day 255: The Battle is Not Yours

2 Chronicles 20:15

He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehosaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

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The Battle is Not Yours, but God's

How many times do we try to fight our own battles?

We do everything we can to 'fix' it (whatever 'it' is) ourselves. If we have a pain, we take medicine to fix it and when that doesn't work, we pray about it.

We have problems at work and try everything we can think of to fix it--- then, when push to comes shove-- we pray about it.

We have problems with our husband/wife, and we read all of the books, blogs, everything *we* can think of. When that doesn't work, we pray about it.

Everybody had battles.  Big or little all battles are big if they affect us in any way. Addictions, family issues, unfaithfullness, whatever it may be-- everything is important to God.

Whatever your battle is... whatever you are fighting... stop and pray about it. Not just pray, really hand it over to God. It's not your battle to fight, it's God's.

God Bless You

~Kelly

day 254: Be Strong and Do it!

1 Chronicles 28:10

Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it!

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Be Strong and Do it!

I love that saying! I think I need to make it my motto. "Be Strong and Do it."

Now, this "it" is David talking about building the Temple after he's dead. David wanted to built it, but God told him no. He had killed too many people in battle. God chose Solomon to build the Temple.

David didn't fuss or complain about it, in fact, he did everything he could to help Solomon. He already had a stockpile of gold, silver, bronze, etc. He even went so far as to donate some of his own personal wealth to build the Temple.

In a speech, David told them that the Lord had chosen them for this task and to be strong and do it.

Same thing applies to us.

God has put some sort of task in your life. It might be a task (like being a preacher, speaker, evangelist) that you would never imagine yourself doing-- but you feel that pull toward it. The task God has for you could seem as big as building His Temple. It might seem like you can't do it-- won't even know where to start.

David said to "Be Strong and DO it!" 

Don't sit around thinking about it... DO it!

Nothing will ever get accomplished unless you get up and start on it. God can give you ideas and opportunities, but it's up to you to move your feet, be strong, and do it.

Really think about what God wants you to do in life. Pray about what would happen if you actually started moving toward that goal... OR what would happen if you kept going toward it (if you've already started, but have tired).

They say that even the longest journey begins with the first step. Same applies here. The Temple wasn't built in one day. Whatever it is that God has called you to do/be might not come overnight... but once you start, it will start happening.

Be Strong, and Do it!!

God Bless You

~Kelly

Linked with: Winsome Wednesday and Women Living Well Wednesday

Another New Blog Added :)

I'm very excited that Erin from Chronic Christian Crafter has been added to the blog directory :)

Erin's blog has a lot of things on it: from DIY to recipes to crafts to encouragements and information on chronic illness

Go over and give her some love. Her blog will bless you.

God Bless You

~Kelly

day 253: Pray for Everything

Phillipians 4:6-7

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

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*Pray about Everything

Have you ever sat back and thought about what that means? It means that nothing is too big, too little, too stupid, too whatever for God. And you don't have to be embarrassed because there is no such thing as a silly request or cry out to Him.

I remember a few years ago, I took my daughter to the doctor. It was the same doctor who delivered her. Now, I love this woman. She was/is a great doctor, but what she told me (and I don't think she meant it bad) has stuck with me ever since. She said that one of her OB patients told her that she felt silly asking stupid questions. And my doctor said, "Don't worry about that. You can never ask a sillier question than this one patient I had" Apparently, I was memorable.....

Needless to say (even though she would never hurt my feelings for anything) *I* got a bit embarrassed and a bit self-conscious. If you can't ask a 'stupid or silly' question to your doctor... who can you ask one too?

God of course :)

I know sometimes we try to only 'bother' God with the hard stuff: when people get sick, dying, prayers for salvation for others, etc. And we try to deal with the other stuff on our own.

I pray a lot through out the day. "God, please let us get there safely... please let me teach them what they need to know... please let me say the right thing... please don't let me put my foot in my mouth....."

And even then, I know I could pray for so so much more. 

We need to tell God what we need, not beat around the bush about it. The worst He can say is 'No'. The best that can happen is a blessing.

If you can't think of anything to pray for-- thank Him for everything.

*are you driving to work? Thank Him for the car.

*are you having to walk to work? Thank Him for the job.

*are you laid-off and looking for a job? Thank Him for allowing you to wake up and look... and for the extra time you get to spend with your family.

*are you sad? Thank Him for chocolate (because it helps.....)

The point is, pray about everything from the big to the small... from the "stupid" to the "normal"... from the tiniest ideas to the wildest dreams... and when you are done with that, thank Him for everything He's done for you.

THEN, you won't have time to think about anything else. And your mind will be fully focused on God :) (Can't get in trouble that way ;) )

God Bless You :)

Kelly

Linked with: On My Heart Tuesday

New Blog Added....

I'm very excited to say that Shanda's blog, A Pause on a Path, has been added to the blog directory.

Shanda helped over 100 people in my neighborhood, and didn't even know it. At Thanksgiving, she posted on her blog about how her church did groceries/food and then they prayed for the people as they left. I told my preacher about it. We took the idea and ran with it. Thanks to that post (and God) our little church of 36 (plus our charge partner church of about 50 or so) fed over 130 people Thanksgiving supper! :).

Please visit Shanda's site. You will truly be inspired.

**I'd love to add your site to the blog directory! The more sites we have, the more resources people have when they need a devotional or encouragement. Even if your blog isn't 'devotional', as long as it is inspirational, I'd love to add it. If you are interested, please send me an email at ohthatmomagain (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Please show Shanda's blog love (along with the other blogs mentioned) and visit them.

God Bless You,

Kelly