Why prepare for action?

The Wild Boar and the Fox –Aesop’s fables

A Wild Boar stood under a tree and rubbed his tusks against the trunk. A Fox passing by asked him why he thus sharpened his teeth when there was no danger threatening from either huntsman or hound. He replied, 'I do it advisedly for it would never do to have to sharpen my weapons just at the time I ought to be using them.'

 

The Wild Boar knew that it was useless to wait to sharpen his defenses. If we aren’t daily preparing ourselves, we won’t be ready when trouble comes. Christ said in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33).What does God give us to prepare us for trouble? When there is danger we are told to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians). I have noticed four things that have helped me “have sharp weapons for when the huntsman and hound” arrive. I have also noticed I have a “tree” on which to sharpen these weapons. The four things that help me stand fast against the huntsman are knowing who my God is, submitting to Gods authority and choosing his opinion on issues, understanding how my enemy works and what are his traps that I fall in, and the lastly is what I know God wants me to work on and making a plan with him to develop that. Each of these points I will spend a lifetime trying to get my mind around and live out. I struggle with each of these concepts, yet God is always faithful to my cries for his help.

 

Which brings me to my first ‘tusk to keep sharp.’ Who God is. When I am struggling I can remember who my God is and stand on that truth. My favorite lately is Gods faithfulness. Lamentation 3:21-23 & Psalm 31 are my favorite verses for this truth, but there are over 800 to choose from just for faithfulness.

The second requires even more action on my part than just faith in who God says he is. Its submission. 1 Peter talks a lot about this topic. I had to decide if God was trustworthy. If he is and it’s His idea and His ways are good, THEN my selfishness needed to take a back seat and chose His way instead. If you want a full life go to the teacher who knows the most of what our lives are meant to be . . . Jesus! Specifically, Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew chapters 5-7 is the cliff notes version of Gods vision of a full life. I have to learn how to submit to God in all the areas Christ talks about. God, my husband, my parents…. It’s hard because my selfishness gets in my way a lot. Especially, if Chips and Cheese or a nap are involved verses dishes and laundry. Selfishness robs me of the joy of being obedient and submitting to God’s authority in my life. God’s commands are God’s best plans for me.

Thus number three for me is recognize the traps that trip you up. What are the huntsman hunting tactics? For me its selfishness and recognizing the triggers so I don’t lash out and say it’s not fair when Christ has something much more important for me to learn (Luke 12:13-59). 

The last truth I have noticed is my need for God to continue working on my character. What God wants me to work on with him. In this season he is highlighting my desperate need for a “sound mind” and “self control.” 1Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober minded set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Ladies, this is a lifelong, no short cuts, no substitute kind of pursuit. If in 20 years I want to be a Titus 2 or Proverbs 31, kind of woman then I must start now! I will need help from older women who have been through it and younger women who keep me active in the fight. I need daily help from the Word of God and the Holy Spirit guiding, correcting, and rebuking me. I need encouragement from a family of believers to not give up or to not become “weary of doing good.’ (Galatians 6:9). Thus I need to reign in my habits and form a plan of attack in making sure I am “sharpening my weapons.”

My ‘tree that I use to sharpen my tusks’ is habits. God focused habits. Daily practice and commitment to what he is teaching me, wanting me to step out and help others with, and what I need to buckle down and get in line with. He constantly gives me “opportunities” to practice these. As well as giving me the trust and responsibility to work with him by taking active steps. Think, kids doing the dishes without being asked because they love you and know it’s the right thing to do.

Habit help 101:

1. Plan it out, what will help. Pray and strategize with God.

2. Swap Bad habits with Good.

3. Track it. (journal)

4. Rewards! Encouragement helps Motivate.

 5.Don’t Worry, Learn from Mistakes. Use that information about yourself to re strategize and call on God and accountability partners for help. We are here together.

Talk to God about your habits or goals and pour through his Word to find his truths on it, and move forward with prayer and petition and with thanksgiving make your requests, your plan of attack known to him. He has our backs and wants us to live His full life for us through his strength, in his timing, with his God sized moments. It’s His best I want, not my self-satisfaction or selfish design. His faithfulness never ends. So sharpen your weapons before you need them, because the enemy or circumstances aren’t going to wait for you to.

Enjoy
Theresa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aesop fable

The Wild Boar and the Fox

A Wild Boar stood under a tree and rubbed his tusks against the trunk. A Fox passing by asked him why he thus sharpened his teeth when there was no danger threatening from either huntsman or hound. He replied, 'I do it advisedly

for it would never do to have to sharpen my weapons just at the time I ought to be using them.'

 

My tusks to defeat my huntsman and his hounds…

1.       Learning who God says he is.

2.       Submitting to Gods authority

3.       Wisdom to know my weakness and the Enemies tactics

4.       Habits that sharpen my weapons (sound mind and self control)

 

My ‘tree’ I use to sharpen my weapons by is habits…

1.       Plan and pray. Make it a priority

2.       Track the habit. Keep it before me so I don’t forget.

3.       Swap a bad habit for a good one.

4.       Reward! Encourages Motivation.

5.       Don’t worry, Learn from mistakes.

6.       Humility to ask Jesus for help. You are not alone, and others need to learn how God got you through.

Back to basics

After our women's retreat on living in the fullness of God, I have been challenged to go beyond my quick snack devotionals into a fuller meal with God. Actually sitting down and going through a passage of scripture instead of my devotional app has been a lot more challenging than I thought it would be.  It was no longer fun, or quick and quirky. I am not using what God has taught me or remembering what I have learned. I've become spiritually lazy. Learning how to use a concordance or what was going on culturally or in history at the same time is too much effort. It's time for me to relearn some basics.

Starting with Prayer, Read, Writing it down, Sharing it with someone, Obeying what I learned. Accountability, Mentoring- passing on what we've learned!

       From this I have been able to learn different verses for life checks. For example if I'm questioning if This book, music, ad, television program, conversation is something that I should participate in, I check  with Philippians 4:8-9
    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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I need to know scripture! I need to know the promises I can stand on no matter what. I need to know how disgusting sin is and what it is. I need to know how God views me and how precious I am, because He said so. What other instructions do scripture contain for life!

Here are some tools I am starting or have used that I have found very helpful in learning to read my bible without becoming overwhelmed.
 1. Prayer: all starts with hanging out with God. If I can do this he changes me so much.
2. Asking God to help me understand as I read.
3.Give myself grace as I learn. Its a relationship with the creator of the universe who loves me. Not cramming for finals.
4. Give myself permission to spend time to read

I still read devotional and use my quick 5 minute devotional, but I am trying to read the bible itself and that has been a daily struggle.  I am a work in progress. God is definitely trying to get my attention on my habits and priorities.

Just for fun, what habits help you have Christ focused perspective?



A Just for fun list of helpful tools:

Robin Sampson BibleJournalLove Psalm 119 Study
 Great variety of fun ways for me to add creativity, depth, and making bible studying a habit.

For us visual learners a quick synopsis of this study can be found on YouTube at
Bible Journaling in a Planner

Mrs Sampson also has a 7 minute YouTube video called Robin Sampson's passion, which is about the passion that God has given her. When I watched it for the psalm 119 study it reminded me of Pam Waites talk at retreat. When God gives you a passion for something, use it for his glory and to help others. Its amazing to watch how God given passions change lives and bring us to Christ.

Books I have found helpful:

7 lies women Believe and the truth that sets them free: Nancy deMoss

Adorn: Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth

Kneeling Christian by  Unknown Christian

Armor of God by Pricilla Shirer

Veggie Tales (they keep it simple for me :) )

Experiencing God by Richard Blackaby

Fox's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe

Voice of the Martyrs

Andy Stanley YouTube series on Guardrails

Passport 2 Purity (when through with my oldest when she became a preteen)

Ministries and people:

Inquest Ministries: Parenting disc profile

Creation Museum

Lamar and Sandy Brenneman's Creation Class and Solving the Mystery series for preteens

Short term missions trips changed my self centered perspective

Meeting with a more mature Christ like older women who have guided, challenged and counseled me.
Teaching and training up younger christians (when you teach, you learn yourself!)

The devil is vicious, but he is not victorious.

Why is it so easy to let reading my bible and devotions, praying for my husband, family and friends, and spending time with God fall off? It's so easy because we have a silent enemy who knows us very well who know the best way to bring evil into our lives. For me he knows that busyness distracts me from being with God. And if I'm not with God then everything else falls apart. I yell at my husband instead of praying for him. I become impatient with my child instead of enjoying every moment I get to spend with him. I become stressed and let my house become a mess and I don't put the attention into what really matters. But God is good in so many ways. He reminds me in the ways I can truly see that I've slipped again. That I've let other things fill my time instead of letting Him fill my time. So, I'm pulling back on other things and I'm diving back into Him. Listening to worship music instead of secular, letting my devotions be the first thing I pull up on my phone in the morning, trying to pull back my anger and pray instead. I'm also on getting parts of my life organized. A real budget, a chore list, a daily schedule for Malachi and I. So prayer for me in these things because when I am unorganized in my life that is how I become distant from God. What prompted me to share today was this little reminder from God in the form of my First 5 devotion. It's a reminder that God has equipped me to fight against the devil. That the devil is vicious and he is sneaky. He will use everything against you. But what we have to remember is when we have God in our lives the devil is not victorious. I encourage you to spend the time reading this, this afternoon. Also, the first 5 devotions always end in a prayer. The one for this was so good I was smiling, almost in tears. It's one I plan for n writing down and saying on a daily basis to God.

Clothed in Victory
Lysa TerKeurst
Today’s Reading: Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV) “Finally, be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

The armor of God. It’s something children learn about from an early age in Sunday school. And the enemy would love us to believe it’s simply a nice Sunday morning lesson for kids — one involving nothing more than felt board pieces of armor and harmless plastic swords.

But Paul included these words in his letter to the Christians of Ephesus because he knew putting on the armor of God was vital to their ability to walk victoriously with Christ. And what was vital for Christians then is still crucial for us today.

While most of us have probably never seen actual armor, Paul’s vivid imagery would have reminded the Ephesians of the Roman military and the armor they wore. They would have known that every part of Roman armor had a specific purpose and was designed to not only protect the soldier individually, but the army as a whole.

Ephesians 6 also draws imagery from Isaiah’s prophecy describing the armor of God. (Isaiah 11:4-5; Isaiah 49:2; Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 59:17) A closer look at these references in Isaiah reveals God as a warrior who is fully dressed for battle as He goes out to restore and redeem His people.

But what does all of this mean for us today? I believe there are two important points God wants us to grab hold of with fresh clarity:

1. Spiritual warfare is real, and we have a very real and vicious enemy.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood.” I know it often feels like our battles are against people. Boy does it ever! But, in reality, the battle is against Satan and his schemes.

We need to be equipped in every way to respond to the battle at hand. Our enemy isn’t just looking to distract us, tempt us or pull us slightly off course. John 10:10 tells us that Satan comes “to steal and kill and destroy.”

These aren’t words meant to stir up fear; they are meant to spur us to action. Both the words of Paul and John remind us it is imperative that we suit up and stand strong.

2. God does not call us to find a power within ourselves to overcome the battles we face.

Paul’s command in Ephesians 6:10 to “be strong” can actually be interpreted in the original Greek in the passive voice. Paul is saying we should be, “made strong, or be strengthened.” There is tremendous freedom to be found in this subtle difference.

God isn’t asking us to stand in whatever scraps of strength we can muster up on our own. The activation of our strength comes from the empowerment of the Spirit of God. We receive His strength as we put on the full armor of the King of Kings. And in wearing God’s armor, we are in essence putting on or abiding in God Himself. We are clothing ourselves in the victory He has already achieved through Christ. (Colossians 2:15)

Yes, the battle we face is of epic proportions. But God’s weapons aren’t silly little spiritual suggestions that might or might not work. His weapons are certain.

When the battle is raging around us, His belt of truth will help us park our runaway minds in the assurance of God’s love for us.

His breastplate of righteousness will equip us to stop reacting in the flesh and instead choose to battle with our praises and prayers.

His gospel of peace will remind us to walk in assurance and peace, knowing that even when we can’t see things changing, God is working on our behalf.

His shield of faith will give us the ability to trust in God’s timing and in His ways.

His helmet of salvation will remind us that God’s ultimate desire is to have a close relationship with Him. Though a battle might seem like an unlikely part of that process, God can bring good out of it.

His sword, which is the Bible, will act as both a love letter to our hearts and a fierce and accurate weapon for our souls to use against the devil.

And His gift of prayer. We can choose to remember that it’s not something to turn to as a last resort but the very thing God’s most courageous followers turn to first.

Ephesians 6:13-18 assures us with these in place, we’ll be able to stand and tap into a power beyond ourselves. And while the enemy may be vicious, we know he won’t be victorious.

Let’s put on the full armor of God, sweet friends, so that we can stand strong against Satan’s schemes.

Prayer: Father God, You know how many days I end up feeling weak and battle-weary, all because I keep trying to fight the enemy in my own strength. Thank You for reminding me yet again that true and lasting strength comes from You. And thank You for perfectly equipping me to stand strong against the enemy. Today I lift my prayers and my praises up to You, reminding myself that I’m fighting from victory, not for victory. In You, I’ve already won. And Satan is a defeated foe. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!

Lions

It's been a few weeks now since Women's retreat. I know personally you come back strong right after retreat and then as life happens we start to stumble and maybe we continue to fight (still no Facebook for me! And I'm journaling as I write this) or maybe we go back into everyday life and let what we felt during retreat fall to the floor. So as I was jorunaling and going through my notes from retreat I wanted to post these words as a reminder to keep fighting strong ,to keep filling your life with God, and pouring him out throughout all aspects of your life. Walk like lions, fly like eagles, and do not fear evil, rise by The Spirit and with boldness.


Today we live, today we breathe
Today we know that we are strong when we are weak
Today we trust, we overcome
Take every chain that kept us slaves and throw em' off

We're not waiting for permission
We defy our inhibition
Like our middle name is "fearless"
Unafraid

If we're gonna fly, we fly like eagles
Arms out wide
If we're gonna fear, we fear no evil
We will rise
By your power, we will go
By your spirit, we are bold
If we're gonna stand, we stand as giants
If we're gonna walk, we walk as lions
We walk as lions

Today is ours, it's always been
Before we face the fight
We know who's gonna win
We live by faith and not by sight
We don't want safe and quiet
We don't wanna run and hide

This is not an intermission
It's our time, not gonna miss it
You've already called us fearless
Unafraid

If we're gonna fly, we fly like eagles
Arms out wide
If we're gonna fear, we fear no evil
We will rise
By your power, we will go
By your spirit, we are bold
If we're gonna stand, we stand as giants
If we're gonna walk, we walk as lions
We walk as lions

Oh, everywhere we go
The battle has been won
We know you've gone before us
So, we take it hard in faith
With every step we take
We know we'll rise victorious

If we're gonna fly, we fly like eagles
Arms out wide
If we're gonna fear, we fear no evil
We will rise
By your power, we will go
By your spirit, we are bold
If we're gonna stand, we stand as giants
If we're gonna walk, we walk as lions
We walk as lions.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Ephesians 6:10

A Note from Joyce

I hope that 3rd time is a charm, because this is my 3rd time trying to complete this blog.  We were asked to give our WEEKEND GET AWAY WHERE WE COULD GET CLOSE TO GOD.
I did not get the true experience of what the RETREAT meant to me until my GRANDSON asked me "WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE RETREAT". At 1st I said, "It was good".  Then I got to think about it. "What would GOD have for me?"  It didn't take long.  What do I love? (This was answered many times) I love being with people and talking about GOD. I did very much. God provided me with some very close new friends.  This was truly wonderful.  Also, I love to walk. This covered the whole weekend, starting on Friday night in the NIGHT WALK.  This was outstanding. Even though it was cold, it didn't seem to matter.  Being able to see in the dark, being near everyone, hearing people's comments, having someone we had to trust to know that he would not lead us to get lost or to stumble was truly satisfying. It was certainly a reflection of how we MUST trust in GOD, since HE is the only one we can trust to put our lives in. Since I am an early riser and just don't like laying around and doing nothing, naturally, I went for a walk.  It was beautiful.  Going in the same area from the night before and seeing ,in the daylight, the actual beauty of the rocks and trees was overwhelming. Since I couldn't walk on the same path as the night before, I saw a wider path. Thinking to myself, (I am going to stay on the wide path, so I don't get lost) It was so beautiful with the purple flowers than yellow flowers. It was just simply breathtaking.  Than I saw a sign saying PRAYER WALK. I thought to myself, (I will take this 1, Certainly they wont allow you to get lost on a PRAYER WALK).  So I went walking, but what do I find but a dead end.  I took a side path and found a PRAYER WALK sign and continued to follow the path. Where did this lead me but to a water crossing. It was not deep, it had branches and rocks in it.  If it were summer, I would have gladly taken it. But it was cold, I have hurt myself several times in the past year and debated on trying it.  I have been BLESSED WITH A GREAT DEAL OF FAITH. However, I guess I chose the common sense thing and turned around. When I got back and was telling people about this, Jessica was the only 1 that asked me, " Did I cross the water?" She stated that Several times. It got me to thinking, WHY DIDN'T I CROSS THE WATER? I KNEW I COULD. The next time, I will do it unless they have it closed off, like the other place that was closed.  In finishing this walk, there was 1x that I thought I was really lost. I thought about calling PAM, but instead continued to ask GOD to guide me. As you can see, GOD helped me to find my way back. Sunday morning the same thing.  I was up before everyone, so naturally I got my things together and left for another walk.  Here I found the BIG PRAYER SIGN and walked to it.  It was absolutely a beautiful area where you could see 3 crosses standing there and their reflection in the water.  It was very thought provoking. Then I walked in another direction and found water flowing like a small waterfall. Other things that I love is doing something different.  Thanks to Megan I have a video of me zip lining. that was sooo much fun. Thanks to Shannon, I did the craft which I had never done. As soon as I saw the picture, I knew I had to do it.  I love it.  I also love to volunteer.  I am no seamstress, but found ways that I could be of help. To put the icing on the cake, "The emotion and sincerity through the singing and speakers topped it all.  It truly made for an awesome experience in which GOD FOUND A WAY FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO APPRECIATE ALL THE HANDIWORK OF THE PEOPLE WHO ALLOWED GOD TO LEAD THEM IN THIS BLESSED EXPERIENCE.


 

In Over my Head

When Jaki referenced me in her lyrics post it was because I had written this post, saved it as a draft, but not published and then deleted it. But after she posted some music lyrics I decided to re-do this post. Jaki sang this song at retreat and it was such a beautiful song to go with the theme of Fullness in Christ. Thomas is a musician and for him he likes lyrics of songs but I can tell for him it's more the beat and the music he really loves, but for me it has always been about the poetry of the words. Getting to why I wanted to share this song with you. Most people sing along to songs but don't really deeply think about the lyrics unless you actually read them. I love to pull up the youtube video and look at the lyrics while i'm listening. And I will post the link to the youtube video at the bottom. Watch it! Bethel did a bunch of live songs in the most AMAZING location it's one reason I could watch the video over and over.

I have come to this place in my life
I’m full but I’ve not satisfied
This longing to have more of You
ANd i can feel it my heart is convinced
I’m thirsty my soul can’t be quenched
You already know this but still
Come and do whatever You want to

I’m standing knee deep but I’m out where I've never been
And i feel You coming and I hear Your voice on the wind

Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in
Let love come teach me who You are again
Would you Take me back to the place where my heart
Was only about You And all I wanted was just to be with You?
Come and do whatever You want to

Further and further my heart moves away from the shore
Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours
Further and further my heart moves away from the shore
Whatever it looks like, whatever may come I am Yours

Then You crash over me and I’ve lost control but I’m free
I’m going under, I’m in over my head
And You crash over me, and that's where You want me to be
I’m going under, I’m in over my head
Whether I sink, whether I swim
It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head
Whether I sink, whether I swim
It makes no difference when I’m beautifully in over my head
I’m Beautifully in over my head
I’m Beautifully in over my head



And Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry. And whoever believes in me will never go thirsty." John 6:35

Night Hike Observations

From  retreat, anyone want to throw some observations out from the night nature hike?

Perspective

I love reading the Bible with Jed! He is on his second time thru "the Action Bible" and I always seem to learn details about scripture. In addition, God is always faithful to point out something that applies to my life too! Earlier this week we read about the 12 spies that scouted out the promised land. Only Joshua and Caleb came back with the right perspective- seeing God's good promises and not distracted by fears and overwhelming odds. You'll have to read the end of the story in Numbers 13 and 14 to know the end of this tragic tale.... but before we bash the 10 spies who didn't remember the miraculous things God did for them (and the horrific consequences it had), let me encourage you Sisters, remember what God has said to you (write it down!!), imerse yourself in God's word so you know His character and His promises!! Walk faithfully in your day with a mind that remembers what God has done and eyes that see the amazing things God has for you!

Rocks

Jamie has mentioned these jars or rocks, and If you haven't seen her demonstration I would recommend you take a moment to stop and check it out. When I first saw her demonstration, I thought what a cute, simple way to show fullness. As I thought more about the rocks that fill my life, such as, "how big IS my God rock in comparison to the other important, good, busyness or busybody, or wasteful rocks that I am putting in my life?" I wasn't to pleased with my answer.

 The jar concept is, if you put God first the rest can go in. But also, am I filling my life with what Gods truth, reality, and perspective is or am I just trying to be busy so I'm not looked down upon.

 My perspective vs Gods perspectives.  What he knows is best for me and who I'm supposed to be involved with. It's time for me to pull every thing out of that jar and examine it. Getting rid of any bad habits or things I'm enslaved to. Like bing watching Netflix instead of playing with my kids.

Checking if these good things are what God wants me to do or if it's time to let go. Maybe God has new rocks waiting for me and I need to leave some space in my jar for them. As I go through these hard choices I need to read Gods word and stay close to him daily. From one day to the next I struggle to remain close to God and thankfully his mercy is new every morning (lamentations 3:24-27).
As I purge my jar, literally and figuratively, I know God will be with me. Whether I 'feel' victorious or morn the loss of something I have invested a lot of myself into, if I give it to God then he gets the glory and can use that in another persons life. This isn't an easy process for me and I have been avoiding really getting into it.

You may not have noticed, but the church has a rain garden. In dry times it looks like a unmowed ditch. Its purpose is to collect the extra water from rainstorms and filter the extra back into the ground water so that the water treatment plant isn't overwhelmed.

God has given me the opportunity to let him be my rain garden. To filter my life through his perspective and leave only what is useful and edifying for the body. (Ephesians 4:12&29)

 “Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll — are they not in your record?”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭56:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/psa.56.8.niv

I don't need to hold onto my rocks. God already has them written down. If he has a scroll (jar) just for my tears, then I know I can trust that he cares for the rest of my rocks and they are safe in his care. It's time for me to write down and throw some rocks into our rain garden. Let God filter my life through his perspective and become full of life that is Zoe life.


Please hold me accountable to this! I have a feeling I'm going to get really busy and not take the time to check and make sure these rocks (good works or whatever that fills my day) are supposed to be in my jar.

Thanks,
Theresa

Pieces by Bethel Music

This inspiration came from Shannon (to give credit where it's due!), but my plan is to share some song lyrics along with YouTube links to videos from time to time. I open these on my phone and listen to them at home (so you don't have to buy them), and they always bless me. Feel free to do the same!

"Pieces"

Unreserved, unrestrained
Your love is wild
Your love is wild for me
It isn't shy, it's unashamed
Your love is proud
To be seen with me

You don't give Your heart in pieces
You don't hide Yourself to tease us

Uncontrolled, uncontained
Your love is a fire
Burning bright for me
It's not just a spark
It's not just a flame
Your love is a light
That all the world will see
All the world will see

You don't give Your heart in pieces
You don't hide Yourself to tease us
You don't give Your heart in pieces
You don't hide Yourself to tease us

Your love's not fractured
It's not a troubled mind
It isn't anxious
It's not the restless kind
Your love's not passive
It's never disengaged
It's always present
It hangs on every word we say
Love keeps its promises
It keep its word
It honors what's sacred
'Cause its vows are good
Your love's not broken
It's not insecure
Your love's not selfish
Your love is pure

You don't give Your heart in pieces
You don't hide Yourself to tease us
You don't give Your heart in pieces
You don't hide Yourself to tease us

https://youtu.be/P0FW--zidYA

Lies Vs. Truth: Practice with your Sword!

The enemy likes to whisper thoughts in our minds which may seem real or right to us, but are just truths which he has twisted into lies. We have the ability, and the responsibility as growing Christians, to combat these lies with Truth. Remembering that God’s Word is our weapon (Eph. 6:17), we need to familiarize ourselves with the Truth it offers.

Practice using your sword by stating something you have believed, but know is a lie, and follow it with a Truth which is founded in Scripture. Here are some examples:

I am not loved or desired.
*God loves me and desires me.
Hosea 3:19-20, 23: “I will show my love to the one I called ‘not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘not my people,’ ‘You are my people,’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”

I should feel at home in my surroundings (work, family, etc), but I don’t.
*I live here, but this world is not my home.
John 17:15-18: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it...As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

I don’t know how to witness to others about Christ.
*God enables me to speak about His love to others.
James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given.”

I don’t have what I need to minister to others.
*God gives me everything I need to do the work He has called me to.
Phil. 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

I’m too young/inexperienced to truly connect with people.
*My age/experience doesn’t matter, because God gives me favor.
1 Tim. 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.”

Here are a few to practice with:

I am insignificant to God.
Truth:
Look up John 15:16:

God doesn’t need me to accomplish His goals.
Truth:
Look up 1 Cor. 3:9:

God is too big and important for me to get to know Him.
Truth:
Look up Ephesians 3:12:

I was born, but God probably doesn’t remember me very often.
Truth:
Look up Psalm 139:

What other lies has the enemy been speaking to you? How can you combat them with Truth?

Adventuring with God

Dear sisters,

Last summer, God gave me some really cool insights about stretching my faith and being pushed into uncomfortable situations. He reminded me that life is truly an incredible adventure, and he wants to walk through every moment with me. I hope this is as encouraging to you as it was to me!

"You are an adventurer, waking each day to see the mountains and challenges ahead of you. And I am your supplier. Come to me every day and I will give you provisions. I will teach you to set camp, to climb mountains, and to build fires. I will guide you along steep cliffs and through deep ravines. I will show you beautiful things along every path: The flowers, the animals, the waterfalls, and the sunrises. But if you try this trek without me, you will find it dangerous and difficult beyond your understanding. So stay with me. Never lose connection with me. It may not always be simple or painless -- it may rain or sleet or blizzard somedays. But do you doubt that I will carry you through every rushing river and make camp to keep you safe through every torrential storm?

I AM, my beloved. I never change. Day to day and age to age, I see all things and my understanding is boundless. So keep walking. Keep stepping out on those rope bridges which look terrifying. Keep getting up each day, even when it is cold and wet and awful out. I AM with you always, to the very end of the age."

Much love,
Jaki

A Good Kick in the Butt

God's reminders don't always feel like a gentle tap on the shoulder or like a lightbulb flashing in your brain. For me, lately they've felt like a slap in the face or a kick in the butt. But in a good way. In a good way you ask? God knows you, he knows me, in fact he's known us all before the very creation of this Earth. God knows that Shannon Letro is oblivious, stubborn, and very hard headed. He knows that a gentle tap on the shoulder would either go right over my head or it would be ignored if it was not something I wanted to hear. He knows that he has to shake me hard, give me a loving slap and say "Shannon, you listen to me and you listen good." At the beginning of this year I've been feeling God moving me more and more, guiding me, sometimes dragging me into the path he wants me on. Slowly, showing me the plans he has for me. So much so that I've just felt pure excitement and joy about the unknown of his plans. Which is completely not me. Two things you should know about me, I HATE not being in control and I hate surprises (okay, that's not entirely true . I love being 100% surprised. I hate when I know there is a surprise and I have to wait to find out what it is) oh right, that's called being impatient. So, three things you should know about me I'm incredibly impatient. I truly believe God gave me these traits just for fun. Like, he's up in Heaven saying haha I'm going to make her impatient and then I'm going to make her wait for EVERYTHING! For a boyfriend, a husband (I had to wait 5 long years for that wedding ring), for a baby ( waiting 9 long months was the WORST wait of my life. I was so out of control. You better believe he came a week late, 24 hours plus of labor and then had to be cut and pulled out... apparently stubbornness is a trait my son inherited from the very beginning).. and last but not least for his plan for me.
I've watch girls in the early twenties who know exactly what they want to do and God wants them to do and for me that has not been an easy journey and i'm still not 100% sure what he's calling me to do. So without a goal, without a plan, I stumbled and I stopped trying. I walked away from God. I blamed Him for everything bad thing that happened in my life, I figured he didn't care about me because I never felt him speak to me, I never felt like he was listening when I prayed, to the point I started to question His existence. Every Time a stumbling block came I let Satan take hold. Fear and anxiety took hold of my daily life. I was always in a lot of pain from a disease that a lot of doctors don't even believe exist. I had severe panic attacks that put me in the hospital. And instead of taking it all to God I just masked it all with very bad habits that then added deep regrets to my pain and suffering. But then I met a man who was right there in the same part of his journey that I was. It wasn't easy and we still struggled for a few more years but we were both so ready to be done with all the hurt, all the excuses, all the pain and we both realized that the only thing that was going to fix us, the only thing that was going to make us happy, was not each other, it was God. so, we tried church in Florida but it just didn't seem right and a job lead us to Indiana. Then we still, both stubborn as could be, took another year of random sundays and random churches until we walked into White Rock. It just felt like home. Not only has it been our home for almost three years but we have met the most amazing people that have become our family. They have pushed us to further our walks with God.

So here I am, realizing that God was ALWAYS there. Always preparing me, always with a plan for me. Then at the beginning of this year, He said you're almost there, you're almost ready. That's when the excitement came. I was doing so much to further my walk with him. Then it just sort of stopped. I wasn't prepared, that when you are becoming fuller and fuller in God, the devil is going to try really hard to knock you down. I had never had this strong of a relationship with God, so I just didn't know. I was clueless. I became feeling angry towards a lot of things, especially my husband, I began feeling overwhelmed. I stopped walking in the footsteps God laid in front of me and I became distracted and busy. That was right before we started the Armor of God series in our women's group and I didn't want to go. In fact the very Wednesday it was to start I got into a HUGE fight with my husband. Thankfully, those amazing friends, those family members that God has brought in my life convinced me to go. And the very first night BOOM! God slapped me in the face. The line that she said, and I know I won't quote it exactly but she said "It is not your spouse, it is not your children that you are fighting with it's the devil." And she went onto say that if we are not fully protected by the armor of God then we have no chance of fighting the devil and defeating him. What she said hit me so hard. Now, don't get me wrong I still struggled, and I still fought with my husband. But that realization was just step one. It was me realizing that the more I am aligning myself with God and the plans he has for me the harder the devil is going to try and knock me down, pulling me by the hand off that path. So, I was more aware. I tried to reign in anger, my emotions and tried to step back and realize every time it was the devil. I started praying for my husband, I started reading my First 5 app devotion everyday. Yet, I still struggled. Valentine's Day evening after my husband went to bed I came down stairs because I was trying to pull myself out of the black hole the devil was helping me dig and I just cried and prayed. I still try sometimes to pull myself out of things by myself and it never works, because I'm not putting the armor fulling on. You can't be protected fighting an enemy with just a helmet and no shield, sword, or breastplate. One piece of armor does not work without the other. You also can't defeat a powerful enemy on your own. The biggest piece of armor I've been forgetting is God's word. Nothing can be done, no battle can be fought, I can not do things that God wants to do without reading His word. So when I try and try over and over to live my life the way God wants it but without reading His word, am I really living my life the way He wants?

Step two of my realization came the weekend of Women's retreat. All of the speakers talks hit me in a different way but when Jaki spoke about the barriers that keep you from becoming full in God, again BOOM! Kick in the butt from God. She talked about busyness and what we become slaves to in our lives. You know I have had Facebook for about 12 years and have probably only gone a handful of times without checking it daily. Did you know that I watch hours of television, when Malachi is sleeping, or in the background when I'm doing projects instead I could be reading my bible or listening to it! And I never realized that even though I may be filling my life with activities that are good, that if it takes away from being in His word, or giving 100% to the activities that he's called me to do than business whether it's good busy or bad busy is the enemy. So, I came home with a plan. It's not going to all happen immediately but I've already started on some. I deactivated my Facebook. And deleted the apps that I watch tv on. I've spent more time with my kid and less time with us both sitting in front of the tv. But there's still those struggles, I didn't pray for my husband today and we've already had a little tiff. I got off the phone with my husband.. after sending him a not so nice text and immediately regretting it, I prayed for him and us. Then within 5 minutes we were both apologizing. I haven't spent any time cleaning my house and getting my life organized because well it's a mess and I'm overwhelmed and I'm not sure where to start and my one year old doesn't give much time for concentrating on anything but him. In fact, I wrote most of this while he was napping. After reading my first 5 app and reading the Bible first of course. So, in conclusion I just wanted to share my current battle and a little history. I wanted you to know that it's ok to stumble, and stumble some more. God will give you his hand and pick you right back up as long as you ask. But you have to put in the effort to. You have to figure out what your barriers are and how to break through them. Well my kid is screaming and this is much longer than I ever intended on it to be.

I will keep you updated with how I progress with my journey.

Love and God bless, Shannon Letro

Welcome to the White Rock Girls Blog!

We are excited to offer a place to share our personal God-sightings and give testimony to His working in our lives.  This forum is to be used to share scripture, stories, pictures, songs, etc that keep our eyes focused on what God is doing in the world around us.  Sometimes the voices of the world can be really loud and discouraging and I hope this place encourages your heart and reminds you of how powerful our God is.  I love serving our God who is on the move and willing to use us if we are willing to seek Him, listen and keep in step with where He leads.  I'm excited to share together in the coming year.  Please contact me separately if you want to be added as an author.  Remember, this is a public forum that can be seen by anyone, so please be sensitive to the amount of personal information you disclose.  And thanks Hailey for teaching me so much about blogging!