Tiaras and Toilets

Some ideas I wish I could claim as my own. Unfortunately there is nothing new under the sun. So let me preface this post and tell you that the idea of cleaning in a tiara came from one of my spiritual mentors, Linda. Now that I have your attention:

A couple of weeks ago my Friday night lifegroup ended up being all women, with most of us single. We talked a lot about the challenges facing single women in todays world, and how as followers of Christ, we need to set a very high standard for anyone who wants to date us. The consensus was that we are daughters of the King; therefore, we are princesses and should be treated as such.

Out of my mouth pops: "In fact, I want a TIARA!" A nice tiara. Not those chintzy dollar store tiaras. We started joking about taking a shopping excursion to purchase them.
During the conversation I mentioned that whenever we are tired of cooking, running the vacuum, dusting or cleaning the toilet, we should put on our tiaras and remember to whom we belong while we are doing it. (Thanks Linda!).

Jen G looks at me and says: "If you put a pic of yourself on Facebook cleaning the tiolet while wearing a tiara, I will definitely go shopping with you!"

I did. Here it is. You owe me a shopping trip, Jen.


(((HUGS)))
G

PS. The lei was Bab's idea. I thought it added a nice touch.

The Pursuit of Happiness

I'm sitting on the lanai in a nice comfy chair, listening to the breeze rattle the palm tree branches. The sun is shining, and the sky is blue. Various sounds float on the breeze: bird songs, children laughing, and lawn mowers chugging away. Its an idyllic day. I have no worries, no problems, nothing that God isn't big enough to handle. I am - to put it frankly - happy. I have learned to let go of the things I thought would bring me happiness, and now I find happiness exists in many moments like these. Last night, happiness was learning how to dance the tango and the salsa. Today, it is the warm, peaceful spring day on the lanai.

God has pulled me through so many storms. There have been lots of those since I accepted Jesus as my Savior over 11 years ago. "If I had known then what I know now..." Have you ever said that to yourself? Would you really have done anything differently if you had known what was going to happen? Would you have changed your behaviors, or would you simply have let go sooner of the things holding you down or holding you back? We could drive ourselves crazy asking these questions. The ultimate response to this line of thinking is that God works for the good outcome for all His children. In His time, in His manner, not ours. It is my testimony that I'm much happier having come through those storms with Christ than without Him, and that He has, indeed worked these things for my good.

I am a Princess. A daughter of the Most High Living God. Without those storms, I would not know my worth in Christ. Without those problems, I would not have learned to lean on Christ. Without those issues, I would not appreciate the peaceful, idyllic day I am experiencing right now. I would not have learned to pursue God with the absolute single mindedness that He requires. "Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God, and all these OTHER things will be added unto you." My Father comes first, always. Whenever that happens, the happy moments come thick and fast. He is in control; therefore, whatever state I am in, I am content. I am happy.

Positive Post Tuesday

God is working. He is doing amazing wonderful things in my life. Here's a few:

1. South Africa deposit is due Friday night. I haven't received a dime, yet, but I have total peace that it is taken care of. I don't know why, but I do.

2. God has put two awesome women in my life who are also dealing with being single. They encourage me, lift me up, and (most importantly) share my wacky sense of humor. I love you, Babs and Marie. You make me see the hilarity in the most nonsensical situations, and you challenge me to be all that God has called me to be.

3. Spiritually, the things I have learned in the past are being reinforced, and I am learning new, even deeper truths daily. I am growing more and more sure of who I am in Christ, and the purpose He has for my life.

God is good all the time; all the time, God is good.

Worthiness: Truth and Lies Part II

This blog started out as an update to Truth and Lies; however, I felt God speaking some serious truths worthy of a new post.

The spark that made me realize that I was buying into the lies was the statement "I'm not WORTHY of that, yet." The moment I spoke those words out loud (in my car) a light bulb went off. Worthiness is a condition humans will always aspire to, and never achieve.

We are called, as disciples of Christ to be like Him. The goals that I mentioned in Truth and Lies are all worthy goals. They are goals that get me out of bed early in the morning to seek God, read His word, and pray. They are goals that propel me out the door into life outside my bedroom. But they are goals. They are not conditions that make me in any way "worthy". There is nothing I can DO to make me worthy of His love, His grace, and His mercy. There is no worthy outside of Christ. Jesus was my perfect sacrifice because I could never be worthy enough for His blessings, especially when I try to act in my own power. Only my faith in Christ and my acknowledgment that He is Lord makes me worthy.

As a disciple, I am called to obedience. I am held accountable for the light God gives me. I fall short every time my will is not aligned with that of my Master. I can always tell when my will is trying to take over God's. I start rationalizing why I am behaving this way, or thinking that way. My inner self becomes completely conflicted and I start an internal dialogue that begins with "BUT"... But what? But I WANT it!! Yes, and just like every good parent, God knows not just what I WANT, but what is GOOD for me. He will withhold NO GOOD thing from me. It is time to be STILL, to know He is God. To know HE knows best, and allow Him to speak truth and love into my life. This is why staying in the Word is so important. Staying in the Word allows me to recognize the lies of Satan, battle these lies, and submit completely to the Spirit much more quickly.

If you are fighting these battles I have a few suggestions:
1. Read the Word daily.
2. Journal. Even if you just write down the scripture you read today. Writing helps clarify thoughts, and retain information. It takes discipline to do it every day, but it is worth the sacrifice of time.
3. Get an accountability partner. Someone you can trust to speak truth into your life when you are struggling with the lies. Someone who will pray with you, over you, and challenge the thought process that causes you to buy into the lies.
4. If you are NOT part of a body of Christ, find one. Now. The Bible tells us that Satan comes as a roaring lion, seeking to devour. You all know that lions prey on the weak. The weak are always easily spotted because they are alone. When the weak become part of a herd, the herd will move to protect the weak by surrounding it. The church is your herd. When you are in the body of Christ, the body surrounds you and helps protect you from the attacks the lion will attempt to make.

Things of this world will never fulfill us. Only in Christ are we satisfied. I take this truth for myself: In Christ, I am complete. He is enough.

Jesus loves you. He is passionate about you. He will never leave you, or forsake you. In Him, you are beautiful, you are passionately loved, you are worthy.

Truth and Lies

I've been thinking a lot lately about what women say to themselves. My friends are taking a study at church called Me, Myself and Lies. It is about the lies that women tell themselves all the time. Recently I met a guy I thought was really interesting. For whatever reason that exists between him and God, he is not pursuing a relationship with me. In the aftermath of his obvious (initial) interest followed by his sudden departure, I began turning things over in my head, analyzing the situation to death, and blaming myself for what never happened. I was driving home from work one day last week and it hit me: I have been telling myself some lies that appeared to be truth. Satan is sneaky that way.

Lie #1: I have to reach my physical fitness goals before I can meet that person. When I'm satisfied with my body image, I will portray the type of confidence I need to attract the right person to me.
Truth: Get over it. I am beautiful just as I am. I was beautiful before I lost 80 lbs too. I am a Princess, a daughter of the Most High Living God. My Father tells me I'm beautiful every day.

Lie #2: I have to reach my financial fitness goals before I can get into a serious relationship. I am carrying a load of debt racked up while I was married. I am shedding it slowly but surely. I will be free eventually, once I learn to stop trusting in my own wisdom, and rely completely on God. Truth: No man in his right mind is going to condemn me for debt. If he is Godly, he will give me good advice.

Lie #3: I have to be pure enough. Let's be frank here. There is a lot of junk that floods over the radio, tv and internet every day. It is the responsibility of every Christian to take every thought captive. It is only through the same self discipline exercised over money and food that anyone can succeed in being pure. I have taken a vow of abstinence until I am married again. It is because I respect God, myself, and my future mate too much to give something that precious away lightly. I can satisfy my flesh very quickly -- if and when I choose -- but God has a better plan.
Truth: My past is past. I am worthy of the wait, and so is he. There will be men that I am attracted to, but if I take every thought captive, and do not act on the attraction, then I am fulfilling my vow of purity. Taking every thought captive means putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6) and washing in the Word every day (Ephesians 5:25).

Lie #4: I have to finish school first. I really do want to obtain my Bachelor's degree. Somehow I had become convinced that I could not do that if I was in a serious relationship.
Truth: I will finish school. It's just a matter of time.

God's timing is always perfect. His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. He will send me the right man at the right time, but it will not be my time, it will be His. I trust Him. He is my Daddy, and He really does know best. No more lies: only His sweet, sweet truth.

What lies are YOU telling yourself?

Misc...

So much is going on, and its been a while since I posted...so here's a few random thoughts as teasers.

1. Easter was incredible. Spent the whole weekend in church. Good Friday was a Communion Service (AMAZING). Since I was in the choir, I had to be back at 3:15pm on Saturday to practice for the Saturday night services. I was there until 9pm. Went home, slept and was back in church at 7:30 for another practice, followed by prayer time, followed by 3 more services. It was exhausting, exhilarating, and quite awesome.
   
2. God is amazing. All the time. Last night I really received confirmation that I am supposed to become an Encourager at church. It's the perfect way for me to serve in ministry.
   
3. I have a test on Saturday and I am avoiding studying by posting this blog.
4. I have learned that I MUST wait on God, and not try to force things to happen because I think they should.
5. I am learning submission. It's hard. I don't always like it. But I'm still learning.
6. My deposit for South Africa is due on 4/16.