She Prays Daily

Women, we are beautiful inside and out.  We are told that and we still refuse to listen or believe the truth that is spoken.  Why are we beautiful? 

Because inside of us lives something so perfect that any blemish or fault is surpassed. His name is Jesus and He trumps all of our insecurities, fears, failures, and definitely imperfections! These next few blogs I want to talk to y’all about the qualities of being a godly woman because sometimes we need to be challenged and reminded of the power we have in Jesus name!

A godly woman prays daily.

If you are like me, you can relate in that prayer is sometimes a last ditch effort. But God created it to be more powerful than a contingency plans! So why does a godly woman pray daily?

1. She recognizes that she cannot control everything. Prayer brings peace and contentment because it trumps any worry and anxiety. You have to put everything in Gods hands because that is where it belongs! 

2. Prayer is Power → Prayer wages war past this temporary life into the invisible realm. James 6:12 reminds us of our enemy that rules over this present darkness. 

3. From past experiences I have found that it is impossible to hate someone that you pray for. “There is nothing that makes us love a person so much as for praying for them.” We are instructed by God to pray for each other! Which leads me into my last point.

4. Prayer heals brokenness. James 5:13-20 […And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person; the Lord will raise them up.  If they have sinned they will be forgiven… pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.]

How to pray:

1. “Pray as if everything depended on your prayer.” –William Booth

2. Pray from your heart. In the Bible we often see the religious leaders pray long and repetitious prayers that lack passion and life. 

3. Pray with faith and ask for spiritual wisdom. James 1:6 [But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.]

4. Pray with vulnerability, love is vulnerable. We are helpless without God and He knows that. He wants us to bring our brokenness to His feet rather than carrying it on our backs. Exodus 14:14 [The Lord will fight for you, you only need to be still.]

A limitless God

Have you ever walked into a week knowing that it was going to relentlessly challenge you physically and mentally? Knowing that there was a chance you might not make it?

Since I have been at TBS (The Basic School for Marine Officers) I have gone week in and week out putting limits on my performance. Constantly telling myself that I am not good enough or that I am unqualified for what God has called me to do. This week God proved me wrong.

This week was range week, a week that physically pushes you and then physically demands performance, day in and out. Every day we would hike 2.2 miles to the range at 0500, shoot all day, and then creatively hike/run/carry each other back...

MY point is that every day was challenging. Life is challenging. However, my first mistake was limiting myself on Sunday. I told God that I wasn't capable of performing/qualifying on Friday because I would be too exhausted and fatigued from the week.

God did immeasurably more. He carried me to and from the range everyday and not only that, he equipped me to perform and qualify. What is so awesome is that I was able to see God in control of every trigger pull and not myself. I let go of all my ability. He carried my strains, my blisters, my pain, my discomfort, and most importantly he carried my mind. He proved to me that I was capable of something I had never done before. I was so capable of shooting that He pushed me to score the highest level. He removed the limit I placed on my ability to serve Him.

When shooting a rifle there are simple fundamentals that can immensely affect your performance if not mastered. IF you do not spend time practicing and repeating, you do not build the necessary muscle memory needed under pressure. IT is like having a relationship with God. When you do not spend time in prayer and reading the Bible, you struggle when you face pressure and stress because you turn to your abilities and limits rather than Gods unlimited ability.

IF you are not used to the recoil, the pressure/release of the trigger, or the sound of the fire you will hesitate, anticipate, or even jerk the weapon. Ultimately failing to perform. When God has called you to something in life He will carry you through the storms, the struggles, and challenged. Sometimes I forget how easy it is to read the Bible and how God speaks so much truth into my life through it. This week my life verse was:
 Psalm 18:32-36 [God arms me with strength and He makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights. He trains my hands for battle, He strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.]
He wants us to spend time with Him, get to know Him and His character. So that when we do face trials and challenges we don't look to our own ability, rather we look to His limitless ability to carry us through anything.

Ephesians 5:23 [Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.] 

Coming Out of the Closet!

What are you doing right now that requires faith?

This is a tough question that everyone answers differently because each of our walks with the Lord are unique. But an even tougher question is:

Have you come out of the closet about your faith?

For so long, I hid behind my faith. I was afraid I would be called a hypocrite or liar. But then I realized that at the end of the day I am a hypocrite and liar; I am human, but because of my faith I do not carry the shame and guilt of my actions. I have faith, faith that has changed my heart towards living for more than the approval of man. Faith that offers forgiveness. Faith that is capable of moving mountains, calming seas, and even changing a harden heart such as mine.

So... Why come out of the closet about my faith?
I realized that all my flaws and failures do not define me, my identity in Christ defines me. My security and foundation is in Him, and I am part of His body. (1 Peter 2:5)

1. Why? You get to live to honor God:
It sounds so easy but it is hard. Even I catch myself comparing my actions with the old law. It is a trap that satan uses to negate believers. Because of Christ sacrifice we no longer are under the old covenant of the law. We are set free to live a life honoring God, yet not burdened by out faults and failures. When you change your lifestyle people will notice, the fruit of the spirit flows from your actions and behaviors. 
Ephesians 5:8-9 [for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.]

2. How: Go and preach the gospel to all nations:
What does this even mean? You may say I have no money to travel, let alone the time to learn another language. Well there are multiple options, 1. There are international organizations in place that preach the gospel to foreign nations. For as little as $38 a month, you can sponsor a child in a foreign country, so that they may hear the gospel (http://www.compassion.com/). or 2. You can sponsor a missionary in their work abroad with money or supplies. After Jesus arose from the grave he proclaimed the gospel to the eleven commanding them to:
Mark 16:15 [And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.]

3. Conclusion: Love will have the final word:
What is love? that one will lay down their life for another? That is the ultimate act of love. A scandalous act by Jesus to offer us hope. He is the shepard that knew his sheep were helpless without him.
Mark 10:14-18 [“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3amV1cgARHI 

Pursue

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah are the words we cry out in church as we praise our one true God. But is this a cry for help or a declaration of praise? As we walk through life we face many trial small and big. At times we can handle them on our own, but what happens when we can't handle the trial. Do we cry out Hallelujah exalting God for an opportunity to grow closer to Him through faith or do we turn from Him in anger?

How do we pursue a relationship with God? It seems intimidating, overwhelming, and probably awkward at times! I completely understand I have been there; living in shame, guilt, and loneliness for my behavior. But fortunately that is not the God we serve, He adores us despite our flaws and failures. So where do we start? Well, relationships take time! We all remember our high school days! The day to day survival of trying to make friends. It didn't happen over night! 

Relationships take time,sacrifice,

and encounters over a long period of time.

You want to encounter God, you need to spend time with Him. Some ways that I encounter God on a daily basis:

1. Spend Time in the Word:

Time and Time again girls ask me for advice. Where does that advice come from, the Lord. The more time you spend in the Word the more wisdom and discernment the Lord gives you, to guide you through life.

Psalm 119:115 [Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path]

2. When you don't understand, ask Him!

There are times that things don't make sense when we read. But God is a living God, that is why He has given us the Holy Spirit as a "helper/teacher" I know it may seem awkward at first, because you may not feel like the Spirit is responding but that is because you aren't used to hearing His voice. The more time you spend with a friend the more quickly you recognize their voice. The Spirit speaks uniquely to you.

John 14:26 [But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.]

James 1:5-6 [ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.]

3. When you have a bad day, tell Him:

I journal all of my thoughts, bad days, good days, or even funny days. When I journal it is easy for me to encounter God because I know that He can handle my problems way better than most of my friends. 

Psalm 1:2-3 [But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditation on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.] 

Post-Hibernation!

It has been a long time since I have last post but I feel as if the Lord has put something profound on my heart recently. So hold on tight :)

First, I want you to first think of your favorite animal that hibernates. Okay got it? Mine is a chipmunk! Second, why do these animals hibernate? Answer! The most notorious reasons is that they are conserving energy and surviving the cold winter months where there is limited food supply.

Now, think about your relationship with God. Are you in a hibernating season? A season in which you make every possible excuse to avoid talking about Him? Or maybe you are in a season in which you feel hopeless, never satisfied resorting to worldly material items to get you through the long winter months? And finally, maybe you are just in a season in which you love God but you feel as if your relationship is not progressing, you feel stagnant in your walk?

Well these are all awesome places to be because God promises us hope regardless of our circumstances. When an animal awakes from hibernation they are starving, the first thing they do is look for food. Are you thirsty? Do you hunger for more satisfaction in life?

Because of Jesus we have been offered more satisfaction, because He has promised us that "everything is beautiful in His timing." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

All of this to say that no matter where you are in your walk (season) with the Lord, regardless of if it exist to if you are just taking a break; His love for us never fails and He desires to have a relationship with you. We are relational people who desire to be loved which is perfect because God is a relation God who desires to love us.
Psalm 63: 1-8
"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my flesh faints for you; as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in my sanctuary, behold your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands..."

What does love look like?

This question is something I can't answer. There is nothing here on earth that compares to the Love Christ has shed upon my life. I  have searched and searched. I tried everything; romance left me vulnerable and an emotional wreck, monetary bliss left me empty, fiscal happiness left me broke (Hebrews 13:5).

This kind of love sustains life. This love is constant (Jeremiah 31:3), never failing (Romans 8:31), never fading, and most certainly never ending (John 3:16). This kind of love disciplines. It breaks down pride to develop desire. This kind of love never has selfish motives. Isaiah 49:16, We are inscribed on the palms of His hands.

This kind of love has filled and overflowed my cup. I look back on my life and realize how lost and broken I was without this love (Revelation 21:4). This love exist because of Jesus. The sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21), death, and resurrection enabled this kind of love to even exist (Romans 5:8). This love  looks at me with arms wide open, knowing that I will fail. This kind of love is vulnerable, knowing that it will be rejected. This kind of love desires our attention, our love, and our affection.

In times of worship this love reveals truth to our hearts. This kind of love is unnatural to man, and cannot be described by the human language, because it is a feeling. A feeling only experienced in a relationship with a living God! So thankful and blessed to experience this love. This love promises over and over again to never leave us (Isaiah 41:10).

Studying the word tonight and this song touched my heart :) Over and Over again this love is revealed and presented to those who love Him and surrender their life to Him. There is nothing to lose, except your baggage, pain, guilt, sorrow, sadness, and hatred. This kind of love fills you will joy, identity, reliance, love, security, and most importantly hope in such a broken and dark world. This love desired me, even when I rejected it. It  fought for me, when I fought against it. This love is so powerful it took all my broken pieces and glued them back together. This looks and me the way It looks at His son, Jesus. This love continues to set me apart and renew my heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2ZCIp0HiRo

Just Shut Up

These past few weeks have been really tough for me. I had broken a rule at VMI and rather than submit and accept my punishment I reluctantly complained about how stupid or unfair I thought it was. What I failed to recognize was what God was trying to teach me through this.  God is not a harsh or mean God, He is a God that disciplines His children in ways that they can grow closer to Him and glorify Him with their actions.God just wanted me to shut up because my flesh was not bringing glory to Him but that of myself. I know this may sound crazy but God wanted to discipline my tongue in a way in which would bring glory to Him. 

Hebrews 12:5-7 says... "And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,'My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,    

and don’t give up when he corrects you.

For the Lord disciplines those he loves,    

and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.' 

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?"

Like a father, He was trying to discipline my behavior because He loves me and I represent Him. As I reflect today I recognize that I failed to ask Him to help me during this time, in which I relied on my flesh to provide for me. Rather than turn to Him in prayer. 

I encourage you this week to really seek Him out in your daily prayer life. Ask Him to show you what in your life is detracting from His glory:
In other words what actions or behaviors you partake in are ruining not only your reputation but more importantly His?

For me it was my mouth.  The greatest tragedy in this whole situation was that I failed to turn to Him and ultimately misrepresented who He is in my life. His love for me showed me that there is nothing I could do but recognize the freedom I have because of Him.