Is the glass half full or half empty?

As I have been going through some different emotions lately, I have been left feeling empty...as much as I press into God and worship, etc...I have still felt alone, sad, upset, etc. These are normal emotions when going through the grieving process, however, I was recently told "Debbie, these are normal emotions...allow yourself to process it and grieve yes...BUT do not allow yourself to stay in that place."

Wow...How true? While pondering the words that my Assistant Pastor and some others spoke to me recently about my situations, I realized that I CANNOT and MUST NOT stay in this place. I am ready for what God has...I am ready for the higher plains...for the joy that is promised to come in the morning...for the Victory that was already given to me and for the ability to OVERCOME as I have been given the authority to by Jesus Christ.

This led me to the question...

Is the glass half full or half empty?

While pondering this...I was asking myself how I view the glass. How often I focus on the fact that it is half empty...that I am half empty...that I am constantly missing things..waiting, just waiting to be filled (like the glass.) Like a refill.

But... but what about the part that is half full? What about appreciating and FOCUSING on the things that I have in life...on that portion of the glass that is full for once?

While having this revelation, I was very broken...but God was right there ministering, just as he always is.

Let this be our hearts cry...to focus on the glass being half full...on the anticipation to be filled, but on the acknowledgment of being half full.

Faithful Friend

This is a story that God put on my heart to write. I am sure you may have read something similar somewhere before. Be blessed.

Faithful Friend

Susie and Bob were closer than sister and brother. Every day, Susie would call Bob as soon as she woke up. Bob would answer immediately and they would talk for hours. They had a great relationship. Bob helped Susie out in many ways and even told her that she could always count on him to come through for her, even when situations seemed hopeless. There were many times that Susie called for Bob’s help and he was faithful with his word.

One day, Bob found out something about Susie that made him very sad. Susie had been dishonest with Bob and had been stealing money from others and also was doing things she should not have been doing. Susie lied to Bob. He tried approaching her about the situation and she hit him out of anger. She didn’t care what he said anymore and she even spit on him and hit him. Bob never gave up though, but eventually told her that she had her own choice and if that’s what she wanted then he couldn’t and wouldn’t stand in her way. He also still told her that he would be there to help her though if she called him. Bob was full of mercy. Susie didn’t care though. She had changed and was heading down the wrong path. She couldn’t sleep without hearing from Bob and also couldn’t eat much. She felt frustrated, lonely and like her life was spinning out of control.

It was a rainy, cold day and Bob had stopped over to see Susie and to help her out with something because she had called him out of desperation. She was very afraid. Someone had turned her in and the police were now looking for her. She had stolen more money and was caught on video tape. She cried to Bob for hours and Bob comforted her, although she had neglected him for months. Then there was a knock on the door. “Police, open up!” Susie cried. Bob held her and reassured her that everything would be ok again and to trust him.

The door swung open with a loud thud and Bob stood up with his hands raised in the air. “Take me instead”, he said. “No, sorry sir, but we are here for her.” They pointed at Susie who had no idea what Bob was trying to do. “If you take me instead, I will also stand in the gap for whatever crimes anyone committed that you are looking for. You can punish me to the full extent, just please, don’t touch her…I love her too much.” The police took Bob instead and he was tortured and murdered eventually. What the police didn’t know though was that Bob also took on their sins as well.

Jesus Christ did this over 2,000 years ago for you and the rest of mankind. He paid the price so that we never have to. He shed his innocent blood so that we could be free and live with him forever. He loves us that much. It should have been us on that cross, but he took our place.

“For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 3:16-17

Presents Vs Presence

I was recently asked what I want for Christmas this year. Hmm...something I honestly haven't thought of...especially considering just spending ONE afternoon around the mall..with all the Christmas music already playing in the stores and the color red EVERYWHERE...
the already PACKED parking lots and stores...the singing/dancing Reindeer, Santa Claus's, Snowmen, ETC...was enough to remind me that someone is missing this year.....

Grandpa.

Sure, last year was technically the "first" Christmas without him, but it was only a month after he passed away...and all I was focused on was packing up the house and moving after New Years Day. My mind was very preoccupied and I also had a lot of support around that time. I didn't have much time to think that he wasn't there with us...I was still in shock to be honest.

But this year...the lights, the sounds, smells, etc...are all constant reminders that he is very missed. It is also my first year that I am not living in the house that I shared with him. The house that I woke up every Christmas morning in...the one where Darrell, Gramps, Cookie and I would open up our presents in and enjoy each other's company...and the years before that Grandma too. Last year I stayed with Aunt Kathy's family on Christmas Eve and spent Christmas day with them...what a blessing!!

If I could have ANY thing on Christmas, it would be to spend one more day with Gramps. Since I know that isn't possible....instead of asking for presents...material things...things that will fade in time...

I am instead just asking for God's PRESENCE...

Let us be reminded that as we enter into the Season of Giving...that it is the holy spirit that gives us what we need...it is our everlasting King and Almighty God that blesses us with his love...it is Jesus Christ that was born to die...for us.

Think about the baby that was born in the manger...the baby that would one day heal the sick, raise the dead, save the lost and eventually die for all of mankind. This Christmas, I ask you to sit with him...to take time out of your busy schedule and thank him for all that he has done for you. His presence is better than any presents I could think of.

JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON~

New Keyboard!! : D

I bought an electronic keyboard yesterday!! Can't wait to learn how to play it now!! LOL...

Let it be used for your Glory, Lord!! Hallelujah~

The Answer

Praise God for answers...he is so faithful to deliver us out of trouble and is always with us in all circumstances.

We had Guest speaker, Wayne Anderson, at our church a few weeks ago and ever since his sermon, I have been meditating on one powerful line that he shared. "Sometimes we are afraid of the answers more than the problems."

During the service I remember I was a little antsy, just tired and distracted...but I tried to focus on what he was saying because I knew God was using him. He began speaking about these scriptures:

Matthew 14

24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

He went on to say something so profound...it spoke to me then and still is today.

The disciples were in a boat...the wind was fierce and strong...the waves were huge and wild...they were scared out of their mind (for lack of better words.) Wouldn't you be? Jesus was not with them at that moment, the verses beforehand say that he had gone to a mountain to pray alone. I can imagine the disciples crying in fear..."God help us!" "What do we do?" "We don't want to die." Their faith had been so diminished by their "circumstance" that they probably felt very helpless and possibly hopeless. I imagine they prayed..hard for an ANSWER.

All of a sudden, Jesus appears...walking on water!! Read verse 26 above again. They were troubled and cried out for fear because they thought Jesus was a ghost. Jesus told them to not be afraid and that it was him....

Wayne went on to say that how many times do we pray for an answer to something, yet when the answer comes we are more afraid of IT more than the circumstance...

Praying for a new job? The job of your dreams presents itself and boom...you are feeling inadequate, you are fearful that you are not the man or woman for the job...you are doubting yourself.

Praying for a new house? God blesses you with that house that you have had your eye on and all of a sudden you are fearful because you will have to work another job to afford it or there are leaks in the ceiling that you have to take care of before moving in, etc.

Praying for a spouse? God brings him/her into your life and you are now fearful of commitment, or not being all that he/she needs or wants. You are afraid of failure and aren't willing to step out in faith.

You get the idea. God is so good though and faithful to our every cry...our every problem. He himself is the answer to all that we need and want. We just need to TRUST HIM in all things. Great and small.