Lead Me, Holy Spirit

One of my favorite authors and teachers in faith is Stormie Omartian One of the women whom I admire and look up to. She has written many books on power of prayer that have sold million copies. Recently I purchased her latest book called Lead Me, Holy Spirit. It was so refreshing, I read 120 pages in one setting and wouldnt ‘t have put it down if I didn’t have to.

It’s so important for us to know the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We pray in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit but aren’t mindful of how God is near and wants to be a part of our daily lives and guide us into the life He has for us. When we read the book of Acts in the Bible and are amazed at the work of the Holy Spirit that’s done through the disciples what we fail to realize is that we can do the same kind of work int he kingdom of God because we’re given the Holy  Spirit if we believe in Jesus.

Many people are fearful of the works of God or His Spirit because they have heard creepy church stories. I personally have not seen anything freaky or creepy about our church or the things who believe in God do. I’ve actually been able to see how the Holy Spirit has brought joy during difficult times and has given peace in place of fear and has transformed lives, including my own.

The most important thing is God doesn’t tranform us to some alien “spiritual” creepy mystical being, yet He makes us more like ourselves so we don’t walk aroud with masks on and pretending to be someone we’re not.

Here is what the book looks like if you’re interested and I wanted to share Stormie’s video about the book below.

Lead me, Holy spirit

Love and Blessings,

Elle

My Week With Marilyn

Michelle Williams does an excellent job playing Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn. Having ready My Story of Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane, the movie was even more touching and heartfelt and my heart ached for her so badly. No one has ever been able to be as iconic as her even though they tried. She is irreplaceable.

My hubby even shed some tears in the end shamelessly.

I love movie nights with my love.

Let me know if you’ve seen the movie or see it, I’d like to know what you think about it!

Trying vs. Training

How many times have I started trying something and then I’ve stopped  because it was too hard or I didn’t “feel” like it anyomre or something came up!

Trying to be skinny but stopping the second it’s someones birthday and I want that piece of chocolate cake. News flash, every day is someones birthday and these hips can’t afford anoter slice.

Trying to not eat that bag of chips

Trying to squeeze in time to work out

Trying to be like so and so because they look like they can do everything and still look so beautiful put together.

Trying to be like Jesus, trying to love my neighbor as myself. Sometimes I don’t even like myself, so not sure how I would be able to love my neighbor on those days.

I’m sick and tired of trying and this week I quit.

Instead, I want to start training.

Setting a goal and training for it.

Sticking with it day after day even if one day I fall down, get up, and do it again the next day.

Anyone who is good in something, didn’t get there by trying. They trained for it like there was no tomorrow and like their life depended on it. They did walk around with an excuse bag, they made a way.

Any parents knows that it’s not the same as trying to be patient with your toddler and not yelling at them is not the same as training for patience.

Training requires discipline.

Discipline requires habitually doing something over and over again even in midst of temptation and opposition  until it becomes automatic and a part of my being so that all trying is dead and growth has happened.

We sholdn’t wait for the perfect condition in order for us to even try whatever it is we want to accopmplish, becasue that day will never come. Start today, here, now and contiue diligently day after day.

Is there something you’ve been trying to do but haven’t succeeded?

What is it?

What has stopped you from accomplishing your goal?

Is it time to stop trying and start training?

Lets get to it!

Elle

Art of not having to…

Anytime we make a rule or religion out of something, it sucks the life out of it.

We go our days complaining about the things we have to do and wishing we didn’t have to do it.

The truth is we really don’t have to do anything other than pay taxes and die. We don’t really even have to pay taxes unless we want to go to jail.

The choice is ours.

If we want to live victoriously and good quality lives, then we can choose to form good habits that lead us into that direction. If we WANT something then we CHOOSE to do something about it. We don’t HAVE TO do anything. Really.

In my own life,  I don’t have to read the bible, pray or go to church. I choose and want to do those things because my life is better when I do them.

I don’t have to eat healthy or exercise but I choose to because I want to be a certain size and look a certain way.

I don’t have to work. I want to because I want to have a place to live and food to eat.

 

I encourage you, to re-focus from having to, to wanting to.

If we make the switch, we will start enjoying our every day lives even when performing minimal and what may seem “unimportant.” tasks.

Mother Theresa said something like it’s not how much you do but how much love you put  in each of your actions.

 

xoxo

Elle

 

 

Divorcing Religion

If anyone thinks himself  to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and  does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious  service is worthless (futile, barren). —James 1:26

Sometimes it seems that religion is killing people. There  are many who are seeking a relationship with God, but the religious community  tells them what they need to “do” in order to be acceptable to Him. This   religious spirit was alive in Jesus’ day, and even though He died to put an end  to it and bring people into close personal relationship with Himself, the Holy  Spirit, and the Father, that same spirit still torments people to this day—if  they don’t know the truth.

Religion says, “You must find a way, no matter how  impossible it may seem. You had better follow the rules or suffer punishment.”  But relationship says, “Do your best because you love Me. I know your heart.   Admit your faults, repent of your mistakes, and just keep loving Me.” – Joyce Meyer

Being an Armenian and from the first nation to accept Christianity, Armenia – we as people are much more religious than we are in a relationship with the God we claim to believe. We follow man-made traditions we have created like baby christening for the name of God but are clueless to know God and what baptism means to Him in our Lord Jesus Christ. For instance the Bible says

water baptism, as taught and demonstrated by Jesus, as the way for
believers to identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

We live in motions of going to church maybe for Christmas but for sure Easter, and doing other stuff on the side like wearing the evil eye charms but are not living lives that reflect our beliefs in fact it almost contradicts everything written.

I was raised in a home that taught right from wrong and was taught to believe that no matter what I do God is watching me. I was given the idea that in order for God to love me, I had to be good and if I wasn’t, I should be expected to be punished. Not knowing the truth, I lived in fear and torment whenever I did make a mistake or didn’t live up to the rules and standards that my parents had made for me. Just like everyone else, we actually practice withcraft without knowing it like reading cups, cards, wearing evil eye jewelary, hanging from our car, cross hanging at our house and our necks but No Christ in our hearts or seen in our Lives.

It wasn’t until after high school, that I decided to dig deep to the roots of my faith Christianity and make sense of this confusion. I realized this deep longing inside of me that no one and nothing else could fill. I had a good family and lacked no good thing but there was an emptiness inside of me that i knew only God could fill.

I was all alone in my room on a Saturday morning, when I invited God to show himself real to me. And He did by surrounding me with the warmth love as if His arms were really around me & filled my heart with so much joy and peace all at once that I couldn’t deny him. That’s when the desire in me to want to go to church, want to read the Bible to know Him better birthed. I could now have conversations with him inside my home, in my car and fellowship with other believers at church in which all reflected His love and character for His children in all races and nations.

It’s been almost 12 years since I started my journey with God and He has changed my idea of Him.

I had to divorce religion, in order to know God.

With love & blessings,

Elle

 

hush my baby, dont you cry..

Our daughter is a year and a half old now and she has become an unstoppable chatterbox with bursts of energy. We love her to pieces. As cute as she is, she has been giving us a hard time during bedtime. Since the time she turned one month old we let her sleep in her crib in her room and has been that way until now. She has become clingy and prefers sleeping in my arms and then I need to tip toe my way in her room and pray to God she doesn’t wake up as I lay her down to sleep. I realize she is building healthy attachement and now knows who she can trust. But at the same time she knows how to manipulate to get her way.

This has become the new pattern and I realize my hubby was right it needs to stop. The falling asleep process is taking longer and it’s exhausting. The aftermath of this is none of us gets a good night of rest, we’re late to work and drained throughout the day.

As a mom, when I hear her even whimper, I run to her rescue. Maybe I should re-read Babywise and remind myself that it’s ok for her to cry even if she cries for 10 minutes she won’t lose brain cells. It’s  bedtime and she doesn’t want to sleep. It’s not like she needs anything and I’d be neglecting her if I let her soothe herself and fall asleep.

We never had trouble with this. We would put her in her crib and she’d know it’s bedtime.

You would think I”d know better considering the fact Child Development is my MAJOR but no book knowledge can equip for the actual experience. boo! Just like reading a map isn’t the same as exploring to those places. yep.

I’m assuming it’s because of the change in her schedule. I’ve been taking her to mom’s at different times in the mornings and her nap time isn’t consistent as it used to be with her nanny. Her nanny is currently on a vacation for the rest of the month. I’m hoping she doesn’t decide to extend her vacation! We need her and miss her!

So the fact that I’ve been taking her out of her routine, at the end of the day, I feel guilty if I don’t comfort her when she cries.  In reality, I’m letting her manipulate and control me and NEEDS to stop.

When you’re married, your husband and marriage must remain priority. This is for the best interest of the children as well. The father and mother are responsible in meeting all of the child’s needs and raising him/her in a way that they will be able to leave them and be & do well on their own.  Teach the bird how to fly. By attending to my baby 24/7, leaves me no time or energy for my husband. If a wife/husband doesn’t make time for each other, it won’t ever happen on it’s own. You must be intentional. Like a NINJA.

The worst thing a parent can do is everything for their child. This will handicap them.

Today, I’ll have to reinforce, putting her to bed and leaving her there. It is said that it takes three days for a baby to learn a new habit/break old one.

Please pray for strength and consistency.

I’d love to hear from other mamas about my situation.

thank you xoxo

Elle

what a bitch!

“I believe confidence is all about being positive concerning what you can do — and not worrying over what you can’t do. A confident person is open to learning, because she knows that her confidence allows her to walk through life’s doorways, eager to discover what waits on the other side. She knows that every new unknown is a chance to learn more about herself and unleash her abilities.”     ―     Joyce Meyer,           The Confident Woman Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations    

I think I’ve lost my cool only about twice in life and only 3 people have been a witness at different times. 1. God 2. Mom and 3. Hubby. DON’T TEST ME. My sister calls me “dinj” in Armenian and I guess in English it would be mellow? Some take it that I’m passive and do not like confrontation. But I just don’t like strife. I’m naturally a peacemaker and will fight to maintain it.

There have been many opportunities for me to lash out and act like a total bitch. But that’s a bit out of my character and also I can feel God nudging me “You’re better than that.”. From some Facebook updates and posts, many girls are bragging about being a bitch as if it’s a good thing or it’s defined as a girl who knows what they want and won’t take no for an answer. I can’t believe they even have a book out called “Why men marry Bitches.” I schemed through the book and whoever wrote it, I doubt is married.  I asked my hubby if he would have married me if I were a total bitch and he said NO. Why would a men marry a bitch? The bible even says it’s better for a man to live on the roof of a house than in a house with a nagging bitchy wife. I’ve also come across some girls belittling other girls who act like a lady.

Where are we getting these ideas?

I think we’re mixing confidence with bitchiness.

Personally, I have not met a happy bitch. They’re all pretty loud and mean and miserable. Correct me if I’m wrong.

I don’t want to be one nor do I want to instill in my daughter to become one.

Also girls who tend to lash out and “speak their minds” or give them a piece of their mind regret what they said later and are not living in peace. Again, I’m not promoting passive, submissive nor are we supposed to be taken advantage of…etc. But we’re not getting it right!

Now I know most of the “bitchy” girls are also coming in the form of feminists. I’m not against feminism at all. I’m grateful for the women who stood up and claimed equal rights for us. But we’re causing confusion by acting in a way we’re not really naturally wired to. We’re demanding, stomping our feet to get attention when in reality, we have the floor.

I want to encourage all girls to really do an inventory and see if your “bitchiness” is doing you or anyone any good?

The key here is refusing to be passive and making a conscious decision to do what’s right. Being passive means you wait for an outside force to move you or to feel like doing something. Use your will to choose what’s right. And pray for God’s grace to give you the ability to do it. – Joyce Meyer

You don’t have to be a bitch to achieve. Just be confindent in your abilities & don’t worry about what you can’t do.

Thrive: Aiming Higher

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

This Sunday, our pastor continued with the teaching on Thrive series. I love going to church, learning practical stuff that I can apply in real life! Here are some of my take aways.

Our Heaven Fatherly loves us SO much and He wants all the best things and experiences in life for us. Just as when a mother or a father holds their baby in their hands, the desire in them to give their baby the best of everything comes to life and unconditional love even when the baby is incapable of doing anything with their tiny little selves. That’s how our Heavenly Father sees each and every one of us. He has chosen us to be fruitful in life because ultimately that will bring Him glory!

I thought about how majority of us settle just for the good enough or just enough to get away with it, get by, survive and sometimes we might even feel bad if we want more or achieve more because we’re afraid of success or how other people might look at us and call us selfish. But God wants us to FLOURISH. He wants us to Aim higher. Have the best life now. He wants us to be connected to HIM so that HE can bless us abundantly.

In the book of John, Jesus says “apart from me, you can do Nothing.”

Really made me thing about that and I realize I can do stuff apart from Jesus like I can do Ok, I can make money, I can pay bills but IF i don’t have the blessing of God in my life, God’s protection, God’s hand, those things DON’T last. When God blesses, He blesses with an EVERLASTING fruit that comes with joy, peace and ABUNDANCE.

Don’t be afraid, to step up, aim higher. We’re not meant to just get by, we’re born to THRIVE.

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.: John 10:10

Angry Coversations With God

Friday night, I had the privilege of going back as a guest to the Solo Show: Angry Conversations with God at Two Roads Theatre performed by the very funny lady, actress, comedian and writer, Susan Isaacs. I’m so lucky to have become friends with her! I can call her my friend now because she recognizes me and knows me by name and we’ve exchanged tweets back and forth! ha! 🙂

The first time I went with hubby a few weeks ago and then told my friend about it and she wanted to go. I invited my mom to come along with us because I knew she’d love it and she sure did!

They have extended the show because of sold out tickets. For those of you who don’t know about the show, here is some info and strongly recommend it! Go see it!

Susan E. Isaacs’ Angry Conversations with God: The Solo Show, a comedy based on her book “Angry Conversations with God: A Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir,” premieres at Two Roads Theater in Studio City, CA, Sept. 14.

 

Written and performed by Isaacs (“Seinfeld,” “Parks and Recreation,” “My Name is Earl”), the limited engagement, directed by Matthew Corozine, continues through Oct. 13.

Here’s how the work is described: “When Susan, a 40-something Hollywood actress, finds herself jobless, loveless and living over a garage, she begins to question her faith. After an uptight church friend tells her to think of God as her husband, Susan sarcastically decides takes God to marriage counseling to see if they can keep it together ‘for better or worse.'”

Angry Conversations is based on Isaacs’ personal and professional conflicts as well as her combative history with what she calls “corporate Churchianity.”

 

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“I have been testing material for this show in front of religious and secular audiences, and I am excited about its wide appeal,” said Isaacs in a statement. “I ask some significant religious questions, but you don’t have to be spiritual to ask yourself: What’s my purpose? What is my heart’s deepest longing? What do I do with tragedy? Well, in my case, middle-class white-girl’s tragedy.”

 

Angry Conversations with God: The Solo Show will be performed Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM.

The Two Roads Theater is located at 4383 Tujunga Avenue in Studio City, Los Angeles, CA. For more information and tickets, call (626) 789-6590, visit SusanIsaacs.net or click here.

 

 

Motivation Monday- Candace Cameron Bure

Last night I watched this video of former Full House, DJ Tanner sharing her testimony at Liberty Universtiy Convocation. I relate to her so much because just like her I was raised in a good family that taught good morals, right from wrong and how to be a good person. Just like her, I also like pleasing my parents and the important people in my life because I naturally like to be praised. Just like her, I was never a bad kid who got into drugs or had a messed up life then  came to Jesus to fix me. I wasn’t that person. I was obedient and followed all the rules. Even though I know many wonderful people who come from those types of backgrounds it’s amazing how God has changed their lives and anyone who knows them can’t deny God. Just like her I thought I’m not as bad or messed up like those kids so I’m ok. I’m A GOOD person!

Our society has the image that messed up people go to church, people who can’t seem to have it all together but that’s so arrogant becasue that’s putting oneself higher and better than another person. We have ALL fallen short of the glory of God. Not one of us can say “I totally Rock because I’m so perfect.”

Her Testimony really made me think and most of all encouraged me and hope it does the same for you.

p.s. I love how she has a shirt line and the shirt says “Being good isn’t good enough.