Strength

Isaiah 40:28-31
²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Thank you heavenly Father for your unfailing love and strength.  I can accomplish all I must today with your aid. 

Matthew 6:25-26
²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Don't Worry!  Be Happy. 

In the Dark...

Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Whatever you do in work or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 

What happens when we neglect our relationship with God?  The darkness comes. 

This might not be literally a dark time in our lives...we might be happy, healthy, and confident. 

BUT...

We are living with darkened hearts.  It is more difficult to make godly decisions.  Temptations will pull more strongly on our mind.  We are more likely to be swayed by the unsatisfying short-term offerings of this world, instead of charging through life's challenges with a focus on the heavenly prize.

If we are not in His word, if our mind is not renewed daily, we become desensitized to sin in our lives.  Our heavenly father wants us to confess our sins to him and to start anew...

How can we walk in the spirit if we do not put aside time for prayer? 

Galatians 5:16-17
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirite against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 

What if we find ourselves pursuing our own selfish desires, instead of investing our time in a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ? 

Matthew 22:36-40
And He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God wiht all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

If you are living with a darkened heart...we all do sometimes...remember:

Ephesians 1:4-5
Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will

YOU are chosen by God.  He will not give up on you!

Spiritual Energy

I have been reading one of my favorite books, 'The Power of Full Engagement' by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz.

I am intrigued by the authors' thoughts on spiritual energy, 'spiritual energy is the most powerful source of our motivation, perseverance, and direction...it maximizes performance in whatever mission we are on.  The courage to live by our values, even when doing so requires personal sacrifice and hardship.'

Spiritual energy is ignited by a deep sense of purpose.  

I have been struggling with a hectic work load today...I remind myself that it is not ok to 'rationalize:'

I am incredibly busy, so it is ok if I fall a little behind on my deadlines...
I intended to keep that commitment, but had to put it off due to other important things...
I will eventually get it done...
That project wasn't a high enough priority to get to...

When I tell someone I am going to do something, it is a commitment that I must uphold.  I must take ownership of all of my responsibilities, and focus my spiritual energy to tackle them step by step until my commitments are completed.

Deuteronomy 8:16-18
16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Ebenezers

This is an important day for me. 

I am beginning a new chapter in my life’s story.

I am finished being the east coast girl on the west coast.  I am finished with insecurity and self doubt.

I can remember this as the last day of the job I never imagined I could handle.  I can remember this as the year I did two years of induction and training in six months- the time when I also took many accelerated college classes for five months, still earning a 4.00.  The year I won a powerful respect and a love from my students unlike anytime before…

This year an entire campus of students at three schools fell in love with me…this past year I suffered, but my husband helped pull me through.

Do I have regrets?  Yes, letting my health go a bit.  Spiritually and physically, I feel worn down.  I will recommit to being healthy.  I will commit to searching for a more balanced way…

I will start this new chapter of my life with godly priorities.  I will not be beaten down or scared by my past experiences.  I will keep on.  I will lift my head high. 

I will make a comeback in the areas where I am broken down and weak.  I will be stronger.  I will be better.  I will be wiser.  I will be more experienced. 

This is a new chapter…better things are ahead.  I will be less lonely.  I hope I will find more friends in California.

I have the love and support of friends and family far away.  Despite the distance between us, I HAVE NOT LOST THEM. 

Praise God. 

On the inside I am standing tall, figuratively limping a little when I walk, but Lord willing, my weakness and pain is nothing that time, resting, and healing cannot overcome.  I can regain my mental and spiritual reservoirs of strength.  I can be built back up by those who love me.  I can revive in better days with more rejoicing.  Praise the Lord.    

Psalm 30:4-5

4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;
    praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Life is Wonderful!