Day #30 {30 days of prayer}

WOW, can't believe it's been 30 days already!
I want to end my 30 days of prayer/devotion with what I believe to be one of the most important scriptures for Christian. In fact, I believe it was the first scripture I learned in Sunday School growing up. That scripture is John 3:16

 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

As Christians we believe that God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die on the cross just for us!! We are saved by grace, covered with mercy and engulfed in his love and because of him we have everlasting life. What an awesome thing!!
Not only are we sinner saved by grace, but with this gift we have attached promises and blessing through Christ Jesus. When you dedicate yourself to serving God you allow His light to shine through your life in the most amazing ways that you wouldn't ever think possible.
So today let's thank God for sending his son to save us.
Let's thank him for our many undeserved blessings.
Let's thank him for all the little things that we take for granted.
Let's thank him for his faithfulness.
Let's thank him simply because we still can.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!!

Day #29 {30 days of prayer}

There are many ways to humble yourself before the Lord. Some include confessing your sins, serving others and being quick to forgive! This scripture reveals another promise (or blessing) from the Lord- "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite (meaning expressing remorse or penitence) with spirit and who tremble at my word". So, Humble yourself before the Lord today. Confess that wrong, or forgive that person who hurt you. In the end it's between you and God.
Happy Monday!!!!:)

Day #28 {30 days of prayer}

The boys came home from school on Thursday talking about The Beatitudes found in Matthew 5. 

I love how the teacher presented it to them. Through color, cut and paste worksheets of course.:) When they asked me about The Beatitudes they expected me to recite the scripture as if it was my life's work. I was able to go through some from memory but it sure wasn't pretty. So today I want to focus on Matthew 5 just in case you need a refresher yourself! 

The Beatitudes are the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount or some like to call them the blessings in The Sermon on the Mount. 

Also, If you go back and read Isaiah 61:1-3 you will see that Matthew 5 echoes it a bit. Isaiah gives us an early prediction of what the Kingdom of God and the Messiah will look like and according to some theologians, The Beatitudes gives you the qualities and the character of the true people of God, as well as, the free blessings of the kingdom of God that we can look forward to!

Matthew 5 1- 11 

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Day #27 {30 days of prayer}

What exactly is righteousness? Well, righteousness is defined as "the quality of being morally right or justified.
Okay, so what would we say is "morally right"?  We know that a moral is defined as a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable. So, in this case as Christians our morals are founded on the word of God, right?
I like this scripture because it reminds me of the set of standards that I am instructed to live by. Society can have you accepting all kinds of foolish things. To be honest, in some situations I'd much rather go by society's moral code. It's more pleasing to my flesh. But the Bible tells us to do righteousness, which as stated before is to do what is morally right. The scripture goes on to say, "blessed is the man who does this". If you catch this you'll see that's one of the many promises God has given us!!
Regardless of how you feel or who has mistreated you, remember what the word of God says,"Keep justice and do righteousness because blessed is the man who does this!"  Amen.

Day #26 {30 days of prayer}

"my spirit, yet is strong but as usual, my flesh wants to surrender."

No one said serving God would be easy. Growing up in the faith, you learn this very quickly. At times I would get so angry that my fleshly desires were so strong and fighting against my Spirit. Especially when I want to give someone a piece of my mind (yes, I said it)!  The bible clearly tells us that our flesh and our spirit are opposed to each other. We must overcome our fleshly desires and be reminded that pleasing God is way more important. Yes, it's difficult but no one said this walk was going to be easy. Happy Friday!

Day #25 {30 days of prayer}

Father, fill my cup today! Let it overflow with heavenly joy and peace that only you can provide. I have everything that I need because you have provided for me. You are the lover of my soul, my everything. I give you all the praise. All that I have will never be enough to show you how much I love you! Amen

Day #24 {30 days of prayer}

Today, I will praise the Lord with all that is within me. That means, focusing on things that are good. Things that are pure and loving. I will praise him in spite of what this day will bring. I will be consistent today. I won't just have my quiet time this morning and then fade from his word by the end of the day. No, I will bless the Lord, O' my soul, from sun up to sun down. My attitude will be pleasing to him this entire day! 

Who else desires to be consistent in blessing the Lord?  I'll be the first to admit that throughout the day my worldly self can wreck havoc on my attitude and completely throw me off course, especially with my mouth.

So, let's commit to being consistently in Christ. 

Let's start with today.

Day #23 {30 days of prayer}

This scripture pulls at my heart strings! I absolutely LOVE Psalm 139.  Although this is just an excerpt, the entire chapter brings me to tears (good tears). I remember years ago, as a college student I would read this chapter everyday, sometimes more than once. This was a difficult time in my life when I felt lost, misunderstood and completely alone BUT to know that God knew everything about me brought me an overwhelming amount of comfort. He formed me in my mother's womb and there is no place I can go away from his Spirit! This was a major "self-examining" time in my life.
 I desperately needed this at that time in my life. Interestingly I was brought to it again today. Sometimes I feel like God is so far away. There are moments when I feel like I'm here trying to figure it out all by myself but today I was reminded that he's so much closer than I realize. He is intimately acquainted with all my ways! The Lord knew exactly how I was feeling today and knew that I was in need of this gentle reminder. Maybe, you feel alone or misunderstood. Please remember that God loves you more than anything. He has searched you and he knows you. His thoughts are so precious towards you. You are not alone and his hand is leading you.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Amen
Psalm 139: 23

Day #22 {30 days of prayer}

We know that God searches the heart and examines the mind. Through this he hears the groanings of our heart. This brings much comfort to me during times of quietness. Especially when I don't know how to put my longings and concerns into words. Hope you have an awesome Monday!!

Day #21 {30 days of prayer}

This scripture should remind us that we have passed from death to life. We should be thankful because we have been set free and have the ability to do what we know is good all because of our deliverance through Christ.  Yes, we all have sinned but we have been forgiven and set free. Free from negative thoughts and feelings. Therefore, we should walk in it and not dwell on our mistakes or our sin. Embrace the grace that God has given us.

Day #20 {30 days of prayer}

Day #19 {30 days of prayer}

Sometimes I feel like it doesn't matter how much you give of yourself, people will find a problem or have an issue with you. I have to step back and remember that I am loved by a God who cares for me deeply. Flaws and all. I am indeed the apple of his eye. So today I say, "Thank you Lord for loving me unconditionally."

All that I need!!!

Day #18 {30 days of prayer}

A daily prayer.

Day #17 {30 days of prayer}

Father, today I choose to wait on you. I will put my complete faith in you. I know that you are with me. I trust that you will answer me in your own timing. In Jesus name, Amen,

Day #16 {30 days of prayer}

I pray that whatever you are dealing with today, you abound in hope.

Badger Football 2014!

I'm so behind on my football post but as you can see, football season is in full force. Both sets of grandparents have been to Madison already! I'm so thankful that they took the time out of their schedules to come see us before we got into the heart of the season. Here are a few pictures of the season so far. GO BADGERS!!!
BEAT EVERYBODY!:)

       

Day #15 {30 days of prayer}

Beginning of the Week Prayer!!! Hope you have a productive week.:)

Day #14 {30 days of prayer}

God takes care of all fragile hearts!
When someone has mismanaged your heart or you put yourself in bad a situation where your heart has been completely shattered, believe in God to fix it. He loves you so much!

God, you see and know all! My heart is broken and I am hurt beyond understanding. I need you to heal all the broken places and bind up every wound. Send the comforter to help me through this tough time in my life so that I can move forward and not dwell on my pain. I thank you for your healing power over my heart. In Jesus name, Amen.

Day #13 {30 days of prayer}

Day #12 {30 days of prayer}

 

My dear friend Ember Lumpkin sent me this text last night and I decided to share it as Day #12 devotion/prayer. It's common for her to send me words of wisdom and prayers placed on her heart. For that I am so grateful!)

 

The text read:

We all have bank accounts that we make deposits into. We then proceed to swipe our debit cards because we know that what we have already deposited into our account is ready for use. There is no hesitation when it’s time to purchase items because we know what we put in!

I heard T.D. Jakes say “if life is asking a lot of you it is because it knows that there is a lot in you.” I thought about this and I was reminded of Luke 12:48 “from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” I also was reminded of one of my favorite passages Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
So, God already knew what he wanted and needed from my life. He knew the path for me to take. We are allowed choices and we have and sometimes have not made the right choices, but God knew what he had already deposited into us. He trusts that ALL his gifts and word stored in us can be withdrawn! We must maintain his deposits just as we have to maintain financial accounts so that we’re not in the red. We must work to earn money, to maintain sufficient funds. This same principal applies to our spiritual growth.

Thought: What are we doing to stay sufficient in Christ for ourselves, husbands, children and families as a whole?

Job 22:22 “Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart.”

Lord, thank you for today! Thank you for your grace that you give to us daily! Lord help us to make spiritual withdrawals in the good and bad times. Let us maintain sufficient deposits of your word so we never run low or out of you! We love you and thank you for trusting us with your precious gifts. In Jesus name, Amen!

Thank you Ember for blessing us with this devotion & prayer today!:)

Melange Mode!!

It was love at first sight!

Oh how I love my Mélange Mode skirt! And did I mention they have pockets?!! So not only are they gorgeous but super comfortable. Can't wait to add more items to my closet. Definitely a FAVORITE!

click link here to visit the website. Also, follow her on Instagram @melangemode to see other beauties rocking this gorgeous line. #love

Day #11 {30 days of prayer}

"Treat people how you want to be treated" is known as the Golden Rule. It's one of those things you learn in Kindergarten that you should carry throughout life. It seems as though some individuals didn't get that lesson at the age of 6. Maybe they did but dumped it by the way side first chance they got. What I fail to understand is how could a person go through life and have a total disregard for others feelings and time? How can one think that they can skate through life mistreating others without consequence? I guess I'm having a hard time watching people drag relationships ( marriages, friendships, siblings,etc.) through the mud due to selfishness and/or dismissive attitudes. When you're that person getting the short end of the stick, you tend to become angry, hurt, revengeful, possibly even bitter. I am definitely one of those people who have a hard time not telling someone off when I feel like I've been wronged. Especially, if I'm comfortable with that person. But as I've gotten older, I've learned that acting in that way makes me just as bad as that person doing the mistreating. So, instead of holding on to these negative emotions and possibly exploding, I urge you to remember these scriptures: :

(New Translation: Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Galatians 6:7 )

You have plowed wickedness,you have reaped injustice. You have eaten fruit of lies 
because you have trusted in your way... Hosea 10:13

If you feel like you're being treated unfairly by someone close to you ask God to help you to not become bitter or angry towards that person. Continue to do the right thing and treat that person with love. Not saying you should be a door mat but you shouldn't allow that person to change who you are by treating them just as badly as they treat you. Step back and pray for them. Ask God to help you move forward in love.If the relationship is unhealthy, ask God to create a permanent separation between you and that person without confrontation.

Rule:Never allow another person to change your heart when you know you're doing what is pleasing to God. Always treat others with love, even if it has to be from afar. Let God take care of the rest.

Day #10 {30 days of prayer}

This is for those who are having a difficult time having a positive attitude in their current situation.

Pray for a positive attitude until God grows you and/or moves you.:)

Day #9 {30 days of prayer}

Day # 8 {30 days of prayer}

Day # 7{30 days of prayer}

Often times we pray for God to reveal his will in our life. But what we forget to do is ask God to prepare our hearts for whatever that might be. I will admit, there have been plenty of times when I would ask God to reveal his will for my life but in reality I wasn't ready to be what he wanted me to be nor do whatever it was that he wanted me to do. I would continue to ask anyway but my heart just wasn't prepared. It just didn't line up with my mind. Yes, my desire was to please God. I so badly wanted to live according to his plan for my life. The problem was that I couldn't get the plans that I had for myself out of my heart. I was holding on to my own plans with a Kung Fu grip! So, instead of asking God to reveal his will in my life, I began to ask him to prepare my heart for whatever he wanted.
Have you been asking God to reveal his plans for your life but you know deep down inside that you're not ready or willing to what he might be asking?
If so, pray for God to prepare your heart and your mind so that it lines up with his will. We must be obedient to God's call so let's make sure we're ready when that time comes.

Day # 6 {30 days of prayer}

In light of it being College Football Saturday, this is my prayer for the day! We all have that thing that can get our blood pressure a tad bit high. So, before this day gets going, I'm praying for a fun and peaceful day! You should do the same. Happy Saturday.:)

Day #5 {30 days of prayer}

What do you value most?Where do you spend most of your time and energy?
I challenge you to evaluate what you seek after the most. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

Father, today I delight myself in you. I  pray to walk in your word and recognize that you are the most important thing in my life. I know that if I seek after your kingdom first, everything else will fall into place. I thank you for your promises. All of my confidence is in you!
 In Jesus name, Amen.

Day # 4 Devotion {30 days of prayer}

I intended to write about something totally different but this verse caught my heart. Have you ever read a scripture and just broke out into song? If you answered yes, then you're not alone. Heck, maybe I'm the lone ranger here but when I read this scripture, it brought a song to mind. This is really common for me. If you ask my husband, he will tell you that I randomly burst into song but that's not the problem. The problem is that I can't really carry a tune (I feel a little bad for him having to deal with it). Nonetheless, I walk around our house singing songs placed on my heart. And man does it "get me going" on the inside. I believe that the Lord touches us in different ways and song is definitely a way for me. To me, singing is a form of prayer and worship. As believers, we must know what "gets us going". For some it might be praying in the shower, sitting quietly in a room with your thoughts, or driving in the car talking to the Lord. This might sound silly to some but yes, there comes a point when you know what moves your heart. What connects you to the Father.
 I remember when I worked at a high school and it took me about 40 minutes to get to work everyday. During this time the car was that place that "got me going". The quietness, just me and God, was when I prayed and worshiped before I made it to work. Sometimes I arrived at work and had to fix my face because I was a complete wreck. The Lord definitely met me there every time, every morning.

My point: Whatever gets you going, whatever makes you feel closest to the Father, whatever moves your spirit, do that. I know that when I start singing praises, those words resonate with my heart. I'm then lost in his presence. Although God didn't bless me with a beautiful voice, he blessed me with the ability to connect the song to my heart. I'm then able, without reservation, to give him the praise that he seeks; the praise he deserves.

Here's the song that was places on my heart. You probably know it as well. If you find yourself singing it, feel free to get carried away in his presence. :)

You are my hiding place.
You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance, whenever I am afraid.
I will trust in you.
I will trust in you.
Let the weak say I am strong in the strength of the Lord. (Repeat)

Yes, those simple lines "got me going." Amen.

Day # 3 { 30 days of prayer}

Lord, today help me to control my tongue. Let all things that flow from my mouth be pleasing to you and bring glory to your kingdom! In Jesus name, Amen.

Sometimes it's just that simple! Happy Wednesday.:)

Day # 2 Learning to Let Go and Allowing God to Take Over {30 days of prayer}

Wouldn't it be great if we could easily let go of disappointments, heal from broken promises, and get over bad break-ups, all in the blink of an eye? Just let it go once it's done. Completely move on without a scratch or bruise to our ego. Man, wouldn't life be grand if we could just dust ourselves off without any lingering residue whenever a storm rolled in and tried to wreck our tiny existence? I, like so many others, have had many painful and disappointing moments in my life that I would love to not have to relive over and over in my mind. Unfortunately, life just doesn't work that way. I truly believe that God places things, events, and people in our path to continue to steer us in the right direction. Maybe even force us to take a detour because we were on the wrong path to begin with. I remember my freshman year in college when I declared my major upon entering school. Without a doubt in my mind I was going to practice medicine of some kind, so clearly I became pre-med/biology. In my mind, this was what I needed to do. Not because I was gifted in science or because I had a passion for medicine and God so happened to lead me this way. Nope, it was simply because it was the hardest major I could think of and I wanted a challenge. It was an ego thing. I wanted to declare the hardest major and prove to whomever that I could do it. Man, oh man, was I in for a treat. No, I didn't fail any classes. I successfully made it through molecular cell biology and completed my labs just fine but my stress and anxiety level was on 100. I hated every moment of it. I was so disappointed and sad that many of my classmates appeared to be enjoying the classes and even laughed their way through the labs. For me it was boring, tedious and a complete nightmare. I was completely uninterested. Not to say that everything that is hard is not meant for us to do but in my heart I knew my intentions were wrong. During this time I was always praying and seeking God but I definitely wasn't listening. I knew I was being stubborn, prideful and causing my own misery.
My point is this, sometimes you have to let go of those things that you know isn't or wasn't good for you. We tend to hold on to things that we know doesn't line up with God's plan for our life. Even though I knew I wasn't supposed to be a doctor, my ego was telling me otherwise. It ended up costing me my sanity for almost 3 years! When you have a relationship with God, there's a part of you that knows when you're stepping out of line and out of God's will for your life (The Holy Spirit tells us). Sometimes it takes time to figure it out but eventually you know. Usually that's where the disappointment, hurt, and destruction comes in. Although it should have been obvious, letting go of the disappointment of having to change my major and starting all over was really hard for me. When you look around and it seems like everyone is on the right track and thriving, all while you're a little lamb wondering around lost and confused, it's just a big pill to swallow. Looking back now, I know that God was working on me. He was with me the whole time, just waiting for me to follow his lead and let go of what I thought my life should be. Letting go doesn't just mean leaving a current situation but it also means releasing past pain, hurt and disappointment we might be holding onto on the inside. This keeps us from moving forward and allowing God to work within us. Remember God examines our heart so there's no hiding it.

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." Proverbs 19:21

This could pertain to many situations. For example, pursuing a relationships when you know it's completely out of order with God's word or making drastic decisions without taking it to the throne. I'm guilty of the second one more often than I'd like to admit. But once we learn to let go, then we allow God to heal us, mold us and guide us in the way he sees fit. That's always best!
Looking back on my situation, I brought the pain and anxiety on myself. But I also see how God used it for my good. He didn't just leave me hanging but he steered me in the right direction once I finally decided to let go and simply fall into his loving embrace!

Are you holding on to disappointments or a situation that you need to release because you know it's not what God wants for your life? Disappointment is a part of life and is inevitable but I urge you to allow God to turn what you view as a mess into a masterpiece, but first you have to let go! Time doesn't have the ability to heal all wounds but God does. Allow him to help you.

Father, I surrender myself completely unto you. I let go of the hurt and disappointment and submit my life to your will for me. Help me focus my heart on doing what you see fit for my life. I choose to be your servant and desire to be used as a vessel for your kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen.

Day # 1 {30 days of Prayer}

I am so excited to announce my 30 days of prayer project! This is something I've been thinking of doing for a while and I'm trusting God to help me not only start it but also complete it! Everyday for the next 30 days I will write a devotional/ prayer pertaining to a different topic. If there is a topic or concern you want to pray about please leave it in the comment section or shoot me an email. I will be more than happy to pray with you! Since today is the 2nd of September, I will provide 2 devotions/prayers by the end of the day to make up for the labor day holiday. Wohoo, let's get started (can you tell I'm excited)!!!!

                                              DAY 1 - Walking in Love (Pertaining to Family)

For majority of people, family is the center and top priority in their lives and rightfully so. But often times rifts are created due to differences and petty arguments which then creates a wedge between individuals, if not the entire family. This makes it hard to have that solid family structure and foundation that God desires for us to have. It is common for families to have disagreements but how we handle and respond to these disagreements is key to what happens in moving forward. Growing up in a family of five children and being raised by a single mother, arguments and fights were plentiful but to this day I can still hear my grandmother saying with a stern voice, "you don't fight each other, you love each other." That simple sentence has stuck with me all the way to adulthood. I literally took it to heart. That goes to show you, that when you train up a child, he/she will not depart from it.  Nothing hurts me more than having issues with my siblings. I don't want them to feel hurt by my words or my actions but I want them to feel the love of Christ shining through me, even when we argue. Believe me it's not always sunshine and roses but I believe that if I stay rooted in God's word his love will permeate.This goes with dealing with parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and spouses. The family structure is at the heart of God's kingdom here on earth and it's important that we preserve it.

"A new commandment I give you, that you love one another even as I have loved you. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13: 34-35



If you have issues with a family member, I urge you to pray for them right now. Pray that God will soften their heart to allow a line of communication to form. Or maybe you need to ask God to soften your heart? Maybe your attitude needs fixing? Regardless of the issue, it's never too late to patch things up with a loved one. Of course, we all have different situations and it might not be as easy as just picking up the phone and talking it out. I suggest putting this person on your daily prayer list and ask God to work through this situation. Don't count them out just yet. Believe me, you'll be surprised what God will do if you just ask and be persistent. Remember: Pray without ceasing!

Father, today we thank you for blessing us with family. I ask that you strengthen our love for one another and help us to put our differences aside so that we can bring glory to your kingdom by being obedient to your commandment. Heal all the broken places within my family as only you can that we might walk without judgement and without offense. Help me to dwell in your love and in your forgiveness. In Jesus name, Amen.

There's No Football In Heaven...( as told by Rochelle Frazier) / Gods at War

College football officially kicked off this past weekend and man did it kick off!! Our team went against one of the toughest opponents we'll face this entire season and we came up short. Although I was a little hurt, I know it's part of the game. You win some and you lose some but, oh wouldn't it be nice to win them ALL!! Yes, I'm selfish that way!:) After all the hoopla of the college football season starting, God had me take notice of a few things that I'd like to share. No, this isn't a rant post but more like a enlightening one. It all started when one of the wives on one of the pages I'm a part of on Facebook shared a story  from Rochelle Frazier's blog titled "There's No Football in Heaven". I provided the link here to the post, I believe its a great story. In short, the woman telling the story lost her son in a car accident and she talked about how she had a strong Christian family who loved football, in fact both boys played football and they even held them back in school just so they could get an advantage in sports. Football was pretty much life for them but unknowingly football had become an idol for them. She didn't really get this until she lost her son and had a vivid dream of him one night that she says, "God gifted her with and was her peace going forward."  In her dream, her son exclaimed not only how awesome heaven was but that there's no football in heaven ( please read the entire story its a tear-jerker).

This really struck a cord with me! Not only does my family love football but it's become life for us as well. But is it an idol for us? This is something I had to really think about. Now, I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with enjoying sports and cheering on your team. It's fun and for my family it pays the bills. I enjoy Saturdays in the fall, cheering on our team, watching everyone get excited, and watching our boys celebrate after a big play! Believe me it's an exhilarating experience.
 So where do you draw the line? What dictates whether or not something has become an idol?

A while back I read a book called Gods at War: Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your Heart   and the author stated
 "the problem is that the instant something takes the place of God, the moment it becomes an end in itself rather than something to lay at God's throne, it becomes an idol. When someone or something replaces the Lord God in the position of glory in our lives, then that person or thing by definition has become our god."

All I can say is WOW! So how does this fit into Football and my point? God has given us things to enjoy, provided us with the jobs that we have, sent us that spouse that we love, given us the talent that we possess, the homes that we live in, the cars that we drive, the children that we pour ourselves into, godly friendship....pretty much everything that we have flows from above. He has given us these things as gifts not things to worship and place before him.
When I look at social media and how people worship random people, celebrities, world leaders, sports teams, and body images so much that they spew out hate through hurtful and hateful comments just pains my heart. "Idolatry is the tree from which our sins and struggles grow".

I say all this to say, that after we lost our first game I realized the condition of my heart was totally out of order - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" Prov.4:23. Yes, I am human and will be disappointed, hurt and upset at times but instead of looking at things with a grateful heart, I was irritated and mad. Am I entitled to my feeling? Absolutely. But am I suppose to pout and stump around like the bottom just fell out. NO!  Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in EVERYTHING give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

 I have to learn to not feel defeated when something doesn't work out in my favor or how I think it should have and instead lay everything at God's throne, cast every burden unto him and yep, you guessed it, KEEP IT MOVING!
This weekend also reminded me that so many people are carrying heavy burdens that's not theirs to carry.   We all have to remember to cast our burdens completely unto the Lord and remember there is no burden too small.

As a football wife, reading fans complain and commentator rip your team and coaches could be a heavy burden but I will be reminded that it's not my job to respond to the critics but to be still and know that he is the one and only true living God, not football and definitely not the critics. I now know that I MUST (yes it's a must) pray that my husband will cast his burdens unto God as well in order for him to fully enjoy his career. No, he hasn't complained, nor has he come across as concerned but as his wife I know that I must cover him in prayer just in case.:)

So, what did the Lord remind me this past weekend? 4 things:

1. To be sure that Football is not and will not become an idol for my family
2. To cast all my burdens unto him
3. To keep my husband covered in prayer
4. There's no football in heaven

Okay Lord, I got it! I hear you loud and clear.:) Such great reminders for the beginning of the football season!

Is God trying to get your attention? Are there things in your life that have unknowingly become idols to you? Remember: ANYTHING can become an idol once it becomes a substitute for God in our lives. That includes jobs, money, spouses, entertainment, houses, body image...anything. If so, confess repent and allow God to replace those things. Our God is a jealous God.

Purchase Gods at War below. It's an easy read and can help you identify different things that may have become Gods in your life.
They also have a Gods at War Student Edition & journal which would be a great back to school gift!

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!