Thankful

It is so easy to take for granted everything that God has given to me, gotten me through, protected me from, or guarded my heart from.

Most times we have no idea what God has done until AFTER it is already done. There are times when we are asking WHY and after we look back and say THANK YOU! We do not always know God's plan....but we do ALWAYS have to TRUST him. He really does know what He is doing.

When I gave my life to God and made the decision to follow Him and trust Him with my life, some of those puzzle pieces started to fit together. God began to uncover my eyes and show me just what HE has done for me, what HE has protected me from, where HE brought me from.

Seriously.....look at your past....could you have gotten where you are today if it weren't for GOD? 

So my challenge to you.....really look at your life....take it apart....and thank GOD for what HE has done for you. Without GOD I certainly would not be where I am today or be the person I am today. His plan never fails!

In order to move forward with trusting HIM, we need to be thankful for where we came from. When you are feeling overwhelmed and distant from GOD, look at your past for reminders of how faithful GOD is!

Here are just a few things that God has done for me:

• allowed me to have a child at 18 and a senior in High School (God was ALL over that situation). Even if I wasn't a believe then, looking back I realize I could not have survived without GOD.
• gave me the family that I had (even if it was the "perfect" family). My situation allowed me to become the strong independent women that I am. If I had a different family I would not be the same person.
• I have been through 4 car accidents (only one was my fault), but I survived all of them with no serious injuries
• I have never had MAJOR surgery (just tonsils and wisdom teeth)
• I am fairly healthy (just overweight). I have no MAJOR medical conditions. However, I have a HORRIBLE back that kills me almost daily
• I have ALWAYS had a roof over my head. I lived with my parents, then with one of them once they were divorced. I moved out on my own at 21 with a 3 year old and have been on my own since
• God has always provided a job were I made JUST enough to pay the bills. I always wonder how we are going to make it each month (paycheck to paycheck is how we roll). But the bills always get paid (even if it is late)
• I have always had a car to drive and a way to get from point A to point B (even if the doors wouldn't open on one side because they were smashed in, or you had to open the trunk with a screw driver because it was broken into twice.
• I graduated High School....still trying to figure this one out. I was NOT supposed to graduate....but I did!
• I have a bachelors degree....again trying to figure out how in the world I made it through those classes working full time and being a single mom
• God has gotten me through 13 years of being a single mom!! Hello Miracle!!!
• God has guarded my heart through many BAD relationships (I seem to always want to "fix" people...I know now it isn't my job to "fix" people)
• God has faithfully gotten me through depression and allowed me to see that there is a good side to the world again

This list is just the beginning.....God has been there every step of the way for my entire life.....and will continue to be there for as long as HIS plan is for me to be on earth. 

The point is....we have to be THANKFUL for what HE has done for us.....and be patient in the now. HE will reveal what we need to know when we need to know it. It is not about us....it is always (and has always been) about HIM.

SO......take a look at your life! 

What has GOD done for you?? 

Have you THANKED Him for it???

Obedience

It is absolutely AMAZING what God will do when you let go and let God....when you FULLY surrender to God's will.

I let go and let God in an area of my life where I have completely let fear take over. Most people who know me know that I have been TERRIFIED to pray out loud. I am not even sure if terrified is a strong enough word. It is so bad that I was consumed with the fact that if I even went to open my mouth to begin praying that I would instead throw-up.

Of course....that was anxiety taking over.....and I am not an anxious person (usually).

Over the past 6 months or so, I have started slowly by praying out loud with Brendon every morning on the way to school. Then, on my sometimes long sometimes short drives to work...I began praying out loud by myself. I do realize that it is a little backwards to pray out loud by myself AFTER praying out loud in front of someone else.

About 2 months ago, I was out with friends out to lunch. Somehow...I was tricked/talked...I really don't remember how it happened....but I ended up blessing the food (which was TERRIFYING)!! Granted, there were only like 6 of us there.

Then...Thanksgiving came along....and again I was tricked/talking into blessing the food (STILL terrifying).

Well....that was the last time I have prayed out loud. I have not even prayed out loud in front of my accountability partner/best friend....who knows just about everything about me (good and bad)!

I am a leader in my small group at church, and I know I should be able to pray in front of the people that I am supposed to be helping follow Jesus! I pray every day (and even more on days when we have group) that God would take away the fear and anxiety and allow me to just open my mouth and begin praying out loud.....in front of people!!!

Let me just tell you something.......

GOD IS FAITHFUL, he is amazing, he is always listening, always there for you. He knows best. He has a plan. You just have to TRUST him.

Last night.....I will never forget....and am so grateful for the people that God has put into my life....especially in that moment. Last night.....friends pushed me WAY past my comfort zone....forcing me to step out on faith...completely TRUSTING God.

I was FINALLY able to open my mouth and let the words flow out....without throwing up!! When I was done....I was told that it was beautiful, that I said the right words....

God must have really been speaking....because in my head I was stumbling all over the place...stuttering...repeating myself.....it was not beautiful in my head! THANK YOU GOD for taking over and making those words yours!

The point is.....TRUST and OBEY God and good things will happen. Now that I have FINALLY done what I know he has been telling me to do for a LONG time....it is a HUGE weight lifted. I feel AMAZING that I was able to do it. Still scared to death to do it again and will certainly be leaning to Him for the words to say!

Through our struggles (no matter how big or small) God is there to help us through!

What are you struggling with? When are you going to let God help you through? Have you admitted that you are struggling with something?

ASK GOD!!!

He can help! TRUST Him...COMPLETELY!!