{"id":25503,"date":"2015-04-23T00:15:59","date_gmt":"2015-04-23T04:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=25503"},"modified":"2015-04-23T05:50:20","modified_gmt":"2015-04-23T09:50:20","slug":"i-can-just-be-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2015\/04\/23\/i-can-just-be-me\/","title":{"rendered":"I Can Just Be Me"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Many of you have gone on Spring Break or are anticipating taking a vacation this summer. \u00a0It is a time to refresh spirit, soul, and body. \u00a0Over the next couple of weeks, our faithful bloggers will be taking a \u2018spring break\u2019 from writing so that they can come back to us refreshed and freshly anointed. <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">However, Girlfriends\u2019 Coffee Hour website won\u2019t \u2018go black\u2019! \u00a0We will be revisiting some of our favorite blogs and daily devotions which have blessed us in the past. \u00a0We pray that each of you, our faithful friends and readers, will continue to start your day meditating on the devotionals and songblogs, and be encouraged and blessed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">Let\u2019s give each of our bloggers a big round of applause,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\">a hug,<br \/>\nand the rest they so deserve. \u00a0God bless you, ladies!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-16629\" src=\"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv.jpg\" alt=\"psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv\" width=\"341\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv.jpg 341w, https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv-300x175.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 341px) 100vw, 341px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">I\u2019ve been doing all that I can<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">To hold it all together, piece by piece<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">I\u2019ve been feeling like a failure<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Trying to be braver<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Than I could ever be<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2026It\u2019s just not me<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">So be my Healer, be my Comfort<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Be my Peace<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2018Cause I can be broken<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">I can be needy, Lord, I need You now<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">To be, be my God<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2026So I can just be me<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">I\u2019ve been living like an orphan<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Trying to belong here<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">But it\u2019s just not my home<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">I\u2019ve been holding on so tightly<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">To all the things that I think<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">That satisfy my soul<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2026But I\u2019m letting go<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">So be my Father, my mighty Warrior<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Be my King<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2018Cause I can be scattered, frail and shattered<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Lord, I need You now<\/span> <\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">To be, be my God <\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2026So I can just be me<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2018Cause I was lost<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">In this dark world<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2018Til I was finally found in You<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">So now I\u2019m needy, desperately pleading<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\">Oh Lord, be all to me<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">So be my Savior, be my Lifeline<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Won\u2019t You be my everything?<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2018Cause I\u2019m so tired<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Of trying to be someone<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">I was never meant to be<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Be my God, please be my God<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Be my God so I can just be me<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">So I can just be me<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u2026I can just be me<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1X8D5stUFCU?list=RD1X8D5stUFCU\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Laura Story<br \/>\nwritten with Jason Ingram<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">* ~ \u2665 ~ \u271e ~ \u2665 ~ *<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Can\u2019t you just imagine leafing through your Bible and coming upon words like these\u2026they are so similar to one of David\u2019s songs, don\u2019t you think? \u00a0This song sings just like one (no, like MANY) of the psalms. \u00a0Perhaps these words are very similar to a song in your own heart? \u00a0I\u2019ll tell you\u2026they are close to my own, at times.<\/p>\n<p>Oh, but at times I can whine\u2026and complain! \u00a0Despite the great measure of grace and blessing that my God has poured into my life, at times I seem to forget. \u00a0I can become overwhelmed with the situations and circumstances. \u00a0And then \u00a0attempt to wrestle with these ugly things rather than resting and relying on my God.<\/p>\n<p>Silly me! \u00a0I try to take things into my own &lt;incapable&gt; hands instead of seeking the only One Who IS capable\u2014my Lord, Jesus the Christ, the One to Whom all \u201call authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given\u2026\u201d (Matthew 28:18).<\/p>\n<p>I (and you also, my friends!) we are not alone in struggling with matters such as this! \u00a0We\u2019ve already recognized that David called out to God in his struggles. But we also have the examples and godly encouragement of other men throughout the pages of the Bible. \u00a0The Apostle Paul and his disciple, Timothy, are two who I thought of immediately! \u00a0Paul wrote in his letters to encourage the believers in the first century Church &lt;and us, too!!!&gt; to rely on all that Christ had made available.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">But He said to me, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you,<br \/>\nfor My power is made perfect in weakness.\u201d<br \/>\nTherefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,<br \/>\nso that the power of Christ may rest upon me.<br \/>\nFor the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses,<br \/>\ninsults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.<br \/>\nFor when I am weak, then I am strong.<br \/>\n2 Corinthians 12:9, 10 ESV<\/p>\n<p>In Paul\u2019s letters to Timothy, as he taught him regarding leadership, Paul faithfully reminded Timothy that God is the One Who is to be trusted and relied upon. \u00a0For example, He said:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">That is why I am suffering as I am.<br \/>\nYet this is no cause for shame, because I know Whom I have believed,<br \/>\nand am convinced that He is able to guard<br \/>\nwhat I have entrusted to Him until that day.<br \/>\n2 Timothy 1:12 NIV<\/p>\n<p>All throughout the Scriptures, God\u2019s people are instructed over and over and over again of the simplicity of the commands He has for us.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">He has showed you, O man, what is good.<br \/>\nAnd what does the Lord require of you<br \/>\nbut to do justly,<br \/>\nand to love kindness and mercy,<br \/>\nand to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?<br \/>\nMicah 6:8<\/p>\n<p>We need to remember. \u00a0And to trust and obey. \u00a0It is SO much simpler to do things God\u2019s way! \u00a0And then \u2018I can just be me!\u2019 \u00a0 Amen?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">\u00a0* ~ \u2665 ~ \u271e ~ \u2665 ~ *<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Oh, how we praise You, dear Lord! \u00a0What joy we have in our hearts knowing that You ARE our\u00a0Healer, Comfort, Peace\u2026 our Father, Mighty Warrior, King\u2026 our Savior, Lifeline\u2026 truly our everything! \u00a0How gracious, kind, and compassionate You are towards our human nature which, at times, is weak and needy and tired! \u00a0Thank You for how patient and longsuffering You are with us\u2026never leaving us nor forsaking us even when we are whiny and complaining. \u00a0Thank You for Your grace and mercy, Your lovingkindness, Your forgiveness, Your love! \u00a0Thank You for always being there when turn our little hearts around and acknowledge that You have not changed\u2026and never will. \u00a0Thank You for forming and making us\u2014to \u2018just be me!\u2019 \u00a0We love and adore You, Faithful Father! \u00a0And pray in Jesus\u2019 name. \u00a0Amen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many of you have gone on Spring Break or are anticipating taking a vacation this summer. \u00a0It is a time to refresh spirit, soul, and body. \u00a0Over the next couple of weeks, our faithful bloggers will be taking a \u2018spring break\u2019 from writing so that they can come back to us refreshed and freshly anointed. 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