2011 Siesta Scripture Memory Team: Verse 23!

2011 Siesta Scripture Memory Team: Verse 23!!!! 

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

#23!! I cannot believe that I have made it this far... sometimes I start off well, and then before halfway I sorta just fizzle out! I started this the last time and I made it through 4-5 months. Oh, don't think that I have been strong, throughout the 22 verses, oh, I usually have my verse ready the day or so before or after.... ;). And, I have struggled with some of the verses, yet I falter and fail to study and memorize as I should, because BAM! The 1st or the 15th rolls around VERY quickly, so I have gotten behind more than once, but I am determined to finish this out. Not so I can say I did, because with every verse I have learned this year, I have been able to share with someone, just when they needed it, as well as apply it to what was going on in my life at the time. So many of what God has placed on me to learn, have been scriptures I draw from, I may not have known the entire verse, or where to find them in His Word. I use some of them daily. I don't want to stop when this is over, I want to continue to hide his word in my heart, so that when I need Him the most, His word will be alive and springing forth in my life!

Each verse that God has given me along the way, has been one that was speaking to me at the time. This verse is no different...... part of this verse is one that I use a lot. "He will never leave me nor forsake me" But, had I ever really looked or considered the rest of this verse. Lately the word CONTENT has been before me over & over. I know that God has something for me. I am a little  hardheaded sometimes, so it takes me a few 100 times or so to hear or see that He is trying to get my attention. I have started looking at scripture concerning "content". I know there is a lesson in this somewhere for me. I may post more later on when I find exactly what God is doing.

So far, He has shown me a couple things about the word CONTENT:

• Many times I get content right where I am.... afraid to step out of my comfort zone. Do you like to leave the comfort of where you are? I shouldn't be content with where I am in my relationship with HIM. I need to be about the Father's business in everything I do! 
• On the otherhand, "and be content with such things as ye have:"  (gulp)  My newest obsessions hobbies are Pinterest and decor/crafty blog stalking hopping. Ohhh, I love, love some of that stuff, and I would love to be able to do what they do, or have what they have...... "be without covetousness" starts ringing in my head....one day I even saw the word content on Pin*erest. Oh, I part of me would love to have things, and another part of me sees that "I wish I was like her". She has it all together, I wish I could be bold like her, I want this or that..... or to be someone else..... (keeping it real here) 

 And then a gentle reminder last Sunday, when our Pastor said, "You were created to be you" Read a precious sister's post  I Just Need to Be Me. I know that being content and being me is something I need to work on and this verse should be my "go to" when I am struggling with contentment with who I am and what I have!!

Are you content where you are?? With who you are? What you have? What verse do you use to direct you back to HIM instead of the things of this world?

Striving for contentment in HIM,

Piper :)

Keeping It Real.....

I would like to say that I haven't posted because I haven't had time..... and I really haven't had time to sit down and try to post. But, to be real honest, I haven't felt like I have anything to post, or to write home about, so to speak. It has been a topsy turvey week for me. Yes, I had Labor Day off, and it was a blur. But, the work week has been crammed because of that day off. Not to mention, we have had something every night this week. I really need to get a routine. I know that's how the beginning of school is and it just takes time.

Do you ever have a week when you can't think straight, you don't feel very good, not sure what is wrong, if there is even anything wrong, I am fearful, of what?I am edgy? Am I going crazy ? Well, if you don't ever feel this way consider yourself blessed!! When I feel this way, I am usually headed for a Pity Party. But, I know exactly where this is coming from...... from the king of all lies. Every time that I am doing something for the Lord, the liar shows up, and picks and pulls me in every direction to take my focus off of the Lord. I know this. This is nothing new to me. But, I still allow him to rob me of my joy, making me want to go home, crawl under the covers, and not come out until the storm passes. Then I make a CHOICE I CANNOT ALLOW HIM to do this to me. I try so hard, I pray, I listen to worship music, I try to be still....... so that I can get out of my "funk" as I call it.

I have turned to some of my SSMT verses to focus on God and allow HIM to pull me out of my funk. I realized how far behind I am in memorizing my verses and that I have been grumbling & complaining without telling God first. I usually listen to praise music on my way to work, but yesterday I decided I am going to take that 10-15 min drive down 40 to go over my verses. Each one has come with a story of how I chose it. Unfortunately, I hadn't ever given thought to writing those "stories" down. Now I wish I had started my blog so that I would remember where God had me when HE gave me HIS words HE wanted me to know. Anyway, when I got to " the Lord hath been mindful of us, He will bless us" Psalm 115:12a. I actually had written in my spiral " the Lord hath been mindful of us (ME!), He will bless us(ME!)"

BAM!! A light bulb went off..... He knows exactly how I feel, He knows my heart, He knows what is going on, HE hasn't forgotten me. And through all of this HE WILL BLESS ME!! I would like to say that in a split second my whole attitude changed and that my joy was fully restored, but not exactly. What I got was a HUGE reminder that HE is with me even when I am in my "funk" and there are times that I need to be right in the midst of my "funk" so that HE can remind me He is there for me. And Isaiah 43:2 reminds me that the waters will not overflow me.

He pours His grace out on me daily, I thank Him that His mercies are new every morning. I know there is a reason that I am in this situation and I thank Him that He will not leave me here! He loves me! HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT!!!

Do you ever find it hard to be "real"?

Piper :)