Women!

Hey!  I've had a lot on mind the past week...and there are a couple of things I've been in constant prayer and asking God to please tell what to do.  Almost always He answers me clearly,  I KNOW it's His will and I accept whatever He tells me to do even when I do not understand why.  However, THIS week,  I am not sure I am hearing the answer from Him. Maybe it's me telling myself what I want to hear,  Maybe it's the enemy tricking me, or Maybe it is God!  So, last night I decided to hear Him clearly I need to be still..(like my previous posts)  Well,  He was clear..He told me that I am not the only woman that has issues to deal with, that is wanting answers right now!  He led me to the Bible to read and get all my answers.  It was awesome!  Here are only a few women that I pulled out to see what they had going on and how they handled it.

Eve~She had it all!  She was  beautiful and she had Adam, lived in a flawless paradise BUT she messed it all up by taking a bite out of the forbidden fruit..Despite her disobedience God still loved her.

Sarah~She was married to Abraham and wanted a baby so badly. She became impatient and  sent her maid Hagar to sleep with Abraham and Ishmael was born....BUT at 90 years old Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to Isaac.  God's promises are 100% but always on His timing so even though she thought she'd never have a baby....She did. 

Rebekah~A control freak! After 20 years in a loving marriage with Isaac. Rebekah got pregnant with twin boys. She focused ALL her attention on Jacob which led to hate in the neglected twin Esau..She was a big time liar and manipulated everyone and eventually Jacob ran away and never returned, She betrayed her husband and ruined their marriage and in the end her world was a complete disaster!

Peninnah~She was married to Elkanah. He was married to her and Hannah.  He was really in love with Hannah and gave Hannah twice as much as he ever gave Peninnah BUT Peninnah gave Elkanah several children early in their marriage.  She was a great mom but he still didn't love her so she turned bitter. She became obsessed with making Hannah's life miserable and she missed all the blessings that had been given to her in her life.  (I thought my name Shawna was difficult but these are really hard to say and spell! LOL)

I could go on and on....It's just amazing that even back then women really had issues to deal with.  Women today STILL deal with so many difficult issues.  The Lord tells me all the time that I am NOT alone even when I feel like I am the only woman that has ever gone through crazy things and reading about some of these others, I can see that it was hard even back then but one thing still remains God loves us so very much!! 

Blessings from a WOMAN of faith, 

Shawna  <><

Do you pollute?

I had to write this blog because the Lord has really been pressing this upon me.   Do you realize that what we say can bring poison into our lives....COMPLAINING releases poisons... We all complain from time to time but I know people that COMPLAIN about everything and all the time.  I have to distance myself from them because their poisons attack me too!  Complaining not based on circumstances, it's based on the attitude of your heart.  If you keep the right attitude during your times of distress, then God honors us. 

Let NO foul or polluting language come out of your mouth (Ephesians 4:29)

It's amazing how many changes you see when you accept the Lord as your savior,  and truly walk with Him in all that you do.  I know for me, It's really hard to be around  people because they curse too much,  they complain too much, they have a wicked tongue and it all makes me quite uncomfortable.   We really need to remember that our words can purify or pollute.     What comes out of your mouth?  Would you act the way you do if Jesus was standing in front you?  Would you curse if you were talking to Him?  We need to stay Godly and honorable and remember......The power of a word.   

When I was a young little girl (i'm still little, but not young..lol)  I used to always say Sticks and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me!  That is so untrue...Words hurt!  They don't just hurt US they hurt our Lord as well.  We need to focus on Thanking Him, praising Him, and worshiping Him, and let go of all these nasty words, complaints and negativity..He'll bless us soooo much.  He LOVES us!

The Lord will keep you in perfect peace if you keep your mind stayed on Him. (Isaiah 26:3)

Praise , Seek, Worship, Trust and Thank our God!

Love in Christ,

Shawna  <><

Psalm 46:10  BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!!!!!!!

 

BE STILL!!!  Oh my Gosh, Having 3 kids, I've said that a million times!!  As a matter of fact I JUST said that to my two boys while cutting their hair on Wednesday...I always tell them IF you don't BE STILL then something not so good will happen, either I'll cut my fingers (which I KNOW from experience..LOL) or you'll have a bad haircut (which THEY KNOW from experience LOL)  I am the mom, I say BE STILL,  they do, We are ALL happy.

Well, God tells us to BE STILL all of the time..Do we listen?  I had a really yucky Friday..I had a long week, I was agrivated to start off with, I worked all day and just about the time I was getting off....I realized I hadn't spent any time with the Lord all day..Which is unusual for me because I wake up praising Him, and throughout everyday we talk....  but I still didn't have time (so I thought)  I'll wait until I get home and I'll sit and talk with Him and things will be great.  Well, didn't happen...I ran home, picked up my daughter, let the puppy out, was running to pick up my 2 boys and THEN...my daughter told me she wanted to quit her job...I was trying to tell her to give a notice and before you know it we are in a huge argument!!!!  Trying to argue with a 16 year old is very difficult!!!  LOL  She got out of the car...we didn't speak and I left and picked up my boys...I got home, had some frustrating mail,  I WAS MISERABLE!  CRANKY!  NOT SO FUN TO BE WITH! (Ask my 8 and 11 year old)   I sat down and said "Lord, what am I doing that is not so pleasing to you???"  "Why is the enemy attacking me today?"  Before HE could answer...I already knew. I put off time with Him and the enemy found a chance to get to me...and boy, did he!

I prayed all night,  It came to me...the scripture that I LOVE so much..Be still and know I am God...When we are still we can hear God!  When we get too busy (which we ALL do) we can't hear the Lord speak to us....I get rushed, I work fulltime, have 3 children, pets, live in a one bedroom apt!!!!!!  I get wrapped up in everything going on here in New Orleans and being still is just not that easy...BUT the enemy reminds me when I am not being still because he attacks!

Praise God!!  Saturday morning was great!  I prayed all night Friday night..I woke up Saturday morning giving God the glory!!!  My daughter and I made up..She went to work!!!  The boys and I had a great day!!!  God is awesome!!   Take that time to BE STILL so you can hear God's voice!  HE LOVES US SO MUCH!!!  Have a blessed Sunday!!!!    <><

Life is an echo

I read "Life is an echo" today and had to share!  LIFE IS AN ECHO!  What we say and do reflects back onto us.  I do try to live in a way that God would find pleasing.  BUT there are times that people just work on my last nerve..My worldly desire is to put them in their place (if ya know what I mean.....) However the closer I get to  God, I try to pray about it instead of act on it. 

Living in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina is NOT easy.  The devastation has torn  people apart.  The sadness has turned to anger in many. The frustration of losing homes, businesses we need to go to have never reopened, traffic is a mess, and we've lost sooooo many people.  We get agrivated easily and every single person in the city has been affected mentally and emotionally and this article just reminds me that I really need to try even harder these days to watch my reactions to situations because it is a reflection.  God Bless you ALL!

All my neighbors in New Orleans...Let's pray for peace, patience, and for God to come into our hearts.  Our homes may be destroyed, our lives are in chaos, we've lived almost a year in destruction, but God is with us and He's leading us to VICTORY! AMEN!!!!!

LIFE IS AN ECHO

A son and his father were walking in the mountains. Suddenly, his son
falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

To his surprise, hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the
mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"

He receives the answer: "Who are you?"

Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"

He receives the answer: "Coward!"

He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"

The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention." And then he
screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"

The voice answers: "I admire you!"

Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"

The voice answers: "You are a champion!"

The boy is surprised, but does not understand. Then the father
explains: "People call this echo, but really this is life. It gives
you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of
our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in
your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your
competence.

This relationship applies to everything, in all aspect of life; life
will give you back everything you have given to it."