Moving Past Distractions

Distractions We all face them at one time or another in our lives, however, it is what we decide to do with the distraction(s) at hand that is important to our outcome.
Distractions will get your focus off of what is before you and the task at hand. Distractions will consume your thought life, if you allow it to. Webster's Dictionary even states that the word "distracted" and mental confusion go together(that's not to surprising). That is why it is so important to renew our mind daily in God's Word. When we do this we are digesting God's word, His Truth into our very being, every part, Body, Soul, and Spirit. The Word of God is made up of Life Words which will move you forward and get you past the "trap" of distractions.

Many people allow their past to be the main distraction in their life. Our adversary loves this because he knows that if he can get you "hung up" on your past, always looking back that you'll never move forward. You will not see what is "really" in front of you because your too busy always looking back. This is the only thing the enemy can use against you, He can't use your future against you, so he will try to remind you of past failures, whatever they may be. Moral, Spiritual, Physical, Financial...you name it.When you are in Christ Jesus you are no longer the person you use to be.You are no longer identified with the old person you were, but you have become a New Creation in Christ Jesus! Allow the call of God in your life to speak louder than the voice of your past.

I am reminded of the account of Lot and his wife in Genesis 19,they were told to literally run for their life and not to look back, not to even stop anywhere on the plain.However, Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. I believe there are times in our lives where we need to run for our life and not look back! Runaway fast from the distractions that even seem to look enticing, but in the long run they will only keep you from moving forward.

Not that long ago I was faced with a situation that bothered me, and to be honest with you, I would say it played on my mind, to quite an extent.I found myself thinking on what this other sister in the Lord had said about me, during different times of the day, even when I went to bed. It was consuming a lot of my thoughts.~It was crazy, seriously!~ One night I went to bed and had a dream where I confronted her, she was sitting in the corner of a room, she was sitting how you would see a "Buddha" sit.It was as if she wanted to be in control of the room or the atmosphere. When I confronted her and told her that I wanted to talk to her about what she said, we immediately were in a different location and I no longer was talking to this woman,but it was a demon. This "thing" had a scrawny little body but a huge head with hair that looked like it had stuck it's finger in a light socket, (it almost reminded me of those freaky little creatures in one of the Lord of the Rings movies.)As I tried to get my words out this "thing" would talk while I was trying to talk and it was very distracting to me, it was a struggle for me to keep my train of thought. But I reached a point in the dream where I said very firmly, "I will fulfill God's plans and purpose for my life, Hallelujah!" and immediately the dream was over and I woke up. God reminded me of the scripture in Ephesians 6:10-12 that says "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms".
The next day my husband was giving a message to our students and he was saying how the enemy will use anything he can to distract us and immediately the light bulb went on, the Holy Spirit showed me that this was a scheme of the enemy that was talked about in Ephesians. My battle was not this woman, not of flesh and blood but this was a "scheme" of the enemy, This was intended to rob me of my peace, it was intended to be a stumbling block, but God showed me how to make it a stepping stone. And since then I have moved forward, past that distraction, Praise God!
So, with all that said I leave you with a scripture from the Message Bible Phillippians 3:12-14 I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong:By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. Dear Friend, God has so much in store for you, there is no need to be looking behind you. Keep your eyes wide open, looking onward to Jesus, and you won't miss the mark!
Shine Like the Dawn,
Jennifer

Baggage

Hebrews 12: Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
As I was driving my car the other day coming back from lunch with a friend I passed a homeless person walking on the sidewalk next to the road, I immediately noticed his oversized, over the shoulder duffle bag that was packed full to capacity,on top of that, he had a folded up tarp of somesort which i am sure he used to help protect him from the weather,he also had a big bulky blanket that he had folded up as well. All of this stuff he had stacked so neatly and obviously there was a specific order to it, he knew how to "make it all fit", These were his belongings.It surprised me that I noticed all of this since I was driving past him rather quickly. But as I drove passed him I just had to see if I could see his face, so I quickly looked back. He was a gray haired man with a bushy beard. Immediately a thought came to my mind and I said to my friend " I wonder how many of us look like that spiritually,walking around with baggage like that", no, we do not necessarily carry this around in the physical for everyone to see,however after time it does take its toll on our physical bodies. But what about in the spiritual sense? Seeing this man with all this baggage made me take an inventory of myself, and so, I did. But this also inspired me for todays blog. Where do you stand right now? Is there any baggage your carrying? We as humans are so good at "making things fit".
I am reminded of packing my suitcase for a trip and knowing it was going to be hard to get it to zip up all the way around, but I was determined to "make it fit!" I find i usually over pack and never use all the items anyway. I am now trying to do better.

Today we have so many different fashions available for us to carry stuff, but no matter if we sport a Louie or a Samsonite lets face it baggage gets pretty heavy,and we all eventually get tired of lugging it around, no matter how we try to pack it up and make it look pretty. We get tired of carrying it on one shoulder so we switch to the other. Some of us may think we have our baggage all under control because ours never really seems to get in the way to much because we have our baggage on "Rollers"! This kind you can set next to you and have your hands free when needed, however you always need to grab a hold of it and pull it with you when you go from one spot to another,Still stuck with it. We sure have a wide variety of baggage or luggage to choose from today. How about the backpack?... this one works great until you need to sit down and then your back and shoulders bug you from the weight.Men are not exempt either, today we have "Man Purses", They even have those cargo pants with tons of pockets in them,oh and what about "fanny packs", I definately do not want any extra baggage around that paticular area! No matter how we choose to carry "our stuff" the point of the matter is it is still "ours", and eventually it will become a hindrance.
As I am writing this, I invision a woman neatly dressed, a woman who looks like she has it all together and ready for the world, she is getting ready to walk thru a door, but due to all her "baggage" she can't manuver thru the door. in order for her to get thru she lets go of everything that is keeping her back and keeping her from getting to her destination.
With that being said, you have a destination you need to get to, a God given plan and purpose that is of the utmost importance. Is there any baggage that is keeping you from going thru that door? What is holding you back? I am reminded of the scripture in Hebrews 12 that says: "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that ensnares us", the Amplified Bible even goes so far as to say "let us strip off and throw aside every unnecessary weight" God wants our hands to be free of holding onto unnecessary "things" so they can be ready for service, His service. Don't be slowed down with unnecessary baggage. I encourage you with a new year close ahead of us take a personal inventory and if need be apply Hebrews 12 into your life.

Shine Like The Dawn,
Jennifer

Becoming

So here we go, the first official Blog! My prayer is that God would use this for His Glory and that you would be encouraged while you read. This is what God placed in my heart for ministry to this generation, it was the Theme for the Chic Becoming Conference, and now is being used as the inspiration for this Blog. I know that with God you can become everything He called you to be.
Isaiah 62:1-2: For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.(put your name in there) For Your sake His heart yearns for you and will not remain silent.
Vs. 3 You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand
Vs. 4 The Lord will take delight in you! He wants to establish you, cause you to grow and bring into existence what He has placed inside you and make you the praise of the earth. Yes, YOU. I know in this scripture it is talking about Jerusalem, His holy city, His chosen people, however you are chosen by Him too! To Become who He wants you to be. You have a destiny!
God created you on purpose, you are a Master Creation created by the Master Artist - see yourself as He sees you. You are His Priceless work of Art! My prayer for you as you continue to seek God is that He would show you what He's made you for, what your reason to exist is A.K.A Your PURPOSE! His plans have not changed for us because of what we've done or not done, His original plan for you is truly His desire that He wants you to fulfill in your life.
Psalm 33:11 says, But the Lord's plans will stand forever His ideas will last from now on. Always remember, you are something God didn't have, but He wanted, so He made one! That is YOU! He created you on purpose! You are outrageously loved!

Shine like the Dawn,
Jennifer