<link>http://cindybeall.com</link> <description /> <lastBuildDate>Tue, 22 May 2018 16:04:45 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.6</generator> <image> <url>http://cindybeall.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cropped-Logo-1-32x32.png</url> <title /> <link>http://cindybeall.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/CindyBeall" /><feedburner:info uri="cindybeall" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" /><item> <title>Just Chill http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CindyBeall/~3/uW9u3jEFW94/ http://cindybeall.com/?p=3629#respond Wed, 16 May 2018 08:00:36 +0000 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3629 “The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there,” said the late Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Vince Lombardi. That’s you, my friend. You’re on top of the mountain now, and you know you didn’t just happen to land there. Now the view from where you stand is priceless. But something is strangely unsettled within you. And I must ask, “Do you get stressed out when life is good?” Do you have this “When will the other shoe drop?” feeling in the pit of your stomach? It robs you of enjoying the view that you’ve been fighting for, doesn’t it? But you don’t have to get stressed out when life is good. You can learn, instead, to enjoy the view from this mountaintop. The view that allows you to see the valley you just trudged through and enables you to see how everything worked together for good. It can be a place where you get to know God deeper than you thought possible—but only if you can relax and stop being stressed out! Thank God for the mountaintop, and thank Him for the climb that got you there. So, what do you do when you’re on the mountaintop?
  1. Reflect. Think about and meditate on God’s awesome attributes. His faithfulness, sustaining power, presence, and strength helped you climb the mountain you now stand on. Thank God for the mountaintop, and thank Him for the climb that got you there. (Deuteronomy 7:9; 2 Corinthians 12:9)
  2. Rest. Soak it up. Allow your spirit to breathe deeply. Don’t busy yourself to fill in the gaps because you aren’t used to the quiet. Sit in silence. Take long naps, long walks, and do things you enjoy. Have yourself a nice, long sabbath after such a long, hard spiritual expedition. (Exodus 20:8; Matthew 11:28)
  3. Recharge. Maybe your sense of worry comes from a nagging feeling like you should be working harder than you are. Maybe you think you’re being lazy—but don’t mistake rest for being lazy. This recharging period is to strengthen our spiritual muscles that are sore from the treacherous hike we just finished and to ready ourselves for both the joys and challenges of the future. (Matthew 6:33)
Notice there is nothing in this list about fretting over the upcoming struggles you’ll face or wondering if the “other shoe will drop.” Sure, life isn’t always easy, but we trust the things we’ll experience in the future will help shape our character even more. The bottom line for us in this time of our lives is that we enjoy today instead of borrowing trouble from tomorrow. You don’t have to get stressed out when life is good. Treasure this well-earned view after the fiery trials that chiseled your character, burned off the rough edges of your personality, and challenged you to stand up for your principles in a crowd that begged you not to. God was with you in the rough valley, and He’s with you on the mountaintop. Enjoy Him there! ]]> http://cindybeall.com/?feed=rss2&p=3629 0 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3629 Hearing God’s Voice http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CindyBeall/~3/MVXWUamG79Y/ http://cindybeall.com/?p=3633#comments Wed, 02 May 2018 08:00:25 +0000 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3633 When people ask me how I hear God’s voice most powerfully, I tell them through the Bible. For me, it’s not a powerful speaker or song, but God’s Word. More often than not, I get a heavy sigh, an occasional eye roll, and a sense of defeat from those who ask. I hear pained responses such as, “It’s too hard to understand,” or, “I just don’t see how everything applies to my life.” Trust me when I say this: You can hear God’s voice. Don’t give up.

Here’s an example. One day, I was reading the eleventh chapter of John, which chronicles the story of a man named Lazarus. Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick and near death. They fully expected Jesus would run to their brother and heal him because he was such a dear friend. However, his healing didn’t occur because Jesus didn’t come in time. Instead, Lazarus died. And the sisters were devastated.  

Lazarus’ healing was their plan, not Jesus’. In John 11:4, Jesus disclosed that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death but that it was for God’s glory—and that Jesus would be glorified through it. A miraculous healing for Lazarus would’ve been a great thing. But for Lazarus to be raised from the grave would be an even better thing.

That’s when it happened. I could hear God’s voice, in that moment. I knew God was speaking to me in a new way through a passage I’ve read and studied more than I can remember. I heard God’s voice as I felt Him compare Mary and Martha to me. Then, I felt Him gently ask me if I wanted my best plan or His best plan.

When we spend time in God’s Word, we get to know His voice. And when we recognize His voice, we’ll know what He’s leading us to do.

Turns out, the answer to that gentle question positions me to continue to hear from God. How? I will continue to hear God’s voice as I release my white-knuckled grip on my plans and have open palms to receive His best. God can speak to you through His Word. It’s just that simple. When we spend time in God’s Word, we get to know His voice. And when we recognize His voice, we’ll know what He’s leading us to do. You can start hearing God’s voice.

There’s not some tricky method. Maybe, while worshiping Him through a song, someone comes to your mind, and you’re signaled to pray for them. It could be you have a brilliant idea, but instead of taking the credit yourself, you share it with others to encourage them. Or maybe, like me, you hear God’s voice changing, challenging, correcting, strengthening, and encouraging you as you read His Word daily.

]]> http://cindybeall.com/?feed=rss2&p=3633 2 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3633 My Big, Fat Mouth http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CindyBeall/~3/-L7T4aOHhQ4/ http://cindybeall.com/?p=3627#respond Mon, 16 Apr 2018 08:00:05 +0000 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3627 I was telling something untruthful about my childhood years ago. What I said was actually a complete fabrication. Man, that sounds so much better than saying I lied, doesn’t it? We dress up lying with some fancy, intelligent-sounding words that don’t sound too bad. We’ve all lied and most of us feel guilty when we do. However, we tend to put stipulations upon lying. We won’t lie on our taxes, to our spouse or at work. But what about the little, white lies that we tell? When we answer “fine” to keep people from getting too close. When we tell our kids to say we aren’t home when the doorbell rings. Friend, even though the world would deem these “little” and “unimportant,” they are still lies. The Bible is clear about this topic. God hates lying. Thankfully, He does love us but does not like it when we sin. And in case you wondered…when we lie, we sin. If I asked you if you consider yourself to be truthful, most of you would say yes. It’s easy to look at our intentions that “mean well” instead of our actions. We didn’t mean to lie about something or someone so we’re not really that bad. But friend, a lie is a lie no matter how fat or skinny it is. We typically lie in three ways. We lie to ourselves because sometimes facing our current reality is more than our hearts can bear. We lie to others because we don’t was the discomfort that accountability brings. And we lie to God. As if. So, let’s stop lying and make the choice to be truth seekers, lovers and tellers in all we say and do. Deflate Lies With Truth I was sharing something untruthful about my childhood years ago. What I said was actually a bit of a fabrication. Man, that sounds so much better than saying I lied, doesn’t it? We dress up lying with some fancy, intelligent-sounding words so it won’t sound too bad. We’ve all lied, and most of us feel guilty when we do. However, we tend to put stipulations on lying. If we won’t lie on our taxes, to our spouse, or at work, what about the little fabrications that we tell? We answer “fine” to keep people from getting too close and know how we’re really doing. We tell our kids to say we aren’t home when the doorbell rings. We make ourselves the hero of a story. We tell our boss we’re almost done with a task we forgot to start. All growth starts with honesty. So let’s be honest—all these “little fabrications” are lies. The Bible is clear on this one. God hates lying. Thankfully, He does love us, but He does not like it when we sin. And when I lie, I sin. Here are three common lies and the truths we can use to deflate them. Lie: We lie to ourselves because we’re afraid reality is more than we can bear. Truth: Reality is more than we can bear, but He is made strong in our weakness. Lie: We lie to others because we don’t want the discomfort accountability brings. Truth: We confess to God for forgiveness, we confess to others for healing. Lie: We lie to God—maybe because we’re afraid He’ll stop loving us. Truth: God knows all and sees all, yet He still loves all. So, let’s turn our good intentions into honest actions. Let’s deflate lies with honesty. Let’s be truth-seekers, truth-lovers, and truth-tellers in all we say and do.]]> http://cindybeall.com/?feed=rss2&p=3627 0 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3627 Everyone Needs To Have Protection http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CindyBeall/~3/K80-z-orJts/ http://cindybeall.com/?p=3625#respond Mon, 02 Apr 2018 08:00:09 +0000 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3625 For their marriage, that is. It should come as no surprise to you that divorce statistics continue to rise for a number of reasons. I goggled reasons for divorce and found that there are numerous things that play a part in the demise of many marriages. Financial issues, abuse, incompatibility, convenience, sexual problems, addictions, communication problems, mid-life crises, little things and marital unfaithfulness. So does that mean that if we don’t have financial issues, abuse, sexual problems, communication problems, a mid-life crisis and infidelity that we won’t get divorced? Chances are good that if the issues listed above aren’t present, that you’ll have a pretty healthy marriage. Not perfect, but healthy. But how does one go about getting a healthy marriage? Well, my experience says that a couple of things are necessary.Communication and protection. Communicate about everything. EVERYTHING. Even if it’s uncomfortable or painful or embarrassing. We have to do the hard stuff to get the good stuff. Protect your most important human relationship. I think we assume that our marriages will be fine. But, if we don’t set up safeguards and healthy boundaries, we could find ourselves slipping on a very slippery slope. And before we know it, we’ll end up in a place we never thought we’d end up. I don’t want that for you just like I don’t want that for me. My challenge to you today is this: Take time to talk to your spouse about everything and truly become best friends. And protect your marriage from the dangers that are out there in this fallen, broken world in which we live.  ]]> http://cindybeall.com/?feed=rss2&p=3625 0 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3625 Find Your Porch http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CindyBeall/~3/MZpJPnfu-ZE/ http://cindybeall.com/?p=3621#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2017 13:41:43 +0000 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3621 We had just become Mr. & Mrs. Chris Beall when we moved into a little duplex on Mill Street in San Marcos, Texas, in 1993. Chris and I loved this little abode that cost us a mere $400 a month in rent. It was our first place together and even had a second bedroom for guests. But the best part about it was the front porch. Sometime during that year we instigated something called “Tea Time” and many times during each week, we would plant ourselves on some lawn chairs on that porch and sip some sweet tea. If it was in the evening, we would turn on our stranded owl lights that hung every so gently from the ceiling of the porch. Oh yes we did. Somewhere along the road, we renamed “Tea Time” to “Porch Time”. Chris and I absolutely love sitting outside on the porch. During the colder months, our study becomes our “porch”. Regardless of the weather, we have a porch. Nothing is off limits during Porch Time. We talk, remain silent, laugh, cry, share our excitement and our frustrations, pray with and for each other, have fights and apologize. Porch Time is an absolute necessity for us to stay connected in our marriage. Even if we only have 10 minutes on a given day, we go to our porch. We still like each other after all these years of marriage and ministry. Our marriage is healthier than ever and we are truly for each other. I don’t believe we would have what we have today without making sure that we have this time together. Your porch could be a sitting room, your study, any room in your home or even a walk around your neighborhood. Your porch is unique to you and your spouse. Whatever it is, you need it. We don’t have to tell you that life marriage can be stressful. You already know that. But you can maintain a strong union with your spouse by keeping the lines of communication and the doors of your heart open to one another. Find your porch. Is the connection you have with your spouse healthy? Share with your spouse  ]]> http://cindybeall.com/?feed=rss2&p=3621 1 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3621 Whatever You Do http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CindyBeall/~3/FyPLKkM_XLQ/ http://cindybeall.com/?p=3617#respond Sat, 18 Jul 2015 13:34:42 +0000 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3617 My eyes welled up with tears when I read Mike’s email. This friend of ours from church took the time several months back to share a “win” with us about our teenage son, Noah. (And mercy, don’t we parents of teenagers need to hear these things? I see that hand.) He recounted his recent experience at Chick-Fil-A, the most blessed of chicken sandwich establishments. As he was waiting in line to place his order, a very old woman was placing hers in the line next to him but a few people up from him. By the time he made it to where he was able to place his order, the little, old lady was still there at the register placing hers. Mike wrote “the young man waiting on her was so compassionate and patient with her that I was amazed. As a pediatrician, I see kids this age all day long, and this is certainly not the usual. As she stepped away, I noticed his name tag said Noah.” Y’all, that was my Noah. I know, right? We shared Mike’s email with Noah. I told him that his choice to serve her graciously could have made her entire day because she could have gotten someone who was annoyed and impatient. It was a great teaching moment with him to illustrate the verses below:
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24
I told Noah how proud I was of him for doing something so small to make such a huge difference and that not for one moment was I patting myself on the back for his character development. I told him that I was just overjoyed that the Holy Spirit is working in him, leading him, guiding him to do the small things, which are often the hard things, to make a difference. I’m not entirely sure where you are in your life. Maybe you are at home with small children and you wonder if changing a dirty diaper for the third time since lunch even matters. Or perhaps you are working in a job that doesn’t affect people in a huge way but you show up anyway. It’s likely that you are just going about your life each day, doing the tasks and errands that just need to get done. Friend, He sees. I am confident that our Heavenly Father would rather see us joyfully doing our daily duties, however insignificant they may seem, than have us dread some activity that appears to be much more important. The word whatever in the verse above really does mean whatever. So, press on and know that the often unimportant can actually be the most far-reaching and influential.  ]]> http://cindybeall.com/?feed=rss2&p=3617 0 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3617 My Towel http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CindyBeall/~3/r5zpp6qv28E/ http://cindybeall.com/?p=3619#comments Sun, 18 Aug 2013 13:37:23 +0000 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3619 “Hey Cindy, I think this is your towel,” Kim said very nonchalantly to me at our Bible Study meeting a few weeks ago. My eyes merely saw a worn out and stained piece of cloth but my heart immediately transitioned that sight into an emotional moment. A moment from the past. A moment where I was standing in my old kitchen wiping my hands with said towel. A moment where I laid it out on my granite because I was going to let some dishes dry after hand washing them. A moment before the fire that took our home and every material possession that we owned on that June night in 2013. It was just a towel. Quite frankly, it wasn’t even my favorite towel because it was boring to look at and it just didn’t absorb that well. And who wants a towel like doesn’t absorb? Please. As if. But it was my towel. A towel from the part of our life that can be labeled “pre-fire”. A towel that reminded me of that life. Because it was a good life. The life that housed almost 43 years of my being which included some hard times that transformed me and some amazing ones that made my life richer. And I know that sounds awfully strange to say “that life” because clearly, I am still alive and have my entire family to still love on. But, it’s weird because traumatic events typically do that. They separate your life into sections. And since I have very little from “that life” left physically, it feels like a million miles away. But no matter what events have transpired in my life or in your life, we will overcome. We are MORE than conquerors through Him who loved us. And we are convinced that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Not the death of a loved one, not an abortion, not anger, not infidelity, not a cynical heart, not mental illness, not a haughty spirit, not rejection, not addiction, not a house fire, not selfishness, not envy, not jealousy, not physical pain, not illness or disease, not the loss of a best friend, not one single thing. Because we are overcomers.  ]]> http://cindybeall.com/?feed=rss2&p=3619 1 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3619 Swallowing My Pride Doesn’t Taste So Bad These Days http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CindyBeall/~3/gvS-TqorTVY/ http://cindybeall.com/?p=3409#comments Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:00:45 +0000 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3409 Hope you don’t mind that I just referenced a George Strait song. (Because I love George Strait.) (He’s from Texas. Oh, God bless Texas.) (And Oklahoma.) I like that line in his song Where Have I Been All My Life.  I couldn’t agree with him more. I know that as some people age they have a mindset that says, “Hey, I got this. I know the answers. And don’t expect me to admit my wrongdoing or that I need advice. Cuz I don’t.” I feel that the exact opposite actually. When I was a teenager, I thought I knew more than my mom and dad. Then I went to college, grew up a bit and realized my mom wasn’t so dumb after all.  Got married, had a son, turned 30 and learned that I have a whole heckuva lot of learning to do because I pretty much squandered away many years.  Now I’m 40. I have lived four decades. And I haven’t a clue about anything. At least it feels that way. I don’t mind learning from someone younger than me. I don’t mind extending forgiveness to people when they don’t ask for it. I don’t mind not knowing the answers to things. I don’t have a problem holding my tongue when my flesh is dying to retaliate. I don’t mind saying I’m sorry without following it up with an excuse. Life is too short. Where in the world have I been all my life? Thanks, George. ]]> http://cindybeall.com/?feed=rss2&p=3409 1 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3409 Let’s Depopulate Hell http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CindyBeall/~3/g3ft-rBSO9g/ http://cindybeall.com/?p=3573#respond Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:00:25 +0000 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3573 Why do I do what I do? Why do I say what I say? Why do I believe what I believe? I’ve been pondering that for some time now. Some might say that I’m trying to figure out what my life’s purpose is, what I’m meant to do on this earth. Aside from the obvious…being a wife, mom, friend, sister, daughter…there are things that I love to do. That I’m called to do. I’m called to proclaim the goodness and faithfulness of our God. I’m called to bring hope and guidance to those going through marriage crises. I’m called to exhort believers to be all they can be in Christ. I’m called to help depopulate Hell. And the best way I know how to be a participant in the depopulation of Hell is to tell you what He’s done for me. But not only what He’s done for me, but also what He’s done for you. So that is why I do what I do and say what I say and believe what I believe. Because our God, the Creator of the Universe, the Great I Am, the All-Sufficient One, the Alpha and the Omega, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father has carried me through the darkest valleys and set me upon the highest mountains. He has restored my soul and redeemed my very life. He has drenched me with peace and submerged me with hope. He will do that for you, too. And when He does, watch out. Then you’ll share with other how good He’s been to you and how He’s spared your very existence and how He’s given you joy even in the midst of your chaos. And before you know it, you’ll be a participant in the depopulation of Hell along with me. Friends, there’s prime real estate in the Kingdom of God. ]]> http://cindybeall.com/?feed=rss2&p=3573 0 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3573 A Talking Dog? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CindyBeall/~3/kUtb67m1jPE/ http://cindybeall.com/?p=3548#respond Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:00:01 +0000 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3548 This is just brilliant! ]]> http://cindybeall.com/?feed=rss2&p=3548 0 http://cindybeall.com/?p=3548