Two are better than one....

Do you ever fear that someone will discover who you really are? Do you ever hear a whisper try and shame you, calling you sinner and broken? Do you ever feel like there's going to a gotcha moment where all your un-seens will come spilling out- all the unchecked thoughts playing on matinee for the world to see and judge? 

Yep. For some reason (probably because I do wonder what people think of me and I want them to like me) I face this often. I find myself face to face with my own sin and even though I go to the Lord and ask forgiveness, I hear the shaming accuser whispering my failures. At times I feel at battle not only with my flesh and it's desire to do it's own thing but accepting the love and help from Christ. So many times I feel stuck and alone in this place, not knowing what to do- where to go- who I can share with. I'm embarrassed and the enemy knows that this has been my weakness. I try to fight alone. Then the whispers "just wait til someone sees you for who you really are...." 

Okay, then what??? The enemy is called a prowling lion seeking whom he may devour with words, accusations, and even questions that don't even finish. But he doesn't need to finish, he can just start me down the road of doubt and I am led easily by my own insecurities and feelings. And he has successfully gotten my focus on myself and off Jesus and others.

BUT NO MORE! 

GOD says that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."(1 John 1:9) And James 5:16 says " confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." 

This is exactly the opposite of my fears. When I trust God with my heart and share my burden with my sister, friend, and/or husband the hold on that fear is broken. We are not all alone which is also why the Lord encourages by saying that "though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."(Eccl. 4:12) But it takes stepping out and being vulnerable. Taking a step and trusting that "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help."(Eccl. 4:9) 

Jesus knows my weakness. He knows I struggle in solitude and that I need fellowship and relationships. He knows that when my focus is on myself, I am deaf and blind to what he wants to show me. So he encourages me to step out and share. To let someone see the real me and trust HIM with the results. Yes my heart has been hurt but it's also been healed.

I know there is an encouragement in sharing with one another. Not everyone is safe to share with, but I believe the Lord will gives us someone who we can share with whether that's a mentor, friend, sister, or husband and maybe there are a few in our lives. But we also need to be that for others. To be transparent. The more I share my fears and confess my sins, the easier it gets, and we draw closer to the Lord as well as those relationships we share in. We are made to be in relationship with each other- to invest in each others lives. The best investment we can make is to be authentic and share Jesus by loving one another and extending grace and encouragement.

Do you have someone you can confide in and show the real you to? Are you extending yourself to someone else so they have a safe place to share?

Jesus, please meet us where we are. Meet us here where we feel weak and alone. Be a light in our darkness and show us your way. You know us completely Lord, and there is nothing hidden from you. Help us to step out and trust you when you say you forgive us, and to be bold enough to stand strong against the enemy. Please, break the hold of the enemy by bringing us into fellowship with you. Help us to know where our strength is and that You who are in us, are greater than he who is in the world.  Amen.

He Makes Himself Known

If there was one thing I think that I am having to learn right now it's focus. I believe Jesus put a huge emphasis on it when he was with his disciples and I am starting to realize how important it is.It challenges me and I realize how distracted I am ad how easy it is to lose focus.

I have been in a bible study this year on the character of God. How can I be closer to a God I want to know if I am not willing to take the time to discover and learn who he is. He has made himself known to everyone by creation but he has also made Himself known through history in his word. Not only that, the word became flesh in Jesus so that we could tangibly see and know him. He wants to be known. He makes Himself known. He makes it possible for me to know Him.

While Jesus lived, I believe he came to seek, save, teach and reveal. He came to seek out those who would follow, save those who would believe in him, teach those who would learn and follow his teaching, and reveal the plan of the Father to the people he loves so much. One thing that stands out to me is that Jesus challenged those he called to focus. To keep their eyes on him. First he needed to challenge their faith. Who did they really believe in. Was their faith in him or simply because he did miracles? One challenge of faith was while they were out to sea and the storm was raging while Jesus slept and the Disciples were afraid. He awoke to tell the wind and storm to be silent and they obeyed bringing calm. The disciples were a bunch who were willing, but so many times let the circumstances around them weaken their resolve and faith in the power and person of Jesus. Another instance is when Jesus walked out on the water and Peter asked if he could meet him there in the waves. Jesus told him to come and Peter jumped out of the boat and walked toward Jesus on the water. However, he took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink. He lost his focus. He let his faith take back seat because of the current circumstance. BUT JESUS reaches out and grabs him and reminds him to not look at what is around him but to focus on the one who can save him. And yet another time that comes to mind where the disciples were really challenged was when they went to the garden to pray with and keep watch with Jesus. How easily they fell into sleep and Jesus came back to remind them again and again to focus. To focus on and be determined to not weaken, but to be aware and stay strong. The only way that was to happen is if they learned how to actively seek God and pursue him.

Every once in awhile I will get a glimpse of where I have come from. Sometimes it's a glimpse that leads to feeling regret and other times it's being absolutely thankful that I am no longer there and that God loved me so much to never let me go. He called me back. He challenged me to focus in on Him. If I were to look at those moments in my past where some might have called me a back slider, a hypocrite, or that I just walked away from the Lord. But I look back and see it was my focus or  really where I wasn't focused. Jesus never left me, if fact he was there always. All the time I struggled because I knew he was there. It was evident, but at some point I lost my focus. He was no longer the most important thing, I was. My happiness, my struggles, my desires. It was all about me and my current circumstances which led me to fear in every direction. What if? What now? Will I ever?  It was only when I got to an absolute end and had no where to go that the Lord gently asked, "Are you done? Will you trust me and look to me?" It's here that I realize I had taken my eyes off him. In doing so I sank into the waves and was scared and yes tried to save myself in the process by trying to grab anything in reach. But Jesus put out this hand and grabbed mine so that I could focus back on who seeks and saves the lost. I have not chosen Jesus every time, Most of the time I choose myself and that is an ugly detail, not a super spiritual one, but it's true. However, the beautiful truth is that HE CHOSE ME. He loves me. He wants to teach me to be more like him. He wants to show me himself so I can have security in him and that I don't have to look to myself for the answers I don't have. And either do you. He looks at you the same way he looks at me, as a Friend, Father and Savior. 

Every day I get a choice as to where I will focus, how I will respond to him. Will I focus on where I want to be or what I don't have? Or will I focus on the one thing that never changes-on Him-Jesus. He is the one thing that remains in absolute control. Will I choose to thank him for the gifts he has given me and do the best I can today, now for his glory? Will I trust that he didn't make a mistake by calling me as his own and choosing me before I was even conceived? If I focus on him, I can stand in confidence of his control and that he holds everything together For His Glory. This is what I am learning about His Sovereignty. He knows all, controls all, and rules over all. I think that's a great place to focus.

"Looking to Jesus the founder and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." 

-Hebrews 12:2

Searching for a Super Hero?

What makes us so drawn to super hero's? I mean we all know that a man can't really leap from tall buildings in a single bound the same way Superman did or that we will ever look up and declare "it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!." Yet, we are drawn into the idea that there is a savior of some kind and we hope that we will catch a glimpse of him believing that our lives would be forever changed.

The funny thing about all loved super hero's though, is that they have a weakness whether it's kryptonite or Delilah(I consider Samson a super hero), but regardless of that, wait no- because of that, we think more of them and not less. They remind us of what we would like to become in spite of ourselves as they rise against all odds of human nature. I think it helps us to think that we can too.

If I could come up with a super hero and describe him(because in my mind My super hero is a dude), I have a list of what I think he would be like. He would be kind, patient, just and looking out for those who are weak and need help. He would seek to help the poor and correct those who take advantage of the them. He would be a leader who brings out the best in those around him. He is one who doesn't seek fame, fortune, or popularity. My hero would have compassion in the midst of justice and wouldn't set out with revenge as his compass. And lastly, I want to trust and believe that if I were ever in peril of any kind my hero would move heaven and earth to rescue me.

As I write this list and compile the traits that mean the most to me, I see the dots connect. Do you? I realize that as I have been thinking about this whole super hero thing, I already have one. No I am not crazy and it's not Superman or the Arrow. (Gotta love a good super hero flick though).

My super hero goes by the name Jesus. And before you roll your eyes, let me tell you why. All the qualities I just listed(and more), he has.

First of all, he sacrificed his fellowship with his father by coming down to earth, born humbly he grew without fame or fortune(John 17:4&5, Luke 2:11-20). When it was his time to step out and lead, he led by example having compassion on the sick, needy and lost(Luke 4:38-41). He never turned away anyone who needed to be found and he loved wholly and heartily(Luke  4:42-44). He encouraged children to come and he lifted the broken in spirit. Also he was just and rebuked those that took advantage of the poor(Matthew 21:12), but also gave them a chance to change. Jesus served, he loved, he saved, and he gave everything. He faced great opposition for doing good(Mark 3:1-6), for doing the will of his heavenly father(Luke 5:17-26). When it was time to fulfill the promise of life, he humbly went to the cross bearing it with more courage than I can even imagine(Hebrews 12:2), continuing to be an example of standing for what is right. That day he gave his life in exchange for mine. He paid the ransom I could not pay, paying my debt of sin. By doing so, he gave me life so I wonder, how can I not live my life for him now?

And it's not done. The cross wasn't the end because just when you think a super hero has been lost or killed never to be seen or heard again, they come back. AND HE DID! Really! The bible says it so I believe it(Luke 24:1-4). It's my only hope, because I know there simply has to be more beyond this life, and deep inside I want to be more. I want to be more brave, humble, caring, patient, good, pure, and wise but guess what? I am no where close to being any good at any of those things because I know me, and I know I am selfish and weak and I cannot save myself. I need a super hero.

The thing is, Jesus is everything I want to be and he made a promise. He promised that 1. He would come back after his death(and he did), and 2. that he would send a helper to be with me and help me to become more like him(John 14:15-18,25-26). He promised that by belief, faith in Him,  I can be the things he was on this earth(John 15:5).

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." -Ephesians 2:8&9

If I could believe in and be like any super hero of all time, I would choose Jesus. Many people may not consider him a super hero, but I think he's the very best kind of super hero. He's actually real! He wasn't flashy and he certainly didn't wear a cape, but he was simply himself doing what he came to do. To live, give and love those he came to know and would know. Even though it looked like he lost a great deal when he left this earth, he gained so much more than we can imagine.

"He is seated at the right hand of the Father where he has received the crown of glory and righteousness." -Ephesians 1:19-21

What's more is that he saves me everyday. He continues to intercede when my own sin and  weakness cause me to be overcome and I fail at the things I most want to do and be. Jesus continues to work on my behalf so that I can say that even though I am weak, I am strong. He rescued me, saved me, and strengthens me. He is the very best kind of Superhero.

Choosing Purity

As I was reading through 1 Peter , I got stuck on chapter 2 verse 9 which says "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light". I started to think of when I became a mom for the first time. I had always thought I had good discretion but when I had my first son, I soon discovered, along with a love I had never experienced before, I had momma vision. I discovered I was sensitive to everything and appalled at what I had considered ok before my kids. From words used around the house to certain videos and cartoons. It was eye opening.

As my husband I and I talked about how we wanted to raise our kids, it was our heart to help them anyway we can to keep their way pure and to grow up with wisdom. We taught our kids  the song “Careful little eyes what you see, careful little ears what you hear” and many times they would question why they could not watch a certain show or do something they saw other kids do. We looked at this as an opportunity to talk though the reasons and about guarding their hearts and minds, knowing there would be a day coming soon where they would have to start to process all of this on their own. The older they have become we have been able to talk more about Gods perspective, and to talk through what God would say about something. To use His word as a standard. We do this because we love them and we want what is best for them.

And so, my heavenly Father also has a lesson for me. Just this last fall I felt the tug on my heart to turn off a program I had watched for years. At first I felt like “Why Lord? It’s not bad.” but then He answered my heart with, “but is it good?” Careful little eyes what you see, careful little ears what you hear.

If I look at it the way He does, He is right. It is not pure, patient, kind, and does not reflect Gods character. So I obey, and turn it off. And there’s more areas He’s touching in my life and I ask “but it isn’t  bad”. And He has continued to respond with “But is it good?” Oh the tantrum going on in my heart.

I wrestle in my heart. In a way I feel like he is preventing me from “down time” or a little mindless entertainment- “me time”, and my flesh wars against the spirit over obedience and trust.

I am being called out to respond and it’s challenging. Just as I desire wisdom and truth for my kids and how I hope they can trust me in this training, The Lord desires wisdom, purity and obedience for me. He wants me to trust Him to willingly lay down what He convicts me of and to live in His light.

“I am chosen, set aside as God’s very own. He has called me out of the darkness and into His wonderful light.” -1 Peter 2:9

One of many verses I have come across lately confirms His desire for me, It’s Romans 12:2 which says “ Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

My challenge is to not seek my own way that seems right and good, but to trust His leading and to be sensitive to it. To have a spiritually correct  perspective about joy, contentment, and Godly pleasure. To be holy just as He is holy. To be at peace with not fitting into the world around me but to be looking for opportunities to die to my flesh and grow a little closer to Him. To be a light in my decisions in my home and in the world.

Paul never said it would be easy to stay pure, in fact he said in 1 Timothy 6:12 to: “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life to which you were called.” It’s hard, and I know I am not alone in this challenge. We serve a God who is good, faithful and forgiving, and HE WILL give more opportunities, to obey and to trust Him even when we are struggling to do so.

Regret and Hope

Do you ever lay awake at night with the shoulda-woulda-coulda's? With  the sense of failure from the previous day? The regret of being snappy, short and not to loving with your family and friends? Yeah. Me too. You are not alone and neither am I, even though it feels that way.

The thing is, I don't share this to lighten the sense of regret. The regret is there because we know we blew it. We didn't extend the grace and love that we have been extended by Christ himself. So what now? Well dear sister friend, now we go forward and learn. Ask for forgiveness and move forward in confidence that Christ forgives and gives you what you need to go forward. Do not carry the shame of yesterday, we all fail, but move forward with the purpose to grow from your mistakes. Lamentations 3:22-24 says "The steadfast Love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning...". We have a fresh day everyday by going to Christ, asking Him to forgive us, to fill us and to meet us in the challenges that do lay ahead of us. Let's face it, life is hard and being a wife,mom, sister and friend. Any and all of these things can challenge us like no other. But God is good. He is always present and always available. He is our strength and our filter when we ourselves are absolutely incapable.

So when you face a new day, know that just as the Lord did for the Israelites in Egypt, it says in Dueteronomy 1:30 "The Lord your God goes before you will Himself fight for you." Be confident in that you are not alone. Others face similar, if not the same, challenges and Christ died for you so you could live in Him. It's in the hope of seeing beyond the challenges that we can draw from. The hope of Christ and heaven and of an eternal promise.

Finding My Place

Before I met my husband 10 years ago,  I worked in coffee shops, built a photography business and worked with an art club. I would of described myself as a free spirit, on the look out for excitement and social interaction. Shortly after meeting my soon to be husband, we knew that we were heading to marriage so it was a whirlwind of sorts. I then moved 1000 miles away to his town and we started our life together. Shortly after getting married we were pregnant with our first son and I had to slow down my busy life. Soon after he was born we were pregnant again with our second son. And I was still trying to figure out my role as a wife and a new mom. 8 months later the Lord moved us from Southern California to here and we didn’t know anyone. Eli my second son was born 2 months later and I soon discovered that I was a stranger to myself. All of the things I thought I was, and what I did before, were different now-I was different. It was like I woke up one day lost.

I tried to start up some of the activity that once was a huge part of my life but only found it to be discouraging. I found myself crying out who am I? I felt the Lord ask me to lay down the things I was trying to duplicate in my life from before I was married, and at first I thought sure, I mean it’s not going anywhere anyway. I knew I was laying it down but not surrendering it. But then I would see others doing what I used to enjoy so much and I would get jealous and call out to God, Why? Why does she get to do it? Why is this so hard for me?- I was focused on myself and what I didn’t have, my flesh in the spotlight.

My jealousy led way to bitterness. I wasn’t in the word and I had no direction, I was dry. I wasn't content with where I was. When I would see others doing the things I desired, things that I thought defined who I was, I would start to critique them and my bitterness would bubble out of my heart. Sure no other ears heard my words but my heart did- Jesus did. But then just a short while ago I was learning about out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, so I know that my bitterness did speak.

One day as I was sitting at my computer and looking at the images on the screen and that resentful spirit was there. I just remember God’s tenderness as He asked me right then in there “Why are you so critical?” That question stopped me short because he laid out my sin so I could really see it. I was so buried in my burden of jealousy and bitterness which I had let take root. There it was. My sin laid bare and ugly. I needed His forgiveness for my rebellion and for not trusting His leading.

He offered me Himself again and I found comfort. He loves me enough to pursue me. Then He asked me again if I would trust Him, to follow after Him. To lay down my desires and expectations. For the first time I remember being able to tell him I didn’t know who I was anymore, that I didn’t know where I was going and how scared I was. He heard me. He still wanted me to follow. He still wants me as broken as I am.

The Lord met me that day and because of His love and tenderness, I was finally able to lay down my own plan, my selfish ambition and follow after where He wanted to take me.

Looking back I see more clearly the role He wanted me to embrace and come alive in, to find contentment in, the role of wife, mom and most important His daughter who isn’t defined by what I can do but simply who I am in Him-as my sweet friend would say I am the “Beloved daughter of the king”. He wanted me to embrace His plan. And to do that I needed to get to know Him.

It has been a few years now that I am learning to trust Him, to get to know Him more and to be content and thankful with where He has me. And there have  been some hard days, but it has also been so good. Because, He has been so faithful.

So here I am in a new season and I am being asked to trust Him again and let some things go from my life. Things that have become distractions and things that I want to run to when things get difficult- escapes in a way. I feel the conviction and the spirit prompting me  to walk away, then the first thing my flesh wants to do is ask “why?”or “But it’s not bad” or even “She’s doing it?”

And I am reminded of being in this place once before. The Lord brings to mind the path that this will lead if I don’t surrender to His way because my flesh is deceitfully wicked.

I know He is asking me to focus in again to what He has called me to, and to run to Him in the difficult times, not the things I have become comfortable burring myself into. To find contentment in Him and the things He has for me today even when it’s hard. To be thankful for where I am and what I have because it’s come from Him.  And so timely, I read through James and I get to this spot where is says in verses 14&15 “But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom.....for wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. ”, and I have to choose. I know I am a child of God, and I am also his beloved bride. So, will I submit to Him, yield and trust him simply because He has asked it of me? Will I let Him lead me where I don’t know even when I am scared to go? The unknown scares me and I know He knows that about me. I have the fear of if He takes this, what will I have left? But because  I know that His way is better, as it says in Hosea 14:9 “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” God has been so good, so faithful, He has made it clear of His intentions to continue to call me and conform me to His image as it says in Isaiah 43:1 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.” and when I see that, How can I choose anything but that. His way is always the right way.

Obedience and Contentment-those two things are hard for me because I know I am battling my flesh, but when I do chose Him and His way over mine, I can follow with a content and obedient heart.

2 verses that have been an encouragement as I let go and let God lead in the way He would have me go, a way that is unknown to me but not to Him, a way that will lead me to be more like Him:

Isaiah 42:16

“I will lead the blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way, I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things, I will not forsake them.”

Isaiah 55:8&9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

I don’t know the plans He has for me today and some days I feel as if I can barely stand up under the weight, but today I do have the opportunity to walk with Him and to have Him direct my steps.  I know where He takes me will be good and the things I let go will fade away and at some point I will see His wisdom in all these things. I will see the blessing and the beautiful thing He is making in my life. 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

-Psalms 23

Learning Humility and Obedience

One thing I have seen this last year is my pride. It’s something that the Lord is bringing me face to face with. Pride in my own capabilities and standing on my own strength. I grew up in the church, and I learned a lot about who God is at an early age. I want Him, but I haven’t had to really depend on Him until these past few years. Trials have tested what I know in my head and how much I truly know and trust the Lord. During this time I have gotten a good look at how much pride I have, and God is showing me just how much He desires a humble and contrite heart. A Humble attitude.

Over the last couple of months the Lord has put me in some situations where I witnessed some people around me compromising their word while I was working with them. Breaking some of the rules. When I witnessed some things going on I first wanted to remain silent because I didn’t want to make waves or make someone feel bad, but the longer I stayed quiet, the worse I felt about it. I felt like I was breaking the rules right along with them by remaining quiet. So, after praying I went to them as in Matthew 18:15 “go to your brother and tell him his fault between you and him only. If he hears you, you have gained a brother.” By going to them I knew I had done what I was supposed to do even when they rejected what I said and made their own excuses about why it was okay for them to do this. While I walked away,  my mind was screaming, I can’t believe they are doing this!!!

I pondered this situation when it happened with someone else 2 months later. Again I went to them and asked them about it and again there were reasons why what they were doing was okay.   I was thinking, not again. Really! Why Lord am I in this situation?  I’m following the rules, so why am I having to witness and confront someone else in this situation. Then after my rant with Him I asked, "Lord what do you want to show me?"

And He answered. He said Mandy you have done, and do the very same thing. Exposed. I am just as guilty. I have been deceived and am deceived by my own pride any time I  take my eyes off the Lord and putting them on something else-anything else. The lies about what I deserve that makes it seem right in my own head, and then the endless excuses to cover the guilt of sin. The enemy is so cunning. This is the birth of sin, when I take my eyes off Jesus and put them on anything else. Deceived! If I am not on guard and wise to the enemy, I can so easily be caught off guard by him. And then it’s followed by an endless amount of excuses and reasoning.

This has led me to the next thing, Lord where else have I been deceived? And He’s shown me that I am deceived by my own pride, it’s my heart issue. I am deceived when I assume that I can stand strong on my own without guarding my heart and mind with His word. I am deceived when I see myself as strong enough to handle any circumstances with out seeking His council and the wise council of others He has placed in my life. I am deceived when I think I can live unaffected by the world around me without His word as my compass. Pride.

So now I understand a little more why Peter is saying to humble myself before the Lord, because when I am humbled before Him, I keep my eyes on him and I don’t look away at all the distractions and lies the enemy wants me to be tempted by. Most of the time he doesn’t come at me to hurt me physically, but he comes at me with sly distractions, a beautiful something I think I need or anything really that the Lord hasn’t given me. When He does give me something I can continue to keep my eyes on Him with thankfulness and dependence.

It has been a daily struggle to battle my flesh and it is becoming more and more humbling, but God promises in Ephesians 1:7 that "He will( because of His grace) who called us will perfect, establish, strengthen and to give me a foundation." For His glory. And when I do sin, I am so thankful that I serve a God who loves me and gave His own Son that I can find forgiveness.

1 Thess. 5:8 “But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.”

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Where I need to focus is to see that I have an opportunity everyday to not only live close to The Lord, but also to be a reflection of Him. To seek His council in the mundane as well as the neon decisions. To have a humble attitude seeking wisdom instead of assuming I already have it.

And then when I make decisions that are in line with Him that it gives Him glory, and I get to share in the joy of pleasing Him.