Tell Your Storms About Your God

Recently my friend, Kylie, told me about a quote she heard on KLOVE.  I'm not sure I can get it right but it was something like,

 "Don't just tell God about your storms, but tell your storms about God."

I've thought about that quote quite a bit lately.  I've always known that I could go to God in prayer regarding any "storms" in my life.  I've had a really great life but like everyone else, there have been a few storms, and I've talked to God about them.

What do you think it means to "tell your storms about your God"?  That quote meant something to me right away, but I wasn't really sure why.  I've been pondering it for a few weeks now.  During this last year I faced an internal storm.  Really, I mean that quite literally.  I wasn't facing lightening, thunder or torrential rains but I had to deal with Crohn's Disease, IBS and clostridium Difficile.  Should I scold my intestines, telling them my God is going to get even with them?  I'm not sure that was really what it meant, but maybe...

After I pondered the physical storms in my life I thought of other kinds of storms.  I thought of times I feel insecure or inadequate.  Perhaps those are the times I need to tell my storms about my God.  I need to tell inadequacy that I am strengthened by my God and can therefore accomplish much more than I could on my own.  I can tell insecurity to take a hike because I am a cherished child of God and he cares for me tenderly.

Does any of this make sense to anyone else?  Does anyone feel insightful with regard to this quote?

Breaking Free

I love back-to-school sales!

All the new notebooks, pens, glue and stuff... just makes me happy.

Does anyone else feel that way?

There is just so much POTENTIAL in a new notebook!

When Mike reads this he's going to have a different reaction.

The mention of back-to-school sales makes him feel a bit queasy.

The same happens to Sam.

I just don't get it!

For me, it is hard to pass those sales now that we have no children going to school.

Well, Sam is going to college but it is not the same.

Most of his assignments are handled electronically now.

Just when I thought I was totally on the outside looking in, I have need of a pen.

We just started a new Bible Study at our church this week.

It is a Beth Moore Bible Study presented by Lifeway that is called,

 "Breaking Free".

Have any of you previously attended a Beth Moore Study?

Part of our evening is spent as we watch a video of her presenting the study

 to a group of women.

  For those of you who have not experienced her, try thinking of a cross between

Billy Graham and Carol Burnette.

No, No, silly, I don't mean in looks!

Beth Moore is quite lovely, but her personality is kind of a mix of those two, with a lot of "Southern" thrown in.

She's very Bible-based and can really speak a serious word, but she is also quite funny.

It makes for an informative and fun video to watch.

Most important, though, is that we also have WORKBOOKS and HOMEWORK!

Yippee!

Of course in class I kind of groan and act like the homework will be annoying.

But deep down I am loving it.

I have not one but FOUR pens in the pocket of my Bible.

One is orange (thank-you Michele).

Yes, that's a lot of pens.

It makes me  happy,

especially the orange one.

Even the first night of introduction I picked up some nice little tidbits.

My favorite quote from this workbook so far,

"A Christian is held captive by anything that hinders the abundant and effective Spirit-filled life God planned for her."

Another quote, from the video part of the lesson,

"Christ's disciples are meant to be profoundly effective."

WOW!

Those are words to ponder!

So, things like insecurity or anger can hold us in bondage.

What other things do you think can put us into bondage and keep

us from being the most effective version of ourselves?

And "profoundly effective"? 

Do any of you feel profoundly effective?