Why I Stopped saying the word, "Struggle."

How many of us have said, "Please pray for me, I'm really struggling with ______?"
or "Yeah, I've really been struggling with ________."


 Psychology studies have proven that the words we speak over ourselves impact us in an incredible way.
For example; close your eyes and whisper the word "peace." Do it!
Did you feel relaxed? Did you exhale? Did you feel happy? Different words have an affect on us. Especially if we speak the words to someone. When we speak them to someone, it makes them fact.

Sometimes, I can get really depressed. Like, lock myself in my room and cry for no reason kind of depressed. The temptation can arise to text a family member and say, "Pray for me, I'm really depressed." But that's accepting the fact I'm depressed and not rebuking it. Reminding myself its the evil one trying to steal my identity as a child of God.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that asking for prayer is letting the devil win. It's a very good thing! But a lot of times we use the excuse of a prayer to create a pity party and send out the invites. We're speaking his lies over ourselves and making them truth. We're giving Satan the power.

I noticed that I would say, "Please pray, I'm struggling." Then I thought of the word, "Struggle," and something inside me just hated it! Like I was tasting something bitter and I wanted to spit it out.

Struggle means your having a difficult time in resisting something. It means you're trying to fight, but you're losing. LOSING?!
I realized that every time I said I was struggling, I was speaking defeat over myself. I was speaking defeat over my condition. Instead of speaking victory. How could I be speaking from a place of defeat, when I have the Spirit of the Savior who ended death alive inside of me?! How could I?

I fight sin. I battle it. I don't struggle with it. Because I WIN!

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 3:13-14

I hope that encourages some of you! Have a splendid new year! And Win!

~Marley

Flexiblity

I have to admit, this is not my best quality.
Let's just say if plans change quickly, I'm not the one in the family who is up and ready for the challenge.
AND GOD KCNOW'S THIS!
I believe that the Lord take our weaknesses and makes them our strengths. I also believe that He has a sense of humor.
My family and I just moved to Kansas because my dad took a pastoring job at a church there.
So our first week came and we woke up, and were about to eat breakfast, when I received a call from my dad at the church. He said that one of the services needed a Bassist for the band and fast! I rushed to my bedroom, dressed and did my makeup in less than 15 min. and was out the door.
When I got there, the tech guy said I had 20 min. to practice then I had to go to the first service to be introduced with the rest of the fam. (The Services run back to back.) So we practiced, then I rushed across the street to the church. (One service is across the street in the community center and then the other two are at the church.) So we went onto the stage and dad introduced us, and then I had to run across the street again and be ready to play. I played, then I had to go back across the street to the last service. After the sermon we mingled with the people there, then I had to go back across the street to get my bass and amp and had to walk to my dad's car which happened to be on the other side of the parking lot. When I got there, I put my instruments in the car then closed the door and slumped down in the seat to catch my breath.
Not to mention all of this walking was done in heels! I got blisters. Not fun.

Needless to say, I had a pretty hectic first week!

When you're not flexible, you're easily broken.
How do you make spaghetti? You put the hard long noodles into boiling water. Why? to soften them so they're easier to chew.
Just like stiff noodles, The Lord puts us through hard tasks to soften us. And when we're willing to bend, God gives us his hand to help us back up.

-Marley

TRUST

Isn't it funny how the big things you do tend to go unnoticed, and the little things you do stand out?
Or when you do a lot of good in the world, but that one hidden sin brought out can ruin your reputation?

Everyone in their life will experience this at one time or another. People you respect, people you trust...
It's kind of like when you taste something delicious for the first time. And you want to eat it over and over and over again. But then you realize what it's made of, and all of a sudden it doesn't taste as good anymore. Why is that?

To bring out the common cliché line, "I trusted you!" or, "I thought I knew you!" pretty much sums it all up.

Trust: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety...

Trust is a very important thing in life and comes with it's very own Pros and Cons.
No matter who you are, you trust the familiar. when something is unrecognizable, your Amygdala in your brain, kicks up and activates your alert system. This also activates your "trust" When your friend breaks a promise, or someone you respected does something wrong, your Amygdala gets smaller. Hence less trust.

It's also good to remember that we non of us are exempt from sin. Therefor we shouldn't put it beyond certain people.

Romans 3:23

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

 Is trust good? Yes! But the question is, who can you trust?
The answer is you can't trust anyone! I know it sound cliché and "spy like" But it's true. 
There's only one source you can invest your trust in. And He's Jesus Christ. 

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

The Lord will NEVER fail your trust. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!
And when you trust him, he'll lead you to people who you can trust. Or maybe you'll be that person!
Trust is a very precious currency. Spend it wisely!

-Marley 

Sifting Sand

You know how sand in a sifter works?
You have to shake it to get all the rocks and twigs out.
It's the same way in our lives,
God shakes us and puts us through trials so that in the end, We're smooth and we can see a bigger picture. It's hard to build a castle with rocks and twigs.

 

-Marley

"I love you...Or do I?"

Valentines Day is coming up next week. Let's talk love. :)

1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. ...

Another word for Love is Yearning or Desire. So let's go back and replace the word love with desire.

They say All is fair in Love and War. But Love IS War. If It's really love, then it's worth fighting for.  Sorry, let's say that again. If it's true DESIRE, then it's worth fighting for. Or even dying for. Am I right?
What's the first thing you think of when I mention the word Love? Maybe a kiss? A hug? Dancing in a gazebo under rain? Well those could be love, but how many of us have experienced a meaningless kiss or hug? Right? Or Maybe you've dished it? But It has to start with YOU.
The way to says I Love You are...

1. Die to yourself

There is only one way to say I love you, die to yourself. What did Jesus do to show His love? He went and died. What did Romeo and Juliet do? They died.
True Love is to stop loving yourself, and focus entirely on the person who you YEARN for. Or DESIRE. Who you Love.
Go die to yourself and see what happens... I dare you!

-Marley

Do you take anything for granted? Of course you do!
You're human!
Now, think about everything you have and thank God for it! And for everyone who doesn't have that.
Even If it's something simple like, walking. There are hundreds and hundreds of people who can't walk. Or even sit! Ether temporarily or permanent doesn't matter. Pray for them.

~Marley

New Years Resolution

Well, I hope you all had a very good Christmas, and now it 2014!

I know most of us will or have made New Years Resolutions, but this year, I put a little twist to mine.

On November 30, 2013, the night my family and I got home from our Thanksgiving trip to my grandma's, I decided that I would make my new years resolution, and try to accomplish it BEFORE  Dec. 31. So that night I made a list of what I needed done. But setting aside 3 days for fun.

Day 1: Dress Up To See The Hobbit
Day 2: Christmas Day
Day 3: My Birthday

Boy, I'll tell you what it was not easy. But when you have a goal set in mind and a date of when to get there, you're more likely to get it done, instead of saying, "I'm gonna get it done this year." Because I'm gonna tell you straight. YOU WON'T GET IT DONE!  Not unless you plan.
Here's how to accomplish your New Years Resolution in 3 steps.

1. THINK.
Think out your resolution. Make sure you know what you're doing.
2. PLAN.
I HATE the word "Realistic" But if you don't plan right, then you ain't gonna get nutt'n done.
3. ACT.
Once you've thought and planned, you gotta Act. Don't let the dust collect on it.
It'll be hard, but brush it off. You're STRONG!

I hope this helped, and Let them resolutions fly!


-Marley