Think Feel Live

I was so excited at the first of the week to write this blog.  I had so many thoughts and ideas! God had really laid on my heart the focus this week about being His child! I had read it in scripture, it was my Sunday School lesson, and it was the reflective verse this week. But trying to get this written I have really fought doubt and fear. I don't have anything to say, it won't be perfect, and I'm not a very good writer! These were some of the thoughts going on in my mind. I just wanted to give up! It is so easy for Satan to place these negative thoughts in your mind and get you to actually believe them. Renee Swope writes, "If we put our trust in Christ our Savior, we can stand on the promises of who we are in Him- chosen, holy, and dearly loved (Col. 3:12)."  So when I am attacked with negative thoughts I will use the promise of God's Word to combat Satan's lies.

When doubt comes against me saying I'm weak and not good enough, I will rely on the truth that God is for me!   He says I have not been given the spirit of fear and timidity.  I can be confident He will supply me with power, love, and self-discipline to accomplish anything!!(2 Timothy 1:7)

When/Then

Four years ago, our family lost our home to foreclosure.  My husband had been laid off and had several medical emergencies.  I thought losing our home was the end of my world.  This was our dream house; it was our first home we had bought.  This house was my only focus. I believed the world I needed this home to be successful, worthy, and satisfied. I felt like such a failure.  I was losing my home, my marriage wasn't that great, and there were many other things in my life crashing around me. I was empty. I lived in fear that people would find out. Until one day at one of Jacob's games we met a pastor and his wife and they invited us to their church.  I had been saved as a teenager, but as an adult I had turned my back on God. I wasn't in church and I definitely wasn't in the Word!  We went to church and God gave us our sight back.  He met me where I was with unfailing love, mercy, and grace. He filled up my heart and soul. I rededicated my life to Him and my family got baptized! But sometimes this dark time comes back to me where I have feelings of doubt, failure, and shame.

But WHEN I feel this emptiness that I'm tempted to fill with negative thoughts other than God, THEN I will thank Him for replacing that emptiness with His priceless, unfailing love, and remember He alone will take care of me and supply all my needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. I will stand strong in faith that through Christ I am achieving an eternal glory that far outweighs any temporary earthly home.
(Psalms 36:7, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

 

Just As I Am

                   

Hi! My name is Cheryl Turman and this is my first blog ever! I am a mom to two boys Andy and Jacob! I have been married to my husband Kevin for 18 years! The title of this blog came to me the other day as I was chatting with my sweet prayer partner in our bible study group.  I had just read hers and she asked if I did one. I have always wanted to do one, but doubt and fear always stopped me. I'm not very computer savvy, I'm not a writer, I just can't put out there my thoughts! What will people think of me? But that shouldn't be my focus, only God should be. When I told my sweet sister I would do a blog when the Lord laid it on my heart. As soon as I sent the message, He showed up! I then had those nagging doubts of I can't, it's too hard, too personal, and I don't even have a good blog name like others I've enjoyed reading. But He reminded me I am just as I am and I am loved no matter what! This was also the song playing at a revival where I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! So do not throw away your confidence;it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36. I pray that I always rely on Him and not throw away what He has given! This blog may not have all the bells and whistles, or the best writing, but it is just as I am!