Cookbook of Life

Cookbooks are one thing that I can never have enough of…at the moment I really do not have THAT many. Monday, while riding back home from the beach {my favorite place by the way} Angela put a Patch the Pirate CD in for the kids. There was a song on there about the Bible being the cookbook of life. I guess I never really thought about it before…but the Bible is almost like a cookbook. In a cookbook it gives you directions how to make something, the measurements for a dish, what temperature to cook it on, and how long. If you do anything wrong…cook it too long and too much salt {my opinion you can never add too much sugar to something like cookies, cake, or ice cream}. Life is almost like that cookbook. In order to have a orderly well fulfilled life God gave us all our own “cookbook” called the Bible. The Bible instructs and teaches it tells us what we need in life. The Bible is the cookbook of life. =)

Loving God With All Your Mind- Part Two

Phillipians 3:13-14- "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

I know many times in my Christian life I tend to look back at my past failures and my sins. I am so thankful to have a God who forgives and forgets. Since God has forgotton and forgiven what I've done then I need to do the same forget my past sins and falures, learn from them, and focus on Christ. I loved what Corrie ten Boom said,

"When we {I} confess my sins, God casts them into the deepest ocean forever. And even though I cannot find a Scripture for it, I believe God then places a sign out there that says, 'No Fishing Allowed'" (George 16)

Elizabeth George went on in this section to talk about God's purpose in my life. I know God's purpose for me is to serve Him and love Him. But it gets much deeper than that, God wants me to keep on doing His will and focus on Him each and every day. The only way I can serve God with all my heart is by focusing on Christ everday. Four Questions were asked in the book and Elizabeth George challenged the reader to write down the answers:

• Who Am I? a daughter, friend, teacher, and a child of God (His princess)
• Where did I come from? I was planned long ago. God knew everything about me and what I would be
• Why am I here? To serve God with all my heart, to finish the race, not to quit
• Where am I going? to heaven

Its amazing when I look at these questions and answers how how much everything is about God. My life is not about ME. My focus is not about ME. My life and focus my prize needs to be on Christ. I need to look at Him and keep my eyes on Him. I think of the farmer and how he has to keep his rows straight when preparing the field. I am told when he plows he keeps his eyes on one spot to keep the rows straight. This is how my life is I need to keep my eyes on God to keep my life straight and in His will.

" We {I} can only keep on keeping on when we {I} have our {my} eyes on Him, our {my} crucified and risen Lord."

What to Read?

It seems like every time I sit down to read one of the books I’ve chosen to read I cannot get into them! So I am going to be praying over the weekend on what to read next… My reading time is when I am at work as the receptionist at the 2-3 year olds. So right now I am praying about what book to read next….=)

Next Book!!!!

So I haven't really kept up with my reading list. I am although reading some different books than the ones I originally planned to. I just completed Elizabeth George's Loving God With All Your Mind (great book) and Dr. Woodard book Marrying the Right One (good book). The next book or books (since I tend to read several at the same time are going to be Elizabeth George's book Beautiful in God's Eyes a study on Proverbs 31. One of my desires is to be like the Proverbs 31 woman....only way I can is by studying how I can be. I am looking forward to what the Lord is going to teach me in this upcoming book.

Loving God With All Your Mind Part One

So far Elizabeth George’s book has been a huge blessing to me. It has opened my mind and heart to things that I need to work on in my life. In the first section she talked about Philippians 4:8. The main thrust of this verse she pointed out was “Am I thinking on what is true?” Meaning, am I focusing on Christ and His Word. Am I focusing on the NOW and not the past or the future?
I have to admit many times I haven’t. My mind seems to get ahead of myself and I keep asking “what if questions.” Elizabeth George said,

“Every time you hold your thoughts up against God’s standards on what is true and what is real…and then choose to ‘think on these things,’ you are loving God with all your mind. With His help, His Word, and His Spirit, you can triumph over negative emotions, damaging thoughts, and destructive attitude” (George 23).

How true that is. I know many times I will get frustrated when my mind is not focused on what Christ wants me to focus on. When my mind is not focused on Christ I am not loving God with all my mind.Every time I start having the wrong thoughts I am not loving God with all my mind. When I think of the “what if this was different” I am not loving God with all my mind. In my Christian life to focus on Christ and to love God with all my mind--I need to think “what is true and real about God?” “What does the Bible say?” The Bible is what is true not my thoughts, not my feelings, not even my emotions. If I use my thoughts, feelings, and emotions those will not help me train my thoughts. What I need to focus on is God’s Word.
MORE POSTS TO COME ABOUT THIS BOOK SOON! I AM SHARING IT WITH SOMEONE TO READ! =) YAY FOR SHARING BOOKS!!!! =)

Job

This past week I decided to tackle reading the book of Job. I have to admit…it was a difficult book to read through and grasp at times. But through prayer that the Lord would teach me something I gleaned much from this book. The book of Job is the oldest book of the Bible, a book of poetry, and about a man named Job.

Job had a family and wealth. Most of all Job loved God. The question in this book is “Why do the godly suffer?” I know at times I have had set in my mind that I am a Christian and I shouldn’t have to go through hard times. But, the Lord has taught me otherwise that Christians will have trials and Christians will suffer. I know for a fact that if the Christian life were easy and we all did not have those hard times a Christian would not grow in the way he should. God gives hard times to His children so that we can learn to trust Him and grow to be more like Him everyday.

The Lord taught me that there will be  people in my life that will tell me to give up on God because of a trial I am going through. Job’s wife told her husband to “curse God and die.” What an encouragement she was (not really). When I see a friend in a hard time I should be an encouragement to them and point them to Christ during their hard time.

There are times that even Christians ask themselves and say to themselves, “Why do I suffer? Why was I even born.” Even Job a upright and godly man asked himself this. When he was in his misery he asked, “Why was I even born?”  I know throughout my life there has been times I have asked myself the same thing when I was discouraged. But, I look at it and think later on “God wants me to go through this time for a reason.” Here is a situation that happened back in the early spring that had me questioning God “why?”

My dad had cancer during my second year here in Florida. Through cancer treatments the Lord healed my father. I thought the cancer was behind him until my mom called me and told me that dad was going to have surgery again…later on we found out that the tumor they removed was cancer. I was devastated and have to admit asking God “why.” God really had to do a work in my heart and show me that this was for a reason. I am thankful that now today dad is cancer free. Although the situation was hard I look back and see God in the entire thing. The entire time Go was in control, there was no need to ask why….during the year my dad had cancer and when he was tested again were times that drew me closer to Him each day.

The author of Job continues to tell us that God chastens us for a reason. My life will actually be happier when I am corrected, but at the same time my job to do is to take that correction with the right attitude. I think of it as a teacher who has to discipline her students.

Through out the chapter Job has several friends that were trying to be an encouragement….but they really didn’t help him much. These friends were trying to tell Job the reason why he was going through this hard time. There will be friends in my life that will do that same tell me why this is happening instead of being that person that may need to be quiet at  the time…(I have learned that it is sometimes better to listen rather than talk when there is someone going through a hard time. Sometimes the only this that you can say is “I am praying for you.”)

Job’s reply to Biliad in 9:4 was one that really spoke to me. God will put hard things in my life. But if I harden my heart against God then I cannot learn from it. My heart should always be tender to what God has in store for me. During that hard time I need to trust God no matter what—through EVERYTHING (13:15). Again going back to the situation with my dad. I have to admit my heart was hard…..I went to church on Sunday upset and not really wanting to be there…THAT was the wrong attitude to have. All I remember is that I got nothing from the messages my pastor spoke because I was hardened. But, day by day as I prayed and looked to God the hardness was chiseled away and I was looking to see what God had in store. I have to admit this is hard to do….when a situation comes up unexpectedly I like all my “ducks in a row.”I am learning though that my ducks may not be lined up my way but they are always lined up God’s way.

In the end of the book God comes to Job and speaks to him. He asked him “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth…” God knew from the very beginning that this would happen to Job. God showed him that he is in control of everything in nature. God is in control of every little detail in my life.

Wow

I love being into writing again! I just wish I can keep it up when school starts back up! The Lord has been teaching m SO MUCH over the past few weeks. It is amazing to let the Lord work in my life. I have to admit I have been pretty stagnant lately…BUT the Lord has been amazing and has been at work in my heart.

The Lord has been so patient with me and its amazing what happens when I let Him work in my life and when I listen.I will be writing a few more blog posts this weekend! Hope my blog has been a blessing to those who read it!

Provision

Being a teacher my paychecks stop when school ends. I had one job lined up this summer—teaching summer school three times a week for three hours each day. I wasn’t sure what to expect with my paychecks…although I know I should have asked ahead of time. Another job fell through, the only time they needed me was when another teacher would be out. On Tuesday the financial secretary at my school stopped me and told me I would not have enough money to pay my rent for the summer….therefore which meant I was not making a lot. I thought “great” I have to admit my thoughts did not focus on Christ just on worrying. She suggested I talk to my administrator about what to do about my job this summer. I have a hard time going up to people talking about earning money because I don’t want to seem “money hungry” all the time. But, I also looked at it as humbling myself and being truthful and doing something about my situation. I bravely went to Mrs. Effler and mentioned to her about the rent (which God handled that well…share that in a sec) and then went on to tell her I had bills to pay and even groceries to get. She told me “let me think about it.” I went home that day and prayed all afternoon on and off about a possible job. I mean I was willing to clean toilets or scrub floors with a toothbrush. Later in the afternoon Mrs. Effler called and told me she would have be working from 6:30-12:00 everyday….that would be 6:30 AM! If you know me well enough you know I am NOT a morning person at all. I told her that would be great and thank you. I tried to look at my situation as God’s Will. I mean I prayed and HE answered. I am thankful for the work although it has been a tiring first week. But, I made it through each day with only the Lord’s help.

Back to the rent….I am still paying rent BUT it has been arranged that I will play “catch up” when school starts back up.

Oh and one more thing….every extra hour I work like TODAY from 6:30- 4 I look at it as God’s Provision for bills, my eye exam, and food.

God is good and God is the Great Provider. Only he can provide ALL my needs. All I need to do is look to Him, trust Him, and He will take care of the rest.