What Keeps Me Apart from God-Part 3

Tonight I will finish up with the last three obstacles that keep you from a closer relationship with God.

5. You listen but you do not hear what God is saying.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

There is a difference in listening and hearing. To listen is to give one’s attention to a sound; to hear is to be told or be informed of…… When we listen we hear the words of someone or something. When we hear we are informed of or told the existence of something or someone.

Example:  Your children, spouse or a friend talked to you and you listened (heard the sound of their voice) to every word that was said but did not hear (informed of what they are talking about) what they were saying? I do this often when I’m immersed in my bible studies or this blog and my children come up to talk to me. I listen to the sound of their voice but I do not hear what they are saying.

We do this with God quite a bit in our lives.  We have to “hear” what is being said in sermons, devotionals and scriptures we read, and praise music. We need to hear what God is telling us in all we do, all we hear, and all we see!

Pay attention and see if God is trying to tell you something. Play back your conversations from the day, remember what your read, what you saw, and songs you listened to throughout the day. Is there an overall theme?  Sometimes God puts an in your face clue to what He’s telling you and wants you to hear, sometimes things are more subtle. No matter what, listen and hear Him!

6. Selfishness leads to distancing yourself from God’s will for you.
And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. Ezekiel 33:31

Often times when we pray we ask God for what WE want and WE need. We want what we want for ourselves not what God wants for us. This is especially true when it comes to material possessions. I have learned what we need to be saying is “God I want ____(fill in the blank) please let me know if it is binding to your will for me” or “God, if this is your will for me, let me know”. God does not say we cannot ask.  He tells us many times to ask and reach out to Him. But He also tells us we are on His timing and His plan for us! Again, we are on God’s plan not our own.

Lee and I recently experienced this as we looked for a car. We were not sure about a car we were looking at and we said “God if this is your will let us know.” As we turned on the radio Lauren Daigle was blaring on the radio. It was on the Christian music station. No bigger sign than that. As we talked to the lot owner, we found out he is a Christian man in the community. He gave us a great deal on a used car and kept it far under our budgeted amount.

Now, note we did not say “God this is the car we want so please make it happen” we said “God if this is YOUR will, let us know” and He did.

7. Spending time with ungodly people keeps you apart from God

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals 1 Corinthians 15:33

It has been stated by many that you are a representative of the company you keep. So, what does your crowd say about you? Here’s some questions to consider

Do your friends frequent the local bar or the local church?
Do they refer to God or the wine bottle as their refuge?
Do you turn to them for the latest gossip on others or to discuss the latest sermon or bible study?

Just as you are what you eat, you are the company that you keep! I have been blessed with God placing so many godly people in my path. However, it was not always like that. I had to cut people from my life who were not in align with my belief system because they chose to pursue ungodly behaviors.  It’s not easy to just cut people from your life.  However, once I put faith in God to send me who I need in my life, it got easier.

Hearing God, removing selfish behaviors, and removing negative influences will help you have a closer relationship with God.  This list has helped me get even closer to God.  It is not easy and I do refer to this list often in my daily walk with the Lord.   I am not perfect-far from it.  However, I genuinely try to live as God intended.    I have faith in every aspect of my life and my faith blesses me daily.

I am blessed!

Goodnight and God Bless,

A Blessed Woman

What Keeps Me Apart from God-Part 1

As I work on this new space in my home to have a closer walk with God, the question arises what keeps us from a closer relationship with God? I know this is one of those questions we all ask.  Lee shared these verses and reasons with me and our children a while back and I think it’s worth sharing with the world.  The interpretations are my own but the verses and reasons are Lee’s.  This is a very deep topic so I am piecing it together in a two part series.

1. Compromise does not exist in a relationship with God.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46

You cannot turn your life to the Lord and expect to keep living the same life.  God tells you

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come – 2 Corinthians 5:17

When you turn your life to God, your life changes.  You become a new person.  You leave your old world behind and begin living the new life God has promised you.  You follow God’s laws and emerse yourself in His word. You change your life to live God’s will for you.

Just as our children are a reflection of our parenting, we are a reflection of our Heavenly Father.  What we do, what we say, and how we act are a reflection of our belief system.   This means we live by the 10 commandments and all the instructions we are given in life’s instruction manual known as the Bible.  We quit drinking in excess, begin to take care of our body as God’s temple, and find refuge in knowing that we always have God on our side in everything we do.

It is a 100% commitment to the Lord, nothing less!

2.  Rebellion keeps us apart from God

But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. Zechariah 7:11

 And they have turned to Me the back, and not the face; though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction. Jeremiah 32:33

To rebel is to refuse to obey God’s laws.  To be closer to God you must not ignore His voice.  You have to let go of the rebellion and succumb to His will for you.  You have to quit trying to put God into your world and realize you are in God’s world.  Live by His rules, do as He says and life is peaceful.

Just as any parent child relationship, you will test the boundaries.  For those of us who are parents, we can understand the pain that is felt when our children rebel.  We know the turmoil it brings.  So why do that to your Heavenly Father?

You will find as you walk closer with God, your life actually becomes easier.  Life stops being so hard by living God’s will for your life.  Please know, we are not perfect.  There was only one perfect human and that was Jesus Christ.  You will slip and you will have moments of weakness.  Pray through those moments.  Temptation is hard but with God anything is possible.  You can and will overcome!

3.  Time and busy schedules keeps us from having a deeper relationship with God.

As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. Matthew 13:22

Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! Psalm 39:6

 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25

We must make the time for Him daily.  God gave us life. He is the great creator.  Just as we make time for our earthly parents, we must make time for our Heavenly Father.  Every morning for as long as I can remember my mother and grandmother have gone to God first thing in the morning.  If that meant they woke up at 4 am then so be it.  God was always first no matter what!!!  This was a great example to live by growing up and now I have a man who does the same thing.  I have not mastered this yet but I am trying.

For me, I had to break it down to smaller parts.  I had to start with the goal of church every Sunday.  Done!  Then I had to add life groups, comm groups, or whatever your church refers to them as….Done!  Then joining a women’s Bible study.  Done!  Now I’m working on joining the women’s ministry and helping them out slowly but surely.

It is through my church relationships I have met some of the most amazing people I know.  They have been great mentors in my life. By giving God the time He showed me what and who I needed in my life.

God is amazing!  He knows what you need but if you don’t give Him the time, he cannot share His plan with you.

My goal is to wake up at 5 AM every morning and meet with God first thing in the morning.

Compromise, Rebellion, and Time are just three of the obstacles to a closer walk with God.  Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow to find out the last 4 of the 7 obstacles. Lee’s insight always helps me, hopefully, it helped you tonight as well.

I am blessed to have a wonderful man of God to help lead our family in our walk with God.

Goodnight and God Bless,

A Blessed Woman

Mom Space Updated

I have been ill with walking pneumonia all week.  However, yesterday I finally felt human enough to do some home projects.  Lee and I found a desk and a chair.  The kids put my chair together and Lee tried but putting together a desk is not his thing.  So, we returned it to WalMart and they are putting it together for us 🙂  Ask and you shall receive.  God is good!  I should have it tomorrow.  I’m excited to finally have this space as my own.

I still have to find a rug and some other knick knacks but that is the fun of this project.  Creating this space that is mine.  Creating the space that will bring me closer to God.  I could have bought a lot of things but spending time with my daughter and creating things with her before she leaves home makes this space even more special for me.

I have updated my mantle and made it makes me feel great. I still have some projects to complete but that is 100% of the fun of this project

This is a project my daughter and I are working on ……..it’s not complete

Another incomplete project

Stay tuned as I continue to update on this blog.  I’m just excited to have the time (due to a new job) and the resources (due to a new job) to create this space in my home.  God has blessed me with a wonderful new job that lessens my time away from home with an increase in income. This door was opened as I turned my life back towards the Lord and I will never forsake him again.  I am blessed from my relationship with Him.

God is good all the time, All the time God is good.

Goodnight and God Bless,

A blessed woman

Creating My Prayer/Mom Space

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

What is Prayer/Mom Space?

Prayer/Mom Space is that place you go to think and talk to God.  That place that brings you peace in the middle of a storm.  It can be your spiritual space in your heart or a physical space in your home.   I decided to make my space physical and devote it to the Lord because without Him I would have nothing.  I also needed a space away from my bedroom, away from the kids, away from life where I can just sit down and turn off the world.  That is the only way this blog can exist.

How do I create a space?

Simple.  First and foremost, pray.  Ask God to help you find a space you can go and meet with Him privately.  You will be amazed at what He says to you.  Second, research ideas..  What appeals to you?  What makes you sit down, close your eyes and say “ahhh”?   For me, my space has to be in a corner of the living room.  So, two things have to happen.  First, it must go with the rest of my living room decor and second, it must be able to take me away from one of the main areas of our home.  Fortunately, we have teenagers who have forgotten our living room exists anymore so distractions will not be a big issue for me.

What is my style?

I am not an interior decorator.  I like to create things but putting them together to create something beautiful in my home is a challenge.  However, if I have something that sparks an idea or a few ideas I can create some very beautiful spaces.

Here’s my first process:

• Set a timer for 30 minutes
• Gather magazines
• Just cut out what appeals to me
• No thinking; just cutting

Once you are finished gather your pictures and analyze what you cut out.  You will find some theme to them.  For me, I like french country, rustic country and all things country.

My space will look something like this

This is the area of my home I will use to create that space. I rent my home for now so I am limited to what I can do.  However, in June/July/August we will begin looking for our forever home and that means no holds barred for this DIY-er.  Lee loves my home “piddling” as he calls it.

Excuse the dog, she was a little tired and needing of attention:)

My second process I will be do the following:

• Pray: God help me find some spaces that appeal to me.  Reveal to me the style you wish for me to have to align Your will with my will. 
• Set my timer for 30 minutes
• Get on Pinterest
• Create a Board for my space
• Search for things of interest to me-mom spaces, prayer spaces, heart rooms, rustic offices, french country; whatever God places on my heart to find.
• You can find my Mom Space Pinterest board when you click here

My girls will join me if they are around but for the most part I like to do stuff like this alone without distraction.  This is a very important space for ME!  This is key to making it successful for you.  It is YOUR space.  I have to tell myself that because many times I forget and let the kids take over spaces mentally, spiritually and physically.

I am not a selfish mom but I am learning to be one.  Not because I’m mean and selfish but because I have to do what makes ME happy.  I have to do for ME to do for others.  ME is not a word a lot mom’s use very often.  When I am with God that is my time.  It does not belong to anyone else. In a house full of strong-willed Type A personalities -it can quickly be forgotten. But remember, He is Your Father.  He is THE King of kings and Lord of lords.  So you can afford to be a selfish, princess or diva for a few moments of planning for Him.

Finally, I will go shopping.  I will search Craigslist, go to Canton (huge flea market in TX), hit the Goodwills and Salvation Army’s and as a last result go to the furniture store.  Remember there is not right or wrong to this process.  This is MY process that God put on my heart to share with you.  Tweak it, use it, don’t use it but remember whatever you do it will be right for you and just as You are fearfully and wonderfully made as told in Psalm 139:14 so will this space for you and God be made. God does not make mistakes!

How will your space be created?  What will it look like?  There is not a right or wrong answer.  This space is subjective.  It is yours!  Your opinion is the only one that counts.  But I would love to hear about or see your space so please comment below or link to this blog.  I will share mine as soon as it is created.

Whatever you do to create your space do it with this verse in mind and in heart.  Pray it over the space you will be using.  That’s what I have done.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

Goodnight and God Bless

A Blessed Woman