Make your self available


Everyone can be used by God, it's so often we think naw, not me!
But yes my sister and brother you can be...and probably already are and don't realize it...

When we are full of Christ you are totally useable... he washes us clean!
You are valued, you are loved, you are useable, you are safe...

List of small ways you can be used in your already daily walk you might not think of:

friending the person next to you in Bible study
taking your neighbor a meal
waving at a stranger on the road
pushing the cart back to the cart station
encouraging your kids to have christ like character
speak to the cashier before they do
friending your coworker
praying for your childs teacher
leave an encouraging note on the bathroom mirror
send a hand written letter to someone
turn someone trash can over for them
pick up a piece a trash
push your chair back in at a restaurant
look to those around you young and old

Be intentional!

2 Timothy 2:20-21(NIV)

20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Serving the Lord is not an optional... Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Bottom line is everyone must lift a finger...

Serve...

Think back to your spiritual gifts...master which your number one is and the top few your strong in. Be reminded everyone has a spiritual gift and these gifts come from our experiences in life. And can change over time.

Biblical personalities used by God:
Jacob was a cheater,
Peter had a temper,
David had an affair,
Noah got drunk.
Jonah ran from God,
Paul was a murderer,
Gideon was insecure,
Miriam was a gossiper,
Martha was a worrier,
Thomas was a doubter,
Sara was impatient,
Elijah was moody,
Moses stuttered,
Zacheus was too short,
Abraham was old and
Lazarus was dead.

It is said, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called"!

Holiness is never seen as a human quality rather an expression of a truly unique relationship with God!
It's a two way deal...like any other relationship!

How we spend our time reveals our precious HEARTS true desire!

Our face simply reveals everything from pride to depression or it will pour forth the fruits of the spirit: peace, joy, love, patience, gentleness, goodness, self-control, faithfulness, and kindness.

Have a good day!

#inspired by chapter four in What Happens When Women say Yes to God by Lysa Terkeurst these were my notes gathered and journal for this chapter.

#beavailable #notable

After class...


Once a week for two years now I've been attending, even lead one semester, 
Bible study with precious ladies, moms at my church. 
This semester we are studying 
along with Lysa Terkeurst 
If you've ever heard Lysa or read one of her books 
you already know she is amazing. If you haven't 
I encourage you to. 
She's real and she keeps it real!

In my time preparing before class this week 
a verse Lysa shared, Romans 12:2, in chapter 2 stood out to me. 
The more I thought about that verse the more I came to realize 
how many times that verse has come into play in several other studies I am done. 
Even on a journal page I did last semester.

I'd encourage you to read the chapter of Romans 12 from your hand held Bible, not your phone, not your iPhone etc but your Bible.

The pictures below are from my NIV Life application Bible of Roman 12. 
If you're not familiar with this Bible, 
it gives you scripture and at the bottom breaks down each verse 
in a way you can easily understand to apply towards your life. 
See the print, it's large! When I purchased this one my mother was with me 
and encourage me to get large print because in a few years I'd need it. 
Well, I have to say I am very glad I did. 
It makes studying a lot easier.

 
 
 
 

Romans 12:2 all started for me several years ago 
when I did a study by Jennifer Rothschild, Me Myself and Lies. 
On page 42, she has you fill in the blank of the verse 
and then give her take on helping you understand.


Highlighted Below:
Page 42
Let's think with the mind of Christ.
transform our thoughts 
by infusing them with the truth of Scripture 
so they will resemble the mind of Christ.


In Bold Above (middle):

When the world tells you to make your violators pay, 
the mind of Christ thinks (Ephesians 4:32: Luke 17:3-4)

When the world suggests you look out for number one, 
the mind of Christ thinks (Col. 3:12)

When the world advises you get all you can-buy now pay later-
the mind of Christ thinks (Matt. 5:41-42)

When the world tells you "just do it," 
the mind of Christ thinks (2 Peter 1:5-8)

When the world says you can pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, 
the mind of Christ thinks (Phil. 2:13)

When the world persuades "it's all about you," 
the mind of Christ thinks (1 Cor. 6:20; Rev. 4:1)

Below she goes on to share the story of the Pharisees 
in Matthew 15:1-9 and 21:33-46 and Jesus described them in Matthew 23:3-6

 


Truthful Labels


These truth labels, this study with Jennifer Rothschild taught me so much about the junk that can be trapped in our heads that just isn't even true. Carrying the truth about who we are in Christ frees us from such nonsense.


Secondly, reading Donna Partow's book Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be lead me to Romans 12:2 also.

 

Above: I wrote this at the end of the chapter!
Be free, take time to spread your wings in God's truths
about who you are!
becoming a confident woman of God's clears all worldly insecurities!

At that moment of doing that study and writing that at the end of the chapter again set me free from the outside world. I just don't care anymore what others think of me, the way I look, dress, what i drive, where I live ect... what I care about most is what really matters, my relationship with Christ!



Thirdly, last semester leading Bible study Romans 12:2 was in The Beautiful Wife by Sandy Ralya.

 

Above: at the bottom of page
Listen to the Truth
Accepting God's truth about yourself by feeding yourself daily with God's word.

Below:
Romans 12:2 appears again....

 

Above:
A list of truth that came from the Me Myself and Lies study, 
shown above, that I wrote at the back of chapter in this book.

I also created a journal page last semester about standing firm on God's word 
and Romans 12:2 was on there stating it transforms you. 
( i'll add a picture of the journal page in a bit, if it's not here come back)

Do you see the circle of how many times that verse has come back to me…
thinking we should really soak it in. I know I have!!! 

After class this week I got a text from a girl in my class that thanked me 
for the encouragement of reading the whole book of Romans 12. 
That text encouraged me to go beyond and share… 
so here you have it! 
Me sharing it with you!

Here's Lysa with a short video about her book, 
What Happens When Woman Say Yes to God.
What Happens When Woman Say Yes to God.



I want to leave you with something….
because we are called to learn new things in this life and grow, 
what better way to learn new things 
and grow knowing those things than to study the Bible.

This…wanting to get into God's word more but just not sure how 
or wanting to clarify that what you're doing is right on, 
then watch this video below by Joyce Meyer How to Study the Bible.