The stream

On a recent trip to the mountains, I decided to go for a walk to get some fresh mountain air. As I walked I could hear the birds singing happy tunes and the trees rustling. I could feel the wind blowing through my hair as I slowly made my way to a stream. I quickly began to bask in the peacefulness of nature and to reflect on the goodness of God, the Creator. The water in the stream caught my attention. It was as if the water in the stream mesmerized me and drew me into its flow. It totally captivated my spirit! All my cares of the day seem to vanish in that one moment of being captivated by it.

I noticed that not all of the stream was flowing the same. In some places the water trickled over the rocks and in other places it was completely still. It had one area where the water was rapidly moving with power to move the twigs in its way. In that moment God got my attention! The Holy Spirit prompted my spirit that I needed to "listen". Be still and listen as I teach you about me! WOW!

The stream began to encourage me on life. God was showing me that He is forever flowing in my life by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is still or quiet, yet other times He is like a small trickle leading me over the rocks of life. God even began to show me that at times the Holy Spirit can be like a raging river rapidly moving with power! There are times in our life when we need God to be the still small voice and other times we need the Holy Spirit to come in with force like a rushing river, with the power to move whatever is in the way. God will be what we need at the time of our hurt, crisis, and even in our joy.

At the very moment we accepted Jesus we received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is forever in our favor and seeking the best for us. We must, however, be attentive to Him, taking the time to stop and listen to the stream of God in our lives. If we will stop and listen the Holy Spirit, He will guide us no matter what the situation. Maybe you need God to come in like a rushing river, but will you be attentive when He does? Or maybe you just need a touch of quietness and peace in your day. Will you be attentive? The Bible tells us that He will be our Comforter, Counselor and Best Friend. The Holy Spirit is available to encourage, to teach, and to lead us in the right direction. (John 14-16)

Listen! God will encourage you and lead you. He knows the best way. I encourage you to listen to the stream, inside of your heart called the Holy Spirit. Be attentive. Take time to stop and listen to the stream that is flowing. Enjoy the presence of the it and you'll be refreshed and rejuvenated when you do! Be captivated by the stream in your life!

Whoever believes in me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within in him. John 7:38

Qualified!

Qualified to Be Free!

Qualified? Are you qualified? In this day, you hear the word qualify many times and in various circumstances. Large companies want qualified people, and colleges want those that qualify for acceptance and scholarships. Real estate agents question potential clients quickly with “Are you prequalified?” I know in talking to many women, I have found that as a whole we will try to qualify ourselves. We question our abilities and talents wondering, am I really qualified to do this? Sometimes a woman will question whether she is qualified to serve God! Our world today sends us the message that if you don’t qualify, then it is not going to happen. It is sort of a Qualify or Else Theory. Thank God that He has no prequalification! No matter who or what walk of life you come from, all you have to do is confess your sins, ask forgiveness, and accept Him as your Savior. No paperwork! You qualify! Praise God!
You have been qualified by Christ to share in the inheritance with God’s holy people. You have an inheritance because of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. God considers His children special, and you are a child of God. You are His princess! I want you to see the future that you have because you are in Christ. You are no longer who you used to be, and it is time to move forward in Christ. Hold your head up, smile big, and call yourself a precious child of God! It is vital to your self-esteem healing that you see how precious you are to God and the inheritance you have because of Christ. A princess walks with strength and dignity, and that is what God is calling you to do. To begin to see yourself differently, you must look at the change that took place when you gave your life to Christ. When you received Christ into your life, you received so much more than just your salvation. You received His love, His healing, His restoration, His victory, His forgiveness, His compassion, and so much more. Often we fail to realize the magnitude of the gift in our salvation. You accepted Christ as your Savior; now accept Him as your Healer. Let Him walk you into all that He has for you through Christ. He freely qualified you; now walk
into your rightful place as a princess!

Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:12, NIV

(Excerpt from Free To Be A Princess Self-Esteem Bible Study)