"My Name Is Pride" by Beth Moore

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny…
because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment…
because you “deserve better than this.”
I cheat you of knowledge…
because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing…
because you are too full of you to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness…
because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.
I cheat you of vision…
because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship…
because nobody’s going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love…
because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven…
because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.
I cheat you of God’s glory…
because I convinced you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you.
Untrue.
I’m looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry…
If you stick with me you’ll never know.

-written by Beth Moore, copied from the book Praying God's Word

Restored

I lost my little brother at only 19 years of age in a car accident.
I have experienced divorce.
I lost a child through miscarriage.
I lost my Daddy at age 53 to a rare and aggressive cancer.
I have contemplated abortion.
I have experienced pregnancy alone.
I have stolen, lied and cheated.
I have experienced depression, self doubt and hopelessness.
I have been ignored.
I have been disregarded.
I have been financially distraught, emotionally stripped and incredibly shaken.
I have been face on the floor, at rock bottom, begging for a Savior.

And Jesus heard me.

He gave me compassion in the place of judgment.
He gave me wisdom in the place of folly.
He gave me love in the place of hate.
He gave me joy in the place of sorrow.
He gave me assurance in the place of uncertainty.
He gave me peace in the place of obscurity.
He gave me truth in the place of falsehood.
He gave me understanding in the place of confusion.
He gave me praise in the place of criticism and idleness.
He gave me desire in the place of rejection.
He gave me hope in the place of despair.

He rescued me and purified my heart.
He gave me forgiveness.
For I was lost, but now I am found.
I have been IMMACULATELY CLEANSED.
I can sing again.

-TNL, 2010

The Seven P's to Spiritual Success and a Stress FREE Lifestyle

This afternoon was not the most convenient time for writing. I was attempting to work on laundry, clean the kitchen and dust my bedroom. However, thoughts continue to roll through my mind at a very fast pace. God has impressed certain things upon my heart this afternoon, so I must transfer them to paper. As I have dealt with a good amount of stress these past weeks, I have also resigned myself to the fact that I must engage in a lifestyle change. No matter how much we (as mothers) believe we have it under control, troubles are bound to hit. However, God tells us in James to consider it pure joy when we experience trials of many kinds. Now, that is not to say we feel especially joyful; rather, in our moments of sorrow and pain we are presented with a magnificent opportunity to take a step back, reevaluate our circumstances, and press forward with gratitude and a change of heart. God intends for us to learn from our hardships; He promises peace, understanding and wisdom to all who genuinely seek the truth.

Proactive: Take a proactive stance in your life. Don't wait until the last minute to accomplish something on your to do list. To use the words from one of my childhood books, don't wait until “just a little later.” I can promise you procrastination will be your arch enemy at some point.

Practice: Practice a healthy lifestyle. Get plenty of exercise. Maintain a good balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and drink plenty of water! God gave us a wide selection of food to nourish our bodies. He wants us to feel energized.

Persistence: Don't give up. You might feel sluggish during the first few days of your new exercise regimen, but it will pass. Press forward, continue at the pace, and be persistent in physical fitness. The energy and well-being you reap in the long term will pay off.

Preventative: Take vitamins! Go to the doctor for routine check-ups and physicals. Don't wait until you are sick to visit the man in the white coat.

Prayerful: Get on your knees daily. Thank God in good times as well as bad times. There is a lesson to be learned, a mission to be accomplished, a goal to be met. Pray without ceasing and ask those prayer warriors in your life to lift you up. You shouldn't feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for prayer. God tells us to carry each other's burdens and He also says when two or more are gathered in His name, He will be there.

Purposeful: Dive into your day with an open heart and open mind. God has a purpose. He designed you for that very reason - to complete His purpose and provide you with total fulfillment.

Patience: BE PATIENT. Be willing to persevere. God never promised to answer all of our prayers and solve our problems all at once......BUT, he does tell us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He knows the plans He has for us. He tells us they are plans for good, and not for harm. Patience builds character and strengthens our faith. Lastly, character and faith is what defines a person who is living in the light.

May God bless you today and always.

When God Speaks

Most of the time, God requires our patience; He slowly unravels a plan and we must remain persistent in seeking out His will for our lives through a daily prayerful existence. At other times, however, God's voice may be heard with a resounding thunder as He swiftly answers a prayer and thrusts open a door. I recently experienced one of those rare and knee-bowing moments. Lately, I have been pondering my role as a mother; more specifically, what God intended my role to be as a mother. So many questions have flooded my thoughts. How am I to protect my children from the ever changing and distorted views of the world? What steps should I take to ensure the success of my children? How can I be sure they are properly trained?

For me, I find the answer to be quite black and white. Proverbs 22:6 says to “train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” I have read different interpretations of this verse, but I take God's word at face value. I believe God gave children to me on a loan basis, as they actually belong to Him. He expects me to love, nurture, train and teach with the wisdom and discernment that He gives so freely when we just ask in earnest. Right? I believe we are artists by nature; in charge of designing and molding the youth of our world. Our children are the clay. You wouldn't loan your most priceless piece of clay to someone and then be okay with them, in most cases a complete stranger, molding and sculpting the clay to their liking. Personally, I want to keep my clay. I want to mold, sculpt and design my clay according to God's explicit instruction. I desire to train up my children in the way they should go. Now, although I am certainly human and incapable of being a mother and teacher by my own strength, God provides everything I need and never a minute too late. He has demonstrated His power over and over again throughout my life; it would be impossible for me to bail on the thought now.
I am full of joy and passion as God reveals yet another section of His tapestry for my life. I am willing to be used by Him in a way so profound I can't possibly articulate it here on this blog. When I pass away from this world, the words I most long to hear are, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:2

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of falsehood. - 1 John 4:4