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Angela Light

Walking it out- the great, the messy & in between

New Post Soon……TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES :(

Posted by angela on January 13, 2015
Posted in Uncategorized  | 1,857 Comments

So sorry for the LONG delay in getting posts updated…I’ve had a terrible time with technical I would say that erectile dysfunction is a problem that exists in many men. http://icks.org/n/data/ijks/1482467798_ij_file.pdf order generic viagra These two along with some emotional conflicts going on between sildenafil purchase the couple is the reason. Take your good life cheapest viagra from india back, and feel the fine nights again. Kamagra is approved by FDD, and thus safe for consumption and also beneficial cheap generic cialis for older men as it simply can be chewed as a whole. difficulties. A new post is coming in a few days (if website continues to work!)

Peek into a private prayer

Posted by angela on December 11, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized  | 13 Comments

Father
Thank you for today. For the ability of the senses you have blessed us with. For the ability to see the morning sun, hear the voices of my family, of music, the ability to speak and sing praise to you. Thank you for the ability to drink and eat and process this for nourishment. For the ability to move, walk, to feel. These are truly blessings. We rush and don’t realize these things that are such a part of our usual world…until we don’t have them then we feel crippled. Thank you for the unspoken and unseen we rush past and don’t realize. So stop, wait and sense you in this panic and rushed life is so counter to what we do & learn. Thank you for your patience.

Thank you for being here, in whatever wonderful or horrible moment I find myself. Thank you for reminding me that no matter what I FEEL, your promises override my feelings. Your presence is stronger than my problems. You overcome the obstacles and while you are ever powerful, I am not. I’m stuck and drowning in the murky abyss at times. Thank you for reaching out and holding me, even while I’m screaming that you’ve abandoned me.

My viewpoint is so limited. I see my world thru these human eyes. Thank you for the sense of so much in the unseen that I can trust you to guide this life to where you see the destination. I can’t see where I’m going but if I keep myself focused on You and not my doubt or fear, you will guide this journey to places I can’t imagine. I’m the one that limits it all…my doubt, my fear of the unknown, my insecurity of not having my world in a warm & safe setting.

Keep me on track Father. I need you. We all need you, even if we don’t realize the depth of our need.

An erectile dysfunction or impotence has become a cialis online mastercard devensec.com difficult as well as serious problem nowadays for men. Kamagra tablet is the generic term for brand name levitra generic no prescription. In 1998, Phytopharm sub-licensed the rights to develop p57 to Pfizer for $21 million. levitra 40 mg All the cost spent for that promotions and ads make sildenafil viagra tablets http://www.devensec.com/commissioners.html the medicine high priced. Thank you for the struggles I’m cried over and the screams against you. You can handle my despair. My confusion. You are solid while I’m wailing. I call upon you and even when I didn’t see or feel you, you are there. I’m amazed how much you have orchestrated in the smallest details of life. We don’t usually see your work until after the fact. I can look back on some of my darkest, scariest and most desolate times and can NOW see you at work. At the moment, I felt alone since I didn’t see you in the immediate. But you were there, working things out—things I couldn’t see so I was scared and angry for being left alone. I never was alone and I thank you…for being who you say you are, never ignoring your children and being so compassionate to still hold & love us while we’re screaming and crying against you.

Wherever you take me, I pray for the wisdom and courage to follow you. As long as you guide these feet and appoint my path, I will follow you. Thank you for the chance to be your child and a part of your family. Thank you for being my Father and letting me sit with you, knowing you have it all under control and there is no need for me to doubt, panic or try to control anything. You have it covered. Thank you Father.

I know the LORD is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. Psalm 16:8

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns,once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you]watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)

“Just let me do it!”

Posted by angela on December 3, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized  | 2 Comments

“Just let me do it!”
I was talking with a friend who was explaining how she was so exhausted and frustrated. She was telling of how while trying to get some work done for a church event, other volunteers were holding up her progress. She was sharing how if they would just get out of the way and let her do it, she’d get it done faster so she could move on to the next thing.

She was spinning. Overwhelmed. Her job, her family, her extended family, a friend she’s helping, church activities. I see the exhaustion etched in her face through her smile. She explains she’s just doing her usual daily routines but her friend needed some extra support; Oh, and her job needed someone to fill in;a family member that needs errand running; church needed volunteers.

I start there—“why did you volunteer to help at church when you’re this crunched with your schedule?” She stares at me like I have 7 heads. She explains the church asked, and it IS church after all so it’s a good cause (continuing to look at me like I just don’t get it). We talk about how there are zillion ‘good’ things we can all be involved in but that doesn’t mean we’re supposed to be. We have to know what is put in our path to pick up and what is to be left on the path.

Ever fall into this pattern also? (Okay, I’m not exempt from this either!)

I admit something about this too: while reading scripture, I used to be confused about doing good deeds. One verse states that faith without works is useless then another states its faith alone-not our works-that saves us.

How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? James 2:20
For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

So I can see how many of us fall into a misunderstanding. We feel if we’re doing ‘good’ things then we’re on the right track. Surely we’re doing what God would want since these are all ‘good’ deeds, right? The good deeds are not what saves us but surely God is happy with us if we toil for the common good. Ever think this way?

Here is the difference I’ve learned: We are to do what GOD leads us to do. There are a zillion good things but we’re not called to do them all. You are not called to kill yourself with overscheduling so you can do one more ‘good deed’ in the name of the common good.

And more than 50 percent of men who use online viagra india experience at least one side effect. * Men with diabetes have the highest rate of M.S. in the world, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada . In levitra line pharmacy many instances, though, they can restrain the production of hormones. Overall, it is probably too simplistic to conceive of an eating disorder as simply a sequela of a mood or anxiety cialis no prescription overnight disorder-or a mood/anxiety problem as a cause of male erection breakdown. But the effective mechanism of this drug has been developed to act as sildenafil india online a beta-blocker. I encourage you to ask the Father what He wants you to engage in. I truly don’t think it brings Him glory for his children to be worn out, frazzled shells walking around in a trance from exhaustion. This isn’t abundant life He promises us.

How can I say this with confidence? Because I was a classic ‘let me help, let me do it’ overachiever that ended up sidelined with a body that quit from overexertion. I spent a long time pleading with God to heal me and questioning why He didn’t heal me quickly since I was doing all these good things for His kingdom. One day a quiet response came….you’re doing many good things but I didn’t ask you to. This is all your own doing, not Mine. OUCH. Busted.

So I ask you the question: are you doing what the Father has asked of you? Or what you think He’d want because its good stuff, good deeds, helping others, etc? If He isn’t leading you to be an active participant, perhaps he wants your efforts elsewhere-maybe even resting and letting someone else have the chance to pick up the reins.

Jesus set the example. He walked among us with needs everywhere. He didn’t drag himself to each and every need, in every village and town and country. He did what the Father instructed him to do. Another example is the classic story of Mary & Martha.

Martha was working hard getting the supper ready. She came to Jesus and said, “Do You see that my sister is not helping me? Tell her to help me.” 41 Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 Only a few things are important, even just one. Mary has chosen the good thing. It will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42

Ouch again. Many needs are there, many good things. But we need to be sensitive to what the Father has for us to do…not everything that NEEDS done but what He has given us individually and specifically to do.

I recall a saying I had heard many years ago from Joyce Meyer “If the enemy can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy”. It has stuck with me over the years—I get it. Wearing ourselves out isn’t showcasing the light within us, it just makes us look like frazzled messes. Why would a lost person be interested in being a worn out frazzled mess? I know, not pretty.

I encourage you to take a moment to step back, get some alone time with the Father and ask him to show you what HE wants you to do. Not all the needs in your world, just the need He has specifically for you. Maybe that need is for you to rest.

“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Mathew 11:30

Kidding Myself?

Posted by angela on November 20, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized  | No Comments yet, please leave one

When we were having our first baby, I had so many resources telling me what to expect. We read books, heard tons of stories and prepared an entire room with lots of equipment for our little bundle. But until I was in labor that 3rd day and eventually held the little bundle did I get a glimpse of what childbirth actually was like. I had to go through the steps and live through the experience to really GET IT. I was kidding myself that I ‘got it’ and understood what I was in for just by hearing about it.

Real life is like this!! We can read about places or experiences, see pictures, watch movies and hear firsthand accounts from others, but until we actually WALK and live through it ourselves, we can’t really get a sense of what it’s really like.

I realized this is so much like our relationship with God. We can tell others of Jesus, walking with God, peace/comfort/grace/mercy, etc. Look how many followers or proclaimed Christians know so much about the word! But until they step into the water and are engulfed by the Holy Spirit in them, they won’t really know.

We can try to explain…but words can only go so far. Plus, God is so creative. Not everyone’s journey is the same. What one person experiences with Him could be polar opposite of another. So until someone opens themselves to fully accept Him-experience Him…they won’t know. They don’t know all the blessings and gifts He pours out and their eyes are still sealed shut. They can have head knowledge but without heart knowledge it’s just a black & white photo with a blurry view—instead of the full color 3D action film.

What if you are a believer and follower but still feel distant? I would ask if you’ve thrown it all over board. ALL OF IT. Yes, even the stuff that we don’t think really matters. Sometimes it’s something we don’t think God would ever ask us to do without or open up to Him…maybe it’s something we don’t feel is important enough or even the opposite. It’s something that is so important to us; we don’t want Him to mess with it. What if He tells us to give it up? We can’t imagine the thought of living without it (or someone) so we keep that portion to ourselves. We bury it so deep that we’ve convinced ourselves that we’ve given it all up and still feel emptiness, a wide & deep distance between us & God.

Then the frustration leeks in…why don’t we feel Him? Why is He keeping His distance? Didn’t I pray & ask for Him to enter my life? Why am I doing this if HE isn’t keeping up His end of the deal?! Bitterness, blame, and angry start to surround us deep inside like a slow creeping fog.

Then we continue on. We go forward with life, maybe continuing our church attendance, bible groups, etc but deep down—we have a faith gap. We believe in God but somewhere deep down inside—we don’t feel God is really coming through for us.

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Really…it was us. When we finally realize what that area of our life is that we’ve closed off or hidden or even didn’t consider IT as an area for God. Then…THEN we’ll get it. It’ll feel like a weight has been set free.

If you sense there is something you’ve long ago buried but don’t even realize what it is, ask Him to reveal it to you. If you are sincere in wanting to move FORWARD in your walk, He will meet you. He’s there anyhow, waiting.

If you know exactly that area where you’ve kept to yourself, so deeply hidden that you don’t even notice it sometimes—you know what to do. It’s time. Time to step out and stop kidding yourself. You have to take a step of trust and faith that what He has is for your benefit and He loves you. Give it up. Even the most precious or shameful piece that you’ve buried so long ago it feels like ancient history.

Give it to Him. He can handle it and is waiting for you. He’s been waiting all along to fill those empty places.

Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Job 11:13-15

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Psalm 37:7

Strengthen the CORE

Posted by angela on November 13, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized  | 7 Comments

So I’m dragging myself to the gym again in pursuit of better health and a stronger, healthier body. Today is what we call ‘core day’. Yep, it’s all about strengthening the ‘core’. Or other words,  torture maneuvers designed to make you feel like your stomach and sides are exploding and you’ll never sit upright again. How is this better health since it feels like I’m doing ANYTHING but helping? I know good and well my stomach is begging for me to sit quietly in my recliner and munch on Pringles. NOT do 10 more reps of a crazy exercise that I’ll feel for the next few days.

But…this is strengthening the ‘core’. It’s all for the betterment of my body…my old, aching, tired and too fluffy (hence the workouts) body.  Okay, bring it on. This will all be worth it, right?

This made me think… we try to strengthen ourselves with exercise or education or experience. But how are we pursuing strengthening our spirits? The biggest and more important part of us, the one that never dies, should get the most attention, right?

And if we agree our spiritual self is the most crucial, then how do we strengthen it? BY core work. Yes, that dreaded thought (core work at the gym that is) is also the key for strengthening our CORE spiritual self.

I asked my friend Jack what he thought this meant-to strengthen our core spiritually. I was anxious for his perspective since he’s also a personal trainer & exercise physiologist. I’m sure he’d have a great response that related to the body, muscles and how I needed to do 2 more sets without whining. However his response wasn’t a ploy for me to push thru more reps—he said the core of us is what following Jesus is all about. How everything we’ve learned from Jesus is to be strong in our faith (I totally paraphrased his response).

Our core is what sustains us and gives strength to the rest of the body. If your core isn’t strong, other areas of your body are weakened.

How is your core? Do you have God’s word leading you through your moments, guiding you in decisions, thought processes?

If you’re like most of us, you aspire to this but fall short much of the time. But you can still pursue a strong core—the faith, the trust in the Father. Believing Him for what He promises and living like you really do believe it.

This strengthens us. Our struggles, although painful, confusing and anger provoking—well, it does strengthen us. Do we like it? NO WAY. Do we need it? Absolutely.

Time with God, discussing your world, your day, your struggles, how to behave, to rewire our hearts…this is all core work.

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Being brutally honest with Him—your thankfulness, your anger, your sadness, your joyfulness. He knows each detail, no matter how small, of you & your life. He just wants us to talk with Him about it. Not to enlighten him (he already knows) but so we can grow closer with Him and learn to feel his presence with us. Core Work.

I’ll try to think of my days for ‘core work’ differently. No promises that I’ll learn to love the exercise, but I’ll love the results. Isn’t that what our life is also? We won’t love the tests or struggles at times, but the growth and strength in Him we gain from it…all worth it. Never wasted.

Thank you Father for strengthening us, giving us ‘core’ work to strengthen our relationship with you.

Deuteronomy 30:20
Love the Lord your God and obey His voice. Hold on to Him. For He is your life, and by Him your days will be long.

2 Chronicles 16:9
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Romans 15:4
Everything that was written in the Holy Writings long ago was written to teach us. By not giving up, God’s Word gives us strength and hope.

Growing Pains

Posted by angela on November 6, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized  | 5 Comments

Ever feel like there is something wrong with you? You are thankful for your blessings, walking through your days facing your struggles and victories, but something feels like its missing?

You’ve probably heard of the ‘God hole’. The image is everyone has a hole in their hearts that only God can fill. Many try to fill that emptiness with other things-people, food, drink, drugs, shopping, whatever. But nothing will ever satisfy—it isn’t meant to. The ‘God hole’ was created only for Him and He dwells there once He’s invited. Its not shocking then when there are times when believers feel guilty if they have a feeling of emptiness. They’ve invited God to fill their hearts-and He has. So why the emptiness? If its not a ‘God hole’ issue, what then?

Many times this is not something we would ever voice to others. We think If we were praying enough, we wouldn’t feel this way. Or if we were following the path God intended, then surely we’d be so fulfilled at all times that an empty feeling would be ridiculous.

So, we smile, keep going and wonder deep in our spirits if something is wrong with us. We cry out “Father, please help me. Remove this emptiness. Fill me with Your presence”. When we don’t get an instant wave of refreshment washing over us, we journey onward, secretly upset that nothing happened when we cried out.

Some of us begin thinking we’ve done something to cause this emptiness. If we’ve stepped away from our relationship, or let ourselves become distracted with life and haven’t spent time with God, perhaps that emptiness is from lack of relationship. Obviously, this can be a reason.

But what about if this isn’t the case—you’ve been in relationship, you’re in constant contact with God? But when you ask about the emptiness, no answer. Now what?

Anyone ever feel this, but maybe not want to admit it out loud?

I have to admit, I can’t stand these seasons. I know they are necessary for us. Necessary for us to go through to learn whatever element the Father is teaching us. It’s probably different for each person. But I don’t like it. Not at all.
I second guess decisions, lose confidence, feel lonely and generally out of sorts. Anyone with me?
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It’s during one of these dark times that I sense a different meaning behind the fog. I had let myself go down the path of ‘why are you ditching me God? I thought You’d never leave but here I am and I feel so horrible and lonely and nothing like myself. Help me! I don’t feel you close by and you promised you’d never leave! Where are you?!”

Perhaps I had to journey on that road to feel the negativity. It did make me appreciate the days when I DON’T feel that way…but really, was this necessary?

Maybe I had to feel left alone on a dusty path to get myself into a deeper relationship with the Father. Where else could I go? No human could touch that emptiness. I could have turned to outside comforts like food, drinking, shopping, hanging around the wrong people, etc. Sadly, I’ve done that so much in my past, I have finally learned to NOT do that again. (I must be slow since it took me decades to learn it!)

It was a realization one day…I had to go to those ugly places to see what I did NOW to handle it.

Did I run back to my old ways of fake comforts? Or did I hold fast to what I knew to be true of God? Had I matured enough in my relationship with Him to manage myself? It was a revelation to me to realize this was something I had to endure—to see what choice I made this time around. Him or fake stuff? Thankfully, I chose to wait on Him. Not easy. Not fast. But I have to admit, I grew from the experience and feel closer to Him through it all. I feel He can trust me a little more to not run to false comforts.

Thank you Father for teaching me- even when I scream that I don’t want to be taught and don’t like it. These growing pains are needed to sharpen my maturity so I can be trusted. Your patience is overwhelming!

1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV) On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

James 1:4    Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Terrible or Terrific?

Posted by angela on October 28, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized  | 3 Comments

She sat alone watching the parents with their children walk off along the pathway. The day was bright, sunny with just a bit of crispness of fall in the air. Beautiful day for a field trip. All the kids had looked forward to this event and the parents were all accompanying their young ones. All but one. She sat on the bench at the entrance and watched as her young ones skipped off with another parent and a couple of friends. She so wanted to be a part of the tour group, to experience all the new things the kids would be talking about for weeks to come. But her legs didn’t work like they used to and just getting from the parking lot into the park was a huge accomplishment. So she sits and waits on the bench for the group to return. The pain in her legs was increasing and she prayed she could make it through the next few hours without showing the intensity of her struggle. OH let me make it through just this one afternoon Lord she prayed.

You may not think this little story could possibly relate to you or anything in your life. But think a moment. Is there an area of your life where you don’t feel you can take one more step, be excluded one more time or handle ONE MORE THING and still be effective in the present? You may not have a physical issue but a heart issue.

Could you look like you’re playing the part, doing what you should, following the routines when your heart is aching with a pain or emptiness that no one can see? You’ve kept it hidden or laughed it off if anyone started to get close?
It’s a lonely feeling that you are in this place of pain, defeat or emptiness. No one would understand really. Oh, they’d be sympathetic but really, could anyone really DO anything to make it better?

I’ve said a prayer that sounds crazy to some but I hope you’ll see the heart of it. I’ve prayed a prayer of thankfulness for my pain and my issues. I know, sounds nuts. The pain that sidetracks me and the issues that leave me unable to participate in life—I thanked God for these things. Oh, I’ve prayed for years for healing and strength and so far, I’m still here. Not healed and not strong-yet-but still here.

So why pray thanks for these things that limit me and my ability to do general life things others so easily manage? Why would you pray a prayer of thanks for the limits you have, things that you feel are holding you back? Physical issues, emotional scars, material loss, relationship heartache, career drama?

How could someone THINK of being thankful for these things?!
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Well, its in these empty loney places I’ve found that I cling to the Father more. These ugly, lonely and sometimes traumatic places when I’m at the end of myself—that I find I’m not as alone as I feel. There could be a thousand people in the room but the emptiness is gnawing like a wild animal on a rampage in our soul.

Maybe you’re not as stubborn as I am. I had to come to place where that empty, brokenness left me in heap on the floor before I was able to sit still long enough and quiet enough to be filled with the Father’s love. Love that touched that place that let me know, against all humanly odds, it would be okay.
Not the way I wanted perhaps, but okay. I was covered. Someone had my back.

So I thank you Father for the crisis that I thought would kill me. I thank you for the pain and limitations that leave me broken so often. I thank you Lord because these are things that have brought me to a place closer to You than I would have ventured on my own. I thank you Father for always having my back, never leaving me on my own.

I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. Psalm 31:7

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Wrestling Match

Posted by angela on October 21, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized  | 13 Comments

The player grabbed me and threw me down in a hold that I couldn’t wiggle away from. I fought back, determined not to let this player get the best of me in this match. I wasn’t going down! I screamed just for shock which seemed to work for 2 seconds which is all I needed. I wrestled away from his grip and tried to reposition my stance, ready for the next move. I had been matched against this player in the past but always gave up. This time, I was going to win this match! I was going to stay in the game until they called it and I was the winner!

Ever feel like you are stepping up for one more wrestling match? One more day of pushing through the hassles, drama or constant demands? You can push through this match!!
We may be tired or confused where our path is leading, when we’ll get to our destination (If we even know what that is) but we keep wrestling through the day.

Oh sure, we’re tired of it at times. We want to give in and give up. Forget this, I’m done with it. But for what? To be forever unfulfilled and aching with the knowledge that we purposely walked away from the path our Father put us on?

No, we don’t want to go through this! He will bring you back to the beginning of your journey to do it again until you complete it. You don’t want to go back to the beginning of a long journey do you? NO! You want to make it to the finish line in victory!
I’m encouraging you today. Keep wrestling with whatever stands to block your path today.
If its boredom, disgust or exhaustion-you can do this.

You may be facing some pretty intense situations and are completely at the end of yourself with wrestling. I understand this. Really, I do—I’ve been on the edge several times in life and still amazed that I’m still here. But you are here for a reason and sometimes these horrible wrestling matches are the ‘boot camp’ we have to endure to bring us to the other side.

Many times, as much as we don’t like it, the wrestling with situations and us enduring it are exactly what is used to teach us a key element. Sometimes its to bring us into obedience, into trust, into finally FINALLY giving up ourselves and letting God be God.

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If you aren’t familiar the story, read Genesis Chapter 32. Jacob wrestles with a being of God (in human form). The wrestling match endures an entire night before ending with Jacob demanding a blessing for his endurance. His hip was even dislocated in the struggle! Eventually he did receive a blessing and was even given a new identity. (Genesis 32: 24-32)

This story illustrates several key points for us all but one commentary I read put it into words I liked:
How long does God have to wrestle with you before you yield every area of your life to Him?
What does God have to dislocate in your life before you come to the end of yourself?
Do you need God to rename you to receive your blessing?
(http://jaymack.net/genesis-commentary/Hw-Jacob-Wrestles-With-God.asp)

So keep going fellow traveler! The wrestling match isn’t usually pleasant or fun or something we want to go through but the end result will take us closer and to places we would never journey otherwise. We are stronger than we know and able to make it through as long as we focus on Him. He is with you in your journey—keep going!!

Deuteronomy 20:4
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Deeper Dive

Posted by angela on October 14, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized  | 6 Comments

I was swimming back & forth, logging my time and effort in my daily swim. The pool wasn’t crowded today, just the usual scattered number of folks doing their daily exercise. I noticed the lady at the side of the pool again…I see her when I’m here each week. She stays in the same place, on the side in the shallow end, doing her exercises. As I was passing her for my 5th lap, she said : “I wish I could swim like you do”.
I told her she could—No, she said. It was too intimidating and she was too scared. So I showed her how to float, let her body relax in the water. Each time we tried it, she panicked. This wasn’t working too well but I assured her we could work on it a little each time and maybe by the end of summer, we’d have success.
I continued to swim my laps. As I rounded the deep end of the pool and started back, I noticed she was swimming and floating around! I swam back to her and exclaimed “You did it! You’re swimming and floating!!”
She said, ‘Well, yes. I can do it here-I’m in the shallow end. I just can’t do it in the deep end”.

(Gratitude to Sharon Thompson for sharing this experience)

How many times do we do the same thing with our faith? We’re fine going along our daily walk in our familiar & comfortable places. We say we follow Jesus and want to do God’s will for our lives. At times, we feel emptied out and pray for restoration, for joy, for a ‘soul lift’ if we’re in a lonely or bored phase. But really…are we keeping God in a nice and safe little box in our lives-somewhere comfortable we can refer to when needed?

Maybe His will for us is to not be such safe little robots but to step out of our comfort zones. I know, not a popular topic. Many of us are making through each day and hoping to have no surprises-just keep the daily grind going. I know there are seasons when we are supposed to do just that also. But have some of us been in that season too long, feel a tugging to step out of that comfy little zone to do something else-maybe something we don’t really want to do?

We are perking along our lives and keeping all the balls in the air, but the idea of ONE MORE THING or doing something else that stretches us? Well, no thanks. We’re fine doing what we’re doing and our plates are full.

Welcome to the shallow end of the pool…in the ‘safe’ and familiar.

Many of us say we want more of Him. It sounds good, it sounds like the appropriate type of thing a believer will say. However, I realized many of us don’t really mean it in the true sense. Not that we’re lying or being deceitful, perhaps just not deeply aware.

Many say ‘I can’t do xxxx’ and feel that is what God is tugging at me to do. I don’t WANT to do that, go there, etc. I don’t know how to do that particular ‘thing’. If He is calling you to do something/go somewhere, He’ll lead you and guide you through it. But YOU have to take a step out of the shallow end. Staying in the safe zone, floating around isn’t going to take you to new place, new experiences with Him if He is calling you into something else.

So last week I did a post about wanting MORE…we all want more something and my heart cry lately has been for more of God. A deeper walk, a deeper relationship. Let’s go for this deeper dive of Him!

Time to trust Him into the deep end.

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Uncomfortable? Usually at first

Impossible? Never!

When God tugs your heart, calls you to do something new or different or even uncomfortable, you WILL be equipped to do it. Check your trust and faith level—He is able to sustain and guide you!

I’m jumping…yes, unknown territroy and I don’t know where He’ll lead—but trust it is somewhere good. Will you join me? Let’s go to the deep end and see where He leads us!

Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.

Isaiah 43:2
When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you.

Psalm 18:16
He reached down from heaven and took me and drew me out of my great trials. He rescued me from deep waters.

I want MORE!!

Posted by angela on October 7, 2014
Posted in Uncategorized  | 2 Comments

We want more. More time, more money, more sleep, more security, more stuff.
I’ve also prayed for these.  But lately, I’ve been praying for a different kind of ‘More’…

More than mediocre. More than boring & same ole same ole. MORE. Something fresh. Lord, we know You are working new things out & we don’t see it yet.

I want more of depth with You Father. Sometimes we seem to be skimming the surface with you. So many seem to walk through the days, doing the daily routine but many don’t seem to connect with you in a deep sense. I see it all around me and many times with myself. We get caught in the daily grind and that’s it. Oh, we say prayer before meals and at bedtime. But depth? Not seeing it. Almost autopilot with prayer.

I want MORE Lord. I want more for my fellow travelers on this journey. So many have that vacant & empty look. They are believers, they have faith in you. But joy? Its subtle. Abundant life? Well, there are many abundancies that others don’t have (food, shelter, conveniences). But an abundant life in joyful fellowship with you? Nope. They’re hoping for it, but come up empty. They assume this is what life is, keep going through their days but deep within—an emptiness. Dry.

We’ll cry out ‘WHERE ARE YOU’ when we’re overwhelmed with the drudgery and dry wasteland feeling. Sometimes we’ll feel a flow of refreshment but many times, nothing -so we continue on the journey—a little more broken and little more empty each time.

Some fall away from their walk of faith—they don’t have a deep sense of connection with you and over time, the desire fades since they don’t feel they’re getting a soul recharge.
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How does this impact you Father? Does this break your heart? Do you let them walk away without recharging or whispering over their souls to keep them engaged? Or are you whispering and leading but our senses have dulled and we don’t sense your presence?

I want MORE. More depth. More real nitty gritty fellowship. True connection. I want to encourage others but even more, I want to see YOU blowing my mind with your interventions. Rock our world with your power Father. Blow mighty winds of refreshment over these dry and empty souls. Convict those who are wandering away, ever so slightly, back to your arms. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear.

Let’s encourage each other–keep each other in thought and in prayer. We need to lift each other up when we stumble or get discouraged!

 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Matthew 13:22

Lord, if our hearts have become calloused which causes us to be blind and deaf to your words, please forgive us and redeem our lost hearts. Keep us in your hands Father and renew our eyes and ears to be extra sensitive to you. More of YOU Lord

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19