Five Minute friday- Journey- The Journey We walk with God

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "journey"

Life is a journey. Life as a Christian is a journey with God. It is journey of learning and changing by God's word and His love for us.

I was thinking about this a little bit this morning. It was an off morning. Totally off my routine. The big kid was just extra clingy and whiny. So I wasn't able to have my quiet time or even to think much on the day to come. The big kid needed some extra mommy time and I felt God beckoning me to foster that neediness into some loving time even though it was hard. We cuddle. I read some books. Got her some food to eat. Did some stickers in our sticker book.

All the meanwhile, I thought about how my relationship with my big kid should be close enough to the journey I take with God. Sometimes I am needy and whiny. Sometimes I get upset when I don't get my way. Sometimes I am just tired and in a bad mood. Do I want God to be annoyed with me like how I struggled with my big kid this morning? Of course not.

This journey called the Christian life is meant for God to be the stronger one and I am the weak one in need of depending constantly on Him. He lovingly shows that to me even when the journey is hard. I am so appreciative of that. I want to show my big kid the same thing.  

Five Minute Friday- Eat- What Faithful Thing has He done?

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "eat".

There is a verse in Psalm 37 that I immediately thought of when I heard our word "eat". It is in verse 3, "Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the Land and feed on His faithfulness."

Feeding on something is eating. We are called to indulge in God's faithfulness when we want to trust in Him and do good. There is no other way. You cannot be able to trust in God and do good without eating on the faithful things He has done in your life.

One story I eat on is a time when my husband and I worked at a group home. It was rough the first 6 months because the kids clearly were unhappy beings and didn't want to be there. Who can blame them? But I took it personally because my life was built on how others made me feel. Until one night when I got angry at some sisters who decided to gang up on me about some consequences they had. I got upset and left the house very mad. When I came back after the supervisor was called, I even threw my socks at them and ran off. I was hurting.

Stop

I have to go on of course. : )

I realized that I couldn't go on feeling this way. So I contact the pastor who did my husband's and I premarital counseling and he led me to my mentor, Jo. She was a gift from God. A year and half later of struggling, God opened my eyes through her and His most powerful life changing word to show me that He was ultimately in control with those kids lives but also mine. He knows every single detail about my life and I could trust that.

So every time a person or a situation makes me feel powerless or the uncertainty is unbearable, I turn to the verse in Psalm 37 and eat on His faithfulness on what He did at the group home.

What stories can you hold onto that allows you to eat on His faithfulness to get through what you are going through right now? 

Five Minute Friday- Park- Do You want to go to the Park?

 

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "park".

I love going to the park with my two year old.

There is a nice size playground where the kids of all ages can play at. The swings are there for both the big kids and for the babies. It also has a smaller playground area for my big kid's age group but then a bigger one for the older kids. It is so much fun watching my big kid run around playground to playground trying new things but also doing what is familiar to her.

Another thing about the park is the farmer's market that goes on during late spring through early fall. There are a few tents set up with various farmers and Amish people who sell their veggies and fruits and some of their amazing baked goods. My big kid likes to go over there because of the farmers gave her an apple for free once.

A huge characteristic of this park is the huge river beside it. There is constantly ducks and geese hanging around the water but always ready and eager to eat anything you give them. Sometimes they are stubborn though and wont move out of the way when I am driving to get the park. They need those duck crossing signs.

Stop

Plus I have to add that they also have this mile long walking path, a doggie park, a small theater that has local actors who act out a play twice a year, and then they have their annual carnival. Even during Christmas, they have lights all along the path. Such a nice park.  

Five Minute Friday- Mail- A Long Time ago before Email

 

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "mail".

The summer that I turned 14 I went to Awana camp in New Mexico like I always did. Awana camp was always something I wanted to earn to go to every summer. There you got to experience a week of fun and competition but also meet some awesome people. This particular year I met this guy named Fred Herrmann (yes that was his real name) and it was love at first sight. At the end of the week we switch addresses so that we could write each other. The goal was to keep writing until the following summer. And that's what we did.
 
He wrote the first letter almost immediately. Of course as any teenager girl, I could write the letter but couldn't send it until two days after I received it. Don't ask me why. When I would send it, the following days I would stalk the mailbox hoping to get a letter from him which I did. We seriously hear from each other once a week.

But then I found out that we were moving overseas. That was unexpected and very rough. We continued writing, but I didn't get his letters in the mail as fast because of being overseas. But then something what I thought was glorious came into our lives: EMAIL! But we soon found out that nothing really exciting happened in 24 hours and soon our writing quickly dwindled into nothing. Email was no longer cool.

Five Minute Friday- Test- A Simple Test

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "test".

Every single one of us struggle with having bad thoughts. They might be anxious ones or resentful ones or angry ones. But sometimes we have thoughts that we are not sure if they are of God or of our flesh. Here is a simple test to see what they are.

1) Does it glorify God? Are you focusing on yourself or what is right?

2) Does it bring you peace or leave you unsettled?

3) Does it keep coming up or you have automatic peace?

4) What does God's word says about it?

5) Does it harm someone else? You know, to see someone fail or something that doesn't seem like that big of a deal?

It is so important to keep our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. If our thoughts are bad, it will affect our witness and our attitude. It is important to have a simple test like this.

Five Minute Friday- Collect - Collecting what is important

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "collect".

Since I was 12 years old, I have been writing in journals. They are a accumulation of life lessons, prayers, and bible studies I have done. I probably have over 30 of them collecting dirt upstairs in our attic. I hold onto these quite dearly. I have always commented that these would be one of the things that I would like to grab in a fire (yeah ok I know unrealistic but they are important to me).

I think it is important to collect things like this because it tells a story, a story to pass on for others to read. Maybe they will be an encouragement. Or maybe they will give someone hope. I just like the idea of my grand children reading them or someone long time from now finding them in a hidden spot trying to decipher. For others it might be scrapbooking or photo albums since technology is making them extinct. Maybe it is a favorite book series which is also another thing technology is taking away. Collecting these things hold onto what is important and something to share with others that could impact their lives.

Five Minute Friday- Five- When I was Five Years Old

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "five".

As a kid, the world revolved around me. I was clueless to what is going on in life because as a kid I was so self centered. 

My first memories were when I was five years old. We lived in Idaho, on base housing, in this huge cul-de-sac where there was this huge island of dirt and grass in the middle with houses all around it. This is where I learned to ride my bike for the first time without training wheels. Once I got the hang of it, I went in circles around the huge island. Learning how to ride a bike with training wheels was such a big thing. Life was so great.

Another time in that same neighborhood while I was playing outside with my friends Ninja Turtles where I of course was Michelangelo. He was my favorite. My friend and I were fighting the bad guys when mom told me I needed to quit. My friend's mom relative of some sort (don't remember) died. It phased me for like two seconds enough time to get away and continue on playing. Life was all about me.

Now as an adult, I notice things around me. I notice death and getting old. People falling apart physically and mentally. I notice pain and hurting people. People who don't have hope. People who have some hope. People just lost in their sin. It hurts me and as a Christian, I wish I could do more. But I know that the solution to sin, death, and pain is Jesus. It is that simple. It isn't easy for us as humans but He made it easy through what He did. 

So instead of living in my own little world, I need to embrace the world that is calling out to me. What am I going to do? That is something I want to figure out and be more open to.

Ok Just being honest that was more than five minutes but I just couldn't stop. Hope you understand : )

Five Minute Friday- Listen - In the Wee Hours of the Night

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "listen"

In the wee hours of the night, when I suddenly wake up, thoughts come rushing into my mind. What happen the day before. What I wish I could have done differently with so and so. And so on...That is how God gets ahold of me.

Now I have a choice, I either fight all the thoughts which turn into anxiety most of the time and try to go back to bed tossing and turning. Or I can get out of bed and listen to God.

 I am getting better you know. I get out of bed with my IPad and walk into the bathroom and sit down on the edge of the tub in the dark. Less light means better chance of going back to bed when I am done. Then whatever fear, whatever situation I give it to God right there. I draw near to my scripture lists and read and pray over there. It allows me to stop worrying, stop overthinking but just to listen to God and His words. When I do listen, a peace floods my heart. Its 99.99% chance every time. I am thankful that I listened to God.

Five Minute Friday- Heal - Broken Hearts

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "heal".

When I think about the word "heal", Jesus heals our hearts kept coming to my mind. He does. It is only Him who can do it. And only He knows if our hearts have truly been healed. Remember the verse in Matthew 25 that says that when we die that God will either tell us well done, good and faithful servant or depart from Me, I do not know you.  How many people out there that we think have there hearts healed by Jesus aren't really healed? That's a scary thought. As humans it is so easy to do all the right things and give everyone the idea that we are right with God by leaning on our own strength. But what about our hearts? Jesus was obsessed with people's hearts. Why aren't we more like Him? It is as simple as allowing Him to come into our lives as we humbly seek Him because we do do wrong things and allow him to heal our hearts from our sins.  

Five Minute Friday- Path- The Ultimate Path

Here is to another week of Five Minute Friday. The word is "path".

Everyone has chosen a path that they knew that they probably should not have chosen. I know I have when it came to relationships or even something that I have invested my time into. But does that affect the bigger picture of life? What do I mean you ask? God has a perfect and sovereign path for you and I.

I struggle with this a lot because I have went down some paths that has affected my life. I always wonder what if I went down this path instead of this one. But what I have learned is that even though the path I have chosen was made in a period of time that was not glorifying to God, it was still apart of His plan and He has been glorified in it and I know He will continue to be glorified in it as the future unfolds. I need to remember that His path will always prevail no matter what decisions I have made because He is God and ultimately still in control.

Five Minute Friday- Loyal - His "Loyal Love" will last Forever

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "loyal".

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
² For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever;
Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens

Psalm 89:1-2 NKJV

Did you know that the word mercy from this verse translates into "loyal love"? God's mercy is encompassed by His love for us. It is such an amazing feeling that David bursts out in song singing praises to God. It is established and set. And it simply started with His love. His love is what motivated Him to set up this amazing rescue plan by sending Jesus down on this earth, even while we were sinners, to die for us. We didn't deserve it. We don't deserve it but He did it anyways because of His love.

But sometimes it seems like we treat Jesus dying on the cross as if it was a one time deal. We continue on trying to live life in our own strength making what He did not important. But that doesn't change anything for God. He continues on in His mercy remaining faithful to us. Always there reminding, guiding, and directing us to the cross. He is loyal. He stands with us till the very end. We are His and He fights for us and it is all motivated by His loyal love for us.

Five Minute Friday- Team - Do You have a Team?

Here is another Five Minute Friday. The word is "team".

Everyone needs to be apart of a team, a team of accountability and support. Everyone needs people who are there for spiritual support, emotional support and relational purposes. I have a team just like that.

First there is my parents who I love soooooo much! They are my strong support system who encourage me when they don't agree with me. We can yell it out and be ok with each other.

Then there is my husband. He is my tell-it-as-it-is team manager. Sometimes as an emotional crazy person I need someone to snap me out of it. He does just that. He brings me back to reality and the rational way of thinking. Haha.

Christine is a friend who invited me over to her house to study the Bible. She is amazing! She gives me biblical encouragement while we study the Bible together. We also pray and console each other in the different stages of life we are in.

Then there are these two ladies named Christy and Kristy ( no joke) who is always a phone call away. Anytime I just need to talk to someone, they are there. They have older kids and have been there. I appreciate their constant openness towards me.

And Stop


But I have two more people I need to add.

There is Pastor Jeff, one of the pastors at my church. I use to work with him in the youth ministry where I could see that he had a strong desire for teaching and knowing God's word. Anytime I have a question about something in the Bible that just seems sticky or unsure, I go to him. I appreciate his wisdom and how comfortable he makes you feel to approach him.

Last there is my friend Julie. Since I am a military brat, I didn't have long term friends because we moved. Julie is my friend that I have known since 2004. That's a long time for a military brat. But Julie and I are both in the battlegrounds. We both have littles and husbands with busy and long hour jobs. No matter how long we don't talk to each other when we do it just comes easy. It is so important to have someone like her because she is where I am at and I need that sometimes.

What about you? Do you have a team of people that encourage you in your faith? Or challenges you as a person? Or tells you how it is? Your team might not be as big as mine but no matter the number it is so important to have people there to encourage you and support you in this journey called life.

Five Minute Friday- Lift - A Lifting up Marriage

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "lift"

Marriage is hard. Two imperfect people get married and share their lives together. When I got married, I realized that I was not the only one who had to deal with my emotions which made my emotions harder to deal with. I also learned that sometimes I need to keep my emotions to myself because it is not beneficial and uplifting to my husband no matter how much I want to say it.

But the one thing I have realized the most is that through God's grace and constant reliance on my part when my husband is down or vice versa we can always be there to lift each other up. Even though it is sometimes hard because he makes it difficult, God gives me the grace to help lift up my husband. There are even times that my husband lifts me up and doesn't even realize it. Marriage gives that opportunity and ability to lift each other up. 

Even though marriage is hard I am glad that God has given me the husband He has given to me and helps me to be the stronger one through His grace when I need to be.  

Five Minute Friday - Hidden - The Hidden Parts of the Heart

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "hidden".

Everyone knows that person that doesn't seem to open up to you at all but seems to have a heavy heart. They are lost. They need Jesus. They have hurt, pain, and anger in their lives but what is in their hearts is hidden. 

As someone who went to school to study psychology, it is frustrating for me to deal with people like that because I care and I want to understand where they are coming from. It is mostly hard when it is a loved one and I don't know what their heart is hiding from me.

But what God has been pressing on my heart is that He knows what is in their hearts. Nothing is hidden from Him. He sees all and knows all. Resting in that helps me to pray for those who I want to know what is hidden in their hearts in order to bless them.

Here are some things that we can pray for those who have hidden things in their hearts

1) Ask God to reveal to you things that He wants to show you from their hearts

2) Ask God to see them the way He sees them.

3) If you struggle with feeling frustration or anger towards them, pray that God can reveal to you what is hidden in your heart to be able to reach that person the way He wants you to.

Five Minute Friday - Help- Asking for Help

So I have been out the pass two weeks because life is just plain busy. God is still working and I have to go back to that every time or I am going to fall flat on my face.

So here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word is "help".

So this past week has been an up and down week for me emotionally. I am kinda in between stages of finishing a Bible Study and figuring out what I need to do next with my blog. Kinda frustrating and lonely.

Also the Republican National Convention is on this week which is depressing and a joke.

My husband's new job is finally opened and on its way to being successful since it is expected to be one of their busier stores. But it means he is so busy and tired.

So most nights I have been feeling very anxious anticipating what is next for life. I constantly had the battle going on,

"I just need to relax my brain and watch some Friends."

 "Psst...Kristina what is that going to solve in your busy and anxious mind...um...nothing."

"But I just want to relax."

"Kristina you need My Help. Kristina you are doing all of this in your own strength and leaning on your own understanding. You cant. It is counterproductive. You need My help!"

I reached out for His help and the blessings continue to flow. But it needs to be a constant going to His help. I am though so thankful for a persistent and faithful God who wants me to let go and allow Him to help me.

Five Minute Friday- Protect- Protector of Our Souls

Here comes another round of Five Minute Friday. The word is "protect".

So has anyone heard about the U.N trucks in like 25 major cities around the United States?

I sure did! My husband wasn't to fond of them. They are there to protect us. Protect us from whom you ask? That answer is different to each person you talk to about it.

Some like my husband would say that it is to protect the U.S from people who are wanting a change and would do anything to stop the government.

Others would say from terrorists.

But whatever reason they were or still here, we do need protection as a country. Not in the way you think. Not from our self serving president or sitting ducks politicians. No, we need protection for our souls. As Christians we don't know how much longer we have here until Christ comes back but there are lost people who need protection for their souls.

And stop.

This is something that God really has been working in my heart. Souls of people who are lost need Jesus. Everything in our flesh/Satan will try to stop us from telling others about Christ. Satan is going to try everything to hold onto those people who needs their souls to be protected. We know who the true Protector of souls are and we need to tell them about Him. No U.N trucks or new president are going to change things. It is us who need to step and see that people's souls are at stake.

 For you were like sheep going astray,

but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer^[i] of your souls.

1 Peter 2:25

Five Minute friday- Rest- What My Tailbone has taught Me About Rest

I was sad to miss out on last week's Five Minute Friday but I am back now for another week. This week's word is "rest"

So I fell down some of my stairs this morning and landed on my tailbone. I think I have bruised it. It kinda made me frustrated and upset. I have been emotional and very tired the past few days and now this. I was not looking forward to another day with this added on top of it. But I had to move on by starting out my day with my quiet time.

This week I started a new study from Katie Orr called Everyday Peace. She had us review the week. All of a sudden God told me, "Kristina, I am here! I will give you rest." No seriously, rest. When I rest in Him, He will give me peace to deal with my crazy almost 2 year old, tiredness, emotions, and discomfort. I then looked at a verse that I looked at at the beginning of the week. 2 Thess 3:16.

" Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.

The Lord be with you all."

This is where I am going to find rest is in His peace IN EVERY WAY.

Five Minute Friday- Want- He wants Your Heart

Here is to another Five Minute Friday. The word this week is "want".

Jesus wants your heart! But He cant get your heart until you have an repentive heart.

Satan wants your heart! But he wants you to hold
onto your pride, anger, hurt, and the things of this world.

Jesus constantly came into contact with person after person who wanted to have their bodies physically healed. But He saw it their hearts. He wanted their hearts to be healed. Their faith healed their hearts.

Jesus also came into contact with many people who didn't want to let go of the things of this world who preferred their treasures or even their "good works" above Him. Jesus still wanted their hearts.

What things are we holding onto that stops us from completely giving on our hearts to God? Do you know that He wants your heart?

Five Minute Friday- Haven- Resting in My Haven

Here is to another week of Five Minute Friday. The word is "haven".

In the month of May, my husband started a new job where the store has not been built yet. He has to commute a hour and half everyday at 4 in the morning to go to the store of where he is training at. The first 2 weeks he came home and was exhausted and withdrew from my little one and I. I took it hard because even though I know he didn't mean to be that way, he was putting a lot of pressure on me to do a lot of things by myself. It was affecting my attitude and thought life. And in return my relationship with him and our little girl.

I knew this was wrong and I had to change my attitude. It was hard because of all the anxiety and fear I was having about this time of transition. But as James 4:8a says

^" Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..."

So I found some verses pertaining  to anxiety and fear of the unknown and drew near to Him. And you know what? He became my haven. He became my resting place. Every time I had thoughts I went to my haven. Every time I felt frustrated, I went to my haven.

You know what happen? Even though my husband is still tired, his attitude has also changed because he saw a change me in me because I chose to rest in my Haven instead of how the situation made me feel.

What an awesome God!

Five Minute Friday- Cheer- God is Cheering Us On

Yay for another time of Five Minute Friday. The word is "cheer".

God is cheering me on! I have made some changes in my life and intentionally making the effort to draw near to God. I am crying out to Him asking for a heart change, asking Him to give me the ability to love those who I love the way He wants me to. And He is cheering me on!

He is saying, "Ok Kristina. You can do this through Me! Keep drawing near to Me. Allow Me to work in your life."

He isn't giving up on me. His grace and His word enables me to keep pressing on. His grace and His word helps me to step out in faith and trust in Him. His grace and His word helps me day in and day out to be the mom He wants me to be, to be the wife that He wants me to be. He has not given up on me.

And stop...

Disclaimer: I really struggled writing this post because I couldn't find a scripture that matches this exactly. Because that is the key, His word. That is what helps me and can help you to have that change in your life, to help you go through that hard time, to help you when Satan is attacking you relentlessly. Here are the scripture I was wanting to use but they just seem to trip me up:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:1

 

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.
²⁴ Though they stumble, they will never fall,
    for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

 

“He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.
¹⁸ He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
    from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
¹⁹ They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
    but the Lord supported me.
²⁰ He led me to a place of safety;
    he rescued me because he delights in me

2 Samuel 22:17-20