Thursday, August 31, 2017

Be Still and Know That I am...

            We all know Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." I have heard this scripture tossed around and spoken from a pulpit for as far back as I can remember, but what I haven't always known is how remarkably powerful it is and how it can bring me to a place of complete serenity. A few weeks back, I was scrolling through my homepage on Facebook when I stumbled upon this scripture. I was going pretty quickly as I fished for something that would capture my attention and I immediately read it to myself as, "Be still and know that I am good." I scrolled back up to see that I actually read it wrong and of course it really said, "Be still and know that I am God."
             It was at this point that I began to understand what the Lord was trying to show me, as he has been working with me for several months on knowing and understanding who he is and what his intentions are for me. He began to show me that unless I understand that he is good; I can't know him as God because they are inseparable. For much of my life, I have feared God in an unhealthy way. I always felt like he was coming to punish me when I didn't do everything just right or give me a hand-slap when I could have performed better. I was never able to fully lavish in his love this way because this false belief separated me from being able to draw near to him. It was never him. It was always me.
            When we had the opportunity in 2014 to found a business, I quickly realized that I wanted nothing to do with it, but I knew the Lord was saying yes. I can personally remember talking to Jesus and telling him that I didn't want it. I told him that I really would rather just live an ordinary life without the hassle of owning a business and managing people. This may sound crazy to some but we quickly found that owning a business was especially challenging and that it would require our constant attention, much focus, a great sacrifice of our time, and two young married people moving together to bring about the Lord's desire for the company (hardest part). However, we pressed in and sacrificed all the while questioning God about what he was doing and doubting that we had what it would take. Three years later, we are still here and things are smoother than they've ever been. I am now excited about what God is doing in our business and about him letting me be a part of it.
             My whole point is that I didn't understand three years ago that God is love. I didn't understand that he did what he did because he was looking at who I would be today and my potential. He knew my desires better than I knew my desires. He knows my gifts and he knows my weaknesses. He knew that I needed to go through all of that just to understand him and to love him more. I now like to refer back to Psalm 46:10 in the hard times of life and yes, I do replace God with good because he is absolutely God, but just as important, he is nothing but good.

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Treasure Hidden in A Field

         Due to the name of our blog being, Our Field of Treasure, I find it appropriate to really share what the Holy Spirit showed me as I sought him for a name and to share what he gave me about Matthew 13:44. First of all, I just want to say that scripture is so deep and powerful and how I have really benefited from just taking one scripture at a time and really meditating on that scripture rather than trying to take in many scriptures and just read. I've found that by taking in one scripture, I am able to really eat and digest it and get it in my spirit and then when the trials of life come, my spirit-man has retained the scripture and the Holy Spirit brings it back up just when I need it most. 
         The scripture begins, "The Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field." The Kingdom of heaven is hidden and it definitely is a treasure. Few find it because it is a narrow path and it goes against the flow of the world. Most people wouldn't go to an ordinary field to look for treasure. I believe that I have found the Kingdom of God which is treasure of infinite value but there are still parts hidden to me that I do not fully understand and that's okay because God is pleased when I trust him. He is teaching me that I don't have to see the full picture or know how everything is going to pan out because he is orchestrating everything for my good as I am called to his purpose and because I love him. 
         The scripture goes on to say, " When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." The man found it and hid it again because he did not want to lose it or it to be taken by anyone else before he could purchase it. He knew the value of the treasure after getting a glimpse and that it was worth more than anything else he had, therefore he could sell everything else he had without hesitation. He knew he had found what was missing and the only thing that could bring him true and everlasting joy. 
         When I read this scripture, I can relate well to the first sentence but I believe that I have held onto some things rather than forsaking them for the treasure. As humans, we often fear letting go of certain things because we cannot fully grasp what is up ahead. I am asking God to show me what is ahead so that in faith, I can release those things that I no longer need. After all, the man found (saw) the treasure but he couldn't reap any benefits until he stepped out in faith and sold everything else he had. This is about ownership. We must take ownership of the gifts that Christ has given us so that we can move to please him on the earth. I have to do it for me and you have to do it for you but Christ is in the field just waiting for us to make our purchase. 

Deep-Seated Trust ❤️

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