I had a different blog planned, but it will have to wait. I am having anxiousness and I want to share about it!!! And I want to share about how I can choose to follow even when I am anxious!
I have discovered that when I get anxious, and have those anxiety feelings down in my tummy, that I continue to get more anxious and more anxious. Unless, I am able to stop focusing on my anxiety and turn my attention to God's word and the verses that I have committed to memory, like:
Philippians 4:6-8-"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
This verse is awesome. God reminds us to not be anxious about anything, but take all your concerns and requests and problems to him and his peace which is beyond anything we can fathom will be with us. And instead of dwelling on why you are anxious or that you are anxious dwell on the truth (what is truth?--God and his word are truth) dwell on things that are noble and right, things that are pure and lovely. All that is admirable, excellent and praiseworthy---these are the things that are minds need to be filled with.
Here is one of the things that I struggle with. I get anxiety over worrying about what people think of me. I am sure many can relate to being concerned about what others think of you. I think "do they like me?" "do they think I'm fat, ugly, weird, too silly, dumb....whatever." The list goes on and on. This is such unhealthy thinking. Something, however that is horribly hard to stop doing. Something that our society is all about. We all push towards wanting everyone to like us. But you know what--it doesn't matter!!! It doesn't matter if everyone likes us or if everyone thinks we are the best. If we are seeking God and doing what he has called us to do and concentrating on what His Word says---then we are where we need to be and it doesn't matter if the person across the street likes us!!! We need to be confident in God's love for us. This is not an easy thing--especially for those of us who struggle so much with being people pleasers! But like my husband said to me "you need stop thinking about what other people think of you and focus on how God thinks and feels about you. The way you do that is by meditating on His word!! You know how to be an overcomer, you just need to decide to do it!!" So, I say it again and remind myself as well as any of you who struggle with this---put yourself in God's word!!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Love
God's love--that is!!!
Have you had the first hand experience of God's love in your life? If you have you know that it is an amazing thing. We have expereinced God's love so fully and so often in our lives. God is good!
Our last big twist/bend/slide in our journey has straightened out and it was such a love gift--a big hug from the Lord--it made me know that I had to share about God's love today.
About 2 weeks ago, we suddenly had our main source of income taken away. We were VERY unsure of what this meant for our next few months. Randy was planning to continue with school full time this summer and I was planning on beginning some classes. But with the income dropping, we thought maybe Randy would have to try to find work instead of going to school. We did not want to rush ahead and take matters into our own hands. We began to extra diligently seek God to show us the next step. We waited on Him and within a week, our income was back!! God provided a scholarship for part of Randy's schooling for the next year and then he brought income back. He showed us that he still wanted Randy to go to school and that for now he still wanted him to go without needing to work.
This last year has been full of moments such as this. Times where God has said to us "Depend on me." "Trust me" "Listen to me". We are learning to be patient and wait on him, we are learning that he is faithful and will provide. AND we are learning that what we see as the best solution to a problem, is MOST often not what God sees!!
God loves us all so much. Think of these following verses:
1 John 4:7-12
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[b] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[c] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Matthew 6:28-34
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
1 Corinthians 13
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When 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 childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Romans 8:38-39
38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So, just the beginning of God's great love for us. God loves us more then we can imagine. If you have children, think about how much you love them....now multiply that by infinity and that is how much God LOVES YOU!!!
Now go live your day today like God loves you and remember how God calls us to act in love towards others.
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca
Have you had the first hand experience of God's love in your life? If you have you know that it is an amazing thing. We have expereinced God's love so fully and so often in our lives. God is good!
Our last big twist/bend/slide in our journey has straightened out and it was such a love gift--a big hug from the Lord--it made me know that I had to share about God's love today.
About 2 weeks ago, we suddenly had our main source of income taken away. We were VERY unsure of what this meant for our next few months. Randy was planning to continue with school full time this summer and I was planning on beginning some classes. But with the income dropping, we thought maybe Randy would have to try to find work instead of going to school. We did not want to rush ahead and take matters into our own hands. We began to extra diligently seek God to show us the next step. We waited on Him and within a week, our income was back!! God provided a scholarship for part of Randy's schooling for the next year and then he brought income back. He showed us that he still wanted Randy to go to school and that for now he still wanted him to go without needing to work.
This last year has been full of moments such as this. Times where God has said to us "Depend on me." "Trust me" "Listen to me". We are learning to be patient and wait on him, we are learning that he is faithful and will provide. AND we are learning that what we see as the best solution to a problem, is MOST often not what God sees!!
God loves us all so much. Think of these following verses:
1 John 4:7-12
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[b] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[c] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Matthew 6:28-34
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
1 Corinthians 13
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When 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 childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Romans 8:38-39
38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So, just the beginning of God's great love for us. God loves us more then we can imagine. If you have children, think about how much you love them....now multiply that by infinity and that is how much God LOVES YOU!!!
Now go live your day today like God loves you and remember how God calls us to act in love towards others.
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca
Monday, April 12, 2010
What does it mean?
Last blog I posed the question "What does it mean to follow?" I began to answer that, and will continue to!!
To follow. When I choose to follow, I choose to follow Jesus. To follow him like he commanded the disciples to follow him in Mark Chapter 1 vs. 17: Jesus said "Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people." He was calling these fishermen to follow him. Now, if some man came along and said this to me while I was fishing--I think I would have a hard time doing what Simon and Andrew did. They immediately left their nets and followed him (vs. 18). They gave up their life to follow this man that they really did not know. What a sacrifice. I mean I would be thinking "huh, follow you...follow you where? and you will make me what? I don't get it." But these men, they did it immediately and as far as we know, they didn't really object. I would guess that they were leaving their families' business of fishing--so they were being asked to not only leave their job, but to leave their family, and again, I want to remind you they did it IMMEDIATELY. The comfort and security that they had would be left behind. They were ready to throw off the things that would get in their way of following where Jesus was leading.
This is what I am seeking to do, I am trying my best to throw off that which entangles me and fully trust in what Jesus is doing in my life. Hebrews 12:1 says "We have around us many people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should REMOVE from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back."
Several years ago, Randy and I both felt God's call on our lives. A call towards full-time ministry. This call was the beginning of a very interesting journey. Jesus has since said follow me and leave your comforts and security. Randy left his job, we moved from our home of 3 years to a 2 room mostly finished basement. We left the comfort of money, friends and a nice home. We put most of our belongings in storage, and we set off on our journey. Again and again we have been asked to trust that God will provide and Jesus will shepherd us and lead us along the path he has called us to. Randy is pursuing Bible school full time and I am looking to join him part time. We are choosing to follow where God is leading us, whatever, whenever and however that is.
Have you been asked to leave comfort and security? I have. And I know that when I choose to follow....when I choose to follow Jesus, I will continually be asked to leave behind the worldly comfort and security, and be asked to trust in Jesus, not in money, not in the things that are in this world, but to trust in the man that calls us to "follow him". The man that left his heavenly home to come join our world and to die so that we can again be in fellowship with God. I don't know about you, but when Jesus asks me to follow him, I want to be able to drop everything like Andrew and Simon did and say "OK Jesus, I trust you and trust what you say. Here I come. I am ready for what you have for me."
I would like to share the last big bump/twist/stop sign (whatever you want to call it) in our life and will in the next blog!
Thanks for reading
Rebecca
To follow. When I choose to follow, I choose to follow Jesus. To follow him like he commanded the disciples to follow him in Mark Chapter 1 vs. 17: Jesus said "Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people." He was calling these fishermen to follow him. Now, if some man came along and said this to me while I was fishing--I think I would have a hard time doing what Simon and Andrew did. They immediately left their nets and followed him (vs. 18). They gave up their life to follow this man that they really did not know. What a sacrifice. I mean I would be thinking "huh, follow you...follow you where? and you will make me what? I don't get it." But these men, they did it immediately and as far as we know, they didn't really object. I would guess that they were leaving their families' business of fishing--so they were being asked to not only leave their job, but to leave their family, and again, I want to remind you they did it IMMEDIATELY. The comfort and security that they had would be left behind. They were ready to throw off the things that would get in their way of following where Jesus was leading.
This is what I am seeking to do, I am trying my best to throw off that which entangles me and fully trust in what Jesus is doing in my life. Hebrews 12:1 says "We have around us many people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should REMOVE from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back."
Several years ago, Randy and I both felt God's call on our lives. A call towards full-time ministry. This call was the beginning of a very interesting journey. Jesus has since said follow me and leave your comforts and security. Randy left his job, we moved from our home of 3 years to a 2 room mostly finished basement. We left the comfort of money, friends and a nice home. We put most of our belongings in storage, and we set off on our journey. Again and again we have been asked to trust that God will provide and Jesus will shepherd us and lead us along the path he has called us to. Randy is pursuing Bible school full time and I am looking to join him part time. We are choosing to follow where God is leading us, whatever, whenever and however that is.
Have you been asked to leave comfort and security? I have. And I know that when I choose to follow....when I choose to follow Jesus, I will continually be asked to leave behind the worldly comfort and security, and be asked to trust in Jesus, not in money, not in the things that are in this world, but to trust in the man that calls us to "follow him". The man that left his heavenly home to come join our world and to die so that we can again be in fellowship with God. I don't know about you, but when Jesus asks me to follow him, I want to be able to drop everything like Andrew and Simon did and say "OK Jesus, I trust you and trust what you say. Here I come. I am ready for what you have for me."
I would like to share the last big bump/twist/stop sign (whatever you want to call it) in our life and will in the next blog!
Thanks for reading
Rebecca
Saturday, April 10, 2010
A Blog?
OK, well....a blog....I never thought I would be joining the blogging world....but I never thought I would be experiencing a lot of the things I have experienced in my life! So, here I go---my first try at blogging.
My husband (Randy) and I have been on a tremendous journey, a journey that continues to get more and more exciting as time goes on. We have committed our lives "TO FOLLOW" what and where God is directing. At times this is a scary, nerve racking, crazy thing. At other times it is very exciting, very rewarding, and very peaceful. This is why I have chosen to try out blogging. I really felt that I needed to share about our experiences. And the reason my blog is called "To Follow" is because that is what it is about, about following God. About the journey that happens when you follow. The address for the blog is "Ichoosetofollow" this is because that is what I am doing....I am choosing to follow God. I am not just listening, I am not just believing...I am choosing to follow. What does it mean to follow? WOW...if only I could tell you all that it means to me to follow. But I don't have time this morning or probably enough space for that. But as time goes on, I will be able to show you what it means in my life. Following God is a journey and like I said it can be crazy and right now in our life......it is crazy.
Next blog.....the beginning of the journey we are on.
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca
My husband (Randy) and I have been on a tremendous journey, a journey that continues to get more and more exciting as time goes on. We have committed our lives "TO FOLLOW" what and where God is directing. At times this is a scary, nerve racking, crazy thing. At other times it is very exciting, very rewarding, and very peaceful. This is why I have chosen to try out blogging. I really felt that I needed to share about our experiences. And the reason my blog is called "To Follow" is because that is what it is about, about following God. About the journey that happens when you follow. The address for the blog is "Ichoosetofollow" this is because that is what I am doing....I am choosing to follow God. I am not just listening, I am not just believing...I am choosing to follow. What does it mean to follow? WOW...if only I could tell you all that it means to me to follow. But I don't have time this morning or probably enough space for that. But as time goes on, I will be able to show you what it means in my life. Following God is a journey and like I said it can be crazy and right now in our life......it is crazy.
Next blog.....the beginning of the journey we are on.
Thanks for reading,
Rebecca
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