Falling from faith

Step 1 of falling from faith:
Romans 1:21

For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him...

When this happens there is a reaction from God. As man acts as though he no longer knows God, gives Him no credit or acknowledgment, and refuses to be thankful for God's great mercy & grace....God responds.

Man continues on and his thinking becomes futile and foolish. God allows darkness to come into their hearts and gives them up to themselves...to lusts, impurity, evil, faithlessness, deceit, etc.
In Romans 1:25 it says, "they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather then the Creator.."

Everyone knows someone at step 1.

Who's your man of valor?

The standoff at the Battle of Elah must have been intense. With David approaching Goliath with a heart of courage & fervent love for his people, the moment was monumental. The men of Israel must have watched intently as the duel came into position.

The common practice in ancient times to avoid high loss in war, was to offer a "stand-off." Two men of valor were chosen to fight, and the defeated soldiers' people would become servants to the victor and his people. This would be the agreement that the armies accepted prior to the battle.

This method still stands today...

As you enter into your life battles you will also get to chose a man of valor to stand in your place. Someone who can represent you in not only a fighting stance, but one who loves you and would willingly die for you. Someone who will approach your enemy with courage and not waver from position.

When you face the giant, step aside..

Jesus just happens to have victory over all His battles, and He is waiting in the valley to fight on your behalf.

Find me linked on: www.w2wministries.org
www.simlifiedlife.net 

Guest Blogger/Poet, Samantha Morgan, shares insight into the infertility arena in poetic form

Today's guest blogger comes to you in poetic fashion.  s.a. Morgan has done several works that have moved my heart.  Shortly after we become online friends, she sent me this piece.  I am very excited about sharing it with my online community.  Her descriptions come in a beautiful form of art.

Enjoy!

The story behind the poem:

I was going through posts on my Tsu.co web page just a few days back, looking to see who had visited and 'liked' what I posted. When I do this I will usually click on them and take a quick look at who they are and what they like to post, in an effort to weed out any undesirables. A lady named Amy was one of those persons who had visited me, so I checked her out. Immediately I decided that she would probably be 'safe' because of her obvious devotion to God, my same, and the only God. Amongst her postings was a slurry of things about babies, adoption, infertility, miscarriages, surrogacy, sadness and faith, with an emphasis on FAITH. Wow. All this, in a 45 second scan of her Tsu page.

Now before I go further, you should know that ANY thing can trigger a poetic response from me… I have no control over what my brain does. Which then explains how my heart and mind responded to this simple drawing that Amy had posted:

 

Immediately, the words of a sentence entered my head, it's what I refer to as my, "holy hit" moment, and I had to stop and write it down before I lost it. But I didn't just write down the first line, I kept writing and writing, and all of a sudden it was there, the entire poem had just spilled out on the page in about half an hour. I was astounded and in tears.

I got up to clear my head, then poured another cup of coffee and sat back down to read Amy's blog. I didn't get far. I saw how many times she had tried to have her own baby, and I realized why my words had come so quickly… God had written that poem through me. And I cried.

I was moved to reach out to Amy and I am so pleased that she responded favorably and accepted my online 'friendship'. 

Here is that poem: 

(If it's too small, please click to expand)

  

You can see more work from s.a. Morgan at  http://occasionallyapoet.wix.com/oapoet

https://twitter.com/saMorganPoetry

http://www.tsu.co/saMorgan

Sweatbands & Stretches...getting geared up!

The Gym..Today's experience was another first timer.


You have to understand that I have NEVER been athletic!

The one time I tried to play basketball on a team, I took the ball down the court the wrong way...all the way, and missed the shot at the wrong basket.  Yikes!  It wasn't like I was nervous from the defense, because they were all at the other end of the court wondering what I was doing.  How can a person be in practice for months and during the game, not have any concept of the entire games strategy...that's me!


Once I signed up to be a lifeguard, during the tryouts we had to accomplish several tasks such as treading in water and doing different strokes the length of the pool.  After nearly dying and sinking to the bottom with a 10lb weight in the deep end, I decided to practice on my treading later, and do laps.  During the lap exercise we were to go down with a back stroke and return using a side stroke.  I thought how hard could it be?

The back stroke seemed quite relaxing actually but after some time I wondered why I hadn't made it to the edge yet.  I decided to take a peek around and noticed that not only was everyone already finished, but I was facing the wrong way and had been apparently doing a circle stroke instead.  There were many laughs from bystanders to say it nicely, the next day I ditched class and figured the sun tanned look of the regal lifeguard wasn't for me.

That should paint a decent picture of my athletic abilities, it's not pretty, and it's never got any better.

Today, I went to the gym and decided to jump into a spinning class.  It looked so fun with the music going and people high-fiving..I wanted to be a part.

The first moments were intense, and we wasn't even riding yet.

I looked around and saw a few things that caused me to sweat a bit.  A older lady was popping and stretching her hands, she literally picked up her bike and moved it into a new position...this lady was serious.  A few girls pulled out towels, headbands, positioned their seats, and tightened their shoe laces... my idea of going for a spin just turned into racing up hill using all the force you have in your body.

I started to think I may be in trouble, we haven't even started and my butt hurt from the seat.  Did I mention I haven't been on a bike in about 3 years?

All I thought about during the ride was that I wasn't ready.  I needed my water, a towel, a tissue, candy bar..anything!

Gearing up for life can be the same way.

You can easily find yourself facing something that looks, feels, and smells like it's just too much for you.  Reading the Word every day and making it a priority is something that is hard for me, but I know that it is the only way to make sure that I have what I need.  Everything that comes your way can be handled at it's best if you are ready.  Being ready and staying ready is what you must do, and there is no other way to do it then to be equipped through the Word of God.

So, tighten up your shoe-laces and slip on that neon head band... it's time to gear up!
Make new goals and press on through, every time you download the Word of God, you become stronger with more perseverance!  You will need this in order to finish well!

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Talented & Gifted

You are a person of many talents & gifts. Whatever you think your lacking doesn't even compare to what you really are.

You are chosen.
You are loved.
You are wanted.
You are free.

These attributes are always available to you regardless of how much value you think you have.
To Him, there is no one like you and never will be.

Racing back to the One I tend to forget

O Seek me out,
Force my surrender.
Humble me face to face,
Let me never be the same.

Make my allegiance be Yours alone,
and may I never desert You.
Break me completely apart,
Rip away my distractions & burn my idleness forever.
Jan. 28th, 2014



I'm not sure what was going on the day I wrote that in my journal, but I sure do recognize that cry of my heart.  I've felt it many times.

A yearning for more of God to enter my life..enter my mind. 

There are days when the Lord is the first thought of my morning and the night-time consists of Him even as I sleep.  Then there are days when I find myself having prayer at dinner and it reminds me that I haven't thought of Him all day...and that breaks my heart.  How could I ever do that, How could I forget Him all day long?

I wondered if I was that foolish, that I could just slide along hour to hour without a glimpse of Him in my heart, after all I have received from Him.  I so much desire to have wisdom & discernment, how could I be so careless?  Then I remembered that I come from a long line of forgetful people.  From the beginning of time man has continued to forget the love & generosity that he has received from God.

From Adam to the end of time, it will always be our greatest failure.  We go to bed often and wake up not remembering the intense greatness and goodness of God.  When things are good, we tend to not think about how He has showed up, rescued, and stayed faithful to us.  We have become a forgetful people, a forgetful nation, and literally a forgetful created ball of life that continues to live due to the loyalty of a blessed forgotten Creator.

I am thankful of reminders, that even though I can allow God to slip out of my mind, the world is painted with remnants of Him everywhere.  I eagerly, when reminded, race back to where He is.  The loss you feel of not interacting with Him in the course of even hours, makes you wonder what all you missed that He had to offer, even in that short amount of time.

If you find yourself not dwelling on God, and moving on throughout your day without Him, please know that you are missing out on something key, something critical.  What He has for you as you hang out with Him is vital to the next day, and to the next.  It's a element you don't want to miss out on or take for granted.  It's a valuable piece of who you are that you need from the One who knows you best.  

I continue to want what I wrote in my journal last year, although my foolishness or forgetfulness can interrupt that.  But even though, our God hears my hearts cry, your hearts cry!  Our deepest desires circle His throne day and night, even when He is the furthest thing from our minds.  I tell you the truth when I say, there is nothing that holds more worth then the relationship you have with God and for nothing is there a fair exchange.  

Clinch tight to it daily and when you do forget, 
race back.

Guest Blogger, Winter Lawson; How to lay aside our perfections and start being real with God

I am so honored and blessed that Amy has asked me to blog here! 

A little about who I am...I'm a wife of almost 15 years, a mom to two great kids, and a follower of Jesus who doesn't get it right as often as I would like, but I do always trust in His grace and love over my life. I blog over at mecoffeeandjesus.wordpress.com, I have recently renewed my commitment to blog more often and I'm still getting into the swing of things. 

I want more than anything to serve Jesus and live out his plan for my life and part of that right now is being the mom and wife he called me to be while being with Him. Studying His word is a huge part of that journey and documenting my thoughts in my blog is another part. I have found this desire to move beyond the pages of my journal to a sharable format to keep me accountable. See if I'm not studying and living in Him I have nothing to blog about, if I'm doing what I've been called to do I find inspiration through Him.


I was in the car driving home the other night when a song came on the radio, an old song I've heard hundreds of times but something about it this time struck me. It was Does Anybody Hear Her by Casting Crowns this song about a girl seeking and craving salvation struck me in a different way. It made me think how I am like this girl, yes I know Jesus and I'm not seeking new salvation, but yet I still feel like her especially with these lyrics... two years further into the journey yet three more steps behind, standing under the shadow of the steeple does anybody see her, does anybody hear her-insert me here.


I watch myself and other women become lost in the shadows of doing it all, being it all. We create this monster of have it together, keep it together, everyone is watching and I can't slip, I can't let my real life struggles show. I know recently there has been lots of talk about realness and being authentic and I love that; yet do we do it? Do I? Or am I the girl hiding in the shadows trying to keep all my ugly covered?


Even when I'm not intending to keep it hidden and covered, I do. Several years ago I was shown how I do it in a loving way. This woman who spoke these words, I'm sure had no idea how they would stick with me. She said, "until I got to really talk with you and know you, I thought you had it all together, had it all figured out and were just shy of perfect." 

I laughed, I mean really laughed, my first thought was wow I had no idea I had the wool pulled over her eyes! Yet I paused and thought, well until I got real with this group of ladies why would they think differently? Facebook and my smiles, while crying on the inside, did wonders to give that distorted view of my life.  I don't often willingly share my heart, maybe pieces, but not with more then one or two. 

 How often do you say fine when someone asks how are you? I don't mean you should spill it all to the deli guy at Wal-mart, but you can save the realness for over coffee with someone that knows you better then I'll take a pound of turkey. How about sharing prayer requests with your bible study group and not “oh my great uncle is traveling will you pray for him.” I mean instead of running to the bathroom to wipe those tears and fix your lipstick at work you be open to your work friend.


I do these things, I'm sure you do these things, but what if instead we shared over coffee that it's been a tough week maybe a check bounced, or your toddler refuses to potty in the toilet, (you know the toddler that needs to go to preschool in 4 months), or your husband has worked late every night and you really just want to take a shower, not just a shower, but a shower ALL by yourself!


What if when your group of ladies asked for prayer requests you actually say my brother is lost, he has been an addict, a thief, been to jail and you really haven't spoken to him in years at this point. That you worry and pray for him daily and your tired, won't they join in praying for him as well?


What if we invited a friend over for a visit regardless of the dishes in the sink, the junk mail on the table or the dirty laundry in the bathroom.


By creating this perfection judgmental contest with women-real or imagined, we risk losing authentic friends and prayer warriors. I know you are sitting there reading this thinking, girl you are crazy it gives me nightmares to think about getting this real, well me too sweet sister. I have the biggest fear of not being liked, when Satan wants to attack me that is how it is done...he whispers they are talking about you, they aren't going to like you if you don't do __________. But can I remind you girls of an amazing truth?! Jesus finds you perfect in your brokenness, He finds you enough without lipstick, un-showered and with .39 cents in your checkbook. He sees you in the shadows and he wants you to come out because His light shines bright through you. I bet you already knew these truths but if your like me you need reminded daily.


Like Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, when he heard “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Paul heard these words spoken after having visions of heaven, he stayed silent not wanting to boast about seeing these amazing things and people thinking it was of his doing. So in order for Paul to stay humble God placed a thorn in his side. Paul begged for it to be removed three times but each time he heard “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness”. Paul goes on in verses 9b-10 that he is now glad to boast about his weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. That is why I take pleasure in my weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak then I am strong.


So I boast today not of me or of my doing, but of what the Lord is doing. He's taking an insecure woman who is a desperate people pleaser and making her a women of God, a girl running after Jesus and who only desperately wants you to see his grace and his beauty over her life. Because after all “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

**You can follow Winter and her "getting real with God" at www.mecoffeeandjesus@wordpress.com