Sleepless Hearts & Forked Roads

It's 11pm and my head has uncontrollable thoughts racing through it at high speeds. Sleep is out of the question. In my youth I wouldn't count sheep but I would count. I would count until I fell asleep. In my adulthood I might play a movie on my phone but sometimes that backfires and I would see the movie to the end. Tonight I write. If I cannot cease my thoughts I might as well let them out the best way I know how. 

I write tonight with a very heavy heart. I thought I could feel God asking me to follow Him in a certain way but that way now has a fork in the road. One in which I could not foresee nor did I have any idea which route to take. What do I do when the forks both seem unbearable? How can I choose that path? How can I choose the other path? How do you know when God is leading and when you are making it up as you go? I am at a loss. But today I felt like I finally might have made some slight progress. I believe I can finally let go and give God the reins. I never knew how that looked until I got a horse. Do I truly have FAITH that God will take care of me? Sometimes I would wonder if He remembered me. He does. He thinks of me more than I think of Him. I feel a little bit stronger. A little bit more secure. I feel The Lord's presence. I feel his arms carrying me so I don't have to choose which fork to take. He has it under control. 

Words

It seen far too long since I've expressed myself through words. Words are so powerful. Words can create joy. Words can cause pain. Words can cause happiness; words can cause strife. Words can heal; words can break. Words can empower; words can deflate. I often ask God to take my ability to speak away so I won't sin with my tongue. I look at my dog, Kona. She has never spoken a word to me. I love her with every bit of love I possess. She has done absolutely nothing to "deserve" my love. She has don't nothing to lose my love. She doesn't lift me up with words. She doesn't tear me down with words. She simply acts. She obeys (the majority of time). She disobeys (at times). No matter what she does, I still love her. All without words. 

People can be so hurtful with their words. I can be having the greatest day of all and if I hear the depressing words from someone (especially someone I love), then it sends me down into a slippery slope of pain. Why do we let words impact us so much? Why do we card so much about what other people think? 

I don't know why you do, but for me, it feels like my nature to desire others to like and love me. And when I learn that they don't, it affects me. But when I hear some hurtful words, it affects me even more. 

I want to find my identity in Christ and believe the truth about the words He had spoken about me. Here are just a few verses about my true identity:

I am a child of God. 

But to all who have received him--those who believe in his name--he has given the right to become children of God. John 1:12

I have been chosen by Him!

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love Ephesians 1:4.

I was created on purpose, in Christ, to do great things in His name.

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them. Ephesians 2:10

These verses help me keep a sober mind about the truth that God says about me. It doesn't truly matter if someone else tells me they don't love me. Yes it hurts-

worse than I could have imagined. But it isn't going to affect my eternal home. My place is with Christ. My identity is in Christ and Christ is in me. Bottom line. 

Thank you, God for helping me learn these truths!!

Your Salvation Will

       As I was driving home from the office one day in January, I decided to play a CD, which is actually rare for me. I usually just drive in silence as an escape from the world. The last song that played was, "If You're Reading This" by Tim McGraw. I didn't cry like I often do when I sing that song but it did move me to pray.
     
       So many people have lost loved ones, family members, children, parents, and friends to death. What did I do to deserve this life so blessed here on this earth? Aside from elderly relatives, I have really only been affected by very few deaths in my short life. How God chooses or allows things to happen, I'm not sure, but what I am sure of is the certainty that Christ's sacrifice is the only thing that can truly give us hope. If we think we have a bad or unfortunate life here on earth, we need  to realize that this earth is not where we will spend eternity. If you don't follow Jesus Christ, then I suggest you either get to know Him, or stay healthy as long as possible to prolong your life because following your death, you will wish you were back here on earth.
      
       It's a hard truth to swallow, but it's the truth. It's the same truth that can set you FREE. If you thing dying without having a Will is bad, I'd hate to know what it's like not having your salvation figured out. Salvation and Wills are a lot alike- you can't get either of them after you die.
      Jesus said, "I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life. No one comes to the Father,   
      except through Me."
                                                                           -John 14:6 (capitals added)

    He didn't say He was A way, A truth, and A life. He said He was THE way, truth, & life. What is stopping you from reaching out to Christ and allowing Him to be your Savior?

Is it submission issues? Do you have a problem submitting to authority? If you have a job and a boss, I'm assuming you are able to submit to that authority.

Is it pride? Are you afraid of giving God the credit for things you believe you accomplished in this life without Him? The only things you've accomplished are because He has allowed you to.

Is it forgiveness? Have you done something so terrible you are afraid you can't be forgiven and aren't worthy of being saved? God saved even the apostle Paul and he persecuted all of the disciples and made it his pre-Christ-life's mission to destroy the gospel.
 
Is it sin? The way you have been living your life has been working out so far so why stop? You are just living for the present. But where do you want to spend ETERNITY? I know where I don't want to spend mine.

       The Bible describes hell as everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2) and a lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

      We will all be judged one day by God himself and then either condemned or saved. We will be judged according to WHAT WE'VE DONE, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). There are no secrets with God. Revelation 20: 15-11 says:

       Then I saw the Great White Throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the
       earth and heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the
       dead, small and great, standing there before God, and books were opened. And
       another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged
       according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave
       up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in
       them. And they were judged, each according to his works. Then Death and Hades
       were cast into the lake of fire. This is the Second death. And anyone not found
       written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.  
                                                                   -Revelation 20:11-15

       If you read further on into chapter 21, you see some powerful verses. Verse 3 says God is with men and He will dwell with them and they will be His people. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, no more death, sorrow, pain, and crying. (v4) Verses 5-8 say He will make all things NEW! Whoever overcomes shall inherit all things but the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the Second Death.   (paraphrased and quoted from Revelation 21:3-8)

     We must overcome our sin and believe that Christ was raised from the dead to save us in order to have our name written in that Book of Life. My name is written in it! Is yours? If you aren't quite sure then you need to ask Christ to save you! And after you do, you shall become a new creation! You have to get rid of your old sinful ways and become like Christ.

     If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come.
                                                                                          -2 Corinthians 5:17


    We must change from our old ways and flee from the evil desires of our hearts. The things you do now may not seem evil to you, but all sin is evil. White lies, gossip, slander, sex with someone other than our spouse, lust, drunkenness- they are all sins punishable by death. We have to become Representatives of Christ. We may be the only Jesus others ever meet. I'll leave you with 3 questions.

1. Is your Salvation Will made yet?
2. Is your name written in the Book of Life?
3. Since your Salvation, have you become a NEW creation and given up your old lifestyle?

It's time to talk to God. Call upon Him. Right now. This isn't something you can procrastinate and get around to it later. Let Him do what Christ died for. He wants to save you.

As my husband says, "Let's Get to Callin".....on God, that is.




    

Psalm 4

Today's Bible reading was awesome!!! I like to read Genesis in the morning and Matthew, Psalms, and Proverbs in the evening.

Psalm 4 really touched me so I want to memorize it. It reads: 

1)  Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; 

Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. 

2)  How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? 

How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? 

3)  But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; 

The Lord will hear when I call to Him. 

4)  Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. 

5)  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord. 

6)  There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?”                                                                   Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. 

7)  You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. 

8)  I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. 

(Psalms 4:1-8 NKJV) (bold, underline, & italics added)

How comforting this Psalm is!!! It is always nice to hear that being angry isn't a sin in itself although it is easy to sin in our anger. Instead lay down, meditate, and be still. I have learned to do a lot of that this past year. I also like how it is comforting that "You relieve me in my distress" and "Put gladness in my heart." This is a beautiful Psalm! Can't wait to memorize and pray this Psalm!

Have YOU read your Bible today? Get going on it! :)

This is my nephew doing my hair and makeup after Christmas. Although I may look like a clown, I'm thankful he put the lipstick on the lips and not elsewhere; :) my niece helped out a great deal too.

How to begin 2014

2014 has a lot of promise and exciting things to look forward to! THE WINTER OLYMPICS!!! I am a huge fan of ice skating (spectating and doing it myself), Snowboarding (I prefer boarding over watching it but it is still fun!) and those are pretty much my favorites in the winter :)

But more than important than the Olympics....

I feel the Lord has asked to start a revival this year. I wasn’t sure what that meant until He started reminding me that I have still not read the ENTIRE Bible. I have probably read most of it, but I cannot say that I have read ALL of it. I am ashamed to be 28 now and a Christian for over 20 years and to STILL not have the One and Only ordained text we have from our God...completely read.

He placed several girlfriends on my heart this month to offer them a chance to have an accountability group of reading God’s word this year in 2014!! I am so excited to do it!! I have tried once before and made it to May but I made excuses and never finished. I am ashamed of my failure.

I would like to extend the invitation to my blog readers. Would you dedicate this year of 2014 to the year YOU join me in reading the entire Bible? Even if you have read it all before, why not do it again!?!?! Let’s start a revival! If this year succeeds, then next year we could EACH ask 1-2 people to read it with us (and we read it again in a different translation). Can you imagine the kind of revival God will create!?!?! Year after year!!

Please RSVP to this invitation by email (audraleichleiter@hotmail.com), iMessage text (through my iPad), or phone call (although my phone is broken so email/iMessage is best). I am excited to have this accountability!!! I will be sending daily and/or weekly texts/emails and probably blogging about this challenge as well. Please join me! I am so excited to DAILY read God’s precious Word that He has given us!!!!

Please let me know if you want to join in. I am reading this year in the New King James Version. I am thinking of reading ALL of the Bibles I have each year and then buying a new one each year but I'm jumping ahead of myself. I am just SOOOOO Excited!!!!

Here is the link I am using. You can print them off as bookmarks or email me for my version of brightly colored ones :)
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/
I'll try to post favorites or most awe-inspiring verses as the days go on. PLEASE pray that God places this on your heart as well and LET'S START A REVIVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In CHRIST,

Audra!!!

P.S. I've had a few incidents (neck, shoulder) where I've been laid up for a bit so if you're interested in having any hats, scarves, mittens, boot cuffs, etc. knitted or crocheted, please let me know :)