Tag: God

COURAGE: 2019

is my word of the year 2019


to step outside the box
to be salt and light 
to give the gospel message
to begin the next phase in my academic career
to live my life as God wills it not mankind
to speak my mind in truth, love, and hope
to know that different opinions don’t diminish my own.
to resist the urge to give up
to act despite the fear
to persevere in my studies
to pray where it is needed
to be a mentor 
to keep on being a
to go where God wants me to go
to stand up for myself
to protect what God has given me
to accept what God says no to
to show love to those who need it most

Image result for courage
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-courage.html

Joshua 1:9, Printable Bible Art, Watercolor Scripture Art, Be Strong and Courageous
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/838373286852741401/

Joshua 1:7-9 ~ GW
7 Only be strong and very courageous, faithfully doing everything in the teachings that my servant Moses commanded you. Don’t turn away from them. Then you will succeed wherever you go. 8 Never stop reciting these teachings. You must think about them night and day so that you will faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed. 9 I have commanded you, ‘Be strong and courageous! Don’t tremble or be terrified, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.’

Control…

Now I’m all grown up… Control… as some of the lyrics to Janet Jackson’s song course through my brain… I am realizing how much control I do not have.

I do not have control of how my Professor chooses to grade and critique my assignments
I do not have control over how long it is taking the online tutoring center  to review final term paper 
I cannot control that it will take possibly until 10 pm Saturday night to have the paper in review form

I can however do this..
I can control my reaction to my frustration levels as it is building more inside of me.
I can release my need for control to God and let Him do all things in His timing and not mine
I know that God is my guidance and for the others who are on my team
I know that I cannot fight but go instead in peace knowing I have done the best I can for now
I can pray for patience, for my anxiousness to subside

I belong to He who made me!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/534872893241198979/

Ephesians 2:19-22(ESV) 

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 

#LibertyUniversity #OnlineWritingCenter #ReleaseAndRelax #EasierSaidThanDone #Only9ShortDaysLeft #GodHasGotThis

Almost at the end…

Okay, so the end is almost there. Within sight. 


And I have come to rely on God’s divine guidance, His word and the prayers and thoughts of my family and friends. 


Plus reading life affirmations everyday to get me through. These four are some of my favorites. 


Just wrapped up #BIBL323 with a 96%  and am in the final four weeks of my cumulative theological capstone. 


So thank you for your prayers, thank you God for the perseverance, and thank you Pinterest for the beautiful affirmations. 


God bless us all. 


https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AQg3saf67RIoFzF4KXewVqGkLZqVfkdi5X6OMJBeN0w339ng5LV8D5U/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/534872893242073829/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AQU-dHcof0R9G_FhVperpHqDofxBOvWsBmws-fkUnoegfAKy2mEt6oRMvPqHw6pxIXWNbNXRXlinHaXjZ_uQsTs/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/534872893241583637/
So today…my chronic illness is kicking me in the butt…because yesterday…yesterday I did things. Feeling a cold coming on…and am so tired I just want to crawl back in bed. But there are 2 responses each for discussion boards in #Bibl323 and #Bibl450 and a lot of reading to comprehend…and there is life in general to try and function in…so I am praying that this is the worst day…that tomorrow is better {because I get to be part of praise and worship this weekend along with some amazing folks}…yet again. To my fellow #spoonies I am with you as you struggle through your day…God bless.

God Eases our Fears…Decision Made

God eases our fears…standing on this promise. 

Psalm 34:4-5; ESV ↠ I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Today, after much prayer and discussion with others, I made a final and official
decision concerning my Master’s degree in Healthcare Chaplaincy.
I
have decided to go for my Master’s with Thesis track. 
God gave me an
assignment and I must finish it. 
He is the foundation I stake my claim
on. 
Holy Spirit guide me onwards. 
May all this be done for the Glory of
His Kingdom and not mine. 
Liberty University Online Programs, the Rawlings School of Divinity and Liberty University have been so supportive in walking along side of me as I continue my educational journey. 
Seriously, if you ever decide to go to College or Grad School look up www.liberty.edu I have nothing but praise to say about the academic advisors, the admissions staff, and professors.

 {pic from https://www.facebook.com/LibertyOSD/?tn-str=k*F }

No automatic alt text available.

Gathering, Learning, Giving, & Letting Go

Well after a busy last couple of months, I am back…told you I
would be terrible at keeping this up…but life happens…and we move forward with
new things on our mind…trying to find that one moment in our daily walk where
all is right with the world and we can breathe again.
For me that is my hearts devotion. To find my time with the
Lord, center myself, and claim my space in His vast universe. 
This Fall 2018, this beautiful season that we are heading into…it
is a time for reflection…gathering, learning, giving, and letting go.
Gathering of the memories I’ve garnered over this past year
and making sure that I won’t forget the lessons I’ve learned about myself.
Learning to complete the task that has been given to me. Even
though the process may be hard it is going to be worth it in the end.
Giving of my time to my family, my church, and my community.
Making an effort to be present in each situation. To be that listening ear, to give
my advice when it is asked for…and to make others know that their lives matter.
Letting go…boy this is my struggle…daily, weekly, monthly,
yearly…etc. Let go and Let God is the big one that is said…but in reality, is
it really done? Because…me, myself and I…stew on things, knit pick, try to find
a way around or thru…and place myself where God should be. Lord have mercy, I
really am trying to be better in this. 
I’ve been working through the book of Colossians these last
couple of weeks. And really have come to respect what the Apostle Paul was trying to say to
this city church. I’ve garnered a new sense on what God has given me to do, for
His Kingdom. That this season will not only be one of harvest but planting in
different ways. 
He is writing to the church he planted in Colossae,
wrote unflinchingly to remind the parishioners of their need to get back to
what they have learned. Reminding them all of the Father and the Son have done
for us, and what they deserve in kind from us.
Colossians 3:12-15 ~ Good News Translation
“12 You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for
his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Be tolerant with one another and forgive
one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must
forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. 14 And to all these
qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. 15 The
peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to
this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.”
May we all be thankful that we are given time to be with our
loved ones and our community. May we
all find ways to gather, learn, give and let go.
God bless,
Lea Marian

Psalm 40 ~ NET

Psalm 40 {New English Translation}
For the music director; By David, a psalm.
1 I relied completely on the Lord,
and he turned toward me
and heard my cry for help.
2 He lifted me out of the watery pit,
out of the slimy mud.
He placed my feet on a rock
and gave me secure footing.
3 He gave me reason to sing a new song,
praising our God.
May many see what God has done,
so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!
4 How blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord
and does not seek help from the proud or from liars!
5 O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things;
you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us.
No one can thwart you!
I want to declare them and talk about them,
but they are too numerous to recount!
6 Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern.
You make that quite clear to me!
You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.
7 Then I say,
“Look! I come!
What is written in the scroll pertains to me.
8 I want to do what pleases you, my God.
Your law dominates my thoughts.”
9 I have told the great assembly about your justice.
Look! I spare no words!
O Lord, you know this is true.
10 I have not failed to tell about your justice;
I spoke about your reliability and deliverance;
I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.
11 O Lord, you do not withhold your compassion from me.
May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me!
12 For innumerable dangers surround me.
My sins overtake me
so I am unable to see;
they outnumber the hairs of my head
so my strength fails me.
13 Please be willing, O Lord, to rescue me!
O Lord, hurry and help me!
14 May those who are trying to snatch away my life
be totally embarrassed and ashamed!
May those who want to harm me
be turned back and ashamed!
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be humiliated and disgraced!
16 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you!
May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,
“May the Lord be praised!”
17 I am oppressed and needy!
May the Lord pay attention to me!
You are my helper and my deliverer!
O my God, do not delay!

Contemplating and Praying

Over the last few weeks I have been seriously contemplating and wondering if I want to go on with my Master’s. Wondering if God really wants me to be in this direction. Thinking that I should begin working outside the home again. Wondering what would happen if I came out of remission with my Chron’s/Colitis. Thinking about the whats, the ifs, the whys, and therefores.

Artist Dan gerhartz | 40 Prominent People | Dan Gerhartz Dan-Gerhartz_Cascade- Oil 60x36 ...
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/534872893234407487/

Here’s the thing. This contemplating is leading me to doubt. Doubt is from the enemy. Who is the stealer of dreams and does not want you to work in God’s plan. The enemy wants me to be out of sync with what my Creator wants for me. 

God has a plan for your life!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/534872893237224772/

So, the best thing to do…renew my prayer life…to be in prayer and ask for prayer. Every day and every hour (if need be). Read the Bible daily and concentrate on God’s plan, not the enemy’s words.  To keep me on goal. To know that the end of the Bachelor’s is not very far. (Only 4 more classes) Master’s of Healthcare Chaplaincy is applied for. 

Praying that everything will align so that I can go into Clinical Pastoral Education program at St. Mary’s during the time I am working on my Master’s of Chaplaincy (Healthcare). 

Praying that I might have the chance to use my voice and efforts in a productive manner. To be an advocate for those who face the decisions of end of life alone. Especially, adults with special needs and Veterans. That they will not be bullyed, neglected, or abused in any way.  That my voice for their voice matters. 

God has given me a path and a vision. It is up to me to trust in the promises of God.  To know that He is in control. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Elisabeth Elliot. #faith #peony #dontdoubt
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/534872893233894927/