My 'yuck'

So in my last post I commented on how 'God can use tragedy and difficulties to draw people together. He can use the 'yuck' to help someone else. He will draw people to you that are going through 'yuck' that He already walked you through. Nobody can speak to situations like those that have already been through it.'

So I thought I would let you know some of the 'yuck' that I've been though. I hope that this helps some of you understand where I'm coming from as well as to know when you can turn to me for advice....some of this isn't YUCK, more like 'stuff'

Being an only child, having a step parent, having a significantly older parent (my dad was 20 years older than my mom), CANCER, being a military spouse, moving over seas, loosing grandparents, miscarriage, caring for an ill parent, loosing a parent, multiple deployments, I'm sure there are others but these are what I can think of for now. I'm a very open person so please come to me and we can talk about any of those listed or whatever is on your mind/heart.

**Cancer is in all caps because it is one that I've had to deal with over and over. My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer when I was in Jr High, my grandfather was diagnosed with colon cancer when I was 20, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was in my mid 20s, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer when I was in my late 20s and that cancer spread to his brain and was what finally took his life.

The 'yuck'

It is amazing to me how God can use the 'yuck' in our lives for good.

God can use tragedy and difficulties to draw people together. He can use the 'yuck' to help someone else. He will draw people to you that are going through 'yuck' that He already walked you through. Nobody can speak to situations like those that have already been through it. LET THE LORD USE YOU! He has divine appointments set up. Sometimes when you walk into one, you know it right away - sometimes you don't. Sometimes it takes our 20/20 hindsight to see what a 'God-set-up' it was!

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

Tired.

That is the best word to describe my life right now. I have not slept well in quite some time. I hoping this will change soon! I have lots of people praying for me. I working on a better 'sleep friendly' environment in my room too!

If I had to choose a few others, they would be

Overwhelmed - in a good way. I was super blessed by some wonderful people from our church today!

Stressed - so many things are totally upside down right now. I don't even feel like I can think straight about some of the situations that have been dumped in my lap.

I will hold on to the promises of God. He is good all the time and I will do my best to stay focused on what He is doing in all these messed up, crazy situations.

Small Groups

"In this age of worship services too large for us to know the names, much less the lives, of the people we worship with, it's imperative that we somehow find a place where our reality speaks louder than our image, where the upside of positive peer pressure spurs us on to greater heights, and where we're positioned to receive the help we need the moment we need it."

I thank God for 2 of the groups that I can do this in!

1 is my small group. We meet every Wed night and talk, pray, eat, pray some more...it's awesome

2 is my 'crazies!' God has given me some very special sisters! I'm an only child and these ladies will never fully know how much their love, encouragement, honesty, and prayers have meant to me! We were at a prayer meeting once where a man from another church let us know that he actually saw Jesus dancing with us as we were worshipping! I tell you what that was an awesome night and a great encouragement to those of us in the group that God had put us together for a great reason.

So I encourage you on your faith walk....find others you can be real with. People that if they ask you how you're doing and you say "fine" they know if that is the truth or not. People you can admit your mistakes in front of. People that will tell you the truth, even when you don't want to hear it. Friends that will 'pick you up and carry you Jesus' when you can't get there on your own!

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

GOOD MOOD GOD

FEET

I really dislike feet. I mean REALLY....They should be covered up...I shouldn't have to see them, smell them, or touch them....

GOD

He is in a good mood. He has a sense of humor.

God + Feet = FUNNY

OK so for over a week now my right foot has been on and off ON FIRE! I'm not sick. There is nothing wrong with my foot. It's this deep inside the foot fire! I know this is from God. What do I do with it? I start asking people if they are 'praying something weird for me' Like " God LIGHT her path" you know ... something that would make God touch my foot/feet....NOPE not 1 person said they did....
BUT
1 person did say he was having pain in his foot. The left foot but his foot none the less. I set everything down, got on my knees and prayed. He left 50% better (our God is a 100% Healer so I knew that wasn't done).
SO
my foot keeps being 'on fire' ESPECIALLY when I watch any sermons, listen to any praise music, or hear scripture.
1 have since prayed for 2 people (1 on Monday, and 1 on Wed) that had foot pain and are now healed of that pain! Monday I also prayed again for the guy with 50% and he's 'much better' (STILL NOT DONE THERE!)
So I just wanted to let you know that I know that God is in a good mood. He is laughing as I touch these peoples feet AND HE is doing a mighty work....HEALING FEET! PRAISE THE LORD!

~And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15 NIV

Learning

I've been doing a lot of reading and watching and listening. God is on the move but sometimes we are so busy that we miss what He is doing. I want to live my life so in step with Him that I don't even have to think "stop and listen for Him" I just want to do it....I want to hear Him so clearly all the time that I don't even have to stop what I'm doing and focus....I hope that makes sense to you.

So here is something that I heard/watched last night that really rocked me. When we live in a "sin conscious" state we will always want to avoid God....but when we live a "God conscious" state we live wanting to run to Him! So I am choosing to focus on what God is doing, not satan. I'm choosing to look for the good in people, to see them as God does, instead of seeing their flaws and sins. I'm choosing to always remember that where I go ... He comes.

I think this just might be another turning point on this faith journey.

I love this definition of Grace by Kris Vallotton. Grace is the operational power of God. It is the ability to do what you couldn't do 1 second before...
SO GOOD.

What's in a name?

What does your name mean? Have you ever wondered why you were given the name you have? Maybe you were told that you were named after someone. Maybe your parents aren't sure why they named you what they did. I encourage you to seek what you name means. I don't just mean go to a 'baby name site' and see what it says. I mean really seek out what it means. It can change everything!

I've always seen my name Michelle mean "who is like God?" Isn't that weird! A meaning with a question mark? What in the world does that mean???? Recently a dear friend of mine went to a women's conference and started reading an amazing book. I'm not exactly sure which made her look into the meaning of her name but boy am I glad she did...it brought me back to seeking what my name meant. What was God thinking when He had my parents name me Michelle?

Well I went deeper than just a 'baby name site' and found the meaning Michelle - "close to God" Can I tell you that meaning changed everything for me! I've now begun seeking what THAT means. I've found a couple of amazing Bible verses that I plan to mediate on for a while. I'm excited to see what God will reveal to me!


~Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8 NLT

~let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22 NLT

So GO! SEARCH! SEEK! LEARN!