October 16, 2005 I sat in a seat listening to a sermon and realized I wasn't really saved. I didn't really know if I was going to heaven. Even though at the young age of 6 I made a decision to follow Jesus. I never really acted like a Christian growing up. I know several people who can attest to that. It was not really until that day, 12 years ago, I made a real decision to pursue a relationship with Jesus. It was definitely the best decision I have ever made. He has shown Himself faithful over and over again.
That day 12 years ago I was weeping, yet I felt ashamed because everyone knew I was supposed to be a Christian. But that day He changed my heart and life forever. Now I am no where near perfect and will never be perfect on this earth. This journey hasn't been easy but it has definitely been worth it. He has taught me so much over the years. Things that used to be a constant stumbling block and thing that used to set me off no longer do.
My first real teachable moment that I remember was at Chick-fil-a. Weird set of circumstances but so life changing. Someone finally just told me flat out that I was full of myself and boy did God convict my heart. I realized then that I was living in pride and it was running rampant in my life. That very day I chose not to be that way anymore. I asked God to change my heart. I still struggle with pride sometimes. I am usually able to see when I am stepping into that and catch myself from going there. I thank God everyday for making me aware of things like that. He does that on many things He has taught me. The Holy Spirit says, "Hold up! Don't do that or say that!" I know can't do life without Him. Aren't you so glad God gave us a helper? The Lord has taught me how to lead with a program in our youth group at church and He has given me opportunities to pray with people. He is always presenting new opportunities that I have to be ready for.
I want to share a couple of more learning moments with you. I have spoken on this one before but I think it is worth repeating. (You can see my previous blog post to read the full story.) Just a few short years ago I struggled greatly with anxiety. So much so that I was becoming physically ill. I hardly wanted to do anything or go anywhere. So many fears of the what-ifs. What if this happened or what if that happened? I know we all have those kind of anxieties to some extent. I was so over feeling that way and failing to live life. I chose to go to a prayer meeting where people pray over you. This meeting changed my life forever. I walked out there looking forward to not being controlled by fear. I was no longer going to be a slave to fear. I have to choose everyday not to fear. To this very day I have to choose not to fear. I have to choose life over fear and joy over fear. It is much easier now than it was 3 years ago to not let fear take over. This year I have done so many thing that I would have never done 3 years ago.
This brings me to what I wanted to share about this year in particular. This year started out with a lot of stretching. The Lord told me to trust Him with my finances. So this year I have tithed no matter what and He has gone above and beyond with His Blessings. When I look back on just my tithes this year, I can see how he has doubled my original tithe from the first of the year. That is a testament to His goodness and faithfulness.
"He who is faithful in very little is faithful also in very much." (Luke 16:10)
"Prove me now, says the Lord, if I will no open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a Blessing that shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)
I have also saved more than I thought would even be possible and the car is being paid off early because of His Blessings. I give Him all the Glory!
This year also brought big change with a promotion at my Job, another huge Blessing but teaching moment (still happening). You know that fear and anxiety I was talking about? Yeah, I had a lot about this job promotion. I prayed for a week and I felt like God was telling me He was going to teach me how to trust Him with my job. Once again He has shown himself faithful. I jumped in, even though I was beyond and scared and this is totally out of my comfort zone. The past two weeks have been my best weeks ever. I can only attest that to Him. I have no idea what I am doing but He is showing Himself trustworthy. Great is His faithfulness! Dreams are being fulfilled. The Lord has taught me how to trust Him this year and He isn't done yet!
I said all of this to encourage you that even those dry, desperate moment, He is still there! He is always right there beside you. Make that choice today to follow Him. He will be faithful to you too! Make that decision to step out of fear and walk in His light, He will protect you. Make that decision to trust Him with your everything. He is faithful. He loves you like no human can. He is trustworthy, faithful to the end, and provide unconditional love to the brokenhearted. You are Loved!
There are many more stories I could share of His faithfulness over the years. If you want to know more, please ask. If you want to know where to begin, please reach out to me. The first step is making that decision to follow Him. After that dig into the Bible and start learning His way of being and doing. I can give you some tips on where to start. As always I love to hear your stories. Please share!
Until next time....
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Overcoming Fear!
I really felt like I needed to share my heart on the subject of fear. So this blog post will tell some of my story and struggles with fear. As many of you know I took the position at my workplace and I had a lot of fear to overcome just taking this position. The first week has come with a lot of doubt in myself. I was constantly wondering what in the world I was thinking. I had to saturate myself with His Word. I have also found myself listening to more worship music lately. I just need to be in His presence more. It is amazing how over the past week, as I have been doubting myself, the Lord has brought encouraging words my way through many different sources. It has been really neat to see what He can do as I put my complete trust in Him. Change is hard but it is so amazing when we stop trying to do everything ourselves and just Trust in Him!
There has been a ton of changes happening in my life and I have found myself under a lot of pressure. We can choose to let pressure break us or make us more beautiful. I have had to constantly remind myself that God's way is better than my way. The devil would like nothing more than for me to rush into things than to wait on God. I am reminded often of this verse, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."
Colossians 3:15
https://www.bible.com/bible/1/COL.3.15"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts." (Colossians 3:15) When I feel the pressure growing I am reminded that I must slow down and hear from the Lord before I can jump into something. I don't have to worry about how things will happen or when. My job is to trust in the Lord.
So three years ago I was so full of fear and anxiety is was nearly crippling. I was so afraid of change that I just stayed where I was. So many things scared me. I was afraid of the future, going away on trips, and so many other things. Many people don't even know this about me. Three years ago I decided I had had enough. I decided to go to a healing night of prayer at a local church and that is where it all began. God radically changed my heart though this precious couple. They helped me see how God truly wanted me to live. From that day forward I began finding verses on fear that I could combat the fear and anxiety with. As I began to speak those verses my life began to change. I was happier and more joyful. I was able to actually do things I would never have done before.
I said all of this because if God had not rescued me from fear I would have never taken this position and I would never be thinking about the future with hope and excitement. I also know that I am not the only one who has struggled with fear and anxiety. I think we all do in some way. I am also not saying I don't still have to fight with fear but I can tell you it gets so much easier to push fear away the more you learn and grow closer to God. You don't have to live a life worrying and scared about anything. God has a plan for your life and it is a good one. He is so faithful! I have learned this. I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8) He is forever faithful!
If you are dealing with fear and anxiety please reach out to someone. You can overcome it, I am living proof of that. God can help you out of that deep hole you may be in. He is faithful to those who seek Him. I want to leave you with some of the verses I used to overcome fear. I spoke these every time I felt fear coming on. I knew if I didn't change my thinking quickly I would be consumed with fear. Oh, and God says do not fear 365 times in the Bible so He knows we can overcome it. He also wants the best for you and He knows fear isn't the best. So here are those verses:
This one is my favorite. "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self control." - 2 Timothy 1:7
I spoke this verse daily and really multiple times a day.
"Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain surpassing victory though Him who loves us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:37-39
" Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up to retain you with my right hand of rightness and justice." - Isaiah 41:10
"God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (or time of need)." - Psalm 46:1 (reading this entire chapter is helpful)
"I sought (inquired of ) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fear." - Psalm 34:4 (also a good one to read the entire chapter)
"The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways." - Deuteronomy 28:7
This is just a start. Go search for your own verses that apply to your situation and start speaking them over yourself. The key is speaking the Word out loud. When you speak your mind stops. So start speaking God's Word over your life today and don't ever stop!
There has been a ton of changes happening in my life and I have found myself under a lot of pressure. We can choose to let pressure break us or make us more beautiful. I have had to constantly remind myself that God's way is better than my way. The devil would like nothing more than for me to rush into things than to wait on God. I am reminded often of this verse, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."
Colossians 3:15
https://www.bible.com/bible/1/COL.3.15"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts." (Colossians 3:15) When I feel the pressure growing I am reminded that I must slow down and hear from the Lord before I can jump into something. I don't have to worry about how things will happen or when. My job is to trust in the Lord.
So three years ago I was so full of fear and anxiety is was nearly crippling. I was so afraid of change that I just stayed where I was. So many things scared me. I was afraid of the future, going away on trips, and so many other things. Many people don't even know this about me. Three years ago I decided I had had enough. I decided to go to a healing night of prayer at a local church and that is where it all began. God radically changed my heart though this precious couple. They helped me see how God truly wanted me to live. From that day forward I began finding verses on fear that I could combat the fear and anxiety with. As I began to speak those verses my life began to change. I was happier and more joyful. I was able to actually do things I would never have done before.
I said all of this because if God had not rescued me from fear I would have never taken this position and I would never be thinking about the future with hope and excitement. I also know that I am not the only one who has struggled with fear and anxiety. I think we all do in some way. I am also not saying I don't still have to fight with fear but I can tell you it gets so much easier to push fear away the more you learn and grow closer to God. You don't have to live a life worrying and scared about anything. God has a plan for your life and it is a good one. He is so faithful! I have learned this. I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8) He is forever faithful!
If you are dealing with fear and anxiety please reach out to someone. You can overcome it, I am living proof of that. God can help you out of that deep hole you may be in. He is faithful to those who seek Him. I want to leave you with some of the verses I used to overcome fear. I spoke these every time I felt fear coming on. I knew if I didn't change my thinking quickly I would be consumed with fear. Oh, and God says do not fear 365 times in the Bible so He knows we can overcome it. He also wants the best for you and He knows fear isn't the best. So here are those verses:
This one is my favorite. "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self control." - 2 Timothy 1:7
I spoke this verse daily and really multiple times a day.
"Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain surpassing victory though Him who loves us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:37-39
" Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up to retain you with my right hand of rightness and justice." - Isaiah 41:10
"God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (or time of need)." - Psalm 46:1 (reading this entire chapter is helpful)
"I sought (inquired of ) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fear." - Psalm 34:4 (also a good one to read the entire chapter)
"The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways." - Deuteronomy 28:7
This is just a start. Go search for your own verses that apply to your situation and start speaking them over yourself. The key is speaking the Word out loud. When you speak your mind stops. So start speaking God's Word over your life today and don't ever stop!
Friday, March 31, 2017
Trust
I haven't written anything in awhile but I felt I needed to share what I have been learning just in the first three months of this year. I honestly haven't had the time to just sit down and share my heart but God has been doing a lot.
The first Sunday of this year I listened to a sermon by Pastor George Pearsons of Eagle Mountain International Church. He talked about how 2017 is the year of great prosperity in your household. The first thing that comes to mind is financial prosperity. For months that is what I was thinking about was financial prosperity. This week I went back and revisited the notes from that sermon and realized that he was not only speaking of financial prosperity but about spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional prosperity. Not only that kind of prosperity but prosperity in everything we set our hands to just like Deuteronomy 28:12 says.
So since that first Sunday of the year I have been confessing out loud every morning that 2017 is the year of great prosperity in my household. Just in these first three months I have been given two raises. He has been teaching me that by trusting Him with my finances He will pour out a blessing . Tithing has become a way of life instead of something that always felt hard to do. It is just so easy to do now. He said to test Him and see if He will not pour out a Blessing , that there will not be room enough to receive. (Malachi 3:10) God has proven Himself faithful to me when I am faithful to give my tithe to Him. He has poured out an enormous Blessing on me.
This past week I was offered an amazing position that also terrifies me. I had to work and pray through some serious fear and anxiety. Oh, how faithful He has been though. What I came to was that just maybe God is going to teach me how to trust and depend fully on Him. Not just in finances but in my job as well. I would say that I have become comfortable with where I am and can do my job pretty well, but with this new position I will need to lean on Him fully. It is way out of my comfort zone. But hey don't we learn the most when we are put through the fire? I know in my heart that this year is going to be an amazing year of growth in my life. He has shown me so much about trust this week and I am so very thankful for that. I'm jumping in with both feet and trusting Him with everything. I know, that I know, that I know that He is faithful to the end.
Oh, and you know how I said He has Blessed me financially? Well this new position will come with a raise as well. God is so good. This has not been easy and I still have fear thoughts that I have to rebuke and replace with the Word. I am an over comer and the future looks bright. If you would have asked me five years ago if this is where I would be and what I would be doing I would have laughed at you. God knows what He is doing and His way is always the best.
So I will leave you with this. Put your trust in Him in every area of your life and see what He will do. Let the Spirit lead you and just see where God will take you! He is faithful!
~Dallas~
The first Sunday of this year I listened to a sermon by Pastor George Pearsons of Eagle Mountain International Church. He talked about how 2017 is the year of great prosperity in your household. The first thing that comes to mind is financial prosperity. For months that is what I was thinking about was financial prosperity. This week I went back and revisited the notes from that sermon and realized that he was not only speaking of financial prosperity but about spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional prosperity. Not only that kind of prosperity but prosperity in everything we set our hands to just like Deuteronomy 28:12 says.
So since that first Sunday of the year I have been confessing out loud every morning that 2017 is the year of great prosperity in my household. Just in these first three months I have been given two raises. He has been teaching me that by trusting Him with my finances He will pour out a blessing . Tithing has become a way of life instead of something that always felt hard to do. It is just so easy to do now. He said to test Him and see if He will not pour out a Blessing , that there will not be room enough to receive. (Malachi 3:10) God has proven Himself faithful to me when I am faithful to give my tithe to Him. He has poured out an enormous Blessing on me.
This past week I was offered an amazing position that also terrifies me. I had to work and pray through some serious fear and anxiety. Oh, how faithful He has been though. What I came to was that just maybe God is going to teach me how to trust and depend fully on Him. Not just in finances but in my job as well. I would say that I have become comfortable with where I am and can do my job pretty well, but with this new position I will need to lean on Him fully. It is way out of my comfort zone. But hey don't we learn the most when we are put through the fire? I know in my heart that this year is going to be an amazing year of growth in my life. He has shown me so much about trust this week and I am so very thankful for that. I'm jumping in with both feet and trusting Him with everything. I know, that I know, that I know that He is faithful to the end.
Oh, and you know how I said He has Blessed me financially? Well this new position will come with a raise as well. God is so good. This has not been easy and I still have fear thoughts that I have to rebuke and replace with the Word. I am an over comer and the future looks bright. If you would have asked me five years ago if this is where I would be and what I would be doing I would have laughed at you. God knows what He is doing and His way is always the best.
So I will leave you with this. Put your trust in Him in every area of your life and see what He will do. Let the Spirit lead you and just see where God will take you! He is faithful!
~Dallas~
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