Celebrate Discipline

So if you are here reading this blog with a title Celebrate Discipline first of all I applaud you and second know I am praying for both of us. I am praying we will hear His message for us today.


"The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!" Revelation 3:19 (MSG)

Celebrate Discipline is the title of chapter 16 in Joyce Meyer’s book Eat the cookie…buy the shoes.

We need to have discipline in our thoughts. our emotions, and our willingness to allow Gods will to become our will.

Now before you write off discipline as a naughty word…go with me for a few minutes here.

There needs to be balance between discipline and celebration.

“Discipline helps us to be what we say we want to be and have what we say we want to have, but never will have without it.” (pg 163)

Celebrating discipline has to be learned.

Discipline should be a tool, not a master over our lives. Again there is balance and swinging too far to one side makes discipline to heavy.

Just as having no discipline makes for a mess.

The enemy has deceived many of us by allowing us to think we can never live in balance by celebrating and be disciplined all at the same time.

• Have you ever thrown a pity party stating you can never eat dessert but everyone else can?

• Have you ever called yourself an all or nothing kind of person?

• If you open the bag of chips can you stop at one?

• Can you walk into the bakery section of the store?

• Do you bypass the shoe section of Macy’s?

• Have you ever felt like you will never be able to stick to a healthy eating plan? A workout routine?

• Do you set goals for yourself? Do you achieve them?

• Have you ever defended your choices as habits that you can’t break?

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (emphasis mine)

God created us to seek balance and then live in it.

How do you see yourself?

Do you have self-control?

Have you ever felt like a pin ball bouncing around allowing emotions, the number on the scale, the check book balance, or current circumstances to move you?

“If you will see yourself the way He sees you (finished) then you will become what He says you are….He calls us disciplined and self-controlled and we must have that godly image if we want a life of freedom.” (pg 166)

Do you believe discipline is freedom?

I am truly living in a season of life right now where God is teaching me about balance. And seeking it in all areas of my life. I even believe God is using the Engineer to shout the mantra…’balance Nichole’…and He has this phrase on repeat for me!

“Jesus challenged His disciples to come out into the deep to find what they truly desired. (see Luke 5:4)" (pg 169)

I love the image of coming out in the deep!!

Going out into the deep with God means you are wanting more of God in your life and that you are willing to experience Him!

The purpose of discipline is to make us more like Jesus.

Jesus is an amazing role model of balance.

“True spiritual disciplines should make us more like Jesus, Who is humble, gentle, meek, and lowly, and yet at the same time is mighty, powerful, and a victorious warrior.” (pg 171)

Balance is not about oppression or manipulation. Balance was created so we could truly experience the freedom of a grace and love filled relationship with our Creator.

Discipline should always be a self-ish thing. Discipline is a one on one thing with God. It is NOT my job, role, or purpose to discipline anyone else. My convictions are not everyone else’s.

Self control should always focus on self!

The power for discipline and self-control is fueled by God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things )there is no law.


Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 (NASB) (emphasis mine)

May we come to see that when we allow His power to work in us and through us there will be many great moments to celebrate!



***We will be finishing this book on Friday. I have so enjoyed this seeking balance journey with you. I am thankful God used Joyce Meyer to speak love and wisdom to my heart. Please join me on Friday for some celebrating. And there just might be some cookies and shoes involved!

Give God Your All

I am a stubborn girl. And I often find myself sitting in a time out chair hearing from a gracious and loving God about how if I would sit still, listen, truly hear and then go out and do it His way, life would be a little less, okay way less crazy and chaotic.


We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.


He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross. Colossians 1:15-20 MSG

I found myself in Chapter 14, Give God Your All of Joyce Meyers book, Eat the cookie…buy the shoes realizing that I still am trying to do some stuff my way. And that I have to let go and give up some things in order to live completely in the freedom He has for me.

Did you know that living in this peaceful place of freedom, surrounded with grace and love is so not where the enemy wants us residing? No rather, the enemy wants life to be crazy filled with worry, doubts, and fears. The enemy loves to see us on an emotional roller coaster. The enemy desires to see us fighting for our own way, and resisting Gods way.

Living here on earth is not easy. For we can see the people around us which I think makes giving God our all that much more difficult. Give God our all truly is a sacrifice. A learning to truly be submissive to Him and not this world. You see we are surrounded by people who will okay us, praise us, approve us, and applaud us. But what if what we are doing is okay for them but not God? I know this is a very deep question, especially for a Monday, but I am going there my friends. There are times when we cannot be a God pleaser and people pleaser at the same time. That giving our all to God needs to trump the things of this world every time!

Have you given God your all?

Does God have all of you?

You see the amazing thing about God is that even if we don’t give our all, He will still accomplish His will. Yep thats right! Our refusal or disobedience or fear of trusting Him doesn’t keep Him from working. Rather the truth of the matter is, we will miss out on God’s best for us. Friends this is big right here! God didn’t stop at just saving you on the cross, He went on and designed a personal and intimate grace and loved filled relationship for you. And He wants you to experience!

When God designs and creates it is never just okay, or average. Everything God does is perfect, excellent and amazing.

Do you hunger for the very best? Are you driven to go for the excellent? Do you desire to keep going after more?

“People’s possessions end up between them and God, and, sadly, their possessions are more important to them than they should be. Those people stubbornly hang onto their ways and willfulness, refusing to submit to God; they end up sad, depressed, angry and unable to maintain good relationships. They are forever looking for something to fill the void in their souls.” (Pg 161)

We were created to hunger, to be driven and desire. It’s what we are going after that makes all the difference.

There is a decision we each have to make. And when we choose to make our all about giving Him our all there is a peace filled soul vacation waiting for us!

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

My All in All

All.


A little word with just three letters.

A little word that has me truly wondering if I believe all is all.

Do you believe all is all?

Does all continue on?

Is all completely inclusive?

Chapter 13 of Eat the cookie…buy the shoes is titled My All in All. In this chapter Joyce talks about Jesus being the Lord of All. God being Al-Mighty, all sufficient, that all comes from Him, and that He is all we need.

But friends please join me here today and truly ask yourself some questions.

Have we stopped to understand that little word, all?

For all leaves nothing outside God’s control.

As long as we believe some things are out of God’s control we cannot have a proper soul vacation because there will be something for us to worry about, try to figure out, be upset about, or try to control and change. (pg 139-140)


Something for us to worry about

• Health. Finances.

Something for us to try to figure out

• Ministry.

Something to be upset about

• A broken fence, car or relationship.

Something to try to control and change

• A church, a relationship, a ministry.

God knows all things.
If I truly trust and believe that statement above, then I need to be living life to the fullest and celebrating the way He intended me too.

God knows all things.

For this includes the big and the small.

The Subaru needing to go the mechanic. That brothers can only spend so many minutes in the back of a hot car before they need to ‘reach out’ and touch each other. That a momma driving a hot car is full of hormones, emotions, headache and can only take so much before she needs a nap!

God knows all that came into yesterday. He knows all that will come into today. Nothing surprises Him. We need to find peace in knowing He knows all. And when we find that peace, we need to live there.

There is such beauty in finding out that we are nothing and He is all. For when we truly find it, we see just how amazing He is. We come to see Him work in us and through us.
For when we find Him, and know that He is all, then everything else become so les important. Our focus changes. All becomes bigger and worry becomes less.

There is a place of rest designed for each of us. It’s found in knowing that
He knows all.
He hears all.
He sees all.

He is all.
May we seek this all. May it become all inclusive. Our minds, hearts and actions all wrapped up in Him.

Our All in All.

Priorities

Is it easy for you to keep things in order?

Do you find yourself stressed?  Overwhelmed?

Have you ever felt like you just didn't know what you were supposed to be doing?

Have you ever lost track of your purpose?

Confused?

Well as I found myself reading Chapter 12 last night in Eat the cookie...buy the shoes. I am hearing God whisper to my heart how easily we can get things out of order.

Priorities.  Its a big word packed full of a lot of meaning.

It won't take you long to look around you and be able to identify the priorities of this world. 

The priorities of this world are greatly different then the ones God has.

And I have found myself many times 'out of order'.  And last night I was reminded that there is purpose and beauty in His priorities.

Joyce calls the priorities:

Sit
Stand
Walk
Run

Sit.  Here is where we find ourselves seated with Jesus.  A place of relationship. Peace. Rest.  A place to be loved on.  Learn from our teacher.  A place to be protected.  Refueled.  Energized. 

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6

If you believe in what Jesus has done for you, and you have accepted His gift for you, then you are seated with Him right now!

Have you learned to sit and enter into God's rest?

"Faith allows us to rest mentally and emotionally.  Even our will gets a rest when we have faith in God." (pg 133)

When we sit, we experience a place of power.

A power that will make us ready to stand.

Stand. Strength. Commitment. Courage.  We choose to stand firm in faith, knowing and trusting God is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do.  Knowing, trusting, believing. 

We will have the energy and strength to stand, when we have learned the art of sitting.

Walk. Each step we take is a choice. Steady.  Set pace.  Rhythm. This is active.  Moving forward.  Faith, trust, and obedience needed to make healthy choices will lead to steps taken.

"Knowing is not enough; we must do and the doing is called our walk with God." (pg 136)

And when you have trained.  When you are ready.  You then will run.

Run. Intentional. Motivated. Goal. Hard.

"If you have learned to sit, stand, and walk in God, it is time to start running in and with God." (pg 138)

Personally after reading this chapter I have found myself a little 'out of order' here with these priorities.  I am praying, trusting and knowing that my place right now is to sit.  In all of my flesh I want to be running.  However I can hear God whispering to my heart how I am not ready.  To say that was an easy whisper to hear would be not truthful...but I trust God to know better than me...His way has never led me down the wrong path.  So I will find myself sitting, resting and learning in Him...it really is a great place!

Give Your Soul a Vacation

Good Day Friends!  Hope this Wednesday finds you surrounded by some most amazing things...if you aren't seeing them...then I pray that the distractions can be wiped away and you will find them...they are there!

As we move into Chapter 11 Give Your Soul a Vacation  in Joyce Meyers book, Eat the cookie...buy the shoes I would have to say this chapter was packed full of some great stuff. 

First, have you ever given your soul a vacation?

Now if you are like me I was wondering what that meant, how does that look exactly?

Joyce defines your soul as that which is 'comprised of your mind, will and emotions'. (pg 113)

Now you might be able to hear the Engineer shouting in the background..."Yep we need one of those around here...the emotions and hormones are on their next flight out of here!"  Ha!

As I got into this chapter I realized that I know how to have a 'physical vacation'.   Physically I rest my body...if you remember I have NO problem taking breaks...playing...going for walks, taking a nap, etc! 

Taking a soul vacation involves learning how to live life like Jesus.  And if we don't undesrtand that our souls we won't be a whole and healthy person.

If worry, doubt, fear, shame, anxiety, depression, stress and a mix of other emotions fill us...then our souls are not at rest, we are not at peace and not fully living out what God has for us!

Like I said above this chapter is packed full of some great stuff...so much as I would really recommend the book for even just this chapter alone.

Are you weary?  Tired?  Worn out?


Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]


Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.


For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. Matthew 11:28-30 (Amplified Bible)

I have always loved these verses above.  The first thing we need to do when we feel weary, tired and worn out...is come to Jesus!

And I struggle with this...its hard for me...its my stubbornness and pride issues.  Because for some silly reason its ingrained in me to think that asking for help or showing signs of needing help is weak!  I know crazy...but its an issue for me!

"Asking is the first rule to receiving, so don't be too prideful to ask for help." (pg 116)

It's as if Joyce is writing this chapter for me!

The enemy wants us to feel weak and worn out.  He wants to push us until we have no strength left.  The enemy wants us hearing lies, thinking foolish thoughts, saying silly things...why?  Because then we won't be enjoying life and we certainly won't be living out the joy of Jesus for others to see.

The rest we find in God is for our mind, our will and our emotions.  It is a complete rest.

When we 'yoke' with Jesus, which literally means to come together with Him, we get very close to Jesus.  So close that then He can help us balance out the things in our life...and because we are so close to Him we can then learn how He responds to every situation.

That last little bit is a very key point.  Life is messy, not always fair, difficult at times, and full of challenges, issues, hormones, obstacles and more!  But friends if you will, think back to what the life of Jesus looked like as He walked and lived it out on this earth. 

For Jesus it wasn't a matter of asking for a change in circumstances...though I am sure He would have loved that at times...it was a matter of attitude.

And friends He wants to teach us that we are to have a right, proper and good attitude about what God's purposed for us.

Hard to type...even harder to live out!

"We can change our quality of life by changing our attitude toward the small and big things that usually irritate or anger us." (pg 125)

I think those words above need to be tattooed on to my arm!

How do we get rest for our souls?

Come to Jesus.

Pray and invite Him into the situation.

He will provide rest for your mind, will and emotions as well as your body!

Learn When to Stop

Hello and Happy Monday!  Welcome to the blog. 

Do you have struggle with knowing when to stop?  Are you a work-a-holic?  Or maybe like me you tend to find yourself on the other end of the spectrum...wanting to have fun and play all the time?

When the Engineer and I first married we struggled with this.  The weekends would come and we would have different ideas of what we wanted to do...I would want to spend the entire weekend just relaxing, having fun, playing...and he would want to get chores done and work on his to-do list.  But let me make sure to include that he finds these things 'fun'...well maybe fun is a stretch...he likes to be productive!  So over the years of our marriage I have truly learned we have to compromise...work some......play some.

Chapter 10 of Joyce Meyers new book, Eat the cookie...buy the shoes is about learning the balance and truly enjoying life.

For when we work too much life can become stressful and unhealthy, and when we play too much we can become undisciplined.

Knowing when to stop is something we need help with.

In this chapter Joyce reminds us of some things we can do in the everyday to help seek and find the balance.

Learning to stop and laugh.  I love this one.  I love to laugh.  And thankfully I am married to the Engineer who truly is moments away from switchin careers...okay not really.  But truly he is just naturally everyday funny.  And the even cooler thing is he knows when his wife needs to lighten up and laugh...and it works great!

Laughing helps us lighten up.  It is mood improving.  And it keeps us healthier. 

You don't have to tell me life is unfun and hard at times...I sit here typing this morning with two separate sets of stitches running along my back and bottom (I know more information than you were looking for in blog land today!)  I had two different moles removed and the punch biopsies came back precancerous so the Dr had to excise more!  I could focus on the unfun parts of this...or I can choose to find humor and laugh to get myself through.  Being that the bandages are in spots I cannot reach myself I am humbled to allow the Engineer to help...and in comes his humor!  So lets just say I am laughing and trying not to pop my stitches!

It's hard to do some moments...but try today to get yourself to laugh. 

Learn to Play more.  I believe having my boys helps me with this.  The boys can make any situation fun and we always find ourselves laughing.  They are truly little humor prodigies!!  The other night we were in the front driveway kicking a soccer ball around and the Engineer and I were talking and we accidentally missed the ball and my youngest little guy shouts out.'Hey mom and dad quit doing all that married stuff and pay attention to the ball'.  We shared a great laugh!

Learn to Stop and Rest.  If you find your energy running low, sit down for a few minutes and take a break.  Read a book. Go for a walk get some fresh air. Take a nap...this is my favorite one!  And make sure you are getting 8 hours of sleep..I am no Dr but I do agree with this bit of advice.  Our bodies need time to heal and restore themselves and this happens when we are sleeping...I did pay attention in my college anatomy and physiology class!  Vacation.  Be creative with vacations.  Use your time and money wisely.

What are you doing today?

May we choose to believe we are to enjoy life.

Celebrate You

Happy Wednesday friends!


Today on the blog I want to spend some time using Chapter 9 of Eat the cookie…buy the shoes to pray, ask some questions, and truly hear from God.

I am sensing that this will be hard for some of us today. Please know I am praying. I believe that to be set free and truly live in the abundant life He has for us we have to allow Him to renew our minds.

Chapter 9 is titled Celebrate You.

When was the last time you celebrated yourself?

Now some of you might already be getting ready to click off this blog because you are thinking how in the world is this biblical…this sounds a little too selfish!

Well if you are courageous keep reading my friend…

Let’s start in Genesis.

So God created man (and woman) in His own image. (Genesis 1:27) (emphasis mine)

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:31) (emphasis mine)

Okay are you with me so far? You were created in the image of God and when He looks at you, He smiles and is pleased with what He made.

Maybe you grew up never hearing just how amazing you are. But please take a few seconds to think on this, think to a point where it gets in to your heart today.

The Creator of the universe made you…He did so on purpose. He loves you. He thinks you are worth it! He thinks you are amazing.

Until we truly grasp who He has created, we cannot appreciate ourselves and thus not love ourselves.

Now please know there is a healthy God designed balance between thinking too highly of ourselves and thinking too poorly of ourselves.

For we need to keep this balance. And when we do we honor good with our thoughts.

So what do you think of yourself?

Is it God honoring?

We have been created on purpose. The purpose is to be in a love and grace filled relationship with God. A relationship made possible by Jesus.

Without Jesus we are nothing in ourselves, but with Jesus we are everything!

And once we are in this love and grace filled relationship with God, He can work in us and through us to accomplish His purpose on earth.

What your life amounts to is directly connected to what you think of yourself. We need to learn to think like God thinks. (pg 94)

God views us the way He knows we can be.

Beautiful, worthy, holy, perfect, righteous, redeemed, renewed, pure and filled with grace and love!

How do you see yourself?

What side of the cross are you living on?

Are your thoughts of yourself in agreement with Gods?

How would our lives look if we actually believed God loves us and smiles upon us?

May we know who God is, what He thinks of us, and may we celebrate what we have in Jesus!