Have you ever had your own words come back to bite you? I’ve been working out with Margie Marshall for the last few weeks. She is a “take no prisoners” fitness general and she is kicking my tail! (Although according to her, she’s taking it easy on me. I don’t see how, but anyway…)
So last week when I was on my third hateful round of push-ups and whining and soooo wanting to quit, Margie threw my own words back at me: “You said that warrior chicks learn to love the stretch! If you want to have something you don’t have, you have to do something you don’t usually do”
Wow– I love to apply that to Jesus, but not to push ups!
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Kerri, I love your honesty..This really spoke volumes to me. It confirmed that what I want from God is going to require more of me.
I will not be able to get peace in the area of my life that I want it, unless I’m willing to do more than I usually do in other areas of my life to get it.
Love ya,
Patrice
Isn’t that the truth and it reminds me of pregnancy. I love being pregnant and I love the fact that I will mother another child (and a boy at that). It doesn’t always feel great though to have your body parts stretched in the strangest of directions, hormones sometimes running amuck and appearing in tent like clothes in order to be comfortable. However, I would not change it. I choose to “love the stretch” regardless. Something wonderful is happening in the midst of all of this stretching and changing. I look forward in meeting this little blessing from God face to face soon. Thanks for keeping it real Pastor Kerri and reminding us to “love the stretch”.
I have found over the last few years that God has shown me to get disciplined in every area of my life. He changes one thing after another such as spending time with him, exercise, what I put in my mouth, money and much more. It can be difficult and sometimes exhausting. After a hard work out I feel like I am going to vomit sometimes but the reward is so worth it. God does stretch us but I keep reminding myself that he makes everything beautiful in his own time, chiseling away at the things he wants to improve. The stretch is hard but I look back and see all the blessings that he has given me from staying focused. There is know other way to walk but with Jesus.
Kerri - you always put a smile on my face with the way you keep it “real” -[and funny].
Your comment reminded me of the many times that God was “stretching” me [in different situations in my life].
Like when i really want that extra dish of ice cream or piece of apple pie]- and I know that I can’t zip my pants up now because I already ate too much in the last week].
Or like when I really would rather sleep in than get up and exercise in the morning. [I'm still working on that one].
I can honestly say that there are seasons in my life that God had to stretch me to get through them-when I didn’t think that I was going to make.
Like when I thought that the seziures that I had for 46 years would one day kill me- and I wouldn’t be able to fulfill my calling in God. But God healed me.
I suffered with stess and migraine headaches for many years, but God took them away-permanently.
My daughter moved away from Jacksonville when her first child was 1 year old. We are close - so that was tough to bare. After 13 years God is sending her and our other 2 grandchildren back to live in Jacksonville. Now we can see each other every day.
It was a long stretch when my husband Ed wasn’t going to church or pursuing his relationship with the Lord for 18 years. But he had a real repentant heart and has come back to the Lord stronger than ever before.
I got married to my one and only husband Ed [in my 20's].
Twice I have wanted to devorce him. God stretched me to hang in there and go through some things. He has “restored” what the devil tried to “destroy”.
None of these things came easy.
There is always a “price” to pay to bring about God results.
We have to die to our flesh and live in our spirit in hard times.
We have to confess the Word until it gets down in us and we believe it.
We have to believe the Word over our circumstances.
We have to bring down to earth - what is already in heaven-love; joy; healing; oneness; goodness; forgiveness; peace.
Margie is right-to get what we want in life - we have to do something we’ve never done.
Paul said it best: “I die daily”. And the life that I live I now live by the Son of God.
There are many things we go through in life that stretches our emotions, our hope, our faith, and challenges us to go the 2nd mile [when we think there is no more strength left in us].
Those are the moments that God teaches us that His strength is made perfect in our weakness; and that with God’s help - “we can do the impossible”.
Hang in ther Kerri-and I will pray for you to endure that stretch.
love you ……Patty
hi i wil like for God to bless my life and to bless the house of God and i want to do things that wil make God happy not me.
Hey everyone — thanks for the awesome comments. Sammy, I do pray that your life is blessed!
Debbie — I amexcited about Celebration Women as well. Can’t wait to begin connecting with all the gals again on a regular basis!
Sammy:
What a blessing it is to hear your heart.
I’d just like to let you know that God hears the cry of your heart-and as you delight yourself in the Lord - God will give you the desires of your heart.
He promises to meet your needs and to do above and beyond all you could dare or think to ask him to do in your life.
I think the Lord is please with you, because you want to bless people and please God.
I encourage you to join a group at church that you feel comfortable in-[try different ones until you know it's the right group for you].
There are opportunities to share your insight or pray for and encourage other women in these groups.
Also you will build lifetime relationships that are God centered.
There are also opportunities to volunteer for different events at church and to try different ministries [until you connect with the one you enjoy doing the most].
The Lord will connect you with many sisters in the groups and in different ministries that can “encourage” and “pray for you” so that you do not feel alone.
My guess is that there are many other women out there who feel just like you do [that also want their life blessed and want to bless the house of God and please the Lord].
There are so many opportunities at church to “connect” you to other believers and to “share” growing in God’s word together - until you feel that you know what you want to do for the Lord-[if the Lord hasn't revealed that to you yet].
When you read your Bible-stay in the New Testament.
It will tell you:
1.How to understand how to have a new beginning and a “new life”-{through Christ and the Holy Spirit}.
2.Your identity-in Christ-as a “disciple” of Jesus.
3.What you have been given-[your inheritance]-in Christ.
4.Who God is-[by reading about Jesus and the Holy Spirit].
5.How to bless others-[in God's house] or [wherever you go]; and how to please God [by doing what you read in the New Testament that the disciples did].
I truely believe that you will be blessed; as you connect to others that you can bless; and you will experience the joy of making God happy.
Just remember that God created you and has a plan for you and a purpose for your life.
He has given you an opportunity to know him -through a new life in Chirst and His Holy Spirit and when you read your Bible you are reading the will of God for your life and for everyone who calls on the name of Jesus.
God’s blessings to you!