How to clear your mind? Focus on how big God is -
What does that for you?
David and I used to walk the ocean together - he always said that cleared his mind.
For me, if I am not near an ocean, it is the book Knowledge Of The Holy - every chapter - blows me away with the magnitude of Our Lord.
And, to think that God can use everything for His glory -
Especially when we are in a battle - it seems difficult to see His ability to make something beautiful out of our struggles.
But He promises:
"He makes all things work for the good of those who love Him - who have been called according to His purposes."
I am grateful,for every minute God gives me to spend with you -
whether that is once every couple of years, once a year, once a month, or once a day -
May we be grateful and thank God for His people in our lives.
Those He created to walk alongside us.
And, together, may we accomplish His purposes for His glory.
"GIVE ME A MARY STORY"
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Friday, December 26, 2014
One Transformation
This past week, I have been blessed with beautiful celebrations of Our Lord's birth - through meals and time with family. As I focus on saying "Thank You" to God today, I wanted to share an old story.
It transformed my life.
I was singing praise music all the way to the shower. I expected a blessed time celebrating an upcoming wedding. I knew few people at this shower - well, I knew a lot by name, but did not have a relationship with them yet - and I approached - they all said hi - but there were no seats available.
I brought my gift up front and searched the room - AHA - a table in back with one woman at it I knew - and I excitedly sat down next to her.
She immediately told me that she sat in the back because she had to leave early - which meant that as the shower progressed, I would be sitting alone at this table for ten. My insides started to shake - sitting alone again. This had happened before. I excused myself as tears began to form and I ran to the ladies room. I sobbed - I did not cry, I sobbed. As quickly as possible, I ran to my car and the drive home was painful. By the time I arrived home, I had a migraine headache - so I lay on the bathroom floor with the door closed for darkness - light hurt - and after I vomited into the toilet, I cried out to the Lord "I don't ever want to feel like this again, Lord - HELP ME!!"
I lay in quiet with no thoughts except a pounding headache -
"OH, okay. You have no reply?" I smarted.
Quiet.
So, I decided to rephrase my plea.
"Lord, how can I avoid this feeling - should I never go to a shower alone again?"
The thought came to me - which is how He usually communicates with me.
"Why can't you go alone?"
"Because it hurts to sit alone, Lord!"
"I am always with you, Mary."
"Lord, are you telling me that I should be able to go sit at a table for 10 alone - for several hours - while all the other people in the room are laughing and talking with 9 others?"
Quiet.
"You are, aren't you! You want me to be anywhere and never feel like people don't like me?"
"I like you."
"Lord, I am grateful You do, but while on earth, we need people too!"
Quiet.
"You are enough - help me, Lord - I want to live knowing you are enough and having my emotions receive this - no matter how I am treated by people."
The headache left. I got up off the floor and have never been the same since - I am comfortable alone - anywhere - and the funny thing since - it seems like I keep getting invited to sit with others at a shower :)
For Jesus' Glory!!
It transformed my life.
I was singing praise music all the way to the shower. I expected a blessed time celebrating an upcoming wedding. I knew few people at this shower - well, I knew a lot by name, but did not have a relationship with them yet - and I approached - they all said hi - but there were no seats available.
I brought my gift up front and searched the room - AHA - a table in back with one woman at it I knew - and I excitedly sat down next to her.
She immediately told me that she sat in the back because she had to leave early - which meant that as the shower progressed, I would be sitting alone at this table for ten. My insides started to shake - sitting alone again. This had happened before. I excused myself as tears began to form and I ran to the ladies room. I sobbed - I did not cry, I sobbed. As quickly as possible, I ran to my car and the drive home was painful. By the time I arrived home, I had a migraine headache - so I lay on the bathroom floor with the door closed for darkness - light hurt - and after I vomited into the toilet, I cried out to the Lord "I don't ever want to feel like this again, Lord - HELP ME!!"
I lay in quiet with no thoughts except a pounding headache -
"OH, okay. You have no reply?" I smarted.
Quiet.
So, I decided to rephrase my plea.
"Lord, how can I avoid this feeling - should I never go to a shower alone again?"
The thought came to me - which is how He usually communicates with me.
"Why can't you go alone?"
"Because it hurts to sit alone, Lord!"
"I am always with you, Mary."
"Lord, are you telling me that I should be able to go sit at a table for 10 alone - for several hours - while all the other people in the room are laughing and talking with 9 others?"
Quiet.
"You are, aren't you! You want me to be anywhere and never feel like people don't like me?"
"I like you."
"Lord, I am grateful You do, but while on earth, we need people too!"
Quiet.
"You are enough - help me, Lord - I want to live knowing you are enough and having my emotions receive this - no matter how I am treated by people."
The headache left. I got up off the floor and have never been the same since - I am comfortable alone - anywhere - and the funny thing since - it seems like I keep getting invited to sit with others at a shower :)
For Jesus' Glory!!
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Lesson Learned :)
There was a chapter in my book called Lessons Learned, and I admitted these "lessons" were still a work in progress.
Today, I do "feel" (and I know our feelings are not always reality, but I think these feelings are) free of a huge burden I have carried - I do believe I have learned a lesson.
Trying to avoid those individuals who make life difficult - in fact, individuals who admittedly do not like us and side with the enemy's opinion of us - is not the answer. As I have fought a battle of trying to please someone who is always mean/rude to me - I decided to avoid contact with them. But, thrust into contact recently, I spent the next day trying to figure out how I could avoid this happening again. I spent way too much brain time on someone who is currently not nice and my desire to avoid them.
After talking to Our Lord about how to remedy this, He simply reminded me that I had judged them. I had expected the treatment I had received in the past and had hoped to protect myself from it in the future - instead of asking Him to bless them and releasing them over to Him.
In other words - in trying to protect myself, I wasted a lot of time. I could have spent the next day singing the Lord's praises instead of focusing on a person who was mean/rude - and how to protect myself. I think I was dwelling on the negative in one relationship instead of focusing on the positive in my favorite relationship!
So, the freedom I feel - it is wonderful! I feel like I can be around anyone - and "feel" accepted and loved - because I spend my brain time being loved by a wonderful God who is always with me - always smiling down on me - always waiting for me to focus on Him. And, my brain time is my choice - - what you focus on is your choice, too :)
May God bless each of us with more of His love so that HE can be our focus.
For Jesus' Glory,
Mary
Today, I do "feel" (and I know our feelings are not always reality, but I think these feelings are) free of a huge burden I have carried - I do believe I have learned a lesson.
Trying to avoid those individuals who make life difficult - in fact, individuals who admittedly do not like us and side with the enemy's opinion of us - is not the answer. As I have fought a battle of trying to please someone who is always mean/rude to me - I decided to avoid contact with them. But, thrust into contact recently, I spent the next day trying to figure out how I could avoid this happening again. I spent way too much brain time on someone who is currently not nice and my desire to avoid them.
After talking to Our Lord about how to remedy this, He simply reminded me that I had judged them. I had expected the treatment I had received in the past and had hoped to protect myself from it in the future - instead of asking Him to bless them and releasing them over to Him.
In other words - in trying to protect myself, I wasted a lot of time. I could have spent the next day singing the Lord's praises instead of focusing on a person who was mean/rude - and how to protect myself. I think I was dwelling on the negative in one relationship instead of focusing on the positive in my favorite relationship!
So, the freedom I feel - it is wonderful! I feel like I can be around anyone - and "feel" accepted and loved - because I spend my brain time being loved by a wonderful God who is always with me - always smiling down on me - always waiting for me to focus on Him. And, my brain time is my choice - - what you focus on is your choice, too :)
May God bless each of us with more of His love so that HE can be our focus.
For Jesus' Glory,
Mary
Friday, December 5, 2014
Bypass My Conscious Thinking
When I read the following in Jesus Calling, I was ecstatic - finally it was explained - my desire to "fix" things.
"Problems are part of life. They are inescapable: woven into the very fabric of this fallen world. You tend to go into problem-solving mode all too readily, acting as if you have the capacity to fix everything. This is a habitual response, so automatic that it bypasses your conscious thinking. Not only does this habit frustrate you, it also distances you from Me.
Do not let fixing things be your top priority. You are ever so limited in your capacity to correct all that is wrong in the world around you. Don’t weigh yourself down with responsibilities that are not your own. Instead, make your relationship with Me your primary concern. Talk with Me about whatever is on your mind, seeking My perspective on the situation. Rather than trying to fix everything that comes to your attention, ask Me to show you what is truly important. Remember that you are en route to heaven, and let your problems fade in the Light of eternity."
I loved it - and thought I received it - yet found myself trying to "fix" things again - over and over - for those I love. It seems that I think I am helping - yet I am bypassing my trust in God and placing it in Mary.
So, I pray today for the Lord to dissolve this habitual response - and I trust Him to be big enough to care for those I love.
David used to say "God does not need a Junior Holy Spirit", when he saw me trying to solve others issues - may I laugh at any of my attempts in the future - and instead, thank God for His love and problem solving in each of our lives.
Talking to You, Lord - seeking Your perspective on any situation - no more bypassing my conscious thinking - I choose to be conscious of thinking of You - WOO-HOO!!!
For Jesus' Glory, Mary
"Problems are part of life. They are inescapable: woven into the very fabric of this fallen world. You tend to go into problem-solving mode all too readily, acting as if you have the capacity to fix everything. This is a habitual response, so automatic that it bypasses your conscious thinking. Not only does this habit frustrate you, it also distances you from Me.
Do not let fixing things be your top priority. You are ever so limited in your capacity to correct all that is wrong in the world around you. Don’t weigh yourself down with responsibilities that are not your own. Instead, make your relationship with Me your primary concern. Talk with Me about whatever is on your mind, seeking My perspective on the situation. Rather than trying to fix everything that comes to your attention, ask Me to show you what is truly important. Remember that you are en route to heaven, and let your problems fade in the Light of eternity."
I loved it - and thought I received it - yet found myself trying to "fix" things again - over and over - for those I love. It seems that I think I am helping - yet I am bypassing my trust in God and placing it in Mary.
So, I pray today for the Lord to dissolve this habitual response - and I trust Him to be big enough to care for those I love.
David used to say "God does not need a Junior Holy Spirit", when he saw me trying to solve others issues - may I laugh at any of my attempts in the future - and instead, thank God for His love and problem solving in each of our lives.
Talking to You, Lord - seeking Your perspective on any situation - no more bypassing my conscious thinking - I choose to be conscious of thinking of You - WOO-HOO!!!
For Jesus' Glory, Mary
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