When I was little girl I remember that I could *sometimes* be mean to other kids. I have a distinct memory of us making fun of each other all the time. We used to tease kids who were poor (not realizing then, of course, that we were ALL poor!). We talked about the ones who's houses smelled funny. And we were merciless against the one who ate candy off of the ground! Oh that poor kid!
We used to say things about each other back and forth. Sort of like this...
Kid 1: You're fat!
Kid 2: Nuh uh!
Kid 1: Yes you are. And your house stinks.
Kid 2: You eat of the ground!
Kid 1: Only once. You're ugly!
Kid 2: I'm rubber, you're glue. Anything you say bounces off of me and sticks to you!
And that pretty much ended the whole exchange right then and there. What else could be said after that? Nothing...
Well I think sometimes we adults need to adopt that attitude with our SEW voices. We need to start saying "I'm rubber, you're glue!".
When SEW says you won't make it, you say "I'm rubber, you're glue!"
When SEW says she won't get off drugs, you say "I'm rubber, you're glue!"When SEW says he won't be healed, you say "I'm rubber, you're glue!"
When SEW says you aren't loved, you say "I'm rubber, you're glue!"
When SEW says God won't forgive you, you say "I'm rubber, you're glue!"
Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you!
It bounces off because at the very core of us we are filled with God's love. We are filled with the Holy Spirit. We are filled with trust in the Lord that all things work together for good. We are filled with God's comfort that assures us that His Grace is sufficient. We are filled with the Truth of who God is and who He says we are in Him.
That love - that spirit - that trust - that comfort - that truth - all grow together and expand all throughout ourselves, from the inside out. We are then armored on the outside and the arrows of the enemy simply bounce off.
It's the power of the God IN you that keeps the voices OUT.
So when the voices speak lies to you just say "Nuh uh! I'm rubber, you're glue. Anything you say bounces off of me and sticks to you!"
You'll be surprised at how powerful the simple words of a 5-year-old can be.
"But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin." Micah 3:8
Silly I know, but still in love,
Mona
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Why Oh Why
I know the most adorable 3-year-old in this entire world! Not only is she beautiful, she is also very smart and funny and talks better than a lot of adults I know. Now for the sake of full disclosure she is my God-daughter but that doesn't make her any less brilliant, does it!?
Now, like most 2-3 year olds, she is very inquisitive. What a great word... "inquisitive". That's the adult way of saying she asks way too many doggone questions! She's curious about the world and how it works. Why is this? Why is that? What are you doing? Where are you going? How come this? How come that? Know what? Guess what? Whew!! It can be exhausting. But how else is she going to learn if she doesn't ask, right?
Well that inquisitiveness never leaves us, even after we grow up. The questions become more thoughtful and and thought-provoking. The questions get tougher and harder and the answers are much more elusive. But do we ever stop asking "Why oh why?"
Why was she molested? Why did he go unpunished?
Why do these young children keep dying on the streets?
Why are they fighting for their very lives because of cancer? Kidney disease? Congestive heart failure? Multiple sclerosis? Diabetes?
Why are my children struggling with drug abuse? Mental disorders? Isolation? Depression? Suicide?
Why do I feel so alone?
Why oh why, God? Are you listening? We are your very inquisitive children and we are asking why?
There is no simple answer to these questions. If only it worked that way. Remember what God said, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD." Isaiah 55:8
The bible is full of examples of suffering, trials, tribulations and circumstances. We are not the first and won't be the last. Small comfort when you are going through, right?
The Apostle Paul was the poster child for suffering, having endured much in the spreading of the Gospel and he spoke well of suffering but mostly about enduring.
"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us" 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Paul also spoke about the thorn in his side. He said "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Now I must admit I sometimes have a tough time "delighting" in my persecutions and difficulties. But when I stop and look back from where God brought me from I can see that He has been working on me the whole time. Once I let go and told God to have His way, I realized that I wouldn't be praying so much if it hadn't been for "this" situation. I wouldn't be writing this blog if "that" hadn't happened.
Ask yourself, how has God changed you since you've been going through? Who have you encouraged by your actions? Who has seen you struggle and found strength in how you carry yourself? Are you praying more? Praising more? Seeking His face more? Do your kids see you on your knees? Does someone feel like they can go one more day because they have seen you do it? Are you praying for others, even while seeking answers on your own behalf?
We may not know yet what God has in store. We may not have the answers we want today, but we have faith "and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Yes this life can be tough, but it's what we do that makes the difference. It's our attitude, our faith, our trust, our submission, our resiliance but most importantly, it's our God.
And remember..."We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
In love,
Mona
Now, like most 2-3 year olds, she is very inquisitive. What a great word... "inquisitive". That's the adult way of saying she asks way too many doggone questions! She's curious about the world and how it works. Why is this? Why is that? What are you doing? Where are you going? How come this? How come that? Know what? Guess what? Whew!! It can be exhausting. But how else is she going to learn if she doesn't ask, right?
Well that inquisitiveness never leaves us, even after we grow up. The questions become more thoughtful and and thought-provoking. The questions get tougher and harder and the answers are much more elusive. But do we ever stop asking "Why oh why?"
Why was she molested? Why did he go unpunished?
Why do these young children keep dying on the streets?
Why are they fighting for their very lives because of cancer? Kidney disease? Congestive heart failure? Multiple sclerosis? Diabetes?
Why are my children struggling with drug abuse? Mental disorders? Isolation? Depression? Suicide?
Why do I feel so alone?
Why oh why, God? Are you listening? We are your very inquisitive children and we are asking why?
There is no simple answer to these questions. If only it worked that way. Remember what God said, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD." Isaiah 55:8
The bible is full of examples of suffering, trials, tribulations and circumstances. We are not the first and won't be the last. Small comfort when you are going through, right?
The Apostle Paul was the poster child for suffering, having endured much in the spreading of the Gospel and he spoke well of suffering but mostly about enduring.
"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us" 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Paul also spoke about the thorn in his side. He said "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Now I must admit I sometimes have a tough time "delighting" in my persecutions and difficulties. But when I stop and look back from where God brought me from I can see that He has been working on me the whole time. Once I let go and told God to have His way, I realized that I wouldn't be praying so much if it hadn't been for "this" situation. I wouldn't be writing this blog if "that" hadn't happened.
Ask yourself, how has God changed you since you've been going through? Who have you encouraged by your actions? Who has seen you struggle and found strength in how you carry yourself? Are you praying more? Praising more? Seeking His face more? Do your kids see you on your knees? Does someone feel like they can go one more day because they have seen you do it? Are you praying for others, even while seeking answers on your own behalf?
We may not know yet what God has in store. We may not have the answers we want today, but we have faith "and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Yes this life can be tough, but it's what we do that makes the difference. It's our attitude, our faith, our trust, our submission, our resiliance but most importantly, it's our God.
And remember..."We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
In love,
Mona
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Don't Go Changin'
I was thinking about how often people think that giving their life to Christ means that they have to somehow become entirely different people. Some think that God wants them to completely "flip the script" on their personalities in order to come to Him. I know I used to think that. But luckily a very very smart mommy once told me that God made me who I am for a reason. Everything about me (the good, the bad and the ugly) God could and would use for His purpose and according to His will.
I was relieved that this big mouth for designed for God's purpose. He made me loud in order to reach someone who might be having trouble hearing the Truth.
I realized that my crazy sense of humor was all a part of God's plan. I would one day be around teenagers who would not respond to the same old boring stuff.
I got happy that this creative mind wasn't all for nothing. One day God would pour His words into it and ask me to add a little of my own flavor to it. Someone would need to read an encouraging and honest word.
God is saying "Don't go changing, to try and please me." Yes, I'm going to be quoting some Billy Joel here along with some scripture!
-----
Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
See God doesn't want to change your personality. Your personality is what makes you YOU and God made you. "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14
God sees who you are and loves you. You can't hide from Him. "Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:24
-----
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
You don't have to be perfect to come to God. He wants you to come just as you are, warts and all. "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." Revelations 22:17. All you have to do is come and partake.
-----
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are
God doesn't want to change you...he wants a relationship with you. He wants you to talk to Him so that He can talk back to you. It doesn't have to be loud or fancy or long. It just has to be from your heart. You don't have to be TD Jakes or Eddie Long or Joyce Meyer to get God's attention (although they are awesome...)
"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Matthew 6:8-13
-----
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take 'till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you..
Have you heard this one? A woman named Shirley was from Beverly Hills. One day, she had a heart attack and was taken to Cedars Sinai hospital. While on the operating table, she had a near-death experience. She saw God and asked, "Is this it?" God said, "No, you have another 30 to 40 years to live." Upon her recovery, she decided to stay in the hospital and have collagen shots, cheek implants, a face lift, liposuction and breast augmentation. She even had someone dye her hair. She figured since she had another 30 to 40 years, she might as well make the most of it. She walked out of Cedars Sinai lobby after the last operation and was killed by an ambulance speeding up to the hospital. She arrived in front of God and said, "I thought you said I had another 30 to 40 years?" God replied, "Shirley!?! I didn't recognize you!"
Now understand that some changes have to happen. God wants you to stop sinning. He wants to create in you a new heart and mind that is focused on Him and the Kingdom and not so much on self and flesh. But those are changes that HE makes. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26
-----
I said I love you, and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.
Yeah...there's nothing to add to that.
In love,
Mona
I was relieved that this big mouth for designed for God's purpose. He made me loud in order to reach someone who might be having trouble hearing the Truth.
I realized that my crazy sense of humor was all a part of God's plan. I would one day be around teenagers who would not respond to the same old boring stuff.
I got happy that this creative mind wasn't all for nothing. One day God would pour His words into it and ask me to add a little of my own flavor to it. Someone would need to read an encouraging and honest word.
God is saying "Don't go changing, to try and please me." Yes, I'm going to be quoting some Billy Joel here along with some scripture!
-----
Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
See God doesn't want to change your personality. Your personality is what makes you YOU and God made you. "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14
God sees who you are and loves you. You can't hide from Him. "Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:24
-----
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
You don't have to be perfect to come to God. He wants you to come just as you are, warts and all. "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." Revelations 22:17. All you have to do is come and partake.
-----
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are
God doesn't want to change you...he wants a relationship with you. He wants you to talk to Him so that He can talk back to you. It doesn't have to be loud or fancy or long. It just has to be from your heart. You don't have to be TD Jakes or Eddie Long or Joyce Meyer to get God's attention (although they are awesome...)
"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Matthew 6:8-13
-----
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take 'till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you..
Have you heard this one? A woman named Shirley was from Beverly Hills. One day, she had a heart attack and was taken to Cedars Sinai hospital. While on the operating table, she had a near-death experience. She saw God and asked, "Is this it?" God said, "No, you have another 30 to 40 years to live." Upon her recovery, she decided to stay in the hospital and have collagen shots, cheek implants, a face lift, liposuction and breast augmentation. She even had someone dye her hair. She figured since she had another 30 to 40 years, she might as well make the most of it. She walked out of Cedars Sinai lobby after the last operation and was killed by an ambulance speeding up to the hospital. She arrived in front of God and said, "I thought you said I had another 30 to 40 years?" God replied, "Shirley!?! I didn't recognize you!"
Now understand that some changes have to happen. God wants you to stop sinning. He wants to create in you a new heart and mind that is focused on Him and the Kingdom and not so much on self and flesh. But those are changes that HE makes. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26
-----
I said I love you, and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.
Yeah...there's nothing to add to that.
In love,
Mona
Friday, October 2, 2009
High Dives and Free Falls
When I was a little girl living in Van Nuys, CA there was a community pool that my brother and I used to go to all the time. It was full of noisy kids swimming and splashing around and it was so fun. At the deep end of the pool there were two diving boards, one low and one high. I was a decent swimmer so I had no problem swimming in the deep end but the diving boards were very intimidating.
The low board was 10 feet above the water and the high board was 20 feet above it. I had no problem jumping off the low board; holding my nose and just bouncing off into the water. That was easy as pie and you could tell because the line for the low board was always long, full of sopping wet kids of all shapes and sizes waiting for their next turn.
But the high dive...that's a whole 'nother story. It was only 10 feet higher than the other board, but it may as well have been 100 feet. It was terrifying! That line was considerably shorter than the low dive line, so clearly I wasn't the only one who thought so. But I would watch all these kids climb those stairs, walk out onto the plank and fearless jump off and I would be amazed. What the heck was wrong with them?? Didn't they know that the pool had a bottom?? Good Lord!
Well needless to say, one day my big brother somehow convinced me to go up. I'm sure he threatened to beat me up if I didn't go but that's another blog entry. I decided to face my fears and do it. I climbed up what seemed to be 1,000 steps trying to remember to keep breathing as I went. I finally reached the top and stepped out onto the plank of death. I was 'dead girl walking'. It was like a dream. I stood at the edge and remember praying the 23rd Psalm (I always do that when I'm afraid...even now). I held my nose and stepped to my death. The next thing I remember was hitting the water and fighting to get back to the surface and fighting to get my bathing suit back in all the right places. Miraculously I survived!
We have all been struggling with something. You know what your struggle is and so does God. We've had some successes and some failures along this journey. Each success felt like winning Olympic Gold and each failure made us question everything we've ever known about ourselves and God. We've prayed more, praised more and turned over more. God is pleased. It's not enough. God wants one more thing.
He says it's time to walk to the edge of the abyss and jump. Time to give it all up and jump down into the darkness that you cannot see. Because it is only when you jump that your hands will be free. You won't be able to hold onto anything anymore. You won't be able to try and control things anymore. You can't overthink things when you're in a free fall. You can't play detective while you're falling. You can't worry about anyone else's mess when you are surrounded by the dark air.
You will only be able to trust Him.
In your fall is when God will be able to be in total control. He'll be able to accomplish all that He's been working on but we've been in the way. There is freedom in the fall. There is peace in the darkness and you'll hear His voice of comfort in your ears.
I know it's scary but it's time to take a real leap of faith right off the high diving board into what we think is darkness.
"The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down" Psalm 145:14
You'll discover that you jumped right into His hands.
In love,
Mona
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