I choose to SOAR, how about you?

As I sat, looking out the window today, feeling very discouraged...asking God to do a new thing in a few relationships and situations in my life, I spotted a large bird soar across the sky. This led to such an encouraging word for me.

 

ISAIAH 40:28-31 hits the nail on the head today for me! Here is what those verses read:

 

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth

Does not become weary or tired.

His understanding is inscrutable.

He gives strength to the weary,

And to him who lacks might He increases power.

Though youths grow weary and tired,

And vigorous young men stumble badly,

Yet those who wait for the Lord

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary.

 

Prior to looking up this verse, I wrote some random thoughts in my journal about eagles:

 

"Eagles fly against the wind, yet uses it to their advantage to soar higher."

 

"Eagles fly solo. I wonder if they get lonely. Or do they accept that not many are able to soar as high as they? God must have given them the courage and dream to soar as high as their wings will take them."

 

 

So then, would you really "feel" lonely when you are doing what your were created to do? Would you "feel" lonely when you are near heaven's expanse, high above the world? 

Do you know a lot about EAGLES? Here's some things I found when I googled 'facts about eagles' just to test my random thoughts.

• Eagles fly alone at a high altitudes.
• Eagles have strong vision.
• Eagles are the only bird that loves the storm. The eagle uses the winds of the storm to rise and
  

  

  is pushed up higher. The eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar high and glide.

 

Are you an EAGLE?

Created to soar high above the storms of this world and life, and reach the brim of heaven?

If we stay full of the Spirit of God, consistent in God's word, abiding in His presence -

We won't "feel" lonely. Reminded that our flesh cannot soar as high as our spirit-man can.

When we feel empty and the "feelings" of our flesh are ruling, our view on life is clouded.

This is when discouragement and loneliness can set in and we stay in the shadows of the cliffs, not living out what we were created for. If an eagle never leaves his nest, he will starve and die. Yes, an eagle builds a nest on the cliffs.

We will need to step to the edge of our comfort zone (our nest) and set our sights on the vision that God has given us. We too must dive into His directions, plan, and purpose for our lives...spread the wings He has given us and set our face to the winds of life. With our minds on Christ and our destination heaven, we can soar high in the wind of adversity. God has created us to soar!

Open your heart and fly with the faith in God that takes you high to the brim of heaven....God's will!

 

WHY do you want more God????

Wrote this one line in my prayer journal today:

"Lord, you are so good...thank you for showing up...."

(Referring to our table leader meeting last night.)

 

 

And then I wrote the following down:

 

"God will show up in the way we allow Him to."

 

 

For those who expect little from God, they will get little.

For those who expect greatness from God, they will get abundance.

 

And I am never talking about money when I mention 'abundance'...I am so over that message.

 

Personally, I want an abundance of:

COMPASSION                     

PATIENCE

GENTLENESS

SELF-CONTROL

FAITHFULNESS

PEACE

JOY

and the greatest of all: LOVE

 

 

I also want an abundance of:

WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE

ADMINISTRATIVE ABILITY

FAITH & HEALING HANDS

WORKING OF MIRACLES

 

We get these from pursuing God for who HE is as a disciple, not seeking His hand as a consumer.

 

Ask God for the spiritual things to develop within you, and then you will begin experiencing His presence in your life, His spirit moving in your days, and His love pouring out of your heart!



Who do you serve?

The Word is the truth. The truth, the inspired Word of God. The Bible is the Word. The Bible gives the best advice on the planet. It's full of life-bringing encouragement, as well as honest, love-motivated warnings. Such as:

Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

--  1 John 5:21, NASB  --

 



 

Another translation (Living Bible) simply states it as:

^"Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. "

 

IDOL in the Greek: heathen god, false god.

IDOL from dictionary.com:

any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or

devotion...or an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.

 

Look around at this world. Name some "idols". Money? Homes? Sports, sports figures? Bands? Look at the walls in your home. What is your kids' room postered with? What is your money going to? Your time? Who is your allegiance going to?

 

Got addictions? To your phone, your computer, FB, Pinterest, porn, alcohol, drugs, steroids, shopping, eating?????

 

What or who do you serve? Do you please your spouse above God? Does your child rule over you? What about your job? Do you sacrifice your well-being and time with your family to be #1 at your job?

 

How is your health? Stress levels? Is there any indications that your life is imbalanced? Going to work with hangovers? Lying to your spouse on where you are, where the money is going?

 

How's your kids' life? Do they have time to play and be a kid, or are they practicing 'til dusk that sport you think will pay for college? Is your kid stressed out?

 

Folks, stress, dying relationships, confusion, chaos, health problems, sleep deprivation...the list goes on and on that indicate their are idols in our lives.

 

Don't think money is an idol? Look at your car? Overpriced? Look at your home, could it house 2 or 3 families? I've heard people justify chasing the dollar to 'give'. The woman in the synagogue gave her last coins and Jesus remarked that she gave more...she gave out of her necessity. Is your car more than a small home on the bad side of town? Yea, it's overpriced. Give more! Spend less, give more. Give out of necessity, give until it hurts....IF you honestly believe that you are chasing money to give more. Here's a challenge: Never drive something that costs over $500/mo. and the difference between your current monthly payment and the $500 - GIVE IT AWAY!!!! Do the same with that house payment! Or whatever high priced idol your money and time is serving!

 

Don't think food is an idol? I live in Kern County. #1 for highest rate of obesity in California. 65% of Americans are obese. Hello, FOOD IS AN IDOL. People turn to it for comfort...instead of the Lord! They spend gobs of money on a ridiculous SMALL amount of food at a fancy restaurant. I've had the food...it's salty and I'm still hungry when I leave. I'd rather have a ham sandwich or salad from my kitchen!

 

What else? Sports. Either watching or participation to the point that you have no relationship with people or your spouse, your family. Drugs and alcohol - the overconsumption that is wrecking your marriage, your kids' lives, your health, your work performance. One word: IDOLATRY.

 

My perspective has always been that these kinds of idols are what people are turning to and trying to fill the God-sized void in their lives and hearts with. What if you spent 1/10 of the time you spend doing your favorite, idolatrous activity with God? What if you spent 1/4 of that time??? Think life could be different?

 

James 1:27 says: Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 

The world is filled with idolatry! There's even a show 'American Idol' on television. Kids who know more about a sports figure than Jesus Christ! Commercials blasting idolatry from the idol-box itself, the television.

 

Am I being harsh? I just want to see this world turned upside down for Jesus. And it starts when we stop worshipping ourselves, our possessions, our achievements and start WORSHIPPING THE TRUE GOD!!!

 

"God is spirit, and those who worship Him

must worship in spirit and truth.”

--  John 4:24  --

 

 

"....worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh..."

--  Philippians 3:3  --

 

Heck, the first commandment from Exodus is: DO NOT WORSHIP ANY OTHER gods!

 

It's in the Old and New Testament. So what should we do?

 

Guard ourselves and lay down our false gods and idols. It's time to worship the only one true God!! 

APOLOGIES - sincere vs. insincere

Pondering what an apology is. And wrote this down.

A true apology is NOT followed by an attempt to blame the offensive behavior on the other person.

A true apology will be seasoned with responsibility for the offense with honest remorse, and a desire to be reconciled to the offended/hurt person, all motivated by love.

An apology followed by justification and blame is NOT sincere, but an attempt to 'do the right thing and apologize.'

An apology WITHOUT repentance, regret or personal conviction cannot be called an apology.

After making taking my notes, I looked it up...and this is a definition for APOLOGY:

• a written or spoken expression of one's regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another.

So then, I ask, are we obligated to accept an INSINCERE apology?

I know that we are to forgive. Our forgiveness is not contingent on an 'appropriate' apology. Forgiving others sets US free!

However, it is wise to have boundaries and protect ourselves from others' blatant mistreatment and/or offensive words and behaviors.

The hard part comes when you have to figure out how to lay boundaries with those you love the most who seem to have anger issues, short-tempers, high expectations, loose morals, etc. - all the things that seem to repeatedly hurt us.

This is a quandary many of us find ourselves in.

And with that...I am off to the gym to work on reading "Boundaries" by Cloud & Townsend. Maybe I'll crack the code on this one!

Where am I headed w/ all this info????

You realize this blog is just one more of my outlets right? In addition to my FB posts...and YouTube Videos....I love to share current events though this blog. I really do love to write.

I also love to help people. And since graduating last summer from Summit, I have been working on becoming a non-profit organization for those who 'don't want the church, but want God'. It's my outreach ministry to the people who have been hurt by the church...an attempt to be the hands of God reaching out to the broken and abused, and bring renewed hope in God and His people. That's kind of it in a nutshell. As with many things, I'm sure the population this ministry reaches out to will diversify and change....but for now, that's who my heart is burdened for.

What will result in this is me meeting some people who stormed out of a church mad. And it will bring those who were so hurt and rejected that they honestly need one-on-one counseling. And so I am preparing for that.

I have began my prayer campaign to get some confirmation to start counseling people in January 2014. I will start out with offering 3-4 time slots, 1 day a week. And depending on the response, hopefully offer 4 time slots, 2 days a week by summer. And maybe, just maybe by Fall 2014, offer myself up for 3-4 times slots, 3 days a week if there is a need.

Slow and steady (and strategically) wins the race!

I die inside for people who are trapped in bondage. Bondage to me is anything...relationship, behavior, thought pattern that keeps you from doing the will of God, what God is calling you to.

Sometimes this is an addiction, an OCD, a codependent or abusive relationship, pride, or idolatry. Sometimes it's just ignorance....since many 'friends' don't seem to speak up and tell you that you have some unhealthy, self-defeating things going on in your life!

So, what will it look like? Not 100% sure. But I will be available to those who want change.

Due to my personality and convictions, I won't do well partnered up to a client who loves their bondage. I will more than likely probe to see on a scale of 1 to 10, how motivated a person is to change. I am highly motivated. I understand everyone is not like me. But I don't want people to pay me to be their friend - I want to earn my wage by setting captives free through different steps and strategies that lead people out of bondage and into freedom with Christ.

I love the Lord and He has done so much work in my life. I want to share the methods that have seem to work for me, as well as many others that I have learned about. Sometimes people do need someone to listen to them...and their problems...and I will do that. I also will offer objective perspective and honesty so that you can move from discouraged and defeated to faith-filled and believing!

What will it be called??? Well, since I've tackled a lot of topics that are helpful to life on THIS BLOG...it should probably include 'FLEX YOURSELF'. And since sometimes people need some coaching and help through rough patches in life or decisions...'COACHING' may be in the name somewhere...and since I did get a degree in Christian Counseling...and some need counseling....'COUNSELING' ought to be in the name too, right?

How do you like the name:

Flex Yourself Coaching & Counseling?????

 

Do you think this is a worthy venture to follow?
Who would entrust me as their coach or counselor?
Just curious...