Discouraged? Not For Long

To explain to you how I am feeling, I must first take you through some of the events of my day. Today started for me when I woke up on my best friend's couch after a fun sleepover with the girls. To my dismay, I looked at my phone and saw that it was 9:01 a.m. My first class started in 4 minutes. Luckily I had my running shoes with me. I managed to make it to class later than everyone else but not late enough to anger my professor. During class, I felt really sick. I had your typical cold symptoms. All I wanted to do was crawl back into bed or in this case I guess the couch. These weren't even the worst things that happened to me today. I had to see my best friend cry for the first time, have a job interview that was not very promising, cancel a coffee get together with an awesome girl, and currently sit in my room while four of my best friends are on a double date. Needless to say it was so easy to get discouraged today.


Last night I had said to a friend that for some reason I have been the happiest I have been in a long time. I told my friend I truly believed that this happiness was coming from how actively I had been seeking God. He had truly given me unexplainable joy. I have been laughing and smiling more than ever. That is what made today so heart wrenching.


While in the car with my friends, I kept thinking to myself why is this happening? Keep in mind that the two girls I was with today were having equally bad days. Why, on such an absolutely gorgeous day, did the three of us feel so defeated?


Let me just tell you that when you are seeking God, He can use you for great things. God knows that and so does the Enemy. He is truly evil and will try everything he can to bring you away from God. Look at the story with Job. Satan approached God telling Him flat out that he could turn Job, who had been so faithful, away from God. People who are connecting with God on a personal level catch Satan's eye. He targets these threats. The three of us girls recognized that Satan was attacking us and we weren't going to stand by and watch. In the midst of our sorrow, we were going to praise God and give Him all the glory and thank Him for the beautiful day that He made us.


Isaiah 59:19 When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.


Challenge of the Day:
Truth of the matter is, it is flattering when the Devil tries to attack us.  This means he KNOWS you're a threat. And you should be a threat to him! On days like I had today, focus on God. Talk to Him more than ever. Step back from what you're doing and pray. Tell Him how much you want to do His works and the Devil cannot stop you. Rebuke the Devil. He is all things evil and wants you to fail! Get mad at the Devil. You are so much more powerful than he is because you are a child of God, creator of all things, Heaven and Earth


Love in Christ
Until later Bloggers,
Court

God's Script

It isn't even noon today and already I am ready to blog. This morning God proposed a question to me. If God were to write a script of what my day should look like, what would it be like? If I could live out this day exactly like God would have it, who would I talk to? Who would I meet for the first time? What would I do with my free time? How much time would I spend reading His word or praying? How many lives would I bring to Christ today?

Oh, how I wish God would hand me the script for the day. I feel that none of my days have reached their full potential. How sad is that? I believe that God has a great calling on my life, therefore in His plan for my life there shouldn't be any days wasted? With that being said then what makes up a productive day?

"His one requirement is so simple and yet so profound: Whatever God says to do, do it"

"What Happens When A Woman  Says 'Yes' To God"  page 20

In this book "Say Yes", Lysa Terkeurst describes how when you wake up in the morning you should immediately say "Yes" to God, before He even asks anything from you. In doing this, you prevent the chance of missing one of God's appointments for you. 

Today over lunch my friends and I were discussing how little faith we really have in the Holy Spirit. I shared with them that a couple years ago during a worship service I missed one of God's appointments. I was on the worship team as a singer but always had a strong desire to play the piano. At my church, we had two keyboards set up but only one keyboard player. In the middle of a very Spirit filled service, I felt led to walk over to the unused keyboard and play. The set up of the stage made this easy for me too. I was the closest singer to the empty keyboard it was only maybe three steps from my microphone. I felt God telling me, "You can play this keyboard without training because I know how to play" I debated with my self for the whole course of the song we were singing and before I knew it, it was too late. I missed my chance to show my faith in God and let the Holy Spirit work through me. To this day, I am convinced it was God speaking to me. 

Why else would I think about that day so frequently? That day in my life showed how little faith I have. I pray that the next time God has an appointment like that for me I won't miss it. I cannot afford to miss anymore opportunities to do the work of God.

My challenge for you today is this:

Think about the script of your day. Try to focus on what God would have you do with your day. Take EVERY chance you have to witness to people. Don't be afraid! The worst thing that could happen is they don't listen to you. Force yourself to step out of your comfort zone and do things for the Kingdom of God so that tomorrow you can look back on today and not see it as a day wasted.

With the love of Christ

Until later Bloggers,

Court

First Blog- Inspiration

Recently I have decided that it is time to stop focusing on myself so much and start seeking God and what he has for my life. I considered journaling what God was doing in my life, but I figured that was selfish. Instead, I will share with you.

I began reading two different books today. The first is "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God" by Lysa Terkeust and the other is "I Would Die For You" by Brent and Deanna Higgins.

"Say Yes" is a book I am reading for a bible study with two girls who I am very close with. Collectively the three of us have decided that it is time to get closer to God. All three of us have had a lot of struggles that we believe we would not have had to face had we been putting God first. The first chapter of the book describes a situation where the author is on an airplane, exhausted and just wanting to sleep. She ends up witnessing to the guy next to her and feels led to give him her bible. The bible. The one she uses daily. Her story is awesome and made me want to seek God more and experience these kinds of "God Events"

The second book is a hard one to read and something that I know will get me to cry on more than one occasion. The book is a true story written by two parents, whose son died at age 15 after getting a disease on a mission trip. The book includes excerpts from BJ's blog and letters he wrote to his friends. This kid was ON FIRE for God. Like it is so insane. I am excited to continue reading it and I am sure that I will talk about it numerous times.

I have no intentions of this blog because a book review. I just wanted to give you some insight into these two books that will be effecting my walk with Christ and also that enables me to reference them.

Tonight I am going to Victory Family Church to begin volunteering with their youth group Revolution. I am so excited. I have visited the group multiple times and the kids are awesome and so are their leaders. I will be helping lead a small group of Junior High students as of now. I am excited to see how God uses me in these students' lives and how they change mine.

My quote for this blog:

"They (referring to women who say "yes" to God) don't have to wait until the next time they're in church to experience God because they sense God's presence all around them, all through their day."

"What Happens When Women  Say Yes To God"  Lysa Terkeurst  page 14

So it is time for me to go back to reading then go to dinner and off to youth group! Please be praying for me as I actively seek God more than ever and let me know if I can  be praying for you. I get a lot of joy from praying for others. In fact, I have Post-It notes all over my desks of different names to pray for and I would be more than happy to add your name!

I wish God's blessings over your life :)

Until Later Bloggers,

Court