face book is bad, it just isn't the place to start my day with the Lord.

A big part of my problem was that I wasn't dieing or taking up cross or becoming new. I was still in the mind set of who I wanted and where I wanted to be back in February.

On May 25, 2011, Things really just got hard. I had enough! I got out this book I had received at graduation. The book is titled "Jesus Calling" and is a devotional that is written like Jesus is writing letters that relate to your every day life. The devotional for that day read;

"The world is too much with you, my child. Your mind leaps from problem to problem to problem, tangling your thoughts in anxious knots. When you think like that, you leave Me out of your world-view and your mind becomes darken. Through I yearn to help, I will not violate your freedom. I stand silently in the background of your mind, waiting for you to remember that I am with you.

When you turn from your problems to My Presence, your load is immediately lighter. Circumstances may not have changed, but we carry your burdens your burdens together. Your compulsion to "fix" everything gives way to deep, satisfying connection with Me. Together we can handle whatever this day brings."

WOW! Yes, by this point I was very much in tears. It was as if God was saying DUH! Hello? Your not paying attention to Me! Every one's life is going to stink as bad as manure, but if you come to me and let Me help you carry your cross flowers will grow!

Isaiah 41:10
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Zephaniah 3:17

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."

My Pastor once said, "Life stinks, but God is good!" In life we all are going to go through so much. Even the little things like a blown light bulb are just going reuine your day sometimes. I've been spending more time in His work and not on the book of face. I think it's past time for a new routine! The lessons that I'm learning is:

1) Give it to God.  2) Let it go. 3) Smile and prepare to be something new eavery day. :)

‎

2 Cor. 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Luke 9:23
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."