Distractions from following through

I have determined that I will walk the path that God has set before me without murmuring and complaining about it. I will seek His direction in every area of my life, and do my very best to follow His leading. I set a goal this week of spend my first and last hour of the day in prayer and seeking His divine direction of my life.

Why is it, that it seems like the more you try to follow what God has told you to do, the more distractions come, even more discouragements and un-mentionable temptations.

I know what I am called to do, and I also know (for the most part) what I am not to do.
I find that the enemy uses every tactic possible to catch me off guard. I oversleep, when I intended to spend that first hour in prayer in the morning. So I quickly re-arrange my schedule and plan to have my prayer hour during lunch break. So out of the blue, someone shows up to take me to lunch, or an unexpected meeting is called.
Not a Problem, I have no plans for tonight, so I will spend my 2 hours this evening, and everything will be fine. So I thought!
I go out to the car to find a flat tire, so I change it in the pouring down rain and head home. As I drive home i realize all the stop lights are out. Strange! I arrive home safely, excited to get out of my wet clothes and have a hot cup of tea. The elevator is out so I have to walk up 16 flights of stairs. Not an easy thing for a youngster who is fit. For me almost impossible, but I made it safely to my apartment and find the electricity is out and has been for several hours. Cold, wet and frustrated, I crawl into bed.  I am too tired, too upset to make any attempt at prayer. I’ll try again tomorrow.

Tomorrow is another day, I will start over, but the discouragement and sense of failure is almost over-whelming. Can’t I keep my promise to God just once?

I remember the verse in I Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

I will not let him win this battle. I will fight to do what I know God has called me to do. 

The enemy will do anything within his power to stop us from praying. Why? Because God hears and answers our prayers.
If you are not under attack from the enemy, if you don't find that he is interfering in your plans. Maybe, you need to review your plans and see if they are the plans that God has for your life. The enemy won't waste time on something that is not a threat to him. 

Remember the battle is already won. The victory is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

So...

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.He remembered us in our low estate, His love endures forever. 

and freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever. 

Psalms 136:1, 23-24

I Knew you before....

 

Today I am reading in the book of Jeremiah and it is so full of truths that so often go unnoticed.

 Chapter 1 is full of amazing truths.

V5 God knew us before we were born and the plans for our life were already determined. Wow!
V6. God said don't say I am only ___. I will tell you where to go , what to say, don't be afraid of a soul. I will put the words in your mouth. This is encouraging to me, because I ám not comfortable speaking in public. Fearful of messing up, but God will give the words!! So awesome.
V18-19 You're a one-man defense system against this culture (The Message)
How many times have we said, I am just one person, I can't make a difference. God says we can, So let's stand up and make a difference in our world.
We know who we believe in, so shine the light for all to see. He will give us the words, when we are asked the reason for the faith that is within us!
It is amazing what God can and will do when we surrender our will to HIM and allow Him to direct our paths. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Another year and we have so very much to be thankful for.

With the busyness and hassles of everyday life, it is so easy to get caught up in the mode of complaining and discontentment.
Several years ago, when I was very sick and wasn't expected to survive, my husband had cancer and was on chemo, my kids were going through a very rough time, and our business was on the verge of bankruptcy.
God gave me this verse 
Thessalonians 5:18.
God tells us "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."1  I find this a very hard thing to do, but with a determined attitude, and deliberate actions, I have found that I have greatly improved over the years. 


I actually got angry at Him, complained more and it took me a couple of days to see what He was saying. 
I deliberately sat down and started writing out a list of all the things that I am thankful for. The joy started overflowing as I wrote the list. I had pages upon pages before I was through. 


Are you discontented, try this exercise- it works
In the end I made a poster of it and it hangs in my bedroom today as a reminder of His love for me.


I thankful heart, is a happy heart


I am thankful for... my salvation, his shed blood, forgiveness, redemption, my family, friends, my church, the air I breathe, the morning sunrise, the evening sunset, rainbows, the ever-lasting bouquet of flowers each spring, the songs of the birds, and so much more....


Forever grateful,

I willingly surrender to you, my God.

I willingly surrender to you, my God.

I completely yield to you, without reserve, my Abba Father; all power, control and every single possession that I have, whether it be material or emotional.

I give myself completely to your service, to use in each and every way you that you see fit. I relinquish any and all rights or privileges that I may have previously enjoyed. Today, as an act of my will, I chose to give myself up fully and completely to the maker of my soul.

I empty myself of all my longings and desires, except the deepest desire of my soul, which is the longing to bring glory and honour to your Holy Name.
Melt me, my Lord, in the flaming fire of the crucible; mold me, into the vessel that holds the very sweetest and costly fragrance of your precious love.
One that is easily broken and spilled out, without even a hint of resistance, at the mere whisper of your voice.

Use me, to direct all of the honour and glory to your name. The only name, that stands above all names.  That every knee will bow and every tongue confess, that you alone are Lord of all creation.

I humbly walk into your camp waving the white flag of surrender and fall to my face bowing before you, the King of all Kings. My master, my redeemer and my Lord.

I surrender all to you!

Accept my life, my heart, my sacrifice as I pour it out in surrender before my Holy God!

You adopted and forgiven,

Servant Child.

What am I willing to surrender

I have been sitting here today, pondering what I learned at small group last night. 
We were studying from 1 Samuel chapter 15 when God sent Samuel to anoint Saul as king and give him instructions to kill everyone and everything. 
Saul completed most of what God had instructed, but took it upon himself to hold back just a bit for himself. A prize, so to speak. God considered Saul's 99% obedience as complete rebellion. Saul thought he did pretty good?


I find that I am very much like Saul. 
I say the right things, I mostly do the right things, but I stop short of completing what God instructed me to do. I rationalize, I question, and sometimes I just decide to disobey, because I don't agree with what God said.  There is no other way to put it other than I am a rebellious child when I respond that way. God forgive me!! I want so much to be completely sold out and surrendered to my Lord. I fail constantly, but by His grace and mercy I get back on my feet and bow in repentance. 


As stated in Deuteronomy 5:29

The Message (MSG)

 God heard what you said to me and told me, "I've heard what the people said to you. They're right—good and true words. What I wouldn't give if they'd always feel this way, continuing to revere me and always keep all my commands; they'd have a good life forever, they and their children!


It is a daily struggle, don't quit, don't give in. He is there with arms outstretched waiting for us to come back. He loves us like non other can. 


I surrender all, I surrender all, all for Jesus I surrender all!

Why the Rush!

Why the Rush?

I awoke to the sound of the alarm blasting and jumped up, to ready myself for the day. No time for breakfast again, because I am running late. So I pull through the drive through at Tim Horton’s, already feeling frustrated because the line is moving so slow and I have so much to accomplish in a mere 24 hour day. As I pull into work, my Blackberry is going off like crazy, reminding me of appointments for the day. I walk in the office, to hear the phone already ringing with 20 plus messages, waiting to be answered.

I take a deep breathe and cry out loud, why can’t I just have one moment of peace!  

The thought quickly comes to my mind ‘Did you forget something today’.
I try to brush the though aside, already bombarded by the things that are setting in front of me, demanding my immediate attention.
The thought comes again, stronger.
I can’t seem to get it to stop.
What did I forget? I don’t have time for this, what is it?
Then it is as if I can hear His voice, you have forgotten me!

I have forgotten the one that means the most to me, my Lord.
I didn’t greet him when I opened my eyes.
I didn’t ask his direction, guidance and discernment in planning my day.
 He is the only one that can make a difference in how my day goes, and I failed to stop for just a moment and allow His peace to settle me.

Why the rush? What on this earth is more important than Him?
Stop, Look, Listen! He is there with arms outstretched waiting for us to come to Him.
He has the answer to today’s problems before they arise. We must only ask and then listen for the answer.

“Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything."

Psalm 46:10   The Message

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7  (NLT)

Welcome to a journey of surrender

Welcome to my new blog.

This is a blog of a journey to walk in the ways of the Lord. My desire is absolute surrender to my Lord. I realize the fight is on. And there is no doubt that I will fall from time to time. But by His grace and strength, I will get back up and win the race.

Today, I have realized that I am at a crossroad in my life and must make a decision. I can no longer go straight (the way I was going). I must make a decision to go all the way for God, leaving everything at His feet, or turn around and walk away from it all.

God will not tolerate complacency. He wants all of us.
We serve a jealous God as stated in Deut 5:8 "I am God, your God, and I'm a most jealous God. I hold parents responsible for any sins they pass on to their children to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation. But I'm lovingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments."

Join me in this journey. I challenge you to commit yourself to God, delight yourself in Him and He will give you the desires of your heart