Gems, Treasures, and Fabulous Things..... and I Have the Map!!

Today is Friday. TGIF, rather I like the other meaning that I have heard for that acronym, Today God is First. Today started out wonderful for me!! I got up early with Travis and took Kylie to school, then I came back home to hang out with God. Minutes turned to hours, and then it was time for lunch. As I was eating I took some time to think about my studies.

Yesterday and today I read 1 & 2 Timothy. I had been hearing Timothy's name being brought up quite often lately so I figured I was being guided there. Timothy was a young guy that God touched and gave him words to say. Only, from what I read in Paul's letters to Timothy, Timothy was losing sight of his mission. Losing sight of what God had called him to do. Or what I like to call....... Timothy got a little side tracked.

Have you ever been side tracked?? (Don't lie.... it's a sin you know :o) I get side tracked all the time it seems. What Paul was trying to do in his letters to Timothy was to make him aware of his "sidetracked-ness", and to remind, refresh, and renavigate him to his mission (which was to bring people to Christ). Isn't that all of our missions. So tell me how sidetracked are you in your mission?

I asked myself that same question and I a willing to admit that I a totally sidetracked. It just seems that my emotions are getting in my way of my relationship with God. And most of my emotions my friend are whispers in my ear from the enemy, that I seem to believe every time (you know you hear them too... Your not good enough, she is prettier, your not smart, he'll move on sooner or later, God remembers what you did.... SHAME SHAME, bad mom, bad friend, bad wife, bad nurse...... etc, etc, etc).

Well honey, let me give you my little gem that I found today in 2 Timothy:

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.
To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Timothy 4:18

This verse sent chills up my spine with every word that I continued to read, and I knew that God meant that verse for me today. This is a verse that I am going to memorize. When I hear those small evil whispers in my ear, I'll pull out my two edged sword and say, "AWAY FROM ME SATAN- The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To HIM be the glory for ever and ever. AMEN!! That is notecard on my bathroom mirror worthy!!

Also I keep a little notebook beside me when I have my morning time. When I run across a scripture that stops me dead in my tracks, I jot it down. I have a whole little notebook now that is a reminder to me that God is alive and active in me, not only did he save me, not only does he care for me, but he is communicating with me throught the holy spirit!! And I know that any old fashioned girl like me loves some ATTENTION, especially from her main man :o) Here is another little treasure for you girls, this one is also FOR SURE notecard on the bathroom mirror worthy:

Good morning!
You're beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!

God be with you.

Luke 1:28
(The Mesage)

Just try starting your day off on a sour note with God telling you how beautiful you are with beauty that only comes from him and through him. Just try.


God is Glorious, more Glorious that my mere words can describe!

It's Sunday... and that's my Fun-day ! !

Just got home from church and I am so psyched I just had to get on and blog about it!! Well let's see where to start?? Well for the last couple of weeks I have really felt some distance from God for whatever reason. It seemed like I just couldn't watch enough tivoed Joyce Meyer and Beth Moore to save my life and it just wasn't making me feel closer to God. Well people, I had a total light bulb moment this morning with the Lord. I WASN'T OPENING MY BIBLE AND READING EVERY MORNING LIKE I USUALLY DO!!! I was like.. um HELLO MICHELLE anyone in there??? Joyce Meyer and Beth Moore aren't going to help you if you don't help yourself.

I spent a second this morning before I started my devotional that I am doing (Btw it's 90 Days With the One and Only- Jesus By, Beth Moore and it is SO fabulous! I HIGHLY recommend it!!) so I took a minute and said a very simple prayer: Lord thank you for this day and the sunshine. Please be in my presence here in my kitchen this morning. Please help me as I am learning of you to understand. Please help me to stay focused Lord. Thank you for loving me so much Lord. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. It was AMAZING the Lord's peace just FLOODED over me immediately. Tears came to my eyes and I could just feel His love. It was like he was letting me know, Beloved, I have been right here where you left me waiting on you to come back. I can't even explain people.

For those of you who don't believe, let me tell you: There is a God and He did send his son Jesus to save us. He loves you more than you will EVER know, and it is THE most WONDERFUL unfailing love that you will ever know, because he loves like no human can!!

So, in this other devotional that I read from time to time, guess what the message was about: "Coming back closer to God" The scripture that it was based off I love: "Love God all you saints; God stays close to all to stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go at it alone." Psalm 31:23 (and I love Psalm 31:24 too: Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up.) Ok ok, all coincidence your thinking.... well then I get to church and guess what the message was about?? Needing to spend time with God.

Now I'm thinking God is telling me he wants to spend some time with me :o) But that makes me SO excited!! He is my One and Only. I can live with out ANYTHING in my life even down to my husband and daughter (though that would suck) but He would guide me through as long as I am actively reaching for is hand. How good is He!!

Also I want to let you know that I am just loving this new church that we are going to (Crossroads Community Church). Praise and worship this morning was so great!! I just rocked out, closed my eyes lifted up my hands and didn't even worry about anything but praising him!! I know that there are so many people that think that God and church are for old folks and boring people but that totally is not the case!! This church is a wonderful example against that!! Check it out for your self: www.crossroadsenterprise.org. I want to leave you with one last bit of encouragement from my devotional book, God's Purpose for Every Woman:

God replied, "I Am The One Who Always Is."
Just tell them, "I Am has sent me to you."
Exodus 3:14

(every time "I Am" is mentioned it's referring to God, as if he were speaking this to you directly)

I Am the unconditional love you are able to give you your kids.
I Am your Redeemer. I forgive you; forgive yourself.
I Am your provider. I Am there for your friends. You aren't supposed to fix everyone.
I Am living in you therefore you have great things to say and write.
I Am your audience, not the world.
I Am your husband, kids, and friends.
The hole that they can't fill in your heart, I can.
I Am your creator. Love the body you were given and take care of it.

The next time you find yourself thinking of all you are not, remember all that God is. He is the great I Am. He loves you dearly. Defeat thoughts of "I'm not" with the truth of "I Am" in him.

How truly amazing.

Today is a new day.

I have already written this on my facebook, but hey, I can write it here too huh! I get this email every day that is a daily devotional called Prime Time with God and today's was amazing. Have you ever had an experience that you just knew that God was speaking that to you in this very moment because that is exactly what you need to hear?? Well this was that moment for me this morning here is what it said:

Today's Prayer
Dear God, Thank you for new beginnings. When one door closes, another door opens. Change is not always easy, but sometimes necessary and in our best interests. I am so glad that you offer us opportunities to change for the better. I trust you because you know the future and you want what is best for us. Help me, my family, my friends, my fellow PRIME TIME family members, to make wise decisions, to trust in your guidance, to follow your lead, and to know what is your will versus the tricks of Satan or our own selfish desires. May we always do your will and walk your way. I know you will bless us and you will be glorified when we do. In Jesus' name I offer my thanksgiving and praise to you. Amen.

Well I guess this could be a lot of moments for me. Travis and I have moved around from state to state following the Army around and it gets a little difficult to make friends. We moved to Alabama in September of 2008 and stared going to a little church in the little town that we live in (are you getting that the town the Army has moved us to is SMALL) and I made some GREAT friends there, but time has passed and for whatever reason we all have grown apart and it breaks my heart. Really.

I am a V E R Y social person and it's hard for me to sit around. I know what your thinking... get a job. I have a job. I am a nurse and I work 16 hour shifts mostly on the weekend, which depending on the week gives me 4 or 5 days off. To sit around. I dig in the word and do bible studies by myself, but I get lonely at times with Travis gone all the time and Kylie in school.

This was a word I needed to hear from God today. That doors close, some doors slam, doors open, sometimes it's a window that's cracked that you have to sneak in by the grace of God :o) but it's not easy. Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes we think that it's unbearable. But it's not unbearable. God will never give us one single thing that we can not handle in our lives. That is hard for me to understand at times. Maybe this is one of those times. I'll just sit back and listen to some music. That seems to always turn my focus back to him.

On another note, we started to go to another church recently. Crossroads Community Church. I am liking it.... except that they do not have a Wednesday night service (because sometimes that is the only church I get because of working the weekends), also they don't have any bible studies going. But Sunday service is great, and Travis likes it a lot. Maybe I should start a bible study there?? I don't know. I am afraid that they would tell me no.

Well there is my thoughts for this 5th day of June. Have a gloriously blessed day everyone!! Keep Him first...