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Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
All Who Are Thirsty
All who are thirsty, all who are weak, just come to the fountain and dip your heart into the streams of life.
Let the pain and the sorrow be washed away in the waves of his mercy as deep cries out to deep.
It has been 6 weeks of not stop going for me and this morning the weight of it hit me. I climbed in bed last night at about 9:45. Literally exhausted from the constant going of the day, I decided to give myself an extra 45 minutes of sleep and I set my alarm for 5:00. I woke up a few minutes before my alarm as I normally do and as I rolled over to get up I literally had to battle myself to put my feet on the floor.
Does anyone else have those moments where you argue with yourself to try and make your body do what you know it needs to? I sat up and I just felt drained even though I’d had a full night of sleep. I had to talk my body into getting up to prepare for the day.
I came sleepily to work, did my few morning duties, had my quiet time, listened to a quick sermon on podcast, and then the girls began showing up for practice. As practice wore on my body and mind continued to talk to me and they were both pretty much saying “bed, bed, bed, bed” LOL.
Then as I walked back into my office music was playing from my computer (I usually leave music on in my office) and I hear the words “All who are thirsty, all who are weak, just come to the fountain and dip your heart into the streams of life”
It brought tears to my eyes as I sat down in my chair remembering where my strength comes from.
I can often become confused about my true abilities. I can think that as long as I discipline my body enough I can ensure that I will have the strength to endure. As long as I train myself to get a certain amount of hours of sleep, eat the right foods, exercise the right amount, etc then I will have made sure that I will not grow weary. The truth of the matter is though all of those things are important, needed, and help, but endurance is not accomplished through my strength. My strength is found in Him.
I know I typically blog on things we as the body of Christ need to work on, things the Lord shows me that I need to fix in my life, as I’m often teased about how I like to write and talk about holiness, but today I just want to say the Lord is your strength, He is your peace, He wants to give you rest.
His grace is sufficient for you and in weakness His strength is perfected. He says to cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you. He says to come to Him if you are weary and heavy laden and He will give you rest.
God is not shocked when our bodies become tired, it is not surprising to Him that we grow weary, that is why He talked about it so much in the Bible. Not just showing us that we would grow weary and tired, but how to fix it!
Run to Him and find rest, not condemnation, rest. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
PS: I am currently in the process of starting a blog on wordpress. So, here in the next few weeks my blog will be moved to its new address:
www.infaithfulpursuit.wordpress.com
I’m working on it slowly but surely and hope to have it up and running as soon as possible. I know it will be a slight inconvenience because of the change of location, but I've had some problems with blogger int he past and figure it's as good a time as ever to make the switch. I' will let yal’ know when the full switch takes place and I will be keeping this blog active so that my old posts will still be available to come read!
Let the pain and the sorrow be washed away in the waves of his mercy as deep cries out to deep.
It has been 6 weeks of not stop going for me and this morning the weight of it hit me. I climbed in bed last night at about 9:45. Literally exhausted from the constant going of the day, I decided to give myself an extra 45 minutes of sleep and I set my alarm for 5:00. I woke up a few minutes before my alarm as I normally do and as I rolled over to get up I literally had to battle myself to put my feet on the floor.
Does anyone else have those moments where you argue with yourself to try and make your body do what you know it needs to? I sat up and I just felt drained even though I’d had a full night of sleep. I had to talk my body into getting up to prepare for the day.
I came sleepily to work, did my few morning duties, had my quiet time, listened to a quick sermon on podcast, and then the girls began showing up for practice. As practice wore on my body and mind continued to talk to me and they were both pretty much saying “bed, bed, bed, bed” LOL.
Then as I walked back into my office music was playing from my computer (I usually leave music on in my office) and I hear the words “All who are thirsty, all who are weak, just come to the fountain and dip your heart into the streams of life”
It brought tears to my eyes as I sat down in my chair remembering where my strength comes from.
I can often become confused about my true abilities. I can think that as long as I discipline my body enough I can ensure that I will have the strength to endure. As long as I train myself to get a certain amount of hours of sleep, eat the right foods, exercise the right amount, etc then I will have made sure that I will not grow weary. The truth of the matter is though all of those things are important, needed, and help, but endurance is not accomplished through my strength. My strength is found in Him.
I know I typically blog on things we as the body of Christ need to work on, things the Lord shows me that I need to fix in my life, as I’m often teased about how I like to write and talk about holiness, but today I just want to say the Lord is your strength, He is your peace, He wants to give you rest.
His grace is sufficient for you and in weakness His strength is perfected. He says to cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you. He says to come to Him if you are weary and heavy laden and He will give you rest.
God is not shocked when our bodies become tired, it is not surprising to Him that we grow weary, that is why He talked about it so much in the Bible. Not just showing us that we would grow weary and tired, but how to fix it!
Run to Him and find rest, not condemnation, rest. The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
PS: I am currently in the process of starting a blog on wordpress. So, here in the next few weeks my blog will be moved to its new address:
www.infaithfulpursuit.wordpress.com
I’m working on it slowly but surely and hope to have it up and running as soon as possible. I know it will be a slight inconvenience because of the change of location, but I've had some problems with blogger int he past and figure it's as good a time as ever to make the switch. I' will let yal’ know when the full switch takes place and I will be keeping this blog active so that my old posts will still be available to come read!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Noise
If you read my blog yesterday you know the story of how I got in my car yesterday and the Holy Spirit whispered some meaningful words to me. If you didn't read it... go read it :)
Today the Lord spoke to me about what happened. As I got in the car I immediately turned on my radio. It wasn't until after I turned off the radio that I received the impression in my Spirit.
Many times we are so busy, and have so much noise going on in our lives, that we don't stop to LISTEN to the Holy Spirit speaking to us.
Ps. 46:10
BE STILL, and know I am God
Most of us can quote 1 Kings 19...
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
I believe the enemy has done a great job of making my generation afraid of stillness and silence. There is hardly ever time for sitting peacefully and listening for the voice of the Father. Many kids these days can't even study or do homework without music on, they can't sit on the couch without the tv on in the background, we don't ride in the car without the radio on etc...
Yesterday I went with my neighbor for some much needed "girl time". I have been so busy that most of my friends have gotten for the most part shoved to the side. I had free time yesterday evening so Katelyn and I decided to go spend some time going to a nice dinner and doing some shopping in the Woodlands. The whole way over and back in the car the radio was off because Katelyn and I had much to talk about. Why would I turn the radio up to make Katelyn have to scream to be heard? No, I wanted to hear what she was saying... so I turned the radio off and in result we had awesome conversation and real quality time.
What makes us think it should be different with God? To facilitate a real relationship with Him there must be dialogue! Times when I talk and times when I listen. Times when I SET APART time just to hear my Daddy God's heart and yes to share mine. Times when I turn off the cell phone, the radio, the tv, cd's, itunes, and sit in stillness and silence to listen to God speak.
Here is the question I had to ask myself "if I knew God was whispering would I still turn the radio on?"
The fact is I know is that God does speak in a gentle whisper to my Spirit, and I know that God wants to talk to me!!! (I won't go on my rant about the fact that all Christians hear the voice of God, I'll just say go read John 10:27)
So how much time are we spending in set apart time in stillness, silent, listening, because we want to hear the voice of God.
Just as I wanted to know what was going on in my friend's life, I had to set apart time, turn off the radio, and listen.
Turn off your radio,
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Today the Lord spoke to me about what happened. As I got in the car I immediately turned on my radio. It wasn't until after I turned off the radio that I received the impression in my Spirit.
Many times we are so busy, and have so much noise going on in our lives, that we don't stop to LISTEN to the Holy Spirit speaking to us.
Ps. 46:10
BE STILL, and know I am God
Most of us can quote 1 Kings 19...
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
I believe the enemy has done a great job of making my generation afraid of stillness and silence. There is hardly ever time for sitting peacefully and listening for the voice of the Father. Many kids these days can't even study or do homework without music on, they can't sit on the couch without the tv on in the background, we don't ride in the car without the radio on etc...
Yesterday I went with my neighbor for some much needed "girl time". I have been so busy that most of my friends have gotten for the most part shoved to the side. I had free time yesterday evening so Katelyn and I decided to go spend some time going to a nice dinner and doing some shopping in the Woodlands. The whole way over and back in the car the radio was off because Katelyn and I had much to talk about. Why would I turn the radio up to make Katelyn have to scream to be heard? No, I wanted to hear what she was saying... so I turned the radio off and in result we had awesome conversation and real quality time.
What makes us think it should be different with God? To facilitate a real relationship with Him there must be dialogue! Times when I talk and times when I listen. Times when I SET APART time just to hear my Daddy God's heart and yes to share mine. Times when I turn off the cell phone, the radio, the tv, cd's, itunes, and sit in stillness and silence to listen to God speak.
Here is the question I had to ask myself "if I knew God was whispering would I still turn the radio on?"
The fact is I know is that God does speak in a gentle whisper to my Spirit, and I know that God wants to talk to me!!! (I won't go on my rant about the fact that all Christians hear the voice of God, I'll just say go read John 10:27)
So how much time are we spending in set apart time in stillness, silent, listening, because we want to hear the voice of God.
Just as I wanted to know what was going on in my friend's life, I had to set apart time, turn off the radio, and listen.
Turn off your radio,
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
Friday, September 9, 2011
The Insignificance of Me
There are almost 7 billion people living on planet earth. There are over 300 million in the United States alone. Abraham’s descendants have become as numerous as the stars, just as God promised.
This morning I walked out of my house abnormally in a rush. I tend to work on the schedule that early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable. So as I was feeling late this morning I was in a haste to get to work and admittedly hadn’t said one word to the Lord from the time I woke up (late) to the time I stepped out my door.
Now before you completely judge me I have to say that I have my “quiet time” in my office, so my worship, prayer, and Bible reading is typically not done until I get to my office.
Right before I climbed into my car, I happened to glance up and was captivated by the pure awesomeness and beauty of the stars. Many of my most intimate times with God have been while beholding His natural creations like the stars, sunsets, sunrises, waterfalls etc. The stars were so awe inspiring as they spread across the early morning sky I felt so small and so humbled. I just whispered “Lord I’m so small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things” and I sat my bags down to just take a minute to admire how big and powerful my Creator, my Daddy, is.
Let me make a note here, never be in such a rush because of your own schedule and agenda that you step out of being led by the Spirit. So many times we miss intimate and impactful moments with our Father because we’re so concerned with our own agenda. As much as I HATE being late, I’d be late 1,000 times over for heartfelt conversation with God, I’d be late to anything if it meant hearing from God about something, He wanted to talk about. There is nothing in my life that takes priority over Him, His agenda, His voice, His leading, or simple and sweet time with Him.
After a minute or two I went ahead and put my bags in my car and climbed in once again intent on beginning my day as usual. As I started the ignition the radio came on and I began to sing along to my morning praise music that I listen to every morning as I drive to the school, but this morning something just didn’t feel “right”. I turned off the music as I slowed to a stop at a stop sign and I sat still for just a few seconds until I heard the impression in my Spirit:
“All of those stars and I know them by name, I put them in place, I know where they are, I know when they move; All of the people in the world and I know you by name, I put you in place, I know where you are, I know when you move, you are not insignificant to Me”
I’m a 23 year old single female who lives in the middle of nowhere Texas. I graduated college at Texas Tech University and now I teach school at the local junior high, coaching various sports. I attend church and try to be as involved as possible serving when needed. Perhaps to anyone who receives my resume’ I seem quite insignificant and unimpressive, and yet I get to use the Creator of the Universe as a reference.
All I can really say is go talk to Him about what He says about me because He says I matter to Him. I may never be internationally known or have great influence over millions of people, but I can pray and He hears me. I can hurt and He cares for me. I can weep and He catches my tears. I praise and He inhabits my praise. I intercede and He moves on behalf of my prayers.
Small and Insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but I find my identity in Him.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
This morning I walked out of my house abnormally in a rush. I tend to work on the schedule that early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable. So as I was feeling late this morning I was in a haste to get to work and admittedly hadn’t said one word to the Lord from the time I woke up (late) to the time I stepped out my door.
Now before you completely judge me I have to say that I have my “quiet time” in my office, so my worship, prayer, and Bible reading is typically not done until I get to my office.
Right before I climbed into my car, I happened to glance up and was captivated by the pure awesomeness and beauty of the stars. Many of my most intimate times with God have been while beholding His natural creations like the stars, sunsets, sunrises, waterfalls etc. The stars were so awe inspiring as they spread across the early morning sky I felt so small and so humbled. I just whispered “Lord I’m so small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things” and I sat my bags down to just take a minute to admire how big and powerful my Creator, my Daddy, is.
Let me make a note here, never be in such a rush because of your own schedule and agenda that you step out of being led by the Spirit. So many times we miss intimate and impactful moments with our Father because we’re so concerned with our own agenda. As much as I HATE being late, I’d be late 1,000 times over for heartfelt conversation with God, I’d be late to anything if it meant hearing from God about something, He wanted to talk about. There is nothing in my life that takes priority over Him, His agenda, His voice, His leading, or simple and sweet time with Him.
After a minute or two I went ahead and put my bags in my car and climbed in once again intent on beginning my day as usual. As I started the ignition the radio came on and I began to sing along to my morning praise music that I listen to every morning as I drive to the school, but this morning something just didn’t feel “right”. I turned off the music as I slowed to a stop at a stop sign and I sat still for just a few seconds until I heard the impression in my Spirit:
“All of those stars and I know them by name, I put them in place, I know where they are, I know when they move; All of the people in the world and I know you by name, I put you in place, I know where you are, I know when you move, you are not insignificant to Me”
I’m a 23 year old single female who lives in the middle of nowhere Texas. I graduated college at Texas Tech University and now I teach school at the local junior high, coaching various sports. I attend church and try to be as involved as possible serving when needed. Perhaps to anyone who receives my resume’ I seem quite insignificant and unimpressive, and yet I get to use the Creator of the Universe as a reference.
All I can really say is go talk to Him about what He says about me because He says I matter to Him. I may never be internationally known or have great influence over millions of people, but I can pray and He hears me. I can hurt and He cares for me. I can weep and He catches my tears. I praise and He inhabits my praise. I intercede and He moves on behalf of my prayers.
Small and Insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but I find my identity in Him.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
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