Have you ever thought about what makes community good? I have.
I grew up in a place called Meridian, Ms. But lived in a community called "Martin". Practically, we learned a lot there.
A community is a group of people, whether religious or social, who all share the same characterisitics or interests.
I believe that real..true community are like family. My home is your home. If anyone in my community EVER asked me for anything I would be there in a heartbeat! If you're sick, I'll help take care of you until you are better. If your power goes out, come to my house in the cool air. If you lose water, bring your family to my house and I'll send my husband to help fix what he can. No food? I'll cook you dinner. Yes, I have my own family to tend to and take care of. I have a home that needs to be cleaned and I have things I want to go do. But nothing compares to the joy of helping others in need, especially when it's your "community family". God will take care of me and my family if I'm helping yours!
I would go on, but this isn't the place. So consider this just food for thought.
Our last visit to Meridian...we stopped at "hole in the wall" place called DT's. After ordering our food and preparing to pay for it we were informed that they didn't accept debit cards. And that was all we had with us! A guy we knew from the "community" we lived in stepped up and threw $15 on the counter. And he DIDN'T ask for us to repay him!! (Which we would totally do!) That is what I call community! I know that the Lord will return that blessing x100! And I pray that He does! We should all remember that! Even if God didn't repay me for blessing someone else...I would gladly and joyfully bless others! It is healing to my heart!
Do you have that in you?
Monday, August 9, 2010
A short blog of frustration.
I literally wrote a long blog about the last 2 weeks and decided it would be better if I didn't say what I really wanted to say. I'm not quite sure if anyone even reads these but just to stay on the safe side....I won't post my heart right now. Therefore, I'll let you know that my two weeks have been JAM-PACKED with a lot of frustration. I feel like I'm holding a bag of emotions and I'm running in circles. Have you ever heard that saying, "Running around like a chicken with it's head cut off"? That is exactly how I feel.
When you are at the beginning of a terrible thunderstorm, you can't see through it. But when you get half way through, you start to see the end...and the pretty blue skies. I know I just went through the beginning of my terrible thunderstorm...soon i'll see the blue sky.
When you are at the beginning of a terrible thunderstorm, you can't see through it. But when you get half way through, you start to see the end...and the pretty blue skies. I know I just went through the beginning of my terrible thunderstorm...soon i'll see the blue sky.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Are you in unity?
Unity: Noun
1. The state of being one: oneness
2. The state of fact of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole; unification.
3. Absence of diversity
4. Oneness of mind, feeling, etc. Concord harmony or agreement.
"Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, ut associate with the humle. Do not be wise in your own opinion." - Romans 12:16
"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love. Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace." - Ephesians 4:1-3
I believe that it is easy to become disunified (to destroy the unity of) with the body of Christ. I also believe that if we are not seeing the "signs and miracles" or the "revival" that we want to see it is because as a body we are not unified. If I don't truly know the people I am in company with, then how can we work together if I don't know how they work?
If I have an "issue" with someone or someone has an "issue" with me...then somewhere in my heart or theirs we have become disunified. Therefore, their fruit to the other, whether it be in spirit or not, cannot be justified. My question is: When does authority step in and take back unity? As humans there is only so far that we can go on our own to fix a problem in the body of Christ...then God, who can do ALL things, fixes...ALL things! Judgement and Gossip have slipped in and broken unity and we've all been blind.
God I pray that you will give me humility and a heart that will be unified! Help me to be patient and give allowance for other's fault. Give others the patience, humility and love they need to give me allowance for my faults. Help me be in one mind with others on and off of the platform we've been given. Last of all, teach me to love. Without love, none of this is possible. Thank you Jesus! for your blood. Amen.
Have you let yourself become disunified? Ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you your true hearts condition. Because both the inward thought and heart of man are deep....Psalm 64:6 with all the love I have to give..I love you(:
1. The state of being one: oneness
2. The state of fact of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole; unification.
3. Absence of diversity
4. Oneness of mind, feeling, etc. Concord harmony or agreement.
"Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, ut associate with the humle. Do not be wise in your own opinion." - Romans 12:16
"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love. Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace." - Ephesians 4:1-3
I believe that it is easy to become disunified (to destroy the unity of) with the body of Christ. I also believe that if we are not seeing the "signs and miracles" or the "revival" that we want to see it is because as a body we are not unified. If I don't truly know the people I am in company with, then how can we work together if I don't know how they work?
If I have an "issue" with someone or someone has an "issue" with me...then somewhere in my heart or theirs we have become disunified. Therefore, their fruit to the other, whether it be in spirit or not, cannot be justified. My question is: When does authority step in and take back unity? As humans there is only so far that we can go on our own to fix a problem in the body of Christ...then God, who can do ALL things, fixes...ALL things! Judgement and Gossip have slipped in and broken unity and we've all been blind.
God I pray that you will give me humility and a heart that will be unified! Help me to be patient and give allowance for other's fault. Give others the patience, humility and love they need to give me allowance for my faults. Help me be in one mind with others on and off of the platform we've been given. Last of all, teach me to love. Without love, none of this is possible. Thank you Jesus! for your blood. Amen.
Have you let yourself become disunified? Ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you your true hearts condition. Because both the inward thought and heart of man are deep....Psalm 64:6 with all the love I have to give..I love you(:
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
His heart.
Lately, (when I say lately I mean for months now) I have truly been praying to know the Father's heart. I want what he wants with all of my heart. His way is always perfect.
When I was a little girl my church would take groups to Guatemala. I always wanted to go but I was never old enough; once I was we had moved churches. A desire of mine was always to travel to another country, nation...jungle and tell people about JESUS! That desire never faded but was pushed way back to the bottom of my "desire" pile. I think not burning for his heart caused that result. OH, but I have been burning for a long time now...and one of his many desires has become my #1 desire again!!! I have this burning in me to go to other nations. God LOVES South America. And they are on my heart because they were first on the Father's heart. Of course I know there are many other countries He wants, but I am drawn to this one. You know when you want something so bad you can almost taste it? That is how I feel. Constant.
I love delighting myself in Him. Because soon....this desire of "OURS" will happen. Until then, I'm going to prepare myself in every way possible.
It's amazing to me...that verse: "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires." Ps 37:4 - It is so true. If we truly delight ourselves in the Lord..we fall so in love with Him and his heart. We want to know his heart and what he wants. What he wants are "desires". Then his desires become "our" desires. ....and He will give you your heart's desires. I desire South America! I desire them to KNOW Jesus Christ, the REAL Jesus!
I hear so many people here say, "I always thought I knew what I wanted...but everything has changed now." It's because we've delighted ourselves in the Lord!! Everything changes when He becomes numero uno (: I desire what He desires for the Earth and for my life. HIS WAY IS ALWAYS PERFECT!!
I'd like to encourage you today to take time to ask God what He desires. God, what is on your heart today??? I want what you want! I'll ask for the nations!
When I was a little girl my church would take groups to Guatemala. I always wanted to go but I was never old enough; once I was we had moved churches. A desire of mine was always to travel to another country, nation...jungle and tell people about JESUS! That desire never faded but was pushed way back to the bottom of my "desire" pile. I think not burning for his heart caused that result. OH, but I have been burning for a long time now...and one of his many desires has become my #1 desire again!!! I have this burning in me to go to other nations. God LOVES South America. And they are on my heart because they were first on the Father's heart. Of course I know there are many other countries He wants, but I am drawn to this one. You know when you want something so bad you can almost taste it? That is how I feel. Constant.
I love delighting myself in Him. Because soon....this desire of "OURS" will happen. Until then, I'm going to prepare myself in every way possible.
It's amazing to me...that verse: "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires." Ps 37:4 - It is so true. If we truly delight ourselves in the Lord..we fall so in love with Him and his heart. We want to know his heart and what he wants. What he wants are "desires". Then his desires become "our" desires. ....and He will give you your heart's desires. I desire South America! I desire them to KNOW Jesus Christ, the REAL Jesus!
I hear so many people here say, "I always thought I knew what I wanted...but everything has changed now." It's because we've delighted ourselves in the Lord!! Everything changes when He becomes numero uno (: I desire what He desires for the Earth and for my life. HIS WAY IS ALWAYS PERFECT!!
I'd like to encourage you today to take time to ask God what He desires. God, what is on your heart today??? I want what you want! I'll ask for the nations!
Monday, May 31, 2010
I just love Jesus!
This past "Ramp Weekend" was amazing! It was our first ramp with only Mrs. Karen and Chosen...and most importantly God. He was awesome! The first night...somehow the only room that lost power was the "sanctuary" room. And honestly it was louder than if there was power. I can't explain in words the power that I felt in that room when there was NO power!
A few weeks back I had one of the most amazing encounter's with Jesus that I have ever had in my whole life of knowing Him. All I could hear him say was, "This is me. This is me." "You don't have to imagine. This is me." Oh my! I could literally..physically feel the presence of Jesus, like I never have before! Since then...randomly in my home during prayer, I have had encounters that are almost unbelievable! He has taken me sooo deep to a place I've longed to go and keeps taking me deeper! I love being in this intimate place with my Beloved.
Basically I don't know what this blog is even about...I just LOVE Jesus!!! I love his presence! And I want more and more and more! (:
A few weeks back I had one of the most amazing encounter's with Jesus that I have ever had in my whole life of knowing Him. All I could hear him say was, "This is me. This is me." "You don't have to imagine. This is me." Oh my! I could literally..physically feel the presence of Jesus, like I never have before! Since then...randomly in my home during prayer, I have had encounters that are almost unbelievable! He has taken me sooo deep to a place I've longed to go and keeps taking me deeper! I love being in this intimate place with my Beloved.
Basically I don't know what this blog is even about...I just LOVE Jesus!!! I love his presence! And I want more and more and more! (:
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Your will, not mine.
I love revelation. I love epiphanies. Whatever you'd like to call them..I love them. We have lived in Hamilton, Al for a year now. It's hard to believe but it's true. Before moving to this place that shouldn't belong on a map, we were set. About to buy a home, bought a vehicle, and recently had a beautiful little girl. I've realized that it's not "moving to Hamilton" that turns your life upside down. It's just....Jesus. He's here. And he has a plan...and even though I sometimes..let me rephrase that USUALLY don't know what his plans are; they are always perfect. We moved here and within 3 months, as you could imagine with no jobs, were completely broke. Scrapping for pennies is an understatement. & we had left all friends and family in our hometown. As much as I love the Lord I didn't understand why this was happening to us. I tithe and give offering so it made no sense to me at all! Yet God had a plan!
I always felt like I had faith and trust in God...but I was also always secure financially and emotionally. But moving here that rug was ripped out from under us before we could blink! Every bit of faith or trust I thought I had was no where to be found. Proverbs 12:25 says, "Anxiety in the heart of a man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." Anxiety for me had sunken in...I am and always have been great with money and to not have any left me anxious and worried. We didn't know where our next paycheck would come from or how we would buy diapers for Eden when we needed them. Holy Spirit in me told me not to worry...but flesh told me it was all I could do. Yet God had a plan!! For several months we fought this storm. Not only this storm but others...But Holy Spirit told me..and still tells me not to worry.
To end this sad story, I'll tell you the end! (: I had a revelation! FINALLY, what took you so long? I'm not sure, timing I assume? And the weird thing is that I knew it all along, I just had not applied it yet. I realized that God is my provider. He gives me food, he gives me clothing and he gives me rest! Everything I need He provides. And he always did. Worrying caused me to be a double minded person. I did not truly trust and have faith in God to provide. All of a sudden Holy Spirit drowned out my flesh. I didn't hear flesh, I only heard Holy Spirit. "You don't have to worry, Sydney, I am your provider! I love you and I'll always take care of you! Abide in me and I will abide in you." I told myself this everyday over and over again. The weight was lifted and my heart was GLAD again!
One month later, after repeating this over to myself. Work came through for us! It's almost like...by TRULY having faith and trust in God...He could not only give me what I 'need' but so much more. The most wonderful gift I recieved from this long, hard and uncomfortable experience was the gift of Faith and Trust. TRUE faith and trust. God's plan was far more than I could have ever hoped that it would be! He is so awesome and I love that He loves me the way He does. I feel that if we had lived in Meridian our whole lives, kept our great jobs, had our dream home and perfect little family...I would not have been refined in such a way! I would not have recieved such a wonderful gift. Refine me like silver and gold, Jesus! Teach me to be all spirit, no flesh!
It's crazy how you never really understand until the storm is over. Then you can look back at everything you went through and go, "OH...I get it." God's got jokes. (:
I always felt like I had faith and trust in God...but I was also always secure financially and emotionally. But moving here that rug was ripped out from under us before we could blink! Every bit of faith or trust I thought I had was no where to be found. Proverbs 12:25 says, "Anxiety in the heart of a man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." Anxiety for me had sunken in...I am and always have been great with money and to not have any left me anxious and worried. We didn't know where our next paycheck would come from or how we would buy diapers for Eden when we needed them. Holy Spirit in me told me not to worry...but flesh told me it was all I could do. Yet God had a plan!! For several months we fought this storm. Not only this storm but others...But Holy Spirit told me..and still tells me not to worry.
To end this sad story, I'll tell you the end! (: I had a revelation! FINALLY, what took you so long? I'm not sure, timing I assume? And the weird thing is that I knew it all along, I just had not applied it yet. I realized that God is my provider. He gives me food, he gives me clothing and he gives me rest! Everything I need He provides. And he always did. Worrying caused me to be a double minded person. I did not truly trust and have faith in God to provide. All of a sudden Holy Spirit drowned out my flesh. I didn't hear flesh, I only heard Holy Spirit. "You don't have to worry, Sydney, I am your provider! I love you and I'll always take care of you! Abide in me and I will abide in you." I told myself this everyday over and over again. The weight was lifted and my heart was GLAD again!
One month later, after repeating this over to myself. Work came through for us! It's almost like...by TRULY having faith and trust in God...He could not only give me what I 'need' but so much more. The most wonderful gift I recieved from this long, hard and uncomfortable experience was the gift of Faith and Trust. TRUE faith and trust. God's plan was far more than I could have ever hoped that it would be! He is so awesome and I love that He loves me the way He does. I feel that if we had lived in Meridian our whole lives, kept our great jobs, had our dream home and perfect little family...I would not have been refined in such a way! I would not have recieved such a wonderful gift. Refine me like silver and gold, Jesus! Teach me to be all spirit, no flesh!
It's crazy how you never really understand until the storm is over. Then you can look back at everything you went through and go, "OH...I get it." God's got jokes. (:
Friday, April 2, 2010
My love/hate relationship with pruning...
It is most definately a beautiful day today! We left Hamilton last night at 11...got to Meridian this morning around 2. We like to be spur of the moment people sometimes!
I've been reading a book called "Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie Omartian. I recommend it to all! I literally read this book in 2 hours. I was so intrigued! I pray for Eden everyday...more than once. I think this book gave me a different outlook on things though! SO I've upped the prayer life for Eden! She even prayed with me....cutest thing in the world!
Yep, that's her.
"Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift up your hands toward him for the life of your young children. -Lamentations 2:19
I'm very excited about what God is doing in my life right now. I mean...I'm always excited but this is a maturing process that I have a hate/love relationship with. I think I've finally accepted it and realized that the Lord is pruning(: And fruit is growing! I mean seriously it's hard therefore I hate it...but I love it because I know when this season is over...Oh wow! What a glorious day it will be.
I pray for strength and endurance! I love this day...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)