YOU

You Are More…

/ Susan Woodward / 4 Comments

YOU ARE MORE….

You’re More Than Your Hard Days!

Some days you may try your best and it may not seem like it’s enough.

Some days the words you want to heal may hurt instead.

Some days you may question everything you do or lack the energy to complete it.

Some days your agenda, goals and plans may be shattered.

Some days your intentions may seem like they dont matter.

This doesn’t mean you’re a failure.

Or you should quit.

Or God is mad at you.

It just means this…

All of your days you will be human and make mistakes.

All of your days you will grow, but you will never reach perfection.

All of your days there will be grace enough for you.

All of your days will start fresh.

And new.

And with joy.

Remember that the positive always out weighs the negative in life.

Remember God never gives up on you, so never give up on yourself.

Remember everyone’s ugly can become something beautiful.

Remember there’s no test or trial or hard day the Lord can’t use for His glory.

If you let Him.

So,  Keep going.

Keep trying.

Keep moving forward.

I know it’s hard on some days. But you are MORE than those days.

At the end of all of your days, you may very well hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

And that alone will make ALL the hard days you had to persevere through worthwhile.

So take a deep breath.

Keep your focus.

Remain strong in your faith.

And each night when you close your eyes, remember you are loved.

Loved Today.

Loved Tomorrow.

And Loved Forever.

Because You Are More Than Your Hard Days!

Are You What You Do The Most Of?

/ Susan Woodward

Are YOU what you do the most of?

I mean, if you worry all the time wouldn’t you most likely become a great worrier? And If you drank continuously you’d probably become an Alcoholic. So, It’s also likely if you gossip you’ll become a fantastic gossiper.  And If you complain, boast about yourself, or spend your time Lying….all day or most of the time…..Well, you get the picture right? 

So, what consumes your thoughts?  Your time throughout the day? 

These things can positively mold you or they can negatively impact you and those closest to you.

It can confuse people and turn them away from knowing who you serve!

Only YOU can decide what you’ll become according to what you think of and do the most of.

To live Christ like and be more like Him we have to live consistently and consume ourselves with His words, thoughts and actions.  We can all make a conscious effort to think more Christ Like and do better with Acting Christ like too!

When others see YOU… do they know who YOU serve? 

We can all….Encourage others and become someone full and flowing with encouragement! Comfort those who need it and become a gifted comforter! Pray earnestly and faithfully often and become a prayer warrior! Welcome people into your home and become a person of warm hospitality! Love selflessly and unconditionally and others will see Christ’s love as it becomes a radiant light through you. Be kind, trust worthy and honest and you’ll hold great traits in becoming a dependable friend!   

I do believe we become what we think about or do the most….

So we should choose wisely…with our thoughts….and how we spend our time. 

serving

What will your thoughts and the things you spend time doing make YOU become?

Who do others think YOU Serve?

HOPE…..Is Everything You Need!

/ Susan Woodward

There are many terms in scripture like faith, hope, love, joy, grace, peace, etc. that we come across as we read our Bibles.  What is HOPE?  A modern idea of hope is “to wish for, to expect, but without certainty of the fulfillment; to desire very much, but with no real assurance of getting your desire.” According to biblical usage, “hope” is an indication of certainty. “Hope” in scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.

Hope deals with things we can’t see or haven’t received or both.  Hope is the confident expectation we have with certainty, that Gods word is true. When we know that what the Word says has occurred or will occur in accordance to what is written…..we have HOPE.

Romans 8:24-25 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

When we possess a biblical HOPE it changes us.  It doesn’t allow us to escape from reality or keep us from problems. It doesn’t keep us drifting from one thing to the next either.  If we have a biblical HOPE based on believing Gods promises are true than it gives us results and keep us in line with life….and death.

HOPE Changes us…..

How we see things –This is our temporary home.

 What we value –We become heavenly minded instead of earthly minded.

 What we do with our lives –How we use our time, our gifts, and our talents.

HOPE gives us power to live courageously, to be all God has called us to be in Christ.

HOPE gives us Rewards & Blessings…. 

  • It gives us joy and peace   -Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • It gives us protection    -Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His loving kindness,
  • It gives us strength, courage, boldness   -Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD.
  • It gives us endurance, comfort, confidence in the face of death   –Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.
  • It gives us confidence in ministry   –1 Timothy 4:10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

Putting our HOPE in anything other than The Lord will hope-sometimes-thats-all-you-haveonly leave us disappointed.

God is called “the God of Hope.” This means He is the source of all real HOPE. If we are going to have HOPE (a confident expectation), it must come from Him for He alone has the power to give it. 

 –Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.

If you are without Christ, you are without God and without true HOPE.

HOPE depends on knowing the word of God, resting in His grace and living a spirit filled Life!

If you have a Biblical, Spiritual, Confident, HOPE In Jesus Christ…..You Really Do Have Everything!

You are a Magnum Opus!

/ Susan Woodward / 4 Comments

imageDare to be You!

Just the way that God has created YOU to be!

There is only one of YOU uniquely designed by the Master Creator…to be YOU!

You have your own interests, talents and gifts.  You have your own likes and dislikes. You have your own personality and perception.  You have your own look, your own set of opinions and your own divine purpose in serving Him!

Don’t cover up, hide, and try to be like someone else. Do not envy the talents and gifts of others!

Embrace yourself ….Embrace the uniqueness of how you were formed….Embrace that YOU are YOU for a reason. You have a purpose and He has a perfect Plan for you.

No one the Lord designed was a misfit, none of His plans were an afterthought and nothing He has created needs to be tweaked or changed!

You are a Magnum Opus!   ~meaning: A Great Work of Art!!   

we-are-beautiful-masterpieces-designed-by-god-bible-quote

Designed by the Master of all Artists!

He has made NO mistakes in His creation and handiwork.

You are a Beautiful Masterpiece!

So, Live Fully……Daring To Be YOU!  

Embrace yourself like Jesus

/ Susan Woodward / 1 Comment

I am learning to embrace myself like Jesus embraces me!  I hope you can too!  

God has brought me through so many (yes sooooo many) different life circumstances, hurts, and losses. There has literally been moments where I have questioned everything and times I didn’t know how to take any steps forward. But I came to realize, I will never embrace myself as my Jesus embraces me. No one could ever fully embrace me or love me as he does! Not even ME!

I do love myself, but I am “learning to embrace and love myself” just as he loves me! In every moment! Through every season! And on this new journey! I will rejoice with every step and with every triumph. Trusting him when I do not understand, and allowing him to use me through every moment of uncertainty, fear or doubt. I vow to give Him the glory and praise deserved each and every day, without having to know his plan and have all the answers ahead of time.

Looking back….I don’t know where I’d be without him or how I came this far! I was lost. But now I live thankful to have found his steadfast love and received his eternal embrace! He patiently waited for me to set my eyes upon him. He will continue to use every piece within me, that I may see as unworthy, if I give myself to him. He has taken every bit of “My Ugly” and loves me in-spite of it. He has turned the “Ugly” in my life (my hurts, doubts, fears, loss etc) and made them into something more beautiful than I could have ever imagined! Over the years, my life has definitely seen lot’s of ugly. But my life has….So Much More BEAUTY!

He’s not a quick or side huger!  He’s a God who fully embraces us and never let’s go!  He is a God of second chances. (and third and fourths) He is forgiving and kind. He is extremely devoted and fond of me…..and YOU!

With every situation I have persevered through, and as I learn to love myself like he loves me, It helps immensely to know….he will always be my Rock, my Calm, my Deliverer, my Healer, my Comforter, my Strength and my Friend! 

We have been molded and formed by him through every situation and circumstance he has brought us through. Remember, he can and will use it all!  Let’s let him!  Let’s fix our eyes upon him!  Together we can continue to learn how to love and embrace ourselves fully……Just as he does! 

Psalm 136:2 Give thanks to the God of gods, his love endures forever.

~Enjoy this poem I wrote~

Live
Life is hard
Choices made
Clock does not turn back
Dream
Be thankful in the moments
Learn from the past
Live in the present
Look forward to the future
Trust
Have faith
Lean on Him for understanding
Live positive in all the negative
Find the beautiful in your ugly
Believe
Love others
Be an over-comer
Move forward in His grace
Live
Abundantly!