Steve and I spent our first two years of marriage in Nashville. He had lived his whole life in Cambridge. I grew up on Long Island. Needless to say, the Bible Belt was a culture shock.
The first thing that shocked Steve was that downtown Nashville can be explored in about 2 hours. In fact, Steve got bored the first day he visited and ended up getting a tattoo to pass the time...
Learning to Love...
It is truly better to give than to receive. I was blessed with the opportunity to donate some of my CDs to the girls at Mercy Ministries this Christmas. It was so awesome to be able to give of my talents in a way that reaches these girls who are all across the country. I love being partnered with Mercy Ministries, but there are so many other wonderful charities and organizations that I'd love to give to. So what could I do? And what charities do I choose? I'm sure a lot of us feel this way, so I decided to have a Buy 1 Get 1 Sale. Buy 1 CD, Get 1 Free (free shipping too!) AND I'll donate 30% of the sale of your CD to a charity of YOUR choice! You can buy "Hear Me Out" here. After you complete your purchase, I'll email you and you can tell me what charity you would like to donate to. :) I hope this blesses you this holiday season, and that it will bless charities across the world as well. Merry Christmas, Ashley P.S. The sale ends December 26!
How do you celebrate?
Hello everyone,
It's been nearly 5 months since I last blogged. Motherhood is quite time consuming. :) It's hard to find the time to sit and write, but I have a few things on my heart that I wanted to share. So I'm using this time while Shane naps, and hopefully this will be an encouragement to you.
Last year around this time I decided that I was going to do a Read Through the Bible In a Year plan. I started off strong, and even though pregnancy caused some bumps in the road (I couldn't believe how tired I was some days!) I still managed to keep up with it pretty well. But then September 20th came, followed by 50 hours of labor, and on September 22, Shane finally arrived via C-section. I'd imagine that recovering from any labor and delivery takes some time. Not only did I have to recover from the physical labor and surgery, but there was a lot of emotional healing that needed to happen. I had been praying and believing for a natural, drug-free delivery since I found out I was pregnant. Not only did I end up having to have a C-section, but I hemorrhaged, had some a reaction to the drugs which caused convulsions and made so loopy I couldn't see straight for hours. Then, both Shane and I ended up with infections and had to be on antibiotics via an IV for a few days. My labor and delivery turned out to be so far from what I had hoped and prayed for that all I kept asking was "Why God?" I know God was with me through it all. My son is so wonderful that he is more than worth every minute of it. But it was scary, and I was afraid of ever having any more children, in fear that delivery could be just as bad or worse. It took weeks for me to accept what had happened and to fully embrace the fact that even though it seemed out of control, God was completely in control. He loves me, and perfect love casts out fear. I'm no longer afraid, because I know that I am deeply loved. Shane and Steve are my daily reminders of how much my Lord loves me. They are extensions of His love.
So with all that going on and moving month to month, staying with family & friend's (our apartment is still being renovated and currently unlivable), I got WAY behind on my reading plan. In fact I was so far behind that I didn't want to read my Bible at all. I felt guilty reading anything outside of the plan, and at this point there's no hope for finishing by January 1. I was also struggling with the adjustment to motherhood. Having been a Nanny for a few years, I thought parenting would be a piece of cake. The difference is, I don't get to go home and call it a day after 8 hours. I didn't realize how hard it would be to function on little sleep. I didn't realize that breast-feeding is a process that both Shane and I needed to learn and work out together. I didn't realize how much harder it is to put down a baby when it's your own. And I definitely didn't realize how much conflicting information is out there and how everyone wants to tell you how to raise your child. I was loving being a mom, but I was exhausted! Physically and emotionally. I wasn't the cheery, joyful encourager that I usually am and want to be. I felt like I was letting people down, bringing them down with me into my state of exhaustion and frustration. I was fortunate enough to go on a women's retreat a few weeks ago. I knew I needed some quality God-time, but I wasn't expecting to be encouraged in the way that I was. Let me share with you what I learned...
As a mom, I'm in a whole new season of life. My life has NEVER looked like this before and it's an adjustment! How I spend my time is very different. I'm not a bottle of energy everyday like I once was, but my love for God is evident in my life and the way I love my son and my husband. I'm still bringing joy to those around me by my walk with the Lord. Even though it looks different than it did pre-baby. That was a word I really needed to hear. I also needed to learn this little analogy, which works very well for me because it involves coffee and I am a coffee person to the Nth degree. I was bummed and discouraged about not getting my "quiet time" with God everyday. I felt spiritually drained because I was so consumed with Shane, and everything else going on, that I didn't have time to spend a chunk of my day in the Word and in prayer. But everyday, regardless of how busy I am, I have my cup of coffee. Multiple cups, actually. Sometimes I get to sit down and have a cup with nothing else to do but enjoy it. But more often than not, I'm drinking coffee while I'm taking care of Shane, or having a conversation with someone, or doing chores. I get it in however I can. I feel like I need it to function. But how much more I need God! I need Jesus to function and live in a way that is pleasing to Him. My time with God can look different from day to day. Sometimes my time with Him is in the midst of fellowship with family and friends. Sometimes I pray while I'm rocking Shane to sleep or making breakfast. Sometimes I can read a quick proverb or verse to meditate on for the day. Then, there are the rare days where I get to relax, sit back, and spend some longer periods of time reading. God isn't just available during quiet times or at church on Sundays. He is everywhere, all the time and wants to be in the midst of our lives. That has been such a freeing thing to learn. I'm so thankful that God loves me so much that He wants to be with me everyday.
So to conclude this very long and overdue blogging session, I want to let you know that I will not be finishing my Through the Bible In a Year reading plan. I also want to let you know that I don't feel bad about it. There is no condemnation in Jesus. I would much rather have a healthy relationship with Him where I can be myself and free to see where each day leads me, then to stifle the relationship for the sake of finishing a task and checking it off on some self-created list. Now with that said, by no means am I implying that it's bad to set these types of goals or to have a daily reading plan. I believe that God put the desire in my heart a year ago to do this, and I believe He was glorified through it. But I also believe that God is flexible (often more than we are) and gracious, and that He doesn't mind a change in plans. :)
Love, Hugs & the Grace of God,
Ashley
Things don't usually happen the way I expect them to, and I don't tend to handle it well. Thankfully the Lord is working on me, and my "recovery time" is continually getting quicker and quicker.
Last December I was at a breaking point. Steve & I had been trying to get pregnant for a year, our house wasn't selling...the list goes on and on. In a nutshell, nothing was going the way I had planned. To make it even more frustrating, it seemed like the things we were wanting in our lives were happening in the lives of those around us. I couldn't help but ask God, "Are You serious???" Then one Sunday, the worship team played "Worth It All" (a beautiful worship song by Rita Springer) and it brought me to tears. For those of you who don't know the song, check this out:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnf21GC2aBQ Beautiful, isn't it? After hearing that song, I gave God all my pain to hold on to, and held tight to the promise that it's gonna be worth it.
Today I was spending time in Luke 24, reading about the men on the road to Emmaus. These two men were walking, heads hung low, depressed about the fact that Jesus- whom they believed would redeem Israel- was crucified. He had been dead for 3 days and His tomb was just found empty. Now I don't know what the redemption plan looked like in their minds, but Jesus dying a brutal death and having His body go missing was definitely not what they had in mind. These men were so upset, that when Jesus Himself met them on their journey and talked with them, they had no clue who He was. As I read this passage of scripture, my mind went back to last December...
Sometimes I get so upset about things not going the way I envisioned, that I miss Jesus in the midst of it. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." His plans are far better than any plan I can come up with. When I'm sad, or discouraged, He meets me where I'm at to encourage me. Jesus explained the scriptures concerning Himself to those 2 men on the road to Emmaus. He showed them that even though it didn't go as they planned, it was God's plan. His plans are perfect! The Lord met me where I was at last year and encouraged me through that song. Just 4 weeks later, I found out I was pregnant. :)
Now there are still things that we're believing for- our house in TN is still on the market- but as I've gone through these past 7 months of pregnancy, I've learned that good things come to those who wait. Our son has blessed Steve and I so much and he's not even born yet! I can't imagine the blessings and joys that he will bring us. Children are truly a gift from the Lord. I'm so thankful that my Heavenly Father is the best gift giver!
"Worth It All" often comes to mind and encourages me each time I hear it. The Lord also encourages me through His word, through friends, through my husband... He is still speaking. We just need to be listening.
I pray that you would be encouraged today. Whatever trial you're going through, let Him hold on to your pain and have peace in knowing that it's gonna be worth it.
Charis,
Ashley
I love the Psalms. They always seem to speak new truth and comfort to me, no matter where I am in life.
Currently, I'm in a place where God is doing some amazing things in my life- prayers are being answered, miracles are occurring. But there are some BIG things in my life that I'm still waiting to hear from the Lord on. Some of these things, I've been waiting on for years. It's an interesting place to be. I have peace because I know God is faithful, and I see His hand at work daily in my life. But I don't want that peace to become complacency, causing me to be satisfied with the unanswered prayers and putting them on the back burner.
Prayer is so important. As believers, we are called to pray. This isn't a special gifting for a select few. Prayer is essential to our walk with the Lord. I want to be a woman of prayer. I don't want to "give up" on unanswered prayers. One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 1:18 where God says, "Come now, and let us reason together." God wants us to make our requests known to Him. In fact, I believe that He loves when we come to Him in prayer. The Bible describes the prayers of the saints as incense, a sweet aroma to the Lord. It's a smell He loves and as His daughter, I want to give Him something that He loves. I want to please my Father! And the beautiful thing is, He wants to give us the desires of our heart. (Ps. 20:4) So, if our heart is pouring out our prayers and supplications- our requests to God, He will hear us and answer us.
Now, I want to clarify a couple of things.
1. God doesn't always answer prayers the way we anticipate, or in the timeframe we may hope for. But He is faithful! So, continue to diligently pray and expect Him to move. Don't be wishy-washy in your prayers, or pray half-heartedly. Pray in faith, without doubting, and wait in expectation of what the Lord will do.
2. I don't want to put a yoke around your neck and make you feel that you need a prayer "to do list". It's not about how many things you pray for, and more doesn't mean better. The Bible often speaks of praying in the Spirit and about asking God for wisdom. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers. He will put certain things on your heart. There may be obvious things in your life that you need to pray for, but sometimes you may be surprised at what the Lord leads you to pray about.
So this brings me back to my devotional time I had today. I was reading Psalms 60-62. A few key verses really stood out to me and encouraged me. I hope they do the same for you.
"From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Ps 61:2 NKJV
Today I felt just like this- my heart is overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with emotions such as joy and excitement, as well as frustration and concern. How do I pray? I go to the rock that is higher than I, and look to Him.
"My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God." Ps. 62: 5-8 NKJV
"God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.
Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy;
For You render to each one according to his work." Ps. 62:11,12
Jesus is my salvation! I will not try to create my own miracles. He has the power to answer my prayers. He is merciful and will render to me according to my work (prayer). So, I will wait on the Lord in expectation!
And I leave you with this final verse,
"Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah" Ps. 62. 8 NKJV
"Selah" means "think about it". And that is what I want you to do. :)
Charis,
Ashley
Hey everyone,
I'm sorry I haven't been updating my blog more regularly. Your forgiveness and grace on the subject is appreciated! :) There have been so many scriptures that I've wanted to share with you, but I can never find enough time to sit down and really get into them on here. But, there's one that I really want to share with you. I discovered this passage a few weeks ago, and have made it my "life verse". You will notice this passage on the ashleyfarrellmusic.com homepage, and I'm sure it will continue to pop up on the various things I do. Here it is:
I waited patiently for the Lord.
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of destruction,
out of the sticky mud.
He stood me on a rock
and made my feet steady.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many people will see this and worship him.
Then they will trust the Lord.
Happy is the person
who trusts the Lord,
who doesn't turn to those who are proud
or to those who worship false gods.
Lord my God, you have done many miracles.
Your plans for us are many.
If I tried to tell them all,
there would be too many to count.
You do not want sacrifices and offerings.
But you have made a hole in my ear
to show that my body and life are yours.
You do not ask for burnt offerings
and sacrifices to take away sins.
Then I said, "Look, I have come.
It is written about me in the book.
My God, I want to do what you want.
Your teachings are in my heart."
I will tell about your goodness in the great meeting of your people.
Lord, you know my lips are not silent.
I do not hide your goodness in my heart;
I speak about your loyalty and salvation.
I do not hide your love and truth
from the people in the great meeting.
Psalm 40:1-10 (NCV)
When I read these verses, my thought was, "Lord, I want this to be my life." I want to be so consumed by God's faithfulness, by the miracles He's done and is doing in my life, by His love for me...that I'm always singing His praises, keeping His teachings in my heart, and that I can't stop talking about how wonderful He is. (For anyone who knows me, you know that "my lips are not silent"!)
I pray that you have been impacted by God's word that you, too, have a life verse (maybe you have many). I'd love for you to share them with me! And if you don't have one, don't worry! Just ask God to speak to as you read His word, and it will come in His timing. :)
That's it for now. I'm off to church! I pray that you have a blessed Sunday and a wonderful week!
Charis,
Ashley
Well, as you've probably noticed, I'm not blogging every week! I'm so thankful for this life that is growing inside of me, but pregnancy (especially the 1st trimester) is exhausting! I pray that you are spending time in God's word regularly and that when I do get the chance to blog, you're encouraged!
I just wanted to point out 2 scriptures from the past week's reading that really stood out to me.
Isaiah 43:18-21 "The Lord says, "Forget what happened before,
and do not think about the past.
Look at the new thing I am going to do.
It is already happening. Don't you see it?
I will make a road in the desert
and rivers in the dry land.
Even the wild animals will be thankful to me—
the wild dogs and owls.
They will honor me when I put water in the desert
and rivers in the dry land
to give water to my people, the ones I chose.
The people I made
will sing songs to praise me."
When I read this, I was brought back to my days in college when I first encountered these passages of scripture. God is always doing something new. It may not look new (as in a radical change), but He is always working and creating and healing and providing...He's not stuck in a 9-5 job doing the same old thing each day. Each day is a day to rejoice and look to see what new things God is doing in your life and in the lives of those around you.
Another thing that stood out to me about this passage, is that it says to forget about the past and don't think about what happened before. I tend to dwell. Obviously, no one enjoys dwelling on the bad things from our past (though we still do it!). So, it makes sense that we shouldn't focus on the negative. But I don't think this scripture is an attempt to get us out of negative thinking. God allows good and bad things to happen in our lives. We pray that the bad things won't repeat themselves and that we'll learn lessons. But even when God does awesome things, it doesn't always mean He'll continue to do the same awesome things in your future. (For those of you I may be losing, bear with me.) For example, God has provided money for me and my family in miraculous ways. He has supernaturally provided funds, (like money appearing out of thin air- I can share that story if you'd like. Email me.) He has put people in our lives to bless us beyond what we could ever imagine. But sometimes, He doesn't. Instead, He provides our needs by decreasing interest rates on loans or insurance. Sometimes He allows us to work a few extra hours. Sometimes the things we need are on clearance. Do you see my point? We should always be expecting God to work, but we shouldn't limit ourselves to how He will provide. On the flip side, if God has been providing for you through "the little things" don't doubt that He can and may very well pull off a financial miracle! "All Things Are Possible With Jesus" is the slogan of a hair salon I discovered this week. I thought, how true! It's now my cell phone wallpaper. :)
Romans 15:5 "May the patience and encouragement that come from God allow you to live in harmony with each other the way Christ Jesus wants."
I love this verse. My husband and I have been talking a lot about finding common ground with others. I think people can be so quick to tear others apart, or cast judgement. Let's find common ground with others and build relationships from a place of love. We don't have to agree on everything, and there's a time to voice concerns and time for loving correction. But always in love. God gives us the patience and encouragement to know what to say and when to say it.
This verse reminds me of when Jesus saved Mary from being stoned. He didn't say, "Yeah, you are definitely a sinner. I'm not going to associate myself with you. Carry on gentlemen." Nor did He tell her that her sins weren't really THAT bad. Of course not! He reminded her accusers that they have all sinned, including her. The accusers left to think about their sin, and Jesus told her that He doesn't accuse her either, but to go and sin no more. There was love and grace in that encounter. May we be imitators of Jesus.
That's it for now. Love to you all!
Charis,
Ashley
Hey everyone!
Welcome to February! I hope you had an awesome January and that February will be even better!
I finished Joshua this week. So instead of recapping this week's readings, I thought I'd do something different and recap Joshua. I think it's neat to go through a book of the Bible and see what God is trying to say to us. :)
Here it goes:
Joshua 1 starts out with a key point: The Lord is with us. He will never forget us. He is with us wherever we go. (vs. 5,9)
In Joshua 2, we're introduced to Rahab. She didn't have a relationship with God. She saw these men that were coming to take over the land she lived in, and knew that their God was powerful. She helps the men, trusting them and having faith that God will save her family. Which, when the time came, Rahab and her family were spared from destruction. Her faith in God changed her life. In fact, the lineage of Jesus is traced back through her life. Pretty awesome!
Through out the next chapters, we see miracles occur. The walls of Jericho come crumbling down at the sound of trumpets. God makes the sun stand still- for a full day! God does amazing things in our lives everyday. Are you watching for them? (3:5)
In Joshua 14, Caleb comes on the scene and displays great faith. He's wanting to claim the land that he had been waiting for God to give him for 45 years. Caleb knew God would keep His promise and he knew that the time had come for the promise to be fulfilled. Talk about patience! I get frustrated sometimes if my prayers aren't answered in 4-5 days...
On the flip side, in Joshua 18, we see 7 tribes that were procrastinating in claiming the land God gave them. How often do we miss out on what God is giving/showing us because we're comfortable where we are?
As we approcah the end of Joshua, we once again see God's great love for us. He gives His people the land that He had promised their ancestors He's give them. He establishes cities of safety so anyone who accidentally commits a crime can be spared. Joshua's last words are words of encouragement. He reminds us of how great and loving God is, how we should serve Him alone and know that He brings peace to those who follow Him. I think these verses sum up Joshua quite nicely:
"But be careful to obey the teachings and laws Moses, the Lord's servant, gave you: to love the Lord your God and obey his commands, to continue to follow him and serve him the very best you can." (22:5)"Now respect the Lord and serve him fully and sincerely. Throw away the gods that your ancestors worshiped on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord. But if you don't want to serve the Lord, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve... As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." (24:14-15)Have you read Joshua? What has the Lord spoken to you? Please share! I love to hear what He is doing in the lives of others! Until next time...
Charis,AshleyCongratulations! You've made it 3 weeks through God's word! Are you enjoying it? I hope everyone is being encouraged by this blog (including those who aren't following the reading plan!)
This week has been challenging for me. Pregnancy symptoms are in full swing, including fatigue, forgetfulness, mood swings and most recently, nausea. But I'm so thankful that the Lord intrigues me with His word and makes my time with Him so wonderful. It's a nice way to start off the day. (Although, to be honest, I sometimes wait until later in the day to do my devo-time.) So, let's recap, shall we?
Isaiah 12 My theme verses for this week:
"At that time you will say:Isaiah 14: 24, 27 When God makes a plan, no one can stop it. And if you're familiar with Jeremiah 29:11, you know that His plans are to prosper you, to give you a future and a hope!
Matthew 5:21-48 I love that Jesus looks at the heart. In these verses, He's calling us to a higher standard of righteousness. We can try to come across perfect and innocent on the outside, but if our hearts aren't right, then what's the point? God looks past what the world sees, and looks straight into our hearts. The precious thing about this section of scripture is that we all have things in our heart that we're not proud of. It's through God's grace, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that He reveals these things to us, healing our hurts and mending our hearts. We can get so caught up in the rituals or actions that we miss the point. I often tell people, "Love Jesus. Develop a personal relationship with Him. The rest will fall into place." When we're trusting God and are seeking His will for our lives, He's faithful to point out the things that need to change. :)
Matthew 6:31-34 This one of my faves (I have a lot of faves...you'll notice that as the weeks go on!) DO NOT WORRY! God is in control. Trust Him! Now with that said, I'm very guilty of worrying. I've always been one to worry. Just yesterday I got all worked up about something that in the grand scheme of things isn't worth wasting my time over. So, I had a talk with my mother-in-law about the Lord and I felt much better. It's amazing how quickly my attitude changes when I get to talk about my Savior! Thankfully, the Lord is working on me and even though I still worry a lot, my "freak out moments" don't last nearly as long as they have in the past. I believe that one day I won't worry at all, and go straight to prayer mode.
Romans 5:3-5 This kind of goes along with the previous verses. We're not to worry when trials come our way. Actually, we should consider it joy because through those trials God molds us into who He's created us to be. Children of God that have hope and an abundant love for Him.
Genesis 9:12-17 I love rainbows! You often see a rainbow after a storm, or a gloomy rainy day. Everytime I see a rainbow, I'm reminded of God's faithfulness and His promises to me. So have peace in knowing that even when you go through the storms of life, they will never overcome you. A rainbow will be on it's way and everything will work out for the good.
Joshua 14:10-15 Caleb is the man! ;) But seriously, what an awesome example of what trusting God looks like. Caleb waited 45 years to see God's promise fulfilled. He never doubted that God would come through (even when everyone else panicked!) It's great to have friends like Caleb. Someone who will encourage you in whatever you're believing God for. Make a point to be around people who know God is capable of doing miracles in your life. Get some Calebs.
Job 5:8, 9 "But if I were you, I would call on God and bring my problem before him. God does wonders that cannot be understood; He does so many miracles they cannot be counted." (NCV) God loves you and cares about what you're going through. Bring your problems to Him.
Also: Isaiah 17:7,8 Matthew 5:3-12, 16 Matthew 6:7-13 Matthew 7:7-11 Romans 5:8 Romans 6:5-8, 23 Genesis 11:1-8 Psalm 7:17 Psalm 8:3-9
Well, that wraps up the week. I pray that you will sing songs of praise to the Lord all week long, that He would bring you rainbows and Calebs, and that you will fall more in love with Jesus everyday! I can't wait to hear from you!
Charis,Ashley
Well ladies and gents. Week 2 of 2010 has come and gone. I hope it was blessed week for you! This week brought some very interesting news my way. Last Saturday (1/9) I found out that Steve & I will be expecting our first child in September! We have been trying for a year. It was such a blessed surprise to get that positive pregnancy test (actually 3 positive tests!) and we can't stop praising God for His faithfulness to give us the desires of our hearts. :)
This week also brought some bad news, however, as my husband lost his job just days after finding out we were expecting. :( But, Steve said he had a peace about him when he was let go and we know that God is faithful to provide for us. We've seen evidence of His provision and exerienced His outpouring of blessings many times in our marriage. We know 100% that God will take care of us and the baby He is creating inside of me.
OK, so let's review some of the scriptures we read this week. Here's what stood out to me during my reading...what spoke to you?
Isaiah 8:19,20 It never ceases to amaze me the things people will do to find "answers" to their problems. God is in control. He is the creator of Heaven and Earth and He is the only one who knows all things. God gives us people to go to for wise counsel. But ultimately, it is He who is the giver of wisdom and guidance. Which bring me to...
Isaiah 10:15 & 11:1-8 If you're not following along with the weekly reading, I suggest you grab your Bible and read these verses.
Matthew 4:1-11 My favorite part of these verses where Jesus is being tempted by Satan is the use of the Word of God. Satan tries to twist God's word (and he is still doing this all the time everyday...) and Jesus knows the Word of God and the context in which it belongs and turns the Word of God right back around on the devil. The scriptures are our weapon against enemy attacks. Your Bible is full of answers and comfort and wisdom. It's worth reading and knowing. ;)
Matthew 4:24 He is our Healer!
Romans 3:10-20, 22-26 When I talk to people about Jesus and the realities of Heaven & Hell, I often get the response, "But I'm a good person." These verse show that we ALL have messed up and are all in need of God's grace. It is through faith in Jesus Christ alone that we are made right with God.
Joshua 6:20 & 10:12-14 Proof that all things are possible with God. LOVE these verses!
I read the Psalms the day after Steve was fired. They all spoke so sweetly to my heart. Here are a few verses that really jumped off the page:
Psalm 3:3-6,8 "But, Lord, you are my shield,
my wonderful God who gives me courage.
I will pray to the Lord,
and he will answer me from his holy mountain.
I can lie down and go to sleep,
and I will wake up again,
because the Lord gives me strength.
Thousands of troops may surround me,
but I am not afraid.
The Lord can save his people.
Lord, bless your people."
Psalm 4:1,2,8 "Answer me when I pray to you,
my God who does what is right.
Make things easier for me when I am in trouble.
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
People, how long will you turn my honor into shame?
How long will you love what is false and look for new lies?
I go to bed and sleep in peace,
because, Lord, only you keep me safe."
But let everyone who trusts you be happy;
let them sing glad songs forever.
Protect those who love you
and who are happy because of you.
Lord, you bless those who do what is right;
you protect them like a soldier's shield."
Job 4:1-6 Remember what God has done for you and how you've encouraged others by your testimony. Keep the faith- no matter what the situation is. :)
Also: Isaiah 7:10-12 Isaiah 9:6,7 Matthew 3:3,11 Matthew 4:15-16 Romans 3:31 Romans 4:16, 18-25
Well, that's it. I can't wait to hear from you and see what the Lord is speaking to you. I pray that you will trust in the Lord and be hapy, that you will sing gad song forever! If you need prayer, don't hesitate to ask. Love & hugs to you all!
Charis, Ashley
This week has been great for me. I know that God wants me to be healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually. I want to take care of all of those areas in my life. So, I joined a gym this week (for super cheap!) and that has made me feel better physically. It's been challenging, but in an awesome way. I even got to share my testimony with my personal trainer. It was such a "God moment" and I'm so blessed to have been a part of it. (And I made a new friend!)
I really believe that when you're in the Word, you tend to have a better attitude about things. Not always, but often. So there were things that I think I handled better this week because I was resting in Him and His Word. Other things God actually changed the circumstance, to relieve stress. I have received some awesome answers to prayer this week. For example, we got a big fat check in the mail from an over payment we had made. This check enabled us to pay off one of the loans we had to take out when my husband was in a dirt bike accident a few years ago. (If you want to hear that story, email me.) Needless to say, God is GOOD! Great even! ;)
So, enough about me...let's talk about the Word! What scriptures inspired you this week?
***NOTE: For those of you who are not following along, no worries! Please feel free to comment about wherever and whatever God is showing you and doing in your life. I'm blogging each week. So comment away! I'd love to hear what you have to say.***
Here's some scriptures that really spoke to me this week:
Isaiah 1:11-18 & Romans 2:28,29 God wants our hearts! There's a popular saying that portrays the meaning of these verses. "God doesn't want religion, He wants relationship." Don't ask yourself if you're a religious person. Ask yourself if you have a relationship with Jesus.
Isaiah 2:22 "You should stop trusting in people to save you, because they are only human; they aren't able to help you." (NCV) Enough said!
Matthew 2:6, 23 Prophecies fulfilled. Love it!
Romans 1:12 "I mean that I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you." (NCV) I LOVE this verse. I think it sums up what I was envisioning for this blog. I want to encourage you as I go through the Bible and I want to be encouraged by you. Despite how different we all may be, we have Jesus in common. That's all we need. We can have some amazing conversations and discussions. So please blog with me. Help me and I'll help you!
Genesis 1:27-28 I want children...lots of them. So this scripture is dear to my heart!
Genesis 2:24 Another fave. My husband and I are one. It's truly a wonderful thing. It's the only time when 1+1=1
Genesis 3:11-13 I can relate. We are so quick to point the finger... :(
Joshua 1:5 "I will not leave you or forget you." How comforting it is to know that God loves us and won't abandon us. No matter who has let you down or left you to dry, God will never leave you. When you walk towards Him, He runs towards you!
Joshua 1:12 I wrote a song about this...
Joshua 3:5 "Then Joshua told the people, "Make yourselves holy, because tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."" (NCV) How awesome is this verse?! Are you ready for God to do amazing things in your life?
Joshua 4:6,7 Just today my friend suggested that I make "remembrance stones" to remind me of the prayers God has answered for me this week. We need to be reminded of what God has done for us. It will help us grow in our faith and prepare us for things we'll go through in the future. Draw something, write something, make something, do something to celebrate God's provision in your life. :)
Job 1:21 "He said: "I was naked when I was born, and I will be naked when I die. The Lord gave these things to me, and he has taken them away. Praise the name of the Lord." (NCV) Praise Him, no matter your situation. It's great when He gives and sometimes it hurts when He takes away. But He is always worthy of praise. His plans are perfect, even when they may seem horrible to us.
Job 2:9-13 I pray I'm never like Job's wife, and that I'm often like his friends. Knowing when to be quiet is not a virtue of mine...I'm learning. :)
Also: Isaiah 6:3-7, Matthew 1:18-23, Romans 1:1-5, Romans 2:4, Psalm 1:2,3 Psalm 2:1-4 Psalm 2:10-11 Job 1:5
Well, that was a nice refresher of my reading this week. I hope you are encouraged by His word and some of the things He's been showing me. I pray that you will be strong in your faith, praising Him in all situations, prepared for Him to do awesome things and that when He does you'll do something to help remind you of His faithfulness. Love and hugs to each of you!
Charis,AshleyP.S. I'm reading "Becoming: A Devotional Bible for Women" for this journey, so all scriptures are NCV: New Century Version. :)