Lord, I Need You

I want this year to be Christ-Centered. Today, in my walk of faith, I made the decision to pray every night with the girls. We pray all together and then I say a prayer over each of them separately. I want them to grow up with a strong foundation for the love of Our Lord. As I prayed over them Madilyn expressed so much love. She stroked my face, saying her thank yous for loving her so much! Kylie Jade asked many questions about the prayer I prayed for her. One of the things I mentioned was when she feels overwhelmed let her know she can call on Your name and You will always be there to guide her and help her through all her obstacles. We got into a very lovely conversation about what overwhelmed means and how come, because God knows our needs, that we need to call on Him. I explained to her that whenever she is feeling lonely, sad, happy, excited etc. that she wants to share that with someone and if she had no one to share that with how would that make her feel? She responded with "mad, maybe frustrated, a little sad, make me feel a little lonely in my heart!" Right. She gets it! If we feel that way that is how Our God feels when He isn't talked too, listened too, or intimate with. God wants you to come to Him with any troubles, thanks, etc. you may be feeling.

"The good news about the pressures we face in life today is the same spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead wants to raise us up and above our pressures." -Unknown

I heard this today and it was as if Randy Thomas was speaking directly to me. His sermon was powerful and went straight to my heart. The pressures of this world definitely have made God go on the back burner, but He wants me to trouble Him, burden Him because He can help I just need to call on His name! Cast all my troubles, doubts, fears and worries on Him and He will come through. It may not always be what I want, when I want, or how I want, but He will answer and there is ALWAYS a reason for everything.

"It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, He'll do the same thing in you that He did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you, you are delivered from that dead life. With this Spirit living in you, your body will be alive as Christ's."   -Romans 8:11

This is just amazing. Right there in black and white for His people to see. He is alive and present. Always. Forever. We just need to remember that. When life gets tough and you just want to scream or, perhaps, you feel so alone you can call on Him. He will bring you to life! It is written for us to devour. He is there. He is present. He is alive and truly, we can be truly fulfilled through Him.

"Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, and He will lift you up in due time. Throw all your troubles on Him, for He cares for you." -1 Peter 5:6-7

In my 27 years of life I have NEVER humbled myself. I am proud, independent and like to think I can handle everything on my own. Recently I have seen how destructive that attitude is. I can't think like this anymore. I don't have it all under control. I am NOT in charge. God is. He is always in charge. He has my life, whether I accept that or not, it is not mine to throw away on pride. God cares for me? Little old me? HE CARES FOR ME? I never feel worthy of His love. I have struggled with this for many years. I know Jesus died on the cross for MY SINS, but why? Why would my sins be worth His pain? How can I even face Him in heaven knowing I caused Him pain? Because He has my best interest at heart. BIG or small He is concerned about EVERYTHING. I just need to shove my pride, fears, doubts and worries aside and call on His name. He will be there. Always. Forever.

"Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourself long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourself the way Jesus Christ thought of Himself. -Philippians 2:4-5

This touches a little bit on my last blog post. In there I stated I want to be there for people more, be a helping hand and not complain about it. I may have not said it in those words, but that is exactly what I meant. I want to be called on just like God wants us to call upon Him. I need to be a blessing in this world of pain. It is time for me to quit worrying about myself. I need to focus on lending a hand versus what I can get out of the situation. I am not all that matters in this world. I am supposed to be a follower of Christ, not just a fan. I am called to be Christ-like even when it isn't convenient for me. I need to be the blessing.

"That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served-and then to give away His life in exchange for many who are held hostage." -Mark 10:45

He came to serve, not to be served !WOW!  I am humbled. I have lived a life of greed, selfishness, pride. I have lived blind for so long. That verse is so touching. It is exactly everything that God is. He wants us to live through Him. Christ was always giving. Even on the cross He was giving. He was dying for US! He was dying for OUR SINS! That is amazing. That is more than amazing it is a miracle. Jesus is OUR miracle.

"Do not conform 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

Romans 12:2 says it all right there. I have not always followed my own path in life. In certain situations I have been known to bend my beliefs to "fit in." This verse really spoke to me. I am definitely not perfect, but I can strive for perfection. I need to keep this verse etched in my heart. This world is cruel, and no one really cares for me the way my God does. Many times these people I have conformed to have been in and out of my life. I need to take heed. Focus on God. Remember to NEVER let anyone come between me and my principles. God has my best interests at heart. No one will ever love me the way He does. That is powerful.

As I close this obscenely long blog post I want to leave you with this beautiful song, Kylie and I sang this together tonight and it brought tears to my eyes! The message is the perfect closing to this post.

Lord, I Need You

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

You're my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

-MATT MAHER

Copy and paste this link to hear this beautiful song!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA

Take care and God Bless!

-Maria

No Resolutions Just Goals

Every woman I have talked to (that is married) have had their own fair share of struggles within their marriage. Whether it be financial, mind wandering, some sort of addiction etc. everyone has some sort of struggle. It is constant. What does NOT have to be constant is the miserable feeling you bring with marriage. Many folks let themselves drown. There isn't a way to swim above water, because the worst is just that the worst. There is no communication, no support, marriage has crumbled and failed. 

What if every woman treated their man with the utmost respect, like he is the head of the household, like his values and opinions matter? In short, like your husband is the king.. It doesn't mean us women go by the wayside and are "forgotten" or are "unimportant" or that we do "not matter." If our husbands are treated with respect and not just like they are an extra burden to us we could possibly help cut down the divorce rate. They would feel valued and fulfilled because they would feel appreciated and that their efforts aren't going unnoticed. 

I am definitely not the best remodel. I fail all the time. I break promises, huff and puff, get overwhelmed by seemingly pointless things that are out of my control. I do, however, know one thing. My husband should never, ever feel unwanted or alone because of me. 

Through the years I have made many "resolutions" that have been broken by February. This year I want something more. I don't want to make "resolutions" I want to make goals. I want to actually follow through with these goals. I want to see my friends more and be more involved with them. I want to laugh. A lot. I want to see my marriage last and not just in the same 'ol I am putting up with you way, but in the way where he comes first and everything else falls behind. I want to have a healthy relationship with food where I don't completely stop eating when experiencing severe response syndrome and don't overeat when I feel high levels of stress. I want to love me for me. I want to be a better wife and mother. I want to attend to the needs of all the people in my life more. Stop thinking about just myself and open my heart and arms to those around me when needed. I want to get our finances under control so we can live mostly debt free. I want to get a second car for our household. I want my relationship with God to stretch to the highest level it can possibly get. Where I am not just a fan, but I am a follower. I want to do studies on the Bible and learn more about my own faith. I want the girls to have that household where God and Jesus comes first. Always. I want to respond out of love and not anger. I want to get myself in check and under control too so that my family can be whole. 

The struggles in my life will continue. There will never be a perfect, but there will always be perfection to strive for. I have a lot of working on myself to do in 2015 and I am absolutely okay with it. I need to take one step at a time. Take that one leap of faith.