Comments on: Step By Step

By: Janice (5 Minutes for Mom)

Janice (5 Minutes for Mom) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 05:20:23 +0000

I think you wrote this for me!!! LOL Only thin is I am soooo far back from perfect, I would just settle for being on the ROAD! LOL

By: sonya clarke

sonya clarke — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:31:37 +0000

thankyou for your words…it seems so right for thoughts going over in my head…I was thinking of a woman from school this morning that only seems to speak to me when I have new clothes on or have a new haircut. I was thinking of how I try so hard to measure up physically at times to others expectations and guess what…. surprise…I never do for them!!..but God reminded me that I was not created to measure up to the worlds standard and I will only ever be truly wonderful through Christ, but he also reminded me his clothes are best..when I put on his clothes of true righteousness, of real integrity, of his grace and of his love and of his purity,, he will be impressed by the way I look.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:51:07 +0000

Oh, that is so true! We get so caught up in trying to match up to others, to be as good as so-and-so, or as righteous as what’s-her-name, or just to feel accepted and approved of by that-one, that we forget Whose approval really matters.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:09:25 +0000

Thank you for this post I plan on visiting you at your blog.

By: casual friday everyday

casual friday everyday — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:33:39 +0000

“We will never become everything we ought to be overnight.”

Thanks for the gentle reminder. I needed this tonight.

Nell

By: Jennifer, Snapshot

Jennifer, Snapshot — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 12:14:15 +0000

You’re right–we don’t see the hidden work or steps, and unless we consciously evaluate ourselves, we don’t often remember how far we’ve come either!

By: Karla Meachem (Empowering Christian Women)

Karla Meachem (Empowering Christian Women) — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 20:08:51 +0000

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perfection creates frustration.
Obedience releases.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

POWERFUL statement. Transformation truly does come through obedience.

Thanks for sharing.

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 20:53:10 +0000

I identify especially with the frizzy hair and calorie free chocolates! Not only do we not see the hidden steps but we don’t know what other women look like when they get up in the morning! Comparing ourselves only results in condemation and causes self doubt. Best to keep our eyes on Jesus and His incredible for for us - His love is wonderful, healing and provokes us to be like Him.
Karen

By: melody

melody — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:37:27 +0000

Sonya, the clothes metaphor is a powerful one. Karen, yes…eyes on Jesus.

Janice, Wendy, Amanda, Nell, Jennifer and Carla…God reminds us when we need it, doesn’t he? If we just listen. He was nudging me this week for sure.

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 06:46:02 +0000

Thankfully at this point in my life I have learned to just let go, let God. I know that I am a work in progress, and it’s wonderful to be able to look back and see how far I’ve come, and to know that I have still have a wonderful journey ahead of me. Great blessings come from walking in obedience with the Lord, even if we don’t always see them at the time.

By: ukrainiac

ukrainiac — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 20:35:03 +0000

I remember someone pointing out to me at one time that we tend to compare others’ strengths with our weaknesses — and we’ll never measure up.

How thankful to know that God is changing us step-by-step to be what HE created us to be!

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:22:56 +0000

Melody,

What a great post and reminder. You have an anointed pen and I can’t wait to read more of your works here and with your blog!
Blessings,
Julie
http://thesurrenderedscribe.blogspot.com/

By: arizaphale

arizaphale — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:32:58 +0000

Amen Melody. I remember going back to Church after my divorce, with a small child and when my life was at a real crossroads. I saw many young families and felt so unworthy. I had failed as a wife, as a Christian. Then as I got to know people I found that many of the young nuclear families I saw were second marriages or blended families! These wonderful friends were given to me by God at just the right time to encourage me in my walk of faith. Step by step as you say.
Wonderful to see you in a new setting too. Good luck with it.

By: Valerie/Texas

Valerie/Texas — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:21:27 +0000

Many thanks for the posts written here. It is wonderful for a new christian to read such encouragement. Thanks again.

By: jennifergg

jennifergg — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:18:41 +0000

Obedience is such a tricky thing to write about, and you do it so well! Obedience isn’t fun! It’s not flashy, or results-oriented. It requires patience, and sometimes stillness, and sometimes acceptance. These things are not highly valued in popular culture: but they are so important in spiritual life. Thank you for helping me think about obedience.