Adventures with Jesus: 2013

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Adventure in Learning Who I Truly Am

     It's a rainy morning today and it's been chilly out lately. So, I made myself a cup of tea and sat down to my computer to blog. My dog, Kenzi, is at my feet, fully relaxed because of the gentle sound of rain outside. My other dog, Sophie, doesn't seem to know how to relax and meanders through the house, chews on a toy, then comes and lays down and then gets back up and does it all over again. She's restless! Isn't that how we feel sometimes? Restless, where we don't know what to do with ourselves. I think that, often, our restlessness stems from us not having a clear vision of who we are.

    The Lord recently taught me about who I truly am. I tend to struggle with this aspect of my walk with the Lord and can easily come under condemnation. My friends will compliment me and say things like, "You're so sweet," "You're so loving," and "You're so kind." And every time I would hear that my first thought would be, yeah, well, you don't see my heart. You don't see how ugly I am on the inside. How awful it was to walk with such a skewed vision of myself!! In the moment I thought I was giving myself a dose of reality, but I would feel so wicked.

     One day, I was on a walk with my dogs (this is where I do my best thinking & praying sometimes) and I was asking the Lord why I felt so awful about myself. Why can't I actually BE that person that my friends seem to think I am? Why am I not kind, loving and generous?? Do you know what He said?   He said, "But Beloved, you ARE those things!" I was astounded at first, not understanding.
"But Lord, I am an awful person! That's what I really want to be, but if I were truly that person then would I have some of the thoughts I have and do some of the things that I do?"

He said, "Dearest, those are pieces of your flesh that are being stripped away. The REAL you, the TRUE you, the person you are in ME, is the generous, kind, loving, tender-hearted woman that I created you to be. You may walk in that, and remember that it is the person you are. That other person, is not the REAL you, THAT'S the 'fake' you, the old self."

      OH my goodness, I suddenly had more understanding of the "old man" versus the "new man" that the apostles talked about! You know,
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
And "...put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24
Also,
"...put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him."

Isn't it funny how you can read something and even think you get it, but not have any real revelation of it??

So, whenever you feel condemned for thoughts you may have or things you've done, first of all rebuke those thoughts! Secondly, remember that you are a new creation and that is not who you are anymore. Then walk in that! Walk in the Spirit. Renew your mind consistently with who you are in the Lord!

Monday, May 20, 2013

May Update

Hmmmm... I think it is time for an update, don't you?
     I have been working at the Salon for over 4 months now and it has been good. It actually feels like it's been longer than that. I have a great relationship with my boss, which is awesome and I feel like I do a good job there and I even got a raise since being there! I really enjoy getting to know the guests and serving them and stuff. God is so good! I went from working 20 minutes away to about 5 minutes away and two weeks after I got this job I lost the car I was borrowing (they sold it.) So the past few months my wonderful roommates have been giving me rides to and from work and sometimes I walk.
    Speaking of roommates, I had a new roommate move-in in January and she is AMAZING. I am so so grateful for her! Again... the LORD IS SO GOOD!!! I had been praying for my new roommate for months, right? And he brought us a girl who fits in perfectly, she's fun, goofy and kind. We have an all around great house. Went I first moved into this house I declared it to be DaySpring Cottage. I got the word DaySpring from Luke 1:78 when John's father Zacharias prophesies and he says "the Dayspring from on high has visited us." I looked up Dayspring and it means a rising light or dawn, or a new dawning. When I read that I really felt it over my ministry and my home. That wherever I am, it shall be used as a place of new light or new dawning for those who come into it. It has proven true. Since moving here, all of the girls who have lived here have gone through intense inner healing, including me! It's been amazing.
   Here are some pics of me and my roommates:

We have had some good times together. We do crafts together, movie nights, we eat together, we pray together, we encourage one another, we're really goofy together... and so on. It has been a great fun and growing experience!!

So, basically, my life the past few months has been about working and I get to the prayer room whenever I can. I know the Lord is using these different situations to grow me in new ways. So, someday, I'll be the new and improved Susan! lol, jk.
My grandmother who lived in Michigan recently passed away and so a couple weeks ago I went to Michigan to say my goodbyes. I miss my grandmother and it was so sad to see that the house I grew up going to every summer was being sold (it sold the week it got put on the market) but it was so good to be with family that I haven't seen since July. I, also, really love and greatly miss Michigan, so it was nice to be there for a few days. That is pretty much my update for now. Here are pics of Michigan:

On the ROAD... my adorable niece.