Category Archives: life lesson

Jan30

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 30, 2015 by lsgrlr

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Kings 4. “So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, ‘Bring me another vessel.’ And he said to her, ‘There is not another vessel.’ So the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest'” (Verses 5-7). The most common human struggle, debt. The widow was faced with losing her sons as payment for debt after her husband died. While the debt is real as is the fear the woman faced, that is not what I want to focus on, what I want to focus on is God meeting the need. His means was both miraculous and very normal. When we face a trial or a worry, we want God to give us a miracle, but many times He uses the normal in a miraculous way. The woman had a part to play a role to fill, God did not just drop it in her lap. He wanted her to be an active participant in His will. People like to say God helps those who help themselves. I disagree. No, God helps those who DO what He says.

Jan26

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 26, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 22. “And Micaiah said, ‘As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak'” (Verse 14). Such a simple sentence and most times so hard to accomplish. we love to hear God talk, love direction, and love to know that He is with and for us. What we don’t love, doing what He says to do. We try to skirt it or find ways around it. Why is that? Because it can be uncomfortable. When Micaiah was called to testify before the king all the king’s prophet had already told him how awesome he was, but Micaiah needed to tell him that he would die… yeah that did not go over well. But what I want you to notice is this Micaiah even knowing what would happen did what God wanted, he spoke… Truth. Truth is painful, but it is also healing. So do what God says, even when it’s painful. He always blesses obedience.

Jan23

DAY 22 (2015)

Posted on January 23, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

It is a gift from God.

So just so you know, I did not flake out yesterday on writing a post. In fact I had every intention of doing so, but for some unknown reason I could not stay awake when I got home. So I laid down to nap and didn’t wake up till morning. It was awesome!!! Therefore I am catching up on yesterday, today. Had I written this post yesterday it would have been different, but as I was reflecting on what happened last night. With me crashing like an elderly person, this scripture came to mind, “God gives His beloved sleep”. I needed it I have been so overwhelmed lately that my sleep had been fitful at best, but last night I slept, really slept. I woke up refreshed and ready for the day. It made me realize even our sleep is important to God, and when He knows we need it He gifts it to us.

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones” (Psalm 127:2).

So what am I thankful for today (technically yesterday)? A God that knows us so well, He knows when we need sleep.

Jan20

DAY 20 (2015)

Posted on January 20, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

God has our hearts and our lives in His hand… And His grip never fails.

Yesterday was a long day, I felt overwhelmed and tired. It felt like my world was spinning out of control. I talked to my boyfriend, who gave me this advice, “Go find a quiet place. Relax your mind and pray.” The BEST advice ever! I wasn’t able to completely follow his advice at work, but when I got home, I took some time to be alone, to quiet my mind, and to take my frayed emotions to God. Today I woke up and not much had changed situation wise, there is still a lot going on, and a lot of it is overwhelming. However, today I felt peaceful ALL day. I felt like someone more able than myself was in control. I know that despite the situation or circumstance I am facing, God is in control of my day. Life can feel like it’s slipping from our grasp, but here is some hope… Nothing slips from God’s hands.

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, or with the breadth of His hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?” (Isaiah 40:12).

So what am I thankful for today? That nothing slips from God’s grasp.

Jan20

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 20, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 17. “And Elijah said to her, ‘Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah'” (Verses 13-16). Where God guides, He provides. A truth I have been struggling with lately. Sometimes God’s small whisper is just there to remind us that we need to trust, need to believe. We need to know and remember that He ALWAYS does what he promises. The woman did not run out of flour. God’s supply is never ending, in the time of our need, He shows up with all we would ever need, and then some.

Jan18

DAY 18 (2015)

Posted on January 18, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

What we look like when our eyes are off our purpose… dirty snow.

It has snowed for the past two weeks in Buffalo (this is not an exaggeration). Today is the first day where snow did not fall at least one time during the day. Right about now you’re wondering if this post is going to be a weather update. Rest assured it is not. Snow when it initially falls is white, pure, and beautiful. But when it has sat for a while and interacted with the elements of the earth, it becomes a brown dirty mess. What’s my point? Snow unaffected by the world is a beautiful sight, it is doing what it was created to do. As snow is falling it is fulfilling the purpose that God made it for. But when snow is sitting and not falling it is not doing what it was created for and at that moment is when it beaten and dirtied by the world. Are you catching my point, yet? We all have a purpose, a reason for being. When we are living that purpose we are unaffected by the world, we interact but are unaffected because our focus is on our purpose. But when we like snow sit around not doing what we are called to do, then we too become dirty and ineffective. Today God reminded me that I have a purpose and that everyday He guides me to do what He has called me to do. On the days that I follow I feel light and at peace, even if my circumstances don’t change. But on days that I don’t I feel dark and burdened. If we want light in our lives, and not to be cast aside like dirty snow, we need to do what God has called us to do.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good and what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

What am I thankful for today? Lessons from the snow.

Jan18

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 18, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 15. “And it was so, when he became king, that he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he had sinned and by which he had made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he had provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger” (Verses 29-30). Sometimes I think we only remember God’s promises when they come in the form of a blessing. We are quick to remember all the good things He says, but we brush over the bad as if they were never uttered. Then when we disobey and are punished according to what He said, we get mad and blame-y. Shaking our fists at God and asking the dreaded, “how could you” question. But God tells us the good and the bad, He gives us actions and their consequences. He is blameless we are the guilty party here. Us with our selective hearing, and selective reading. Choosing only to see and hear what makes us happy. Here it is in plain English. God told Jeroboam because he sinned his descendants would be wiped from the face of the earth (literally). What does verse 29 say… “According to the word of the Lord.” Jeroboam’s bloodline was demolished. God keeps all His promises, not just the good ones. We would be wise to keep that in mind.

Jan16

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on January 16, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

1 Kings 14. “Now the Lord had said to Ahijah, ‘Here is the wife of Jeroboam, coming to ask you something about her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus you shall say to her; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman'” (Verse 5). Jeroboam told his wife to wear a disguise. He thought to trick the man of God, probably trying to get the answer he wanted, but we can’t trick God. His will is infallible and He will always do what He says. Jeroboam knows that he is doing wrong, knows that he is leading God’s people astray and yet chooses to do it anyway. His sin cost the life of his son, a child who found favor in the sight of God. I think sometimes we forget that sin hurts those around us as well. My least favorite phrase is this, “I am not hurting anyone.” If you have to say those words I guarantee someone was hurt. Everything we do good or bad, affects someone other than ourself. Live life to build others up not break them down.

Jan15

DAY 15 (2015)

Posted on January 15, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

On this journey you will have dark days. But God will always send rays of hope…
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Today this post will simple just a remind that no matter what happens in our day, in our life God loves us. He loves us even when it feels like it is all falling apart He will put us back together again and better than before. Here is a truth, simple and true: Life is hard, but God is… GOOD.

“For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:5).

So what am I thankful for today? A good God.

Jan13

DAY 13 (2014)

Posted on January 13, 2015 by lsgrlr

Standard

God is the DIRECTOR of my path.

So yesterday I found out I had pink eye. I had to laugh, because I associate that infection with children. On Saturday I woke up with my eye swollen, red, and itchy. But let me tell you about how God used it for good. The company I work for, for the first 6 months has a 100% dependability policy. What that means is no absences. I started in the winter, in Buffalo it snows every day (okay this may be a slight exaggeration), I come from Florida. See where I am going with this? On Sunday the swelling had not gone away, and on Monday when I woke up my eyes was pink, watery, and throbbing. I had a bad, bad case of pink eye. But what that earned was a day off with no negative repercussion, which was awesome because on Monday it literally (not an exaggeration) snowed ALL day. God had once again stepped in and taken care of my worry even before I had a chance to worry about it. Today I woke up with a little bit of swelling, but no pink, and no throbbing and today the road were clear. God truly went before me to clear my path. His grace blows me away every single day.

“But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12).

So what am I thankful for today? Clear roads and a God that knows my needs before I even ask.