Naked and Not Ashamed... week 1

Genesis 2: 5-7 At the time God made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground—God hadn’t yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)—God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul! Genesis 2: 23-25 The Man said, “Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh! Name her Woman for she was made from Man.” Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame. About 6 weeks ago I completed what was suppose to be a 30 day husband challenge. The challenge actually took me 214 days to complete with the last day leaving me wanting more. You see when I started this challenge, I was trying to change my husband. I was trying to help him become the leader that God intended him to be. I felt like that by starting this challenge I could maybe come across the right words and actions to help guide him into this role without very much nagging or controlling that has NOT been working for years. What I discovered is that through this challenge God has changed me completely. What I found every time I started a new day was a new challenge would cause me to dig deeper into that daily scripture and I would start to notice that many of the flaws I found in my husband were bigger in my own self and by praying and spending time in Gods word and meditating on every word in the challenge I began to see my flaws being repaired which in return caused my husband's flaws to be much smaller and sometimes non exsistant. I have prayed about sharing my experience with this challenge and the things that I have learned. And the thing that keeps coming to my mind over and over is Genesis 2: 25 The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame. It has been so hard for me to put into words how hard those words hit me...... They were naked and felt no shame..... wait read that again ..... They were NAKED and felt NO SHAME.... I have to be honest I checked several versions to make sure that there was no typo in the bible!!!! You never hear the words naked and no shame in the same sentence! I was so intrigued when I read this that I really started looking deeper into what that meant I mean think about it, Ladies be honest with yourself here ... How many of you can look at yourselves inside and out and say I have been naked with no shame ? By naked I don't necessarily mean physically; but emotionally as well. have you ever been completely transparent with things that you have been hiding for years and felt no shame? This simple phrase in the very first book in the bible absolutely wrecked my life and I want to share with you over this next year about my journey ..... What God has shown me through a simple 30 day challenge .... once a week for the next 52 weeks I want to share with you how to be Naked and Not Ashamed. I also want to encourage you sit down with God , what is that one area that you cannot no matter what overcome? What does God want you to see through this struggle? Can you strip down to pure Nakedness in this struggle and not feel shame? I believe you can and I can't wait to start this journey together. I never ever thought that reading in Genesis would ever show me things that would cause me to look at my own behavior, Especially in the area of my marriage. I don't want to jump ahead too far , but to complete this week by saying this . WE, I, WOMAN, WIFE were created out of man's rib. He was created first .... I do not have to repeat that one to know that many women right now are sucking teeth. Believe me I did too ! But its true .. Genesis 2:21-22 God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man... Ok before you slam the lid on your lap top .... think about this .... not only were we created to be man's companion but we were also created by God .... "I love where it says that God presented her to the man." WoW!!!! presented her ..... this means that God has created something special ...perhaps a "Masterpiece" Its True !!!! look what the bible says "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:10 NLT) 
 I love that this goes so well with being unashamed. God would not have presented something to Man , His own creation that He was ashamed of ... NO!!!! when you present something to someone you are gifting them something you are proud of. Ladies the shame that you are living with right now while reading this is a lie straight from the pits of Hell. God created you naked with NO shame. A beautiful masterpiece that is worthy of being presented. I challenge you this week to read Genesis 2. Look deep into your own life. Ask yourself the hard questions ..... Are you behaving like the masterpiece that you are? Are you the wife to your husband that God intended? Are you willing to be naked with no shame? I am so excited to hear from you ladies.... look me up on facebook and I will look forward to sharing again next week. Have an incredible week !

Which Razor do I choose...........

             Have you ever found yourself in the middle of the razor isle at Walmart???  OK well let me just tell you its a scary place that's for sure! There seems to be thousands of razors all promising to work a different miracle on your unwanted body hair. Each one a different shape or color some even with built in shaving cream. Its crazy to think that someone somewhere  in a lab spends countless hours focusing on something as small as a razor, and its probably a really big deal that theirs stand out from all the rest. I mean theres alot of different types of body hair in this world and to think that you have to try and invent a razor that does it all, leave a clean shave, moisturize, smoothing , soothing and the list goes on . I cant even begin to imagine trying to do it. I mean just with my 5 ft 1in self sometimes I think I'm going to need a weed eater because I've gone without shaving my legs for so long so it blows my mind when i think about it , which explains in case anyone that knows me is wondering why I spend so much time in Walmart ! So last night when it occurred to me that I might be showing some leg this weekend I immediately started thinking about taking that trip to the razor isle and it made me start thinking how those razors seem small and insignificant until you need to use one and then they become pretty important and as silly as it may sound thinking about a razor triggered a thought that I sometimes view my relationship with Jesus the same way and it sent some scary chills through me . I mean just like the makers of the razors our Creator cares about every single detail. He crafted us with the most precious organs , I mean really think for a minute just how significant your heart is. pumping consistently throughout your body at an average beat per minute because your blood flow is such a vital part of your daily living. It pumps just the right about of oxygen at just the right time to keep all of your other parts working properly. Its really a big deal but just like those razors we don't think about how important it is until something happens and we realize we really need it. The gifts and talents that our creator gave each one of us  are usually treated the same way. I mean He carefully chose what your unique gift would be paired it with your unique personality and Wa La when used together they could really make a tremendous difference in not only your own life but someone elses too. But just like those razors until we know for sure that our personality traits or gifts are going to be used to benefit us in the way we want them too we do not dare use them together or separate. I think sometimes its easier to try and be someone your not to fit in and you know it may even work for a while, but just like a woman using a mans razor its destined for doom!! God intends us to be who HE created us to be and even more than that because HE so carefully created YOU he will not give up on you. He will constantly allow you to go through situations that may not be comfortable for you but He Loves you and He wants you to be YOU !

 So now that I have probably reminded you that your legs and pits need shaving :) Let me also remind you how unique you are ! Think about this ! You are totally different from anyone else. God could have made us all exactly the same! That would have been so much easier for Him I'm sure but He loves us all so much that He wanted us all to have our own unique qualities ! He made YOU for a reason! I want to challenge you to think about that today ! How could your gifts be used today to bring our amazing Creator glory . Just like when a manufactoror knows his razor is being sold and used God wants the same from us. He wants to know that each gift or personality or talent that He so carefully placed in us is being used . Dont worry about what other people think what really counts in the end is that YOU are who YOU were created to be...... ............

oh and for the record.......I love the Oceana Venus razor :)

Psalm:139:14  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well

Joy down in my heart to Stay

   When I was a little girl I used to sing ...." I've got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart ....where? down in my heart....... where? down in my heart to stay."It was one of my most favorite songs . I don't think I ever thought about the massive impact those words would have on me as an adult, and the questions just thinking those words now bring up.
     
         A friend of mine encouraged me last year to choose a word.....One word that could be a marker for my life for the year to come. A word that I would soon learn that would help me get into my bible more. A word that no doubt assisted in a lot of decisions that I made and ultimately played a huge role in changing my life. My word last year was DREAM .... and it was the perfect word ! God had planted a dream in me to not only sing His praises and to learn what it means to worship ,but He also gave me a passion for sharing that dream with others . I never pictured myself being part of an amazing band leading worship every Sunday but God knew His plans for me and when you are obedient to His plans for your life ,things will happen that you never dreamed of . I am definitely proof of that and I am so Thankful that God reveals our passions and our dreams to us , but He also reveals stuff that we would rather stay hidden. Things we struggle with and self struggles that we don't want others to see for fear of them not approving or fear that no one will want to be around you , or fear that no one will understand you ,or fear of not fitting in. God reveals them to us to bring them to the surface where they can be recognized and dealt with God wants us to grow in Him. He wants us to share our struggles with others so that they to can grow in a relationship with Him. . The enemy Ha ! well that's a whole other issue Satan wants you to keep them hidden in the dark to eat away at you and cause you to fear and worry  so that you don't put your full trust in Gods plans. Satan doesn't want Gods kingdom to grow. He doesn't want us to use our gifts and talents to bring God glory. He wants us to live in fear ,in distrust , he wants us to seek out self gratification from each other knowing full well that humans will eventually  fail each other .
            I have learned over the past year that as humans and I speak totally for myself we continuously underestimate the power that God has and I know for me I feel so undeserving of any of that great power,and for that reason I tend to seek approval of other humans instead of trying to please God. That is where this years word comes into play. Even after all the great things God did in my life in 2012 . I am so quick to pull out the negative things and I am constantly seeking approval of others every single day it seems like and let me just tell you that can be exhausting and not to mention heart shattering when you don't hear what you think you need to. Because of this approval addiction I am in a constant struggle with finding  Joy in almost any situation. When I think back to the past year and all that God has done for me and my family , my husband, my girls ,and even my parents I should be overwhelmed with Joy . WoW !!! God has really changed lives of the people I love the most and it is freaking amazing but instead of letting the Joy take over I am quick to let the enemy in and remind me of all the flaws that I have that my family still has and its a slow destructive pattern that repeats itself . My heart feels empty, no joy ,no excitement about prayers that God has answered, Dreams that have come true; just a cup half empty.
            Here's the thing about having a relationship with Jesus and I think another friend said it best when she said He will illuminate and then eliminate . You see Jesus is my best friend I can go to him every time I am struggling with Joy or with pain or with dissatisfaction and he reveals the truth to me every time, and over these past few weeks boy has He been honest . I have a serious approval addiction issue . He reminds me that He is greater and He has more knowledge about my situation than any other person I know could ever have. God created me He knows me inside and out so why is it so hard to give Him my issues instead of seeking others approval.   I love what Psalms 139 verses 1 and 2 says ,

"O Lord you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise: You perceive my thoughts from afar."

I Love that God knows me and this year as I take a journey with the word JOY .I am excited to have another layer of who I used to be peeled away, another part of my old life eliminated because I am a new life in Christ and in order to fully find JOY  I have to learn that I don't need approval from others ,I don't need to work so hard to please others. God made me who I am for a reason . I don't need to work so hard on being perfect for others. WOW ! God has taught me in one year things that I would have loved to had for an entire lifetime. How to worship and  what that means . He has taught me how to love really love no matter the circumstances, But what I've learned this past year more than anything and that I will continue to strive for ..for years to come  is that I want people to see Jesus in my life completely. The way that I live , in my words in my actions and in order to do that I am surrendering all of myself to Jesus. in 2013 I want to have a heart full of JOY  and as an adult I will sing Ive got the Joy Joy Joy Joy down in my heart ....where? down in my heart......where? down in my heart ,,,and I'm so happy so very happy I have the love of Jesus in my heart.... and I'm so happy so very Happy I have the love of Jesus in my heart and I will mean every word of it !


2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation ;the old has gone,the new has come."

Romans 15:13

^" May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Psalm 30:12

 "that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever."