Red Shoes

As a little girl, I had these red shoes, just like Dorothy wore in "The wizard of Oz" , and I wore them all over the place, and with everything.  I remember even being warned not to wear them while walking down the basement steps and I didn't listen, sure enough, I went flying down the steps, but that didn't stop me!  Eventually I started to grow out of them, but no matter how much it hurt, I refused to let go of those shoes.  I squeezed my feet into them and walked around in pain, I kept going back and getting them, so determined not to let them go, until my mom decided to just take them away from me all together.  

1 Corinthians 13:10-11 -  But when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

That verse goes for every one of us and that got me thinking, isn't it sometimes that way when we grow in our walk with God?  Many people, including myself, can sometimes get so comfortable doing the same thing over and over, we get to a place to where we just don't want to grow.  God loves us for who we are but doesn't want to leave us the way we are, there is always room for growth!  When we grow in God, it can sometimes be painful, slow, and uncomfortable, just like it was when we experienced growth as children.  We have all been afraid to step out of our comfort zone, we've been rejected, and hurt, but there comes a point, we have to let God remove that all together, just like those shoes were taken away from me.  And sometimes He warns us and we don't listen and we fall. Our Father may want to take away the things that we feel is best for us and we just outgrow them. Say goodbye to what He wants to take out of our lives and welcome the growth and the change He wants for us.  

Philippians 3:12-14 - Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Pleasing God

My sweet friend Jessica sent me this quote.  I'm not sure who said it but it couldn't have come at a better time.  It says "Get your fire back, it's not over til God says it's over, start believing again, start dreaming again, start pursuing what God put in your heart."

I recently took a big step of faith, knowing God is leading me.  I had and still have such peace about it.  But during this time, while I don't know what God is doing, I know He is doing something.  I kept worrying about what people were going to think, but then I realized, not everyone is going to understand why I do the things I do.  As long as I am following what God leads me to do, then it doesn't matter if people understand.  Some people will talk, others have walked out of my life, but then in the end, isn't God the only one that matters anyways?   Sure, He also sends supportive, and encouraging people that understand my journey.. they are such a blessing!

Never try to prove yourself to anyone or explain yourself, but instead smile, have joy, show love and move on!  What more can ya do?   Don't hang onto the past because you'll never move forward.  God will equip you for the journey you're on, it may not be easy, not everything will be beautiful and simple, but it's worth every step.

So as the above quote says, get your fire back!  It's in you.. God never left, just keep going and keep believing.  He gave us the desires of our heart for a reason, we aren't supposed to just sit there thinking about it.. we have to do it.. move forward.. and don't look back!  Even if it doesn't happen today, tomorrow, next week, it WILL happen!  As we seek Him and focus on Him, we are being transformed from the inside out!  He is molding us and shaping us into the people He wants us to be, like a child holding their dad's hand.. hold His hand.. walk with Him, step by step!

Psalm 73:23-24 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.

Yes ... No... and Not yet...

Yes, No and Not yet

Every time my young son asks me for something, those are the answers he gets.  Sometimes I tell him yes right away, sometimes I tell him he has to wait for what he is asking for and sometimes I tell him no. Most of the time, he just smiles and agrees and that's it, but sometimes when I say no, he isn't very happy and keeps pushing for it, so I have to explain to him that he has to trust me and then I explain why I'm saying no.

I think it's like that when we ask God for things.  He is our Father, we go to Him as his children with our prayer requests but we have to trust in His will.  We all love the "yes" answers.  Who wouldn't?   How many times as a child did you ask for something you wanted and your parents said yes, the joy you felt, I don't know about you but I feel the same way when God answers a prayer right away.  

Then there is "not yet".  Waiting is hard, I remember praying to be married since I was 20.. and eventually I just stopped focusing on that because God kept saying "not yet".  He still is, and I'm fine with that! His plans can be much different than what we feel they should be, but His timing is always perfect!  I've told this story before but my sister is the perfect example of a not yet prayer being answered in God's timing.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing.  So whatever it is you're waiting for, keep praying but also trust that God will give it to you in His perfect timing if He is saying not yet.  

"No" ouch.  I remember being a kid and wanting something sooo much it hurt lol and my mom said just a simple "no".  I would argue with her, like I knew better.  But I know she had her reasons for telling me no.  God has His reasons saying no to us.  We are His children, He knows what is best for us.  We can pray and pray and pray but if it is out of His will for us, we have to realize that He has something better!  We may never know why things happen (or don't happen).  And we never have to know, sometimes things just don't make sense at all, but if we really give it all to God, then whatever happens, good or bad, we can have peace in Him and His plans for us!

1 John 5:14-15 - This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

The rest is still unwritten...

I completely forgot that I created this blog a few years ago and never posted in it.  I have to laugh at the background being a bird, because it completely lines up with the things that have been prophesied over my life after I created this page.  I remember multiple people speaking of a caged bird and how the door was open but the bird (me) was afraid to be bold and fly out.  I find it so amazing how God works and how He helps me to understand things spoken to me even if not right away, it still makes sense eventually.
I remember when I created this page, I was at a very hard time in  my life.  I had no idea where to go, or where God would lead, but He definitely led me to some places and I have enjoyed this journey!  I've learned so much about myself and that is something that no one can ever take away from me.  I've learned that boldness is not easy for me to have, but in Christ, it happens, and it is the best feeling. Every single moment, good and bad has led up to this very moment, and while it may be a time of "rest" or not knowing where to go, I'm where I'm supposed to be.  The best is yet to come!!
Over the past few years I witnessed what God can do when we truly believe.  My twin sister believed with everything in her she was going to have a baby, and that baby is now 18 months old and she has another one on the way.  I got to see what happens when I stopped letting fear take over and stepped out to sing.  I had the opportunity to be a part of a worship team , and even though I'm no longer with them, I regret nothing.. I learned so much, my voice has improved and they taught me more than they can ever know.Then I visited a church a few times, and it was short lived but I had so many prophetic words spoken over me and confirmation after confirmation, and I still believe God for those words to come to pass.  After that I joined a new church and I learned so much there, about myself, about God and about others.  I was able to sing, and serve.  I also realized how much I loved to write and I'm so thankful to God for the opportunity I had to be able to write there.  I slowly became more bold, I got to where I wanted to learn more and more and I became more hungry for the Word of God and found myself constantly asking Him what can I do next.  I felt God leading me on a new road, but all the things that led me up to this moment, I'll never forget!  I've met great friends and lost friends, but God never budged. I've had moments where I moved, but He didn't :)
I thank Him for every moment, every day, and every opportunity and I can't wait to see what He does next.
I don't know where this road will take me but I do know that I with Him leading, everything is going to be ok.  I don't know who (if anyone) will ever read this, but if you do, I hope it encourages you!  Never forget who you are in Christ and don't let man (or woman) stop you from doing what He has led you to do. You are created for something special!  You are worth it and loved!! Enjoy your journey!!

Philippians 3:13-14

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.