Shoulders

As I sat down to spend some time with God and to pray over the needs of those around me, I was reminded of a song by "King & Country."  I have so many people in my life that are in desperate need of a touch from God.  Believe it or not, God is always there.  He is working in your life in ways you can't even fathom.   I'm not going to write a long blog tonight.  I am just going to share this song, and pray God meets you where you are.

Blessings

        

Somethin' About the Water

The picture above holds more childhood memories than I could ever explain to you.  What you are seeing is a section of the brook that runs through Spring Mill State Park Pioneer Village.  My earliest vacation memories originate in this very State Park.  Growing up camping was the most economical way for a family of four to vacay, and we did it a lot!

I can't tell you how many times I sat next to this brook to cool off or waded into it with my parents.  I can't fathom how many hours I sat on the banks just listening to the sound of the water as it bounded through the village.  Then one very special day a few years back, God taught me the coolest lesson sitting on the banks of this very brook.

Now there is something you need to understand about the way God talks to me.  Some of the most astounding revelations I have received from God in my life have been while I was on or around water.  I would love to explain it, but I can't.  Some people go to the beach to get tan, I go with my Bible, a notebook, and an expectant heart.  Some people get in a canoe to slowly drift down the river, I go with a notebook or digital recorder on me somewhere just in case.  Something about the water calms my spirit enough to hear God's voice so clearly it's as if he were sitting right beside me.  So it is no wonder, I would learn a lesson sitting by this brook.

My family was there on vacation like so many times before, but instead of camping we decided to stay in the parks Inn.  I can never seem to sleep soundly in a strange place, so I got up extremely early one morning and headed out on my own.  I took the trail behind the Inn down to the pioneer village.

In my backpack, I had my Bible, a notebook and a pen.  It was my plan to have my devotional time in one of my favorite spots.  As I sat down on the stone wall that sat on the banks of the brook, I closed my eyes tight to listen to the sweet sound of the water as it rushed by.  I realized at that moment how much the water sounded like music to me.  Quietly I heard a voice whisper to me and say, "If the water never crashed upon the rocks, the brook would never sing."

So simple, so true.  If the water never endured the clash of the stones in the brook as it made its way, it would never sing the sweet melody that I loved so much.  What a simple but powerful reminder.

We all endure hardships in life.  We feel as if we have been beaten, perhaps at times even defeated.  But who would we be had we not encountered those struggles.  In

James 1:2-4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything."  

Sometimes we must go through some struggle to learn, to grow stronger.  It doesn't mean it's fun but a necessary part of life.  As we find our way through difficulties, we grow stronger and gain the experience we need for tomorrow.  At least we haven't been through as much as Paul in 2 Corinthians.  He boasted about it!  I find this passage awesomely hilarious.

2 Corinthians 11:23-30, 12:9-10

"Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Paul, the greatest missionary to ever walk the Earth, was proud of the mess of his life because God used the mess in his life to reach the World.  We may struggle, but in our weakness Christ makes us strong and can use our story to impact those around us.  

Today, you may feel that you can't endure one more hardship.  You may feel abandoned by God and too weak to fight.  I think we have all been there at some time in our lives.  But allow God to build you up!  To take you through those struggles, and to build you up, to make you strong.  You are never alone.  God is always with you, and He does care for you.  Just don't give up, keep waiting on Him and he will answer your prayers.  God has an answer, and he will use your life to help others find their way.  

 

I love that little brook in the pioneer village.  It is a source of great peace for me and a powerful reminder that with every struggle I endure my voice grows.  Just like the water with every stone it clashes against, my life sings past the pain.  God can use my struggle to not only change the lives of others, but to strengthen me in my walk with Him.  

 

I love Carrie Underwood's song, "Something in the Water."  I think it is a beautiful way to wrap up this little life lesson.
                                                                                                                                                                   

         

What's Your Center?

No matter what your ambition in life, we all have a purpose on this Earth.  Deep down in the heart of every human being lies a God given drive to make our mark on the World around us.  Some are quite overt about it and others allow fear to keep them from accomplishing their purpose.  However, we can't deny who we are or who God created us to be.

A little over a week ago, I was talking to a friend, and we were talking about motivation.  And, in true Tabby fashion, I thought of a kid's movie that had a great question in it.  Before I give you that question, I will show you the little snippet of this movie that motivated this conversation.

        

So, What Is Your Center?  What is it about you that drives you every single day?  What one aspect of who you are makes you get up in the morning ready to do your best?

In business, it is so important to know what your goal is.  When you know what your goal is, you can tailor your every day activities and plans to make that goal a reality.  It gives you a mark with which you can measure your success day by day.  The problem with a goal however, is that it is only one part of the equation.  If who you are inside doesn't match up with the goal you have placed for yourself, the results could be very disappointing.

As I started to reason out this equation, I began to see the "Center" of those around me.  I began linking up there goals with who they are, and in every successful person those elements go hand in hand.

For example, I have a friend who has this infectious enthusiasm that spills over onto everyone around him.  He has some very lofty goals, and he knows that with hard work and a little healthy competition he will get there.  He loves to win, and even more he loves to see those around him win.  Deep down motivating and helping others obtain their goals is totally his Jam!

While I could sit at my desk and reason the "Center" of those around me, I had a mental block when it came to myself.  I have been thinking about this question ever since that day.  What is it that God placed in me?  What was I created to do?

One night, during a time of worship, I had a breakthrough. (To be honest, I am really uncomfortable sharing this with you, but God is prompting me to do so.)  That night I could finally objectively look at my own life and see what drives me every single day.  To be honest, the answer is really quite simple but it explains my life thus far to a tee.  At my very "Center", is Love!

It is the most motivating aspect of my personality.  Every decision I have ever made, every goal I ever set for myself had at its core, Love.  More than anything else, I want to show the World around me what unconditional love looks like.  It is what drives me and makes me who I am.  At times, it has caused me to be quite vulnerable.  People in my past have taken advantage of this aspect of my personality.  But no matter what, I want to love people and show them how much God loves them.  It is the reason I get up in the morning, and the driving force of everything I do.

This realization about myself has helped me redefine my personal definition of success.  In my mind, I had reasoned that compared to others with my background, I had not accomplished much in my life.  However, God has redefined success for me in the light of who he created me to be.

So, what about you?  What drives you?  Do your goals fall in line with who you are?  Success can only be accomplished when our goals and who we are go hand in hand.  Motivation comes from within.  Despite what those motivational coaches out there want you to think, it starts on the inside.  So, What is your "Center"?

Count on Me

Ok... so let me just confess.  Hello, my name is Tabitha, and I am addicted to movies!  I have Cinematic issues, and I tend to force my obsession onto others.  I would seek help, but I don't want to!  LOL! 

That being said, there is this movie with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra called  "On the Town."  (I warned you, and you kept reading. You only have yourself to blame!)  Before you continue this post, you must watch this song from that movie.  It's mandatory!!! Don't even think about reading the rest without watching.

 

Now, be honest you are glad you watched it!  It's funny right!  Quite honestly, this is one of my favorite songs from a musical.  It just makes me smile, and it makes me think of my best friend who is many, many miles away.  No matter how long it's been since we have been together, we can talk and pick right up where we left off.  She isn't just my friend but a blessing from God himself.  I can count on her, and she can count on me. 

I started to really think about this one night when I was coming home late from work.  I caught myself doing something that I do every night quite unconsciously.  In fact, it started many moons ago in Bible College.

One of my friends and I went for a walk and ended up walking the track at the local high school down the street in the middle of the night.  The sky was alive with thousands of stars.  It was as if the whole world disappeared under a blanket of God created beauty and light.  Thomas Kinkade wasn't the original painter of light...God was!  That night my friend began pointing out different constellations and one of his favorites was Orion's Belt.  Those three stars standing in a row became a constant in my life after that.  No matter where I am, before I go inside for the night, I always find Orion's Belt. 

The other night I got out of the car, looked up, and found my three stars and a wave of peace came over me.  I realized at that very moment I had been doing that every night since that night on the track.  I like it because no matter where I am in the world, I can count on it being there.  It's like God placed those 3 stars together just for me.  It's a constant that I can always count on.  It may seem strange but it showed me two things.

First of all, I love that God places reminders all around us that we can count on Him.  The Word of God says, "he will never leave you, nor forsake you."  God is always there.  He is a constant in a World that changes by the second.  The Bible says, "He is the same yesterday, today, and forever."  God is always the same....We are the ones that change.  There is peace and comfort in knowing that no matter what happens in my life, that God is there and He loves me.  And when I find myself struggling, all I have to do is look up.  He's there and ready to take care of me.  I love that I can count on that no matter what.

Secondly, it reminds me that we need to be a constant for others.  I want people to feel like they can count on me.  Nothing makes me happier than blessing others.  When I am having a bad day, I like to find someone to bless.  I like to take the focus off of the negative I am feeling and plant a little love into someone else's life.  All of the sudden, I feel better.  It makes me think of the show "Friends" when Joey tells Phoebe that there is no such thing as a selfless good deed.  He may be right...Watch this...(Please forgive the language)


Ok...I'm not just a movie junkie...LOL!  Anyway, I love to do something for someone else when I am feeling crummy!  It completely changes my mood and it blesses someone else.  I want to be the one people can count on. 

So next time you are outside at night, look for those 3 stars in a row.  Let it be a reminder that you can Count on God and You can Count on Me.  (ok...now to watch all of "On the Town")

Blessings!

Are you Ready for a Real Change?

Turn on the news, and there is nothing but discouraging news.  People taking the lives of others, disease, famine, poverty, and hate in every direction.  Turn on the radio and even music has been invaded with talk of self worship, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual sin, and moral degradation. It's enough to leave anyone feeling depressed and fearful.

Tonight, I sat down down with my Bible and God invaded the room so quickly that it almost took my breath away.  As I began studying my kids church lesson, God began to speak!

Let me start with a verse from the Bible...

John 16:33
                 "In this World you will have trouble.  But Take Heart!  I have Overcome The World."

I have quoted and read this verse countless times over the years, but it never loses its potency.  Every time I read it, it is as if God himself were standing right in front of me ready to embrace me and steal away every obstacle, every worry.  Everything wrong in the world around me seems to melt away under the power of an Awesome God.  I can't explain it, but I want you to experience it more than I want anything else in my life.

I know that things of this world can be tempting.  And at times, you may even feel like the life you are living is happy and fulfilling.  However, at the end of the day when nobody is around, how do you feel?  When you reflect on your life, do you feel whole?

I really honestly believe we are all born with a God sized hole in our hearts.  The only thing that will ever fill that place in your life is the God of Love and Mercy.  I have gone through some real struggle in my life, but no matter what, God was always there.  Since that day a five year old walked to an altar and gave her life over to God.  I didn't fully understand the power of that decision at the time.  But over 30 years later, I am so glad I made that decision.  I am by no means perfect.  I struggle daily, but He is always there....guiding me...loving me.

Tonight, I don't want to argue theology or give reasoned argument for God's existence.  I just want to ask....

Are you ready for a real change?  Are you ready to lay your life down at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to fill you up with a love and joy that you almost can't contain?  Are you ready to make Him the guiding force of your life?  All you have to do is a say a little prayer.  "Dear God, please forgive me of my sins and come into my life.  I know Jesus died on the cross for my sin and rose from the grave to live forever more.  I am ready to live my life for you.  Amen"  That's all it takes!  He will take care of the rest.  Trust me...you will never be the same!  So I am going to ask one more time...

Are you ready for a REAL change?

Blessings!

Center of God's Will

Every believer strives daily to be in the Center of God's will. The problem is we have our own idea of what that looks like.  I was no exception.  I was sure I knew what would put me in the center of God's will, and it seemed no matter how hard I tried, I was moving farther away from it with every effort.

What?  How could this be?  I have done everything the Bible says, and my life looks nothing like I thought it would!  (Insert twilight zone music here)

Remember, it's the Center of "God's"will for me, not my own will, that I was supposed to be striving for.  However upon inspection of my efforts in the last few years, I was much more concerned with what I wanted than what God had in mind.  By putting my own desires before God's plan, I made myself miserable, depressed, and frustrated.  I wasn't really myself anymore.

I would love to say that it took weeks of fasting and praying.  I would love to say that I spent weeks and weeks in intense Bible Study.  Instead, I sat down and had a little talk with God.  The next day, it was like I had a crazy drastic brain surgery.  Yes, sometimes God answers prayers in a blink of an eye.  Even more insane, absolutely nothing in my situation or my life changed.  Miraculously, for the first time in many years, I was seeing my own life through God's eyes, instead of my own.

All of the sudden, I realized that I had nothing to worry about.  I was walking in the center of God's will right now!  I work a fun job with an incredible group of people.  In fact, anywhere you work where you have a squirt gun in your desk drawer is a winner!  I get to minister to amazing kids every single week and teach along side dedicated, loving volunteers.  I have a Pastor who shares my heart for evangelism. AND, I have the most hilarious family on the face of the planet.  What am I so worried about?  I'm happy and God can use me right where I am!

I used to spend so much time worrying about what people thought of me.  All of the sudden, I didn't care!  As long as I am living out Ephesians 5:1-2  "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."  I'm good!  (By the way if you continue to read this passage, it gets very specific on how we should live)  But as long as I am living my life for God and loving God's people, I am not worried about what people say about me.  The only opinion that matters to me is God's!  Do you know how free I am right now?

I can honestly say I am living a life of Joy like I never have before.  I know that if I live for God every single day, read the Word, pray, and share the love and heart of God with the World in everything that I do... I'm there... I've done it.  I am living in the center of the will of God.

Does that mean everything in my life is perfect?  NOOOOO!!!  This life will never be perfect.  God is good, and He loves me and wants what's best for me.  So I will trust him with those things I am still praying for like a husband and children.  He knows my heart and he will answer in His time.  For now, I am going to SMILE and live with the peace of knowing I am in the center of the will of God.

So how about you?  Are you letting God drive or are you trying to control where your life is heading?  It's so much better when we allow ourselves to rest in the center of God's will.  Trust Me... or if you need another witness..check out this song by TobyMac.