What are you thinking?

Wow has it really been over two weeks since I last posted?!? Tonight I have nothing going on so I figured I would give an update. I am home with Hershey and our new friend!

Some of our friends found this dog and we decided to bring it here and take care of it until we find its owner. If we don't find its owner, I am pretty sure we will keep him! He is such a sweet lab!! You can tell someone has worked with him because he knows what "sit" means and he knows how to fetch "Jonathan Burgin style!" {Which is Jonathan telling him to sit and then waiting until told to retrieve it} Dogs don't just know these things, someone has to teach them. Hershey loves him too!

So anyways, I am just sitting here drinking some coffee in my new coffee mug enjoying my night!

This past weekend we had our summer women's conference at church. It was amazing!!!!! I cannot express to you just how amazing it was! I am on the women's ministry team so I helped decorate and organize the event but I didn't even think about how it would impact me! I was so caught up in the decorations and food that I was not prepared to be that moved. The speakers and praise team were wonderful! There is nothing better than spending an entire day with a bunch of women worshipping God!

Like I said, all of the speakers were amazing, but there was one that I felt like God used to speak directly to me. Her topic was: What Are You Thinking: Change Your Life by Changing Your Thoughts! It was almost like God poked me on the forehead and said "pay attention to this one." I know I have mentioned before that I think negatively sometimes and believe some of the lies Satan tells me. Well, don't we all? That's what I used to think. "It's ok, I am a woman we are all like that. We all have insecurities." Yada yada yada. Recently I have realized that I not only listen to Satan's lies but I have come to believe them. So much that they affect who I am. I realized that I am not bringing God glory with all the negativity and insecurity in my life. I used to think I wasn't that insecure, but now I know I am and I must learn to change my thoughts! I am no longer afraid to admit it. I feel like Satan walks so closely behind me and waits for the second that God is not my focus. I promise if there is a day that I don't spend with God or a day that I worry about something, Satan steps in and tries to take over.

Sometimes I truly believe that I am not a good wife so I should quit. Sometimes I get so upset if I upset Jonathan. Satan tells me I am not a good friend. I am not a good teacher, or else you would already have a job. I am not pretty and Jonathan could find a much more beautiful wife. You aren't worthy enough to lead college students or be on the women's ministry. You are a terrible leader. My list could go on and on and on. But I will spare you all of my negativity and share with you what I learned from this wonderful lady at our women's conference!

Her handout said, "What we think on and believe in our heart determines our peace, joy, inner happiness and over-all life satisfaction. When we exchange our life-defeating thoughts and beliefs with God's Truths we will experience a positive difference in our relationships and outlook on life." She then gave us 5 life-changing truths and scripture to pray through. Ever since the conference, I have been praying through these truths so that I have a more positive outlook.

Life-Changing Truth #1: My mindset determines the quality of my life.

I learned that life doesn't always go as I planned it, but it does go as God planned it. I need to have a mind controlled by the spirit, not the flesh. "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Life-Changing Truth #2: I should view my circumstances from God's perspective.

Do I allow the mind of Christ to control my thoughts? No. Most of the time, I am looking at my life through my own eyes, not through my heart. When I look at my life through my own eyes I start to doubt. I must give God complete control of my thoughts and my life. "Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3.

Life-Changing Truth #3: Follow the directions.

I learned that my negative thoughts and Satan's lies have kept me from receiving God's peace and joy. I say I trust God, but I don't always show it. Or, I may say, "God I trust you, but not with this...." I must destroy these life-defeating thoughts. "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

Life-Changing Truth #4: I must train my mind.

This was the big one for me!! This is sooooo hard!! God's word says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Philippians 4:6-8 Sometimes I am so caught up in what I don't have or I am stressing over certain things that I don't stop to think about all that God has blessed me with. I need to surrender my anxious thoughts to God. I need an attitude of gratitude.

Life-Changing Truth #5: Trust God.

There are many parts of my life that I say I am trusting God, but honestly I don't. I can't hide that from God so there is no point in trying to hide it from you. I can't pretend with God. I must change these thoughts and surrender it all to the Lord. One question she listed here was "If I trusted God with everyone and every life situation how would my life change?" Oh I know my life would change dramatically!! "Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in Thee." Isaiah 26:3.

At the end she gave an application:

- Recognize, confess and surrender my life-defeating thoughts to God.

- Spend time meditating and memorize life-changing scriptures to replace my life-defeating thoughts.

- Check my thoughts and beliefs often

I was so thankful that God used her to speak to me. She gave a step by step process on how to change your thoughts. This is something I am going to work on daily. I am going to pray though these scriptures and memorize them!!

Thank you so much for letting me share that with you. Sometimes I get so excited about what God is teaching me that I can't wait to share it with someone!

By the way, our nest has eggs now!!