The Way of Escape

In my last post (Everything is Permissible), I mentioned that God had been speaking to me about verses I've known, but opening my eyes to more of their meaning. So true that the Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12).


Another verse I'm getting new insight into is 1 Corinthians 10:13 

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common 

to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

I always pictured God's "way of escape" as a physical one. At times, this is the case. You must physically remove yourself from a situation (i.e. alcoholic leaves the bar).

There are TWO OTHER "WAYS OF ESCAPE" that I am learning.  

1) Through TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY - Letting people into your lives. Sharing with someone the good, the bad AND the ugly. 

• Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.     

A recent example of this for me was two weeks ago when I went on a dinner date with my husband. In Everything is Permissible post, I had chosen to forfeit my large and second food portions as an intentional sacrifice for God. While I had been doing well, I hadn't been to a restaurant yet where I am really tempted. Truthfully, I was scared to go because I didn't want to fail. Fortunately, I CHOSE to be transparent and vulnerable with my husband... so I explained it to him and he offered to help. A neat thing happened... I only ate half of my meal and I was truly full - did not want another bite! That NEVER, I mean NEVER happens!!! I believe God blessed me that night for my obedience to ask for help from my husband AND Him.

2) Through YOUR MIND. Did you know your mind is constantly in a dialogue? At this very moment, there is a dialogue going on inside of your head. Do you recognize it? What is it saying about you? Your circumstances? Other people? This self-talk will either bring life or death to any situation. Which is it for you right now? If it is death, don't throw in the towel. Did you know that you can CHOOSE to change your mind to speak words of life instead of death? 

• Deuteronomy 30:19 I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live
• 2 Cor 10:5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ 
• Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
• Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

There are millions of self help books, sites, speakers, etc. out there trying to motivate us for change. While there efforts are noble, the change is temporary. Why? Because TRUE CHANGE CAN ONLY COME FROM THE WORD OF GOD.  (2 Cor 5:17; John 8:31-32)
 

We must change our self dialogue 

to overcome temptation.

Going back to the example of my food struggle, I must wake in the morning and renew my mind daily with God's word (Romans 12:2). 

Instead of speaking the negative (death),

"It's not fair that I cannot eat that. Dieting is the worst. I feel so deprived. I am so weak. I am so fat. It's hopeless, I am never going to change" 

.... CHOOSE to switch gears and speak Philippians 4:8 (life), "I can eat it because everything is permissible, but not beneficial (1 Cor 6:12). This is not a diet, it's choosing to live a healthier lifestyle to fulfill my calling. I feel EMPOWERED because I'm growing closer to Him and when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12:10). I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and I'm one step closer to victory because I was made for more! I can do all things through Christ (Phil 4:13) and I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)"

So... in what area is your self dialogue speaking death? Identify it and choose a positive Truth to replace it. If you feel you don't know enough of God's word... recognize that's Satan trying to keep you from this powerful tool. Here's my secret - Google. It helps me find all the verses I'm looking for. If you remember a portion of a verse, type it in OR type in "verses on (subject)" and it will get you there. Stand up for yourself and start living out your ways of escape!


           

Everything is Permissible...

If you haven't noticed, my weekly blog has become more of a sporadically inspired word (when the time allows). Allie is now 5 weeks old and my world has been temporarily rocked. Juggling three kids is tough.... talk about mommy guilt! We are working on getting wee one on a schedule and most importantly sleeping well at nights. She's an early riser (3am) and I can't seem to communicate to her that that's NOT OK. While I've had a few nights of catching up on Friends episodes (best show ever) to keep me sane, we are getting there .... slowly but surely. With that said, the computer has been neglected.

God is showing me alot these days... especially in the areas where I struggle. He's continually speaking truth through His word... Verses I've known ...  but ones I'm seeing and beginning to understand more clearly.

1 Cor 10:23  
Everything is beneficial, but not everything is permissible

So... does this mean we are free to do anything???? Sort of. (KEEP READING)

We are free from the Law. Free from the Do's and Dont's because we are Free in Christ. However..., if I want to just take this verse, run with it and live a destructive life on purpose... then I would have to really ask myself if I really am Free IN Christ.

WHATS YOUR BIG STRUGGLE?
Let me give you my example of where I am now - My Big struggle... most of you know is with Food. Yes, I love it.... way too much! Why does pizza, pasta, potatoes ... oh who am I kidding ALL the "bad" stuff have to be so good? I admit, I love it to the point that it controls me... to the point where, at times, I love it more than God (There, I said it!).

WHAT IS NOT BENEFICIAL? AND WHY NOT?
So here's the question for me. While all food is permissible, Is all food Beneficial for me? Absolutely not. Yes, it keeps my clothes tighter than I would like... Makes it difficult to drop post baby weight...Clogs my arteries and shortens my lifespan... causes me to obsess about my weight...Makes me self conscious.. leads to depression. Crazy as it sounds, these reasons are NOT enough to keep me away from it. None are the MAIN reason it is not beneficial. It is not beneficial because it pulls me away and separates me from fellowship with my God. It distracts me from my calling and affects my ministry.

My battle with food is no longer about weight or being a certain size. I haven't weighed myself since before I had Allie and I don't plan on doing it ANY time soon. (I have NO IDEA how much I weigh, and can I just tell you how good that feels.... could that be peace that I'm feeling?!?!?)

To draw closer to God, He calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily to follow Him (Matthew 16:24). What is He asking me to deny? Yours may be drug-related, a relationship, an activity, a reaction or thought, etc. Mine is food in abundance. In Lysa Terkeurst's book study, Made to Crave, she revealed a truth that is changing me one day at a time.

"How do you grow close to God?

.. By making the CHOICE to DENY ourselves something that is permissible but not beneficial. And making this INTENTIONAL SACRIFICE for the SOLE PURPOSE of growing closer to God."

Did you get that? Not for the purpose of being healthier, thinner, overcoming a weakness...but for the SOLE PURPOSE of knowing Him better (Eph 1:17-20). As soon as it becomes about losing weight, it's no longer a sacrifice!

WHAT'S YOUR INTENTIONAL SACRIFICE?
So this is where I am right now. My intentional sacrifice is recognizing that the Lord is my portion (Lam 3:24), therefore I will not go to food in abundance. At mealtimes, I will get a normal person's portion (not my large portion and/or seconds). This is hard for me because, I have this little monster inside that screams "I want it all!" and my flesh mirrors that desire. So, in the moment that I'm making the choice to deny myself that extra large and 2nd portion, I'm focusing on sacrificing to God, NOT being skinny. I'm seeking to know Him better.

Make sense? We can ALL apply this principle to our life. 

The Question is... Do you want to KNOW Him better?   

God IS in the ...

"Don't hunt for a feeling in prayer. 

It is a thousand feelings on a thousand different days. Once we make it our quest to experience God or prayer, we lose God. You don't experience God, you get to know him, submit to him, enjoy him" - A Praying Life

God IS in the Funny - the birth experience
So, some may see this story as a little TMI, but it's pretty entertaining and has a lot to do with my AHA moment, this past whirlwind week. So, here goes...

What I was expecting: I had been contemplating having a natural birth this go round, because I couldn't remember God being a part of the birth of my other two children. I wanted Him to be the center of the process.  I just wanted to have this "amazing spiritual experience" and I figured if I were in pain, then, I'd remember to include Him. I know... sounds a little crazy.

How it all REALLY went down: I hadn't accounted going into labor in the middle of the night with no sleep, so i gladly accepted the epidural and got a little shut eye before the big event. I also need to mention that towards the end of this pregnancy, I had been having gas cramps that I sometimes wondered if it were the beginning of labor. For some reason, this time, I was mortified and spoke of it often to my husband about expelling gas during the "pushing time." When the time came, I provided the entertainment. I broke wind and George and I just busted out laughing. We couldn't stop... couldn't even look at each other... I couldn't even push anymore. When I finally got control, and began pushing again, I repeated my performance. This time, the OB Doctor and nurse joined in with the chuckling. How about that for an "amazing spiritual experience"! Not quite like what I expected. What I learned though, was that God WAS in the moment. He has a sense of humor and he knows what we need. My husband and I really needed that moment...evidently the medical staff did as well. :)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      God IS in the scary and unknown - Jaundice

On Allie's 5th day of life, we had to take her to MUSC hospital for an overnight at the Billi - Beach. This was a first for me, therefore, super upsetting and scary. It was just me and her in a small room for 26 hours. She had an I.V., foamy sunglasses and underwent constant photo-therapy. Looking back, I realize this time was a special time that God set apart with myself and her. Update: It is now day 12 and Allie keeps improving.
 
God IS in the challenges and trials - sleepless nights
Just like with any new baby, the nights are unpredictable and tend to be challenging. Once the jaundice sleepiness began to wear off, my little one has had a time settling herself at night. I start my nights off praying in complete dependence on and wisdom from my Heavenly Father. My praise music is going non-stop in Allie's room to constantly remind me of His goodness, mercy and blessings.

As I look back on this eventful week, I recognize a truth that I need to hold onto.

God and experiencing him isn't a feeling. He just IS. Omnipotent. Always there. A CONTINUAL experience. 
He is in EVERY experience. 

It's just whether you want to acknowledge and invite him into all things. So... How are you doing with this?

She's Here!!!

I would like to introduce you to my sweet baby girl

Allison Jewel Michaud - "Allie"

Born Monday, January 7th

7lbs, 19.5 inches

She's pretty perfect! Enjoy the pictures!

The things they say...

Yes.... I had great aspirations of writing a post on resolutions and being hyped for the new year.... but my energy is zapped and my mind is elsewhere. Could it be because I will be having a baby any day now?!?!?

Nine more days until my induction date... however,

Doc is pretty sure she will come before them.

Thank you for your grace - I know my inspiration and direction will return soon.... Until then, here's some silly stuff my kids have said recently that keep me smiling. Wish I would've kept a list sooner because what they say is priceless! Would love to hear some of yours and continue the laughs!

Sayings of Mason (6 1/2 yrs old)

• Called Poison Ivy - Poison Gravy
• Embarrassed of this one, but I CHOOSE to be transparent. I was putting my deodorant on one morning and told him what it was for and he asked - "Mommy, could you put some in your mouth." Apparently, I have been too close to him and talk in his face with morning coffee breath while doing school.

Sayings of Connor (4 1/2 yrs old)

• Asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up? 6 like mason.
• When I told him we were having a baby. He said, "I WANT a baby chick in my belly". Then it turned into ""I HAVE a doggie in my belly" - which he truly believed for a long while. If you asked what kind, he said "a Chihuahua" - How did it get there? "Jesus put it there."
• While randomly driving down the road, he casually asked, "Mommy, do horses toot?" Yes, I have a 4 year old boy obsessed with toots! Atleast that's what they still call them instead of the "f" word.

And the finale

• Sweet little "C" is intrigued by how this whole birth thing is going to work. Thankfully, his questions are still on the preschool level.
• "Mommy, is your belly going to pop?"
• "Will I have to hold my ears?!?!"

The Day After

So... the big day is over... 
How is the day after leaving you feeling?

 

...depressed, let down, condemned, empty?

As mentioned earlier, I really struggle with building the "Big Day" up so much that my expectations cannot be met. This year, it wasnt so much expectations of my circumstances or events going on around me, but instead, expectations to give God my "whole" day in "every" single way. I wanted to be thinking of Him at every moment, include him in every conversation, action and thought. Did I succeed? NO. So I struggled with guilt all day.

Why can't I ever just give Him just one complete day?!?!? If Satan cannot get you with distractions, he will go the other route ... through guilt and condemnation. Thankfully I did remember that I am human, I have limitations and God knows my heart and intentions (even when my flesh gets in the way).

I opened my devotional this morning and there was confirmation of this truth.


Jesus Calling, Dec 26th

I AM THE GIFT  that continuously gives - bounteously, with no strings attached. Unconditional Love is such a radical concept that even My most devoted followers fail to grasp it fully. Absolutely nothing in heaven or on earth can cause Me to stop loving you. you may feel more loved when you are performing according to your expectations. But My Love for you is perfect; therefore it is not subject to variation. What does vary is your awareness of My loving Presence.

When you are dissatiffied with your behavior, you tend to feel unworthy of My Love, you may unconsciously punish yourself by withdrawing from Me and attributing the distance between us to My displeasure. Instead of returning to Me and receiving My Love, you attempt to earn My approval by trying  harder. All the while, I am aching to hold you in My everlasting arms, to enfold you in My Love. Whey you are feeling unworthy or unloved, come to Me. then ask for receptivitiy to My unfailing Love.

1 John 415-18, Deuteronomy 33:27, Psalm 13:5

Some truths stick out to me here.

• NOTHING we can do (even disregarding our Savior on Christmas) can separate us from the Love of God. (Romans 8:38-39)

• Jesus is our CONTINUOUS gift. Continuous is referred to as "unbroken whole or without interuption" - google. Even when we fail or "feel" like we fail one day, He is there in the moment and the next day unchanging. (Hebrews 13:8)

• When you feel condemnation, NONE of it is from God. Infact, all he wants is for you to come to Him so He can love you. (Matthew 11:28-30)

So... what does your "Day After" look like? Are you sad? Disappointed? Lonely? Feeling Regret?

All he wants to do is fill us with love and joy every day this year. He wants us to recognize that His Birth is not about one day but about a continous gift that lasts 365 days each year! Let's be a continuous gift to Him this year. Not in deed, because we will fail, but in our hearts true motive and intention.

And when we do fail... "There will be NO condemnation for those who are Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

Baby Countdown - 3 weeks

The Perfect Gift

What will your perfect gift be this year? I'm not talking about that item that you've been wanting all year. I'm talking about a gift for the guest of honor - Jesus. It is His birthday after all.

This devotional is most fitting for this time of year. I chose to write about this because we think we have to do and be all these things and all He really wants from us is to put our hope and focus on Him.

THAT is the perfect gift. Will you give it to Him this year?

Preparing Your Heart for Your King

- 

Celebrating His 1st Coming 

-

Anticipating His 2nd Coming.  

 

____________________

Jesus Calling, Dec 19th
DO NOT BE WEIGHED DOWN by the clutter in your life: lots of little chores to do sometime, in no particular order. If you focus too much on these petty tasks, trying to get them all out of the way, you will discover that they are endless. They can eat up as much time as you devote to them.
 
Instead of trying to do all your chores at once, choose the ones that need to be done today. Let the rest slip into the background of your mind, so I can be in the forefront of your awareness. Remember that your ultimate goal is living close to Me, being responsive to My initiatives. I can communicate with you most readily when your mind is uncluttered and turned toward Me. Seek My Face continually throughout this day. let My Presence bring order to your thoughts, infusing Peace into your entire being.
 
Right now, my clutter is a checklist of things I want to get done before Christmas. Unfortunately, this checklist is things of this world - chores, shopping, cleaning the house, cooking, preparing for baby. And with me waddling in slow motion these days it's even more frustrating. Why am I doing this to myself?!?!? I teeter between feeling overwhelmed and condemned from legalism. I've got it all backwards.  

My inward checklist should really be simple - Be Still (Ps 46:10), Rest in (Matthew 11:28-30) and Depend on Him (Ps 62). 

That's the perfect gift? Is it really that simple? Yes.

What about the other stuff? If you do this, than everything else will fall into place.  
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

 Take special note now during the hustle and bustle,

and remember what this week is all about...

Then carry it into the new year with you.