Do you ever feel unworthy? Do you ever feel like you don't deserve anything? Or do you feel like you deserve all that you want and more? Truth is, we don't deserve anything. Actually, that's not true. We deserve death. I am tired of people living their lives with this idea that they deserve things. Even the foundation of our country is that we deserve (or we have the right to) life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I disagree. The Bible does also. The Bible talks about how the wages of sin is death, we are sinful, we lack any sort of good.
(Romans 6:20-23, Ephesians 2:3, )
If you stop reading this post now, you may walk away with negative feelings. You might be angry at me, disagree with me or feel depressed. But there is hope. There is someone who can make us worthy and give us life. He still does not make us deserve anything, but He substituted Himself for us so that we may have life. These verses do not stand alone to make us feel horrible about ourselves and worthless. These verses continue on to show us God's grace and mercy. To show us what Christ has done for us so that we do not remain worthless and unrighteous.
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:20-23
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:3-7
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
Take heart. Through Christ, we are made righteous and been set free.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Trust God....um...easy to say, hard to live!
Whenever you are in a time of "waiting," people always say, "Trust God," or "God is in control." That is 100% true. God is in complete control of your life. He knows what is going to happen and has great plans, but sometimes, it is not easy to live that way. It seems as if Jason and I have been waiting since we got married. Recently, we have decided to live instead of wait. Currently, we are waiting for two things. Big things. But instead of stewing about it, today I choose to live. When a bit of worry enters my mind, today I am going to pray about it. That doesn't mean tomorrow I won't worry or stew for a bit, but today I am praying. Tomorrow, if I do stew, I'm not going to beat myself up about it. Hopefully God will just bring His word to my mind.
"13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
"13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13&14
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Do you ever want to give up?
Do you ever feel tired of fighting the battle? Do you ever feel weary and just want to sit back and let life happen? The battle may look different for you than it looks for me. Some of us fight against drugs, alcohol, laziness, or food. Others have a battlefield of the mind, a battle to keep their anger in check or a struggle to stop gossiping about those around them. For me there are three main things that I battle, lies (not telling them, but believing them) anger and food addiction. Sometimes these battles are so intense, that it causes the good things in our lives to become tasks. We no longer find joy in anything, even the things that God has placed there.
One of the battles for me is the battlefield of the mind. Believing lies to be true. The lies I believe are lies from satan. He has been fueling my mind with lies for so long that there was a point where I believed these lies to be 100% true. Almost a year ago, Jason and I went to meet with our pastor and his wife at their house in Cleveland. I had come to a point where I was tired of fighting. I was sick of the anxiety and frustration in my every day life and wasn't sure how to fight anymore. Our pastor wanted us to come over so he could pray for me and we could talk it out. When I walked in, I wanted to turn around and walk out. There was a loan chair sitting in the middle of the living room. I could feel the battle raging inside, do I want to do this or do I just want to give in again? We chatted for a while and then decided to pray. Instead of asking me specifically what was going on, they wanted me to sit down, put on some worship music and be still. Through this time God revealed much about what was going on with me. There was a moment in this night where it truly hit me that lies had become the truth for me. At one point, our pastor's wife looked at me and asked, "Do you believe that the reason you have not gotten pregnant at this time is because you will be a bad mom?" I looked at her and said, "Well duh? Doesn't every woman believe that?" She told me, "No, Molly. That is a lie straight from hell. That is not the truth." For the first time, I realized that most of what I told myself was not true. From that point on, it continues to be a battle, but only through God am I discovering the truth. I told Jason the other day, you sometimes have to speak the truth out loud and "take captive every thought."
There are sometimes weeks at a time when I feel like I start over every day. I fought yesterday, wake-up and hear all those lies again. But something else I discovered that night in the loan chair in the living room, I am not fighting this battle alone. Frankly, I am not fighting the battle at all. Cause if I was, I would lose, I was losing. God, the Almighty is fighting the battle for me.
It may seem discouraging sometimes. Why do we continue to fight? Honestly, I don't always have the right answers. Someone else does though...
One of the battles for me is the battlefield of the mind. Believing lies to be true. The lies I believe are lies from satan. He has been fueling my mind with lies for so long that there was a point where I believed these lies to be 100% true. Almost a year ago, Jason and I went to meet with our pastor and his wife at their house in Cleveland. I had come to a point where I was tired of fighting. I was sick of the anxiety and frustration in my every day life and wasn't sure how to fight anymore. Our pastor wanted us to come over so he could pray for me and we could talk it out. When I walked in, I wanted to turn around and walk out. There was a loan chair sitting in the middle of the living room. I could feel the battle raging inside, do I want to do this or do I just want to give in again? We chatted for a while and then decided to pray. Instead of asking me specifically what was going on, they wanted me to sit down, put on some worship music and be still. Through this time God revealed much about what was going on with me. There was a moment in this night where it truly hit me that lies had become the truth for me. At one point, our pastor's wife looked at me and asked, "Do you believe that the reason you have not gotten pregnant at this time is because you will be a bad mom?" I looked at her and said, "Well duh? Doesn't every woman believe that?" She told me, "No, Molly. That is a lie straight from hell. That is not the truth." For the first time, I realized that most of what I told myself was not true. From that point on, it continues to be a battle, but only through God am I discovering the truth. I told Jason the other day, you sometimes have to speak the truth out loud and "take captive every thought."
2 Corinthians 10:5 (New International Version)
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Chronicles 20:17 (New International Version)
17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”
Galatians 6:8-9 (New International Version)
8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (New International Version)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
You May Have Just Saved My Baby!!
Last year God did amazing things at the Pregnancy Help Center Walk for life and throughout the year! I wanted to repost this to inspire and show the miracles that God does! Thank you, again, everyone who supported this amazing cause monetarily and/or through prayer! Please continue to do so as God leads! If you keep up with the blog, God has blessed us with a baby through conception (she is still living in me for the next 3 months) We are overwhelmed and humbled by the things God has done and continues to do, as we deserve none of them! Super excited to walk this year on May 5 and can't wait to see what God does (also can't wait to take our little baby girl next year and show her what its all about, and maybe even help save her brother or sister)! Please join us at the walk, even if you only sponsor yourself! http://www.pregnancyhelpcenter.com/
Today was the Pregnancy Help Center Walk for Life. As some of you know, God has put this ministry on my heart from a very young age. I can't remember exactly how old I was (early teens I think), but I remember being at Calvary Assembly of God and hearing a woman speak about getting pregnant at an "old age" and the doctor telling her to have an abortion. She did not. Her daughter is actually getting married very soon because her mom chose life! After hearing her story, God spoke to my heart about the Pregnancy Help Center and about abortion.
This year I decided to have a goal of raising $1,000 on my own and I was scared. I didn't think I would be able to do it, and I was right. On my own, I never would've raised $1,000, but with God, I raised $2,600. I do not post this to bring myself any recognition, because people gave sacrificially on their own. I post this to show the power of God. When God lays something on our hearts, a passion, all we have to do is listen and He uses us! As of now, the total for all walkers is $46,000, $11,000 more than walk day last year. That means more money will be coming in after today! Hallelujah!
Thank you to everyone who gave generously through time, money and prayer!
So, why did I name this "You May Have Just Saved My Baby!"? Well, God has chosen not to give us any children right now. I believe He will give us children in the future. He has laid it on our hearts to adopt a child and maybe He will bless us with a child we conceive, but I know He will bless us with a child somehow. By giving to the Pregnancy Help Center, you give women the opportunity to choose life and maybe provide a baby for our family one day. From the bottom of our hearts...thank you. You may have just saved my baby!!
"35In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed
to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
______________________________________________________
Today was the Pregnancy Help Center Walk for Life. As some of you know, God has put this ministry on my heart from a very young age. I can't remember exactly how old I was (early teens I think), but I remember being at Calvary Assembly of God and hearing a woman speak about getting pregnant at an "old age" and the doctor telling her to have an abortion. She did not. Her daughter is actually getting married very soon because her mom chose life! After hearing her story, God spoke to my heart about the Pregnancy Help Center and about abortion.
This year I decided to have a goal of raising $1,000 on my own and I was scared. I didn't think I would be able to do it, and I was right. On my own, I never would've raised $1,000, but with God, I raised $2,600. I do not post this to bring myself any recognition, because people gave sacrificially on their own. I post this to show the power of God. When God lays something on our hearts, a passion, all we have to do is listen and He uses us! As of now, the total for all walkers is $46,000, $11,000 more than walk day last year. That means more money will be coming in after today! Hallelujah!
Thank you to everyone who gave generously through time, money and prayer!
So, why did I name this "You May Have Just Saved My Baby!"? Well, God has chosen not to give us any children right now. I believe He will give us children in the future. He has laid it on our hearts to adopt a child and maybe He will bless us with a child we conceive, but I know He will bless us with a child somehow. By giving to the Pregnancy Help Center, you give women the opportunity to choose life and maybe provide a baby for our family one day. From the bottom of our hearts...thank you. You may have just saved my baby!!
"35In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed
to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
Monday, May 2, 2011
Most of the time others say it better!
A lot of times other people say what I'm thinking much better than I can. This has happened twice today. One from the Almighty God Himself and the other from a band. First, I was trying to think of how to express that I am glad justice has been served, but it is still horrible that someone has died, especially without knowing God. I hold true to what the Bible says, "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live."- Ezekiel 33:11
The second occurred while I was out running. I am so thankful that God has provided this venue for me to share my story with others. SO many people have responded and opened themselves up! I was trying to figure out a way to express how I understood what one person in particular was going through and this song, by DC Talk started playing on my trusty pink iPod. Below are the lyrics and a YouTube video (video is not that great...)
In the Light
I keep trying to find a life
On my own, apart from You
I am the king of excuses
I've got one for every selfish thing I do
What's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior
(chorus)
I wanna be in the Light
As You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation
Cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want is to be in the Light
The disease of self runs through my blood
It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
To bring this sickness under control
Tell me, what's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior
Honesty becomes me
[There's nothing left to lose]
The secrets that did run me
[In Your presence are defused]
Pride has no position
[And riches have no worth]
The fame that once did cover me
[Has been sentenced to this Earth]
Has been sentenced to this Earth
Tell me, what's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior
[There's no other place that I want to be]
[No other place that I can see]
[A place to be that's just right]
[Someday I'm gonna be in the Light]
[You are in the Light]
[That's where I need to be]
[That's right where I need to be]
The second occurred while I was out running. I am so thankful that God has provided this venue for me to share my story with others. SO many people have responded and opened themselves up! I was trying to figure out a way to express how I understood what one person in particular was going through and this song, by DC Talk started playing on my trusty pink iPod. Below are the lyrics and a YouTube video (video is not that great...)
In the Light
I keep trying to find a life
On my own, apart from You
I am the king of excuses
I've got one for every selfish thing I do
What's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior
(chorus)
I wanna be in the Light
As You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation
Cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want is to be in the Light
The disease of self runs through my blood
It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
To bring this sickness under control
Tell me, what's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior
Honesty becomes me
[There's nothing left to lose]
The secrets that did run me
[In Your presence are defused]
Pride has no position
[And riches have no worth]
The fame that once did cover me
[Has been sentenced to this Earth]
Has been sentenced to this Earth
Tell me, what's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior
[There's no other place that I want to be]
[No other place that I can see]
[A place to be that's just right]
[Someday I'm gonna be in the Light]
[You are in the Light]
[That's where I need to be]
[That's right where I need to be]
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