Luminate Your Path

So Much Evil....Who Is Really In Charge???

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Sat, 7 Nov 2015 06:41:00 -0800

So Much Evil...Who Is Really In Charge??? Ever question who is really in control of your circumstances and the chaos around you? Well question it no more...

https://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/2015/11/07/so-much-evil-who-is-really-in-charge/

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"Throw Your Troubles Upon The Lord"

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Mon, 5 Oct 2015 16:01:00 -0700

Hi everyone, I just want to introduce you to a new series of posts you may be seeing in the near future. Instead of super long blog posts, I plan on posting “INSIGHTS”. They may not be as long as my other posts, but will hopefully encourage you and leave you with something new to think about after you read it. So enjoy your first “insight” :)

What is going on in your life right now that is stressing you out and causing you anxiety? I’m sure you didn’t have to think long before something came to your mind. A common verse that many of you have probably heard before is 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (NIV). After reading this verse, what does it mean to you personally? When I used to read this verse I would think “ok, so I just need to give everything to God and trust Him to take care of things.” This is true…but to an extent...

To continue reading click here on our new blog site and subscribe while you're there: https://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/2015/10/05/throw-your-troubles-upon-the-lord/

More Than Just A Birth...

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 08:07:00 -0800

At Christmas, we usually celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior. We sing praises to Him and even read His Christmas story described in the gospels. We celebrate His birth because to us that means our Savior has arrived and that He came to earth to save us. We know the story that he was born of a virgin and was laid in a manger, shepherds were told by angels of his arrival, and wise men came bearing gifts, but what if there was more???

I believe there is.

Click the link below to read further. If you have not subscribed to the new site then while you're there sign up for emails!

http://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/more-than-just-a-birth/

WHAT ARE YOU AT WAR WITH??

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Sat, 4 Oct 2014 01:52:00 -0700

What or who are you at war with right now in your life?? Do you feel like you are constantly in a battle with things or people in your life every day?Read about my "war" with the car dealership...even if you haven't been in this exact situation, I'm sure you can relate to the struggle.

(To receive this in full email format, when you click on the link below, subscribe via email to new wordpress account)

http://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/2014/10/04/what-are-you-at-war-with/

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Are You Trying Too Hard??

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 22:35:00 -0700

If you are seeing this in "link" format and have not recevied a separate email from wordpress, it is because you have yet to subscribe via email to the wordpress site.

http://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/are-you-trying-too-hard/

Actions Speak Louder Than Words.........Even Yours.

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 11:00:00 -0700

Before you read this article I want to REMIND you that this will be the LAST blog article posted to this site. I have moved over to wordpress so please click here and you can sign up on the right hand side in order to continue to receive emails from Luminate Your Path. I am hoping to see all of you there! https://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/

Now for our regularly scheduled program... :)

Have you ever encountered someone who criticizes people yet then they turn around and do the same thing they just criticized that person for? Do you work with people who claim to believe in something, yet they talk and act in opposition to what they claim to believe in? Sometimes we refer to these people as “hypocrites”. A hypocrite is “a person who claims or pretends to have certain beliefs about what is right but who behaves in a way that disagrees with those beliefs” (Webster's dictionary). Some people may not like this post because it may require some “self-evaluation” but this self-evaluation could save someone’s life. I write this post not to judge anyone (for I need to self-evaluate also) but to highlight how significant what you SAY and what you DO really is.

I recently had a conversation with someone who encountered a group of individuals that professed to be believers in Jesus, yet their actions did not portray this. Their drinking, partying, cursing, etc, did not reflect what they claimed to believe. Now one might say, "so what", "what's the big deal?", but I'm here to tell you that it IS a big deal. You see, after my conversation I started to think about my life and I had a revelation that the same type of people he described encountering, was ME only years ago. I remember hanging out with “friends” drinking and partying and telling people “I am saved and believe in Jesus, but don’t talk to me about Him right now because I’m drinking and I know I'm not being a good example.” Just typing that sentence makes me sick to my stomach because I realize how I slapped Jesus in the face. I John 1:6 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;”… this is exactly what I was doing: walking in darkness while claiming to know Jesus.

What a horrible influence I was on those who were around me.... surrounded by people who were lost and could have used a Light to guide them. I could have been a positive influence on someone’s life possibly leading them to salvation and demonstrating true Christian faith, but instead I lived my life how I wanted to live while throwing Christ (and my faith) on the ground and then stomped all over it. What if one of those people was affected by my hypocrisy, by my claim to be a Christian and the way I lived my life? What if today they are "put off” from the lack of sincerity when it comes to people claiming to believe in Jesus? I realize my actions may have caused others to doubt who God is and even question what faith they do have. that is a tough pill to swallow, and this is where I ask YOU to take a look at your own life.

Are you claiming to be something you’re not? Are you claiming to be a Christian and be saved, but not living as if you really are? 1 John 2:4 says, “The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;” Do you realize that what you SAY and how you ACT can influence how a person views God? Do you know that this can effect their eternity? Do you also realize that your testimony (how you live) will influence a person to either be moved towards Jesus or away from Him? I’m not just talking about drinking and partying or any of the more obvious sins. I’m also talking about your speech…what comes out of your mouth. We are told in James 1:26 that “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless”. Is this you? Do you claim to be religious but fail to keep a tight rein on your mouth leading others to think that there’s “no way” you are a Christian? Do you claim to believe in Jesus in one conversation and then the next conversation you’re using His name in vain, cursing, or making perverse jokes? Not only are we examples to those we associate with, but also to the stranger walking by, to the people sitting next to us in restaurants and even to those standing behind us in lines.

I write all of this to show you that what you SAY and what you DO does matter IF you are claiming to be a believer in Jesus Christ. Don’t let your friends, family, or even a stranger walk away from you being pushed further away from the only person who can save them. Make sure your actions and words push others towards the only One who can save them: Jesus Christ. We may not have much time left! As a matter of fact, we are told to seek the Lord WHILE he may be found (Isaiah 55:6). This means there will be a time when people will no longer be able to find Him. Make the changes now that will count for your eternity or for someone else’s.

NEW BLOG LOCATION! PLEASE FOLLOW :)

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:11:00 -0700

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I am moving this blog to a new location! I hope you continue to FOLLOW Luminate Your Path! Most of you have received an invite via email from Word Press to follow my new site, but for those of you who haven't, you can access it here:

https://luminateyourpath.wordpress.com/

Now more than ever, people need to be encouraged & assured that there is LIGHT amongst the Darkness both in this life & the next :-)

I hope to see you all on there! Be sure to "like" us on FB & Follow us on twitter!

https://www.facebook.com/Luminateyourpath
https://twitter.com/Luminateurpath

WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE??

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 07:34:00 -0700

I never would have thought the hardest part about buying a house would be

COMPROMISE!

Well at least that’s the hardest part so far J My husband has certain things he wants in a house and I have certain things that I want. This will be our first house that we will own and we plan on being there forever so we want to make sure that it is exactly what we want. While he would like an office space, fireplace, and a basement, I would like a nice size bedroom and nice bathroom preferably with a huge tub J - not to mention a nice size yard, deck/patio, finished basement, and I could go on! I guess you could call it my “dream house.”

The other day he sent me a text that said “I found our house!” He was obviously very excited, so I looked up the house online, but my excitement did not match his. It had what he wanted, but I was not satisfied with what I wanted. Now this was a really nice house, it just didn’t fit exactly what I was looking for. I was a little disappointed when I saw the house did not fit my imagination and he was disappointed as well that I did not agree with his taste.

All of this got me thinking as I sat there in a bundle of frustration.

Why am I so adamant about getting a house that has everything I want?? This home, while I say we’ll live there “forever”, is actually only temporary. It is a material possession that holds no weight in eternity and is only for show in this present life. Material possessions can do nothing for my soul except mess with my satisfaction levels.

I started to think about my real home: Heaven, and as quick as my frustration came upon me, it began to dissipate. I actually felt a small smile appear on my face. How wonderful it is that God already knows exactly what kind of house will satisfy my needs! “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2) How awesome that He is already preparing a place for me without even asking me what color or size or features I want! Compromise is not even necessary because
He has something better prepared that I cannot even fathom!

I will dwell in the city of New Jerusalem (literally heaven on earth!) whose walls are made of jasper and whose city is like pure gold.

“Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.” (Rev 21:11 ) The stones of the city will be made of jasper, sapphire, emerald, topaz & other precious jewels & the gates will be made of pearl! Even the streets will be pure gold appearing like clear glass! If this is what the outside structure looks like, I cannot imagine the interior! The glory of God will be so bright it will illuminate the entire city and there will be no need for the sun or the moon to shine! (Rev 21). How amazing is that?? How uplifting to know that God loves me so much to do all of this for me? And the best part is, I do not even have to tell Him what I want because He has something way more magnificent planned anyway.

So my “forever dream home” that I am looking for with my husband suddenly does not seem so important and this passage comes to mind: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matt 6:19-21).

Don’t get me wrong; buying a new house is very exciting! It is a blessing from God to be able to buy a home & I don’t want to downplay that; however, I do not want my treasure to be here on earth. I don’t want to be consumed with material things and be filled with empty things that can’t satisfy.

The question now is what about you…..what is it that you are “buying” into in this world?? What treasure are you storing up here on earth that you should be storing up in heaven??

I have a different perspective now as we continue to look for houses….not to say that I will be ok with my husband picking it out on his own J, but the intensity of my wants has slightly changed. I have a feeling of peace for now and excitement for the future when I will go to my REAL home. I guess you could say I feel less combative over really getting what I want.

After all, my citizenship is in heaven

and

I am just visiting this world!

(Phil 3:20)

STEP OUT OF DARKNESS - LUMINATE YOUR PATH

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Wed, 5 Mar 2014 10:08:00 -0800

Sometimes I find myself in a state of mind where I feel lost as to what I am supposed to do with my life. Not particularly with my "career" but everything outside of that. I have many interests & many things I could easily occupy my time with, but I don't always know which path to pursue. There are also decisions to be made and again I find myself not knowing what to do, or what the "right" answer is.

Do you ever feel like this? Do you feel overwhelmed with decisions you need to make in your family or work life? Do you question what your "purpose" is in life and if there's something else you should be doing? In today's world, it is very easy to become scattered mentally and emotionally and it becomes frustrating because you are constantly trying to figure things out but for some reason you can't. A good word to describe these jumbled feelings is RESTLESS.

What I discovered, is that when I feel like this, I need to return to the ONE who has all the answers. Sometimes I try to find the answers myself, but of course that is hardly satisfying & is only temporary, and I end up in the same spot again. Stuck & Frustrated and even a bit overwhelmed at times. But, I finally realized that I needed to go back to the basics. What I mean is that I had to go back to the basics of God's Word. I needed to spend more time in prayer with Him..I needed to read His Word more often. He has all the answers, and He promises us that He will show us exactly what to do! (Isaiah 30:21). We just need to seek Him & trust Him! (Jer. 29:12-13)

So I knew if I spent more time with Him, that He would eventually show me the right decisions...the right path..the "next step" to take. I need not worry, or stress, or feel overwhelmed or scattered!(Jer. 33:3). It seems so simple but it is so true. You may not get the answers right away, but what you will get right away is PEACE (Isaiah 26:3).

So if you are lost..or even just a little confused or overwhelmed with things, I am hoping you will go to the ONE who has all the answers to your problems & concerns. He is waiting to show you where to go and what to do...but if you don't come to Him & seek Him, your path will always be dim. Don't just read this and go back to the same way you are living your life. Make it a point and priority to spend more time with Him each day. Time to step out of the darkness & allow God to Luminate Your Path (Psalm 18:28).

Here's a short Poem I wrote to describe what goes on when I feel "scattered" & I'm sure everyone can relate somehow! Be encouraged :)

LUMINATE MY PATH

I run rampantly

Impatient desperation

Frustration approaches

I need respiration.

Lost in a maze

Searching escape

All dead ends

Can’t catch a break.

All the signs are the same

None stand out

Nothing significant

Overcome with doubt.

Exit signs aren’t lit

It’s too dark to see

I need to go somewhere

But where should I be?

Endless ideas

Which one is right?

It may be daytime

But its black as night.

Direction is missing

What do I pursue?

Internal disorder

What do I do?

My mind has ideas

My heart tries to confirm

From me or from You?

I have yet to discern.

Luminate my path

Put a glow on the door

Show me the way

Confusion no more.

So what do I do?

And where do I go?

I know there’s a purpose

But the purpose unknown.

Efforts are scattered

Mental chaos occurs

Like a fast-forwarded past

It all seems like a blur.

Back to the basics

Is where I must go

Realign my focus

You said You will show.

You said You will show me

What I am to do

And not only that

But also with who.

You said You will show me

Where I’m to be

And not only that

But you’ll take care of me.

You said You will show me

What path to take

If I seek with all my heart

And only seek your face.

You said You will show me

To the right or the left

A whisper in my ear

Which step to take next.

You said You will show me

Instruct me and teach

Counsel me on my journey

And then give me peace.

Back to the basics

Is where I must return

Trust You to guide me

Is what I must learn.

So Luminate my path

Turn my darkness into light

Want to walk in the “day”

Even when it is night.

Freedom from Guilt in the Passing of a Friend-

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 20:55:00 -0800

A few days ago, one of my friends passed away. We hung out a lot during my teenage years, but over the years I lost touch with her even though my sister stayed in touch. Her death was sudden…shocking…completely unexpected. Young & loved by many, I don’t think any of us saw this coming.

I hadn’t talked to her in years but there were times when a mutual friend of ours told me that she would ask about me, but I never offered up any contact information. I just accepted the nice thoughts and went on my way. A few months ago I ended up reaching out to her and “friended” her on Facebook and she even liked my Luminate Your Path page, but this was the extent of our contact. No messages, no comments, nothing.

Then, a few days ago, my sister informed me that she had passed away. My heart sunk to the bottom of my stomach as I was in disbelief. It’s true that years had passed since we talked, but I couldn’t escape this overwhelming feeling of sorrow, sickness, and disbelief. There was definitely another source to my pain that was adding to the sorrow of her loss….

I kept thinking: “Why didn’t I reach out to her or get in contact with her?? I could have talked to her about Jesus and explained to her that He loves her so much that he died on the cross for her sins & wants her to accept Him as her Lord & Savior!” I could have shared with her not only the secret to freedom in this life, but also the secret to freedom in eternity. Guilt overwhelmed me and I thought of how selfish I was and I felt responsible for what I didn’t say and what I didn’t do.

Imagine a loved one who is dying of cancer or some other disease and you have the cure! Imagine that you know exactly how they can get rid of it and get well! Now, imagine having this knowledge that could save their life, yet instead, you keep it to yourself and your loved one dies. This is how I felt… I felt I had the secret to LIFE in Christ yet I kept it to myself. Please understand that I am in no way saying that I knew her heart or what she believed. I truly don’t know; God does. I am just merely explaining my feelings of regret & passiveness.

That night on my way home from work, I prayed to God the entire car ride. Mentally I know that I don’t control who accepts the Lord as Savior and who doesn’t. I also know that if I were meant to have spoken to her about God, then my own ignorance would not have prevented God’s plan from happening. But emotionally, I felt destroyed. The Lord brought a few verses to my mind as I continually went through them in my head. One of them I had just read that morning. Coincidence? Hardly. It was fresh in my mind when I needed it the most.

“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 3:5-9,11)

I know the Devil attacks us at our weakest moments…he likes to attack when we are most vulnerable, and this is exactly what was happening. The Bible says “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 peter 5:8) So you see, God wasn’t placing this guilt on me; it was Satan’s lies trying to deceive me into thinking that I had the power to change someone’s heart. By the time I pulled into my driveway that night, the Lord had already started to relieve me from the guilty feeling of responsibility & I began to feel comforted. Although damaging thoughts still creep in my mind every now and then, God’s word is more powerful than anything I think or feel. Heb 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful…..”

I had to come to the end of myself that night, which is actually an ongoing process in my daily walk. I keep reminding myself that God is the one who works in us “both to will and to act according to His good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13) He is the one who causes someone to grow… He is the one who “wakes us up spiritually”. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:44) “He went on to say, “this is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” (John 6:65)

As for Me? I am simply a worker of Christ. I am a tool used by Him to accomplish His will. And the best part is, He doesn’t NEED me to do so! I am free because I know that God is Sovereign..He is in control..and He doesn’t rely on ME to do anything. (Psalm 135:6, Psalm 115:3,)

There is great freedom when you discover how truly helpless you are without the Lord & there is great freedom in discovering that it is not in our efforts that His will is done, but it is in our surrender that He accomplishes it. “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30)

Corrie Ten Boom said it well: “You should not try to be anything but an open channel for the Spirit of God. You never can be anything else, even though you may think so at times. Follow the pathway of obedience, and you will be used by God far beyond your own powers” (pg. 20 Amazing Love)

I will truly miss my friend who passed away and my heart aches for my sister, friends and family who will dearly miss her, but at the same time I am comforted in knowing that I do not have to understand God, I just have to trust Him. Hopefully I can move forward in boldness in my future relationships and focus on being a “channel for the Spirit of God” to flow through. As one of my best friends put it earlier, “I don’t want this experience to defeat me, I want it to ignite me”.

Please feel free to share your comments - I just ask that you be respectful! For daily encouragement, like us on FB! https://www.facebook.com/Luminateyourpath

EVOLUTION VS. GOD

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 12:42:00 -0800

Let me ask you a question: Do you think it takes greater faith to believe in God or Evolution?

"Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence"

Richard Dawkins

"By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."

Hebrews 11:3 The Word of God

According to a Gallop pole of 2012, 47% of individuals believe that 1)" human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided this process" or 2) "human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God had no part in this process."

46% believe that "God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time in the last 10,000 years or so."

7% had no opinion on the subject.

Answer this question now: Which percentage do you belong to??

Regardless of your answer, I have attached a very interesting video on Evolution Vs. God. It's not a lecture movie!! Give it a chance, it mainly deals with street interviews of various people/students. I really hope you take a little time to watch it! I know you will like it & it will definitely get you thinking about the subject at hand.

I encourage you to watch it with a friend, your significant other, or even your kids. I'd also like to hear your comments on this issue so once you watch the video feel free comment on this article.

Colossians 1:16 - For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

AMEN!

Be sure to like us on FB! https://www.facebook.com/Luminateyourpath

Evolution, Creationism, Intelligent Design http://www.gallup.com/poll/21814/Evolution-Creationism-Intelligent-Design.aspx January 2014

Emotional Dependency (Christmas Blog)

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 08:46:00 -0800

Why is it that we look to others to make us feel good? Whether its wives looking for their husbands to appreciate what they do, husbands looking for support and encouragement from their wives, parents looking for their kids to be respectful and obedient, or even kids looking to get love & care from their parents...to be comforted and complimented. Friends looking to just be reassured and to "feel better". Employees wanting to be acknowledged and appreciated by their bosses and bosses wanting their workers to work hard & not disappoint. We fill many various roles each day and each role comes with us expecting something from someone else. Think about it...what was the last thing you expected from someone (you may have to think about this one because it probably comes so naturally yet subconsciously).

More importantly, when was the last time you were hurt, or disappointed because that person did not give you what you wanted/needed at that moment. Your wife didn't encourage you like you wanted her to..your husband didn't appreciate you like you wanted him to,..your son/daughter didn't obey you right away like you wanted them to...etc. Time after time, day after day we go through this continuous process of trying to get others to fulfill our emotional needs & when they fail us, we are left upset, frustrated, sad, and even disappointed. If this is the way you operate, you are essentially giving others control and free access to your emotions to do whatever they want with them. What they say or do determines your outcome. That doesn't seem right, does it? So why do we allow ourselves to go down this road of expectancy & disappointment over and over again? It is time we stop hinging our emotions on others to fulfill. Now I'm not saying that we should not lean on each other for support & encouraging because the Bible clearly states that believers should do this (1 Thess 5:11,1 Peter 4:810, Gal 6:2, Heb 10:25), but what I am saying is that our dependency is in the wrong spot.

Instead of being emotionally dependent on one another, we need to be emotionally dependent on God. Many people think that God comes with limitations & that it’s unrealistic for Him to fill all of our human needs, but this type of thinking is flawed. The Bible provides many verses telling us to do just that. To rely on God for ALL our needs. Not just our physical needs or mental strength, but our emotions too.

Cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.(Phil 4:19)

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
(Matt 6:31-33)

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
(2 Cor. 9:8)

One of the greatest things about depending on God is that He does NOT DISAPPOINT! When we need Him to be there for us, He is there. Always. He won’t be running late & He will not disappoint. He is our Counselor, our Comforter, & our Helper. Get this, He knows your heart & what you need better than you know it! One of my favorite sets of verses is found in Psalm 33:13-15

From heaven the Lord looks down
and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

God FORMS our hearts. He made our hearts! Do we now think that he doesn’t know what’s in them? When the truth is so plainly laid out, why do we still resist to allow ourselves to become fully dependent on Him? Why do we insist on depending on other people for fulfillment when they are guaranteed to disappoint??? I hope if you’re reading this you really think about what I am saying because the message here could truly set you free. If you put your emotional dependence in God’s hands & go to him when you need comfort, help, encouragement, strength, etc, then you will start to realize that your episodes of self-pity and disappointment occur less and less often. You will also see that during the times when you do get disappointed or feel self-pity, those actual moments will become shorter & shorter. You won’t harbor those feelings for hours or days. They will begin to dissipate more quickly as long as you run to God for fulfillment.

I know we are all human & relying on one another to carry each other’s burdens and lift one another up is Biblical, but the primary source of our dependency should be Jesus. Then you can lean on one another. Put your emotional dependency in this order & you are destined to have a healthier mindset and a happier heart.

As Christmas Time rolls around again this year, more opportunities for disappointment seem to surface than any other time of year. I encourage you to pray & read the Bible. Look for verses that pinpoint your struggles & memorize them. Turn your dependency to Christ & lean on Him. The best thing about all of this, is that His availability is not restricted to Christmastime. He is available ALL throughout the year. Which leads me to my last & final point:

Don’t make Jesus a “seasonal” tradition just like Christmas Trees & Santa Claus & presents. I encourage you to make Him part of your everyday life…spend time with him in January & February and every month that follows leading up to Christmas. Many people turn on their so called “Spirituality” around Thanksgiving time and then once the New Year hits, it tapers off. How do you think Jesus feels? He is taken out of a closet & put on display in a manger for a couple of weeks (theoretically & realistically speaking) and then stuffed back into storage. That’s the same thing we do with Jesus in our lives. We take Him out when it’s convenient…we go to church more often around the holidays…we try to be nicer to people and more giving…and we even sing songs about Christ’s birth. But then, when we lose the excitement & hype of the season, we shove Him back into the darkest, furthest closet in our hearts only to dust Him back off 11 months later.
A relationship with Jesus is not a seasonal thing. At least it shouldn’t be. I’m not saying this to lecture you because I struggle with this as well, but the peace, hope, comfort, security, and happiness that you yearn for and look forward to at Christmas can be attained throughout the entire year. Instead of a new year’s resolution, make a lifestyle resolution this year. Decide to incorporate Jesus into your life more frequently & you will begin to feel an inward transformation as others see an outward one.

I wrote the poem below a few years back but it still holds true until today. Some of you may remember this from when I gave them out, but I encourage you to read it again & keep the message with you all throughout the year. I have been praying that at least one person will come to Jesus this year or even be restored to the right path in their life and return to Him.

I hope you all have a Blessed Christmas! See you next year!

DESTROY PRIDE & BE STILL

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 07:56:00 -0800

2 Kings 2 23-25 is a very odd passage of Scripture in terms of its placement. I was reading through 2 Kings and this paragraph didn’t seem to fit the storyline. It seemed a little “off the cuff” and I even re-read it to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. After I re-read it, I still did not understand its relevance and once you read it, you might not either.

From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.

Pretty violent story huh? Well the Old Testament is full of violent stories which I am slowly finding out J Shortly after I read this passage I continued on with my day & it was brought to my attention that I too was being “jeered” at only behind my back. It was not anything major, but internally I got very upset & frustrated. (The NKJV actually uses the word “mocked” instead of “jeered”) I could feel my blood pressure rising although I managed to give the appearance that it didn’t bother me. Truth is = I was fueling inside!! Why did this bother me so much? Why was I so upset over this when I know people thrive on gossip & when I know the story was misconstrued!

Have you ever experienced this? Has someone ever made fun of you, or talked down to you, or have you ever had a conversation with someone and you know the minute you walk away they are talking about you?! I’m sure we all have or do experience something like this. It just eats at you and you can’t shake the feeling.

Thankfully, the passage of Scripture that I mentioned above is what came to my mind at that moment. “Ah-ha” - J Now it made sense. You see, when I read the story about 42 boys being killed by bears for simply making fun of Elisha, I thought, “man, that’s kind of harsh”, “poor boys”, but what I failed to do was look at it from the other perspective. This story demonstrates the lengths God will go to in order to protect those who love Him. It displays His great power that can be utilized in the lives of His children. So instead of letting myself say “poor boys”, I now say “Great God”. God handled Elisha’s battle…even our smallest battles God can handle. Not only is He able, He WANTS too. Nowhere in the Bible does He say “You shall fight your own battles and do the best you can and THEN I will step in and take over”. Instead it says “THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU, YOU ONLY NEED TO BE STILL” (Exodus 14:14).

So while I was sitting there absorbing the words I just heard about what occurred behind my back, I re-read this passage & everything clicked. I prayed and asked God to relieve these horrible feelings of retaliation that I had. (In my mind I was already making up what I was going to say when I saw these people). Within a couple of minutes the intense feelings started to subside, and I realized that God was going to take care of things for me. I realized that none of this even mattered. “Who cares?” I thought. “God knows the truth & that’s all that really matters”. An amazing thing happened during those few minutes. A true peace came over me, and at this very moment, I can laugh at the situation. “How petty” “How petty”.

Another thing I realized was that the main thing that was causing those bad feelings to rise up, was my pride. Yes, I said it, Pride.

I didn’t want people to think something bad about me, especially if it wasn’t true! I didn’t want people to develop a false idea of who I am. This was really what was bothering me. It was the root cause of all of my emotions. (Interestingly enough Pride has been something I’ve been battling with anyway & praying about). Hmmm..maybe this was Gods way of helping me overcome it. Either way, it worked. Not completely of course because I’m still human, but it helped me learn to take a step back, and let God do what He does best: fight my battles for me & take care of my enemies.

With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles. (2 Chronicles 32:8)

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

(Rom 12:19)

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.

(Psalm 138:7)

Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away….

The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming

(Psalm 37: 1,2,13)

Psalm 37 is a great Psalm I encourage you to read! It provides many verses about how God will care for those who are saved & trust in Him & how He will take care of our enemies.

I hope you were encouraged by this blog. God cares about even the smallest things in our lives & I encourage you to keep a couple of these verses handy so you are prepared the next time your pride or character is threatened. Remember, Don’t React....let God Act.

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NO SIN TOO GREAT...

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 17:24:00 -0800

Most of you know that I was saved at an early age in life, but for many years growing up I had drifted from what I believed & from what I was taught. I struggled with sin and although I knew I wasn’t honoring God, I had trouble getting my life back on track. You may be experiencing something similar right now in your life. Think about it…is there something in your life that you are struggling with? Do you feel stuck?

During my time astray,(many years!) a couple things kept going through my mind such as “why should I ask God for forgiveness when I know I’m probably going to end up doing the same thing again”.... or, “I keep disappointing God, and it’s pointless for me to pray to Him when I know I’m going to sin again”. So, instead of praying, I convinced myself it was better not to pray. It was better for me & God to just stay away from Him altogether since I wasn’t living the way I knew I was supposed to. BIG MISTAKE. Can I just tell you, that this way of thinking is the devil getting into your head. Where in the Bible does it say, “if you sin, do not come to me if you plan on sinning again”? Where in the Bible does it say, “If you are going to disappoint me again, then don’t bother praying”? I’m telling you, this mentality is so wrong, yet I am convinced that so many others, besides myself believes these lies!

It’s actually the complete opposite. God wants us to come to Him immediately after we have sinned. He doesn’t want our sin to fester…the sooner we admit to him our wrongdoings, the sooner He can bless us. Don’t believe the lies of Satan. God knows we are going to sin again…He isn’t asking for perfection. I challenge you to go to God in prayer (even if you don’t feel like it) & ask God for forgiveness even though you know you are going to commit the same act again. God will work in your heart & you will begin to feel a change within yourself. The longer you delay, the more satisfaction you give Satan and the more heart-ache you give the Lord.

Let me ask you this. Have you ever committed a sin so bad that it deserved jail time? In the book of 2 Samuel, David commits a horrible sin! One that would warrant a lifetime sentence in today’s society. He committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, & then had him murdered! This is the same David that killed Goliath… the same David who God had made King over Israel! But listen to what his friend Nathan said to him right after David admitted to his sin “The Lord has taken away your sin” (12:13). There is NO SIN TOO GREAT for God to forgive & NO SINNER TOO SMALL for God to save. Now due to his sin, David’s son (which was conceived through adultery) died when he was only 7 days old, but the Lord then blessed David with another son who rose up to become a great man of God himself and eventually King over Israel: Solomon.

God can turn your worst mistakes into blessings. He is waiting for you to come to Him in prayer & call out to Him for help. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19) I believed Satan’s lies for many years & kept ignoring God.

Don’t lose out on precious time. Stand up to the brainwashing & fall down into prayer. You’ll be amazed at what God will do.

RICOCHET

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 09:28:00 -0800

Many people carry the heaviness of their problems and their burdens every day from the time they wake up in the morning until the time they go to sleep at night. In addition, many of us are carrying our friends and families burdens and problems also. We are supposed to help one another, but we should rely on God to carry it all.

Jesus said "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matt 11: 28-30).

We are promised that we WILL FIND REST if we give our burdens to God. Why is it so hard to do so? Why do we feel that we have to carry everything and do everything ourselves? Why are we so stubborn to let go?? Maybe it has something to do with the way the world perceives strength. The more you can handle..the more you can accomplish..the more money you have...the more education you have..MORE- MORE- MORE- means GO- GO- GO. We feel like we have to be in control of everything! No wonder we are run down & hesitant to give our problems and concerns to God.

BUT, It is when we are at our weakest, that we can actually be our strongest through Jesus Christ who empowers us. It's the complete opposite of the worlds view. Be weak so I can be strong? Absolutely. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness....That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."(2 Cor 12:9-10)

I challenge you to start each morning and end each night by talking to God & giving Him your problems..be specific & ask Him to help you. He is waiting to lighten your load. The question is..are you ready to give it up?

Hope you find this encouraging-

RICOCHET

My load is so heavy

Too much to bare

Can barely get up

Call out in despair.

So many problems

Nowhere to go

Carry you too?

But I can’t say “no”

So I pile on your burdens

And add them to my own

Now I can hardly move

Reaping more than I’ve sown.

You are my downfall

You pushed me over the edge

But I just realized:

I was already on the ledge

For my own burdens

I cannot blame you

Handle them alone

Not what I should do.

So I prayed to the Lord

To put in my hand

Something to help me:

A strong rubber-band

Little did I realize

That I had it all along

Oh it worked fine!

I was just using it wrong.

I absorbed my burdens

And others as well

Bounced them back onto me

Couldn’t stand, so I fell

But now I see freedom

And now I am free

God said “use your rubber band

And ricochet up to ME!

Your rubber-band will never break

Nor will it ever wear out,

For my strength is endless

You have no reason to doubt.

So I will wait here for you

Day after Day

As you learn how to trust Me

And send your burdens My way”

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http://luminateyourpath.blogspot.com/

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We Lost Our Cat / Devil's Deception

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 14:14:00 -0700

As some of you know, yesterday we lost our cat Sunny.

He’s an indoor cat and must have hopped the gate and jumped off the deck. My husband & I searched for hours! About 6 hours straight! We put up flyers, talked to neighbors, and searched the woods over & over again constantly calling his name. Soon it got dark outside…it was pitch black & we were outside with flashlights still searching. I ended up making personal letters & we put one on each doorstep of each house on our block. As we were finishing up, I came up to this one house and was about to put the letter on the doorstep when I saw Sunny! He was just laying there & he meowed/growled a little. His face was a little weird looking but that was probably because of all the stress he was under for the past few hours. My heart leaped for joy & I grabbed him and we ran back to our house & I put him down inside. He just stood there and looked back at us & it was then that I realized that the cat I had just brought into our house, was not our cat. He had exactly the same color pattern as Sunny…the tiger stripe legs, the dark gray on his back..everything! But his facial features were slightly off. My heart sunk deeper than it had been all night and we let the cat out who eventually found his way back home. (TRUE STORY!) I mean, what are the chances of a cat like that...a cat that looked almost identical to Sunny...being on that porch while I was looking for my cat who looked just like him?? (mind you we've been living here 2 years & have never seen that cat before).

At this moment, I truly felt that the devil was toying with me. He knew I was vulnerable & in his own way, he was laughing at me. I got angry. I was angry at the devil, and at myself for being so deceived to think that it was my cat. Even after I had originally saw that his face was a little different, I still picked him up and took him home, probably because I wanted to BELIEVE that it was Sunny. That cat wasn't on that porch by "coincidence" nor did I take him home by "coincidence". When you believe in God & His full control than you cancel out any room to believe in coincidences.

A couple hours later, on my last search of the night, and after much prayer, God brought Sunny out of the woods & directly into my line of sight & God allowed me to grab him & take him home. Yes, a happy ending to my story, but it got me thinking.

How often do we allow the devil to deceive us in our everyday lives?? He is very slick in his ways, & if our guard is down, even a little, he strikes right away. The devil is smart…he knows our weaknesses & he attacks when we are most vulnerable. He is also the king of deception. The same devil that deceived Eve in the garden of Eden is the same devil unleashed today that deceives us in our minds & hearts every day. The sad thing is, we don’t even realize when he is doing it. And sometimes when we do realize it, it's already too late.

I ignored the warning of the different facial features when I took that cat home…I allowed myself to be deceived because of my wants and my emotions. How often do we tell ourselves…”Oh one more sip..or one more drink won’t hurt”, or “I’m not a gossiper but it’s ok if I talk about people once in awhile”, Or “I deserve this vacation, or “I deserve to spoil myself so it’s okay if I splurge or waste money this one time”, or “just 10 more bucks..and if I lose than I’ll stop betting”…”Just this one more time”…

We rationalize our behavior to make it fit what we want to do & what we think we need in order to temporarily satisfy our emotions. Well let me tell you, that has the devil’s name written all over it. Say what you want but the Bible even says to ^“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

There is only one way to be successful in standing up against the devil & being able to protect yourself from his attacks & that is through the Armor of God. We are told to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Eph 6:10).

The more spiritually prepared you are in your every day life, the more difficult it will become for the devil to bring you down. He goes after the weak…don’t allow yourself to be one of the “weak” ones. Spending time reading the Bible & praying every day & establishing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will help you build up the defense you need.

So what is your choice? Will you take a stand against the devil? Will you take a stand on something that not only defines your earthly life but determines your eternal life?

Let me ask you this: If you are not using God as your defense, then what are you using?? Because if you have any answer other than God, then your defense isn't working....and.... if you think it is working...than the devil is already at work.

Don’t be like me. Don’t let the “wrong cat” into your life. Even more importantly, don’t take him home, and DO NOT invite him into your house.

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ARE YOU A ZOMBIE?

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 11:10:00 -0700

With Halloween coming up & even in all of the latest movies, Zombies seem to be all over the place! I'm sure everyone is familiar with the Sprint commercial where the Zombie goes into the store & at the ends says the famous line "I'm a Zombie"

A zombie is basically considered someone who is walking around DEAD! Good thing they're not real.... OR ARE THEY? My question to you is: Are you a Zombie? Are you walking around every day thinking you're "Alive" when in reality you are really "dead"? Although this blog may be a little longer than usual, I encourage you to read it to the end & discover if you are in fact a zombie.

How much Power do you think it required to raise Jesus from the dead? More than we can comprehend, right? Well would you be surprised to know that the same power that was used to raise Jesus Christ from the dead, is the same power we have inside of us? We have this same power through the Holy Spirit who comes to live inside each of us individually BUT only when we invite Jesus to live in our hearts first.

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because ofhis Spirit who lives in you –Rom 8:9-10;

“..and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead-Eph 1:19-20)

So How do I get this power?? I can I be sure the Holy Spirit is living in me?

Well you see, eternal security in heaven is secured by one way & one way only.

The Bible teaches that we must confess our sins to God, ask for forgiveness, believe that God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross as a sacrifice for all of our sins, & believe God raised Him from the dead. If you do this & believe this and ask Jesus to come into your heart & be your Lord & Savior then you will be saved!

Romans 10:9 says “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Once you ask Jesus to come into your heart & rule your life, the Holy Spirit is given to you & will be inside your heart forever! NOW you have the power that I mentioned above. AND NOW, you are "ALIVE in Christ" & no longer spiritually Dead.

The thing is, many people walk around thinking they are alive (spiritually speaking) yet in reality they are dead. Dead in Christ, & dead in eternity. Many people DO believe in God…they believe He exists..they believe Jesus is the Son of God & he died on the cross for them, etc, but they do not have that personal relationship with Jesus. They never truly asked Him to come into their life & take over. They never truly confessed their sins to Him and asked for forgiveness. So while they think they have eternal security in heaven, they don’t realize that they are missing the most important component that will guarantee their fate. Being saved is relational…not just knowledge based. It is acting & doing..not just thinking & knowing.

The Bible is clear that salvation & eternal security in heaven is not achieved by our good works. Think about it, if that were the case, then why would Jesus have to die on the cross? If we were able to earn our way to heaven, then Christ’s death would have been pointless.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast”- Eph 2:8-9,

“For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law” Rom 3:28

Could you be one of those people? Could you be walking around each and every day thinking you have the power of the Holy Spirit in you….thinking you are going to heaven but maybe, just maybe you have never truly asked Jesus to be Lord of your life? This could not only make the difference in your eternity, but also in your everyday life here on earth. This can make the difference in your depression, your anxiety, your perspective, your anger, your emptiness, your sadness, your struggles, your fears, etc!

I hope that you don’t just read this blog & walk away saying, “that was a nice read”, but I hope you actually take a moment to self-evaluate your personal relationship with Jesus & ask yourself “Am I truly saved?” Asking yourself this question will not determine the difference between “life” & “death” but what you do about your answer WILL. Pray now & ask Jesus to come into your heart & be your Savior.

So one again I ask you...... ARE YOU A ZOMBIE?

Sun & Moon Stood Still (POWER)

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Wed, 2 Oct 2013 07:27:00 -0700

Can you imagine living through a day where the sun didn’t go down? Wouldn’t that be weird? Wouldn’t you assume that something crazy is going on? Well this actually happened in the Old Testament & I had to read it a couple of times to make sure I was reading it correctly & sure enough I was.

Joshua 10 says…

“Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
    and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
¹³So the sun stood still,
    and the moon stopped,
    till the nation avenged itself on^[b] its enemies,

as it is written in the Book of Jashar.

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”

How amazing is it that the sun & moon stood still and the sun didn’t go down for a whole day! Hard to believe right, but if it’s in the Bible it is absolute truth.

Just think, if God can give an ordinary man (Joshua) the power to control the sun & the moon, then what do you think He can do in your life? We receive great power in trusting Jesus as our Savior through the Holy Spirit and I think sometimes (myself included) believers fail to utilize this power to its fullest. Great things can happen when you follow Christ. Stop being content with ordinary things & “just getting by” & allow God to transform your life. If you come near to Him….He will come near to you (James 4:8).

The next time you admire a sunset or sunrise, remember the day the sun & moon stood still.

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Are you like the Inn-Keeper?

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 10:55:00 -0700

I read an article the other day about Christmas that made me think about my everyday life. Remember the inn-keeper? The one who told Mary & Joseph that there was no room left in the inn? The Bible says there was no room at the inn (Luke 2:7) which implies someone must have told them so. Imagine being that person…the one who turned away Mary & Joseph….the one who turned away Jesus Christ. What a missed opportunity! How horrible and sad a day it was when the innkeeper realized what he had missed and who he had turned away!

Even though Christmas is months away, I can’t help but think: How often in my everyday life do I miss Jesus? How often do I miss opportunities that He has laid out for me only because I am too busy or overly self-consumed? How many times & how often do I turn him away without even realizing it? My goal is to spend more time with Him so I can become more aware of His presence & more aware of those opportunities He gives me. I challenge you to do the same!

Think about it… do you really want to be like the inn-keeper? There is a day coming when we will find out if we are like him or not & Jesus will be the one to tell us.

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32, 33

Don’t deny Jesus. It will be the biggest & greatest opportunity you’ll miss.

Reflection

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 07:20:00 -0700

It's amazing to take a look back at your past to see how you got to where you are at "today". What's even more amazing is the realization that the only way you got to where you are at "today" is by God's grace & blessings.

Now on FB!

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 07:50:00 -0700

Hey everyone, Just wanted to let you know that Luminate Your Path is now on FB! You can like our page here https://www.facebook.com/Luminateyourpath Hope to see you on there!

Are you truly HAPPY?

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Mon, 8 Jul 2013 08:48:00 -0700

Ever wake up on Monday morning and have a hole in your stomach but can't quite seem to figure out why? Ever feel an ache or sadness....something like a void but can't pinpoint exactly what it is? Do you feel this way on other days of the week besides just Mondays?

I think that "void" & sadness is caused by feeling incomplete. It is a result of not being truly happy. How many of you can truly say that you are happy all around? In today's society we strive to find happiness in every area of our life. For instance, if we're not happy at our job we look for a new one...or we try to get a promotion or transfer or make more money, etc. If we don't like how we look we are constantly trying to lose weight, or eat healthier, exercise more, put on make-up, buy nice clothes, etc. What about family? You may be constantly trying to get approval from family members or strive to be accepted so you are always trying to improve or fix something. How about the car you drive? Do you wish you had a bigger, better, faster car? Or the house you live in...do you focus on improving your home and decorating it inside & out? What about money...do you stress about money...waste money and then stress because you've wasted it...always have a void because it's never enough?

I am sure that at least one of these situations is you today. I know I struggle with some of these as well. But as long as we focus on these types of things and as long as our energy goes into cultivating & prioritizing these things, we will always wake up with a void or feel that dose of internal sadness and incompleteness. Our human nature is to always want more.. we are hardly ever satisfied and we are surrounded by a culture that influences instant gratification as a positive thing. How have we drifted so far from what truly matters? Why do we spend so much time and energy on superficial things by trying to make ourselves feel better only to end up feeling worse?

Over the past months or so I too have felt a void...or a sadness & I couldn't figure out why. I have a good job, my husband and I are doing well..awesome family, great friends, decent health... Sure everyone has their problems, but from a logical point of view I had no reason to be feeling the way I was feeling. Then it hit me. The one thing that was missing from my life was a close relationship with God. Sure I go to church and try to live a good life, but I realized I wasn't spending as much time with God as I should be. Many people don't realize that time without God is the cause of their problems just as time with Him is the solution. The more time I spend praying and reading the Bible or reading godly material, the less often I feel this void and sadness.

You see, whether you want to believe it or not, this void is in your soul. It's not something that can be fixed by surface things or material things or even other people. It's something only God can cure and trust me he wants to cure you! He wants you to get to know him. It's similar to a relationship with your kids or your parents or your spouse...how else are you supposed to get to know someone unless you spend time with them? And that's exactly what He wants to do...spend time with you. Why is this so hard for us to do? Why is it so hard to set aside 5 minutes a day and pray? Are we that selfish that we can't set aside a couple minutes in our day to spend with the One who created us? He can fix our problems & change our perspective and give us the happiness we so desperately search for every day but we seem to be in denial that he is a solution. We are selfish with our time and thoughts, and we think that we can fix everything if we just try a little harder, or make a little more money, or get a better job, etc. I challenge you this week to take a chance and give this a try...set aside 5 minutes of time everyday to talk to God. Read a chapter in the Bible which will probably only take 5 minutes also. Do something to spend time with Him and see how he changes you from the inside-out. Are you willing to give this a try? Even if you already spend time with God maybe He's calling you to give a little more...

Wanna get rid of your emptiness & find real happiness.. you need to get God. If you are doubting any of this then ask yourself this question: What do you have to lose?

Suicide Attempt - Kristen Anderson

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:04:00 -0700

Since we're on the topic of depression, here is a video I'd like to share about a young girl who tried to commit suicide. It's definitely worth watching till the end! There are 2 things she mentions in the video that are very similar to what I talked about in my last post. Do you know what they are? Hope you're encouraged-
Click on this:
Suicide Attempt - Kristen Anderson

............DEPRESSION........

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:14:00 -0700

“Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, A man is conceived…..

"Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire…."

“Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?”

“I loathe my life…”

Pretty harsh statements don’t you think? Have you ever felt that way in your life…that you wish you weren’t alive..that you think nobody else has things worse than you do…that you wish you were never born? Many people have experienced depression at one point or another in their lifetime..some of you may even still be depressed. The statements mentioned above were statements spoken by a man named Job who lived during Old Testament times. Through Job’s story, the Lord has provided us a great example of how to, not only deal with depression, but also overcome it.

Job was a wealthy, prosperous man of God, but his life did a complete 180. First, all of his sheep were burned up, then all of his camels were stolen, his servants were struck down with swords, and then his sons and daughters all died when their house collapsed upon them. His trials did not end there. Job’s health was then attacked and he broke out in loathsome sores from the bottom of his feet all the way to the top of his head. If anyone had a right to be depressed it was Job!

Although Job struggled to understand why he was suffering so much, and although Job had conversations with God about it, he never cursed God for his circumstances. Job grew in his dependent relationship on the Lord as he cried out to Him for relief and after awhile, the Lord healed him and blessed him by giving him more than he had before. He was given 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,00 yoke of oxen, 1,000 donkeys, and 7 sons and 3 daughters!

I know dealing with depressed feelings and trials is "easier said than done”, but as God shows us, there IS RELIEF. Maybe you’re stuck in a place in your life and you can’t get out of the fog…maybe you don’t even have the motivation or drive to try to escape the fog to a clearer place. Internalizing your feelings only allows you to hide the truth…in some cases it’s a form of denial. The Bible doesn't teach us to bottle things up internally and “deal with them ourselves”. As a matter of fact, God tells us to do the exact opposite..to reach out to others and to call on Him for help.

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Gal 6:2)

"Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." (Rom 12:13)

"When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." (Psalm 34:17)

..."Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." (Psalm 50:15)

So maybe you can try to start by talking. Open up to someone and share your feelings, but most importantly, you need to share your feelings with God. Cry out to Him like Job did because he will hear you. Be patient and do not lose hope! Remember, God did not relieve Job’s suffering immediately; He did it on his own timeline.

He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep

darkness to light.

(Job 12:22)

Shine some light on someone's life-pass it on

noreply@blogger.com (LuminateYourPath) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:23:00 -0700

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