Thursday, March 29, 2012

March 28, 2012

How do you know when you have found favor with God?  Have you ever wondered where God is?  Or why when you need Him the most, you can't hear from Him?  Like me, I am sure all of you have experienced it at least once.  I think these questions come into play when we, "want what we want," and there are no answers.  The finish line could be right around the corner but we lack the fortitude, the patience and the faith to see it.

I hate it when I hear someone say they don't have favor with God.  If your in His presence, living for Him, seeking Him daily and loving Him, you are in His favor.  Favor is not given by GOD so that we can have what we want.  It comes through trial and tribulation.  It happens when God is sharpening you through fire and making you shiny and new.  The blade of the sword has to be fired to a fierce temperature in order to be perfect. That's what God is trying to do in our lives.  We are being refined for His glory and when we understand it and realize that He is in it; we find favor.

The word itself, favor, means to be held in regard.  But in God's world it's a way to help us grow our faith, to raise us up and to help us grow.  This enables us to help others in their pursuit of faith.  We are not in a race nor are we here to get what we want; we are here to be part of God's army.  He will refine us and place favor on us.  It's not something we can buy or work for; it will be given through faith.

So if you are struggling with where God is, ask yourself what has God done in my life so far?  Make a list of the times His hand has been on you.  Think over the many times you have failed Him and yet, He remains merciful and faithful.  Take time to go over the moments when you have been tested and what you learned from the experience.  Did you grow closer to God?  I guarantee you did.  It's not enough for us to state that we are Christians; we must understand that we are here only for God's glory.  We didn't earn this spot; it was given!

If you have met someone recently that is a good encourager, stay close, for God brought them into your life.  Understand that we are to be here for each other, to lift each other up, and to pray for the women in our lives.  Our need is for community.  Be aware that God never leaves us or forsakes us and He is always with us, even when the trials are great.  If Christ calls you to walk along someone, do it.  If you truly want to know the hand of God and His favor, be there for someone else.  Be bold with your faith and pray for them.  Ask God to show you how you can be a blessing in someone else's life and if you are facing a trial, ask someone to walk with you.  There is no greater way to experience God.

I encourage you to comment on this blog if you are needing someone to lift you up.  I am here for you.  This blog was created through my need to reach out and touch women.  I prayed for years on what to do. I always knew that I would write someday but it wasn't until my father's death that I experienced the full hand of Christ.  I made a promise on his death bed that I would reach out to whoever He put in my path and I would proclaim Him loudly.  I am doing that today and if you need someone to walk beside you, reach out to me today.  My email is on this blog.  I am here for every woman, in every nation.  God loves you so much that He asked me to write this blog for me and you.  Don't let the world take away the love Christ freely gives.  He is present in our lives, sharpening our faith and helping us to be bold women for Him.  Take His hand, you won't regret it!

Luke 1:27-30 NKJV:

     And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women."  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.   The the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.


Remember the story of Mary.  She was almost stoned to death when her people found out she was with child and still unmarried.  She had found favor with our Lord but that never meant that she wouldn't face trials.  God favored her and she carried Jesus.  But like most women of great faith, she had to risk it all to gain the ultimate reward.  I know it's hard when we don't know what tomorrow will bring but we must believe that if God is present in our lives, we have found His favor.  He loves us, we didn't do anything to deserve His love or His faithfulness.  He just is!  So please join me in praising our Lord!

My prayer today:

Lord grant us Your favor today and surround us with women that will lift us up in our hour of need.  We come to you knowing that we are human, wanting things that You may not want for us.  We ask that You would put our feet on the right path and help us to see the work You are doing in our lives and in others.  Help us to see that our trials are many but our reward is knowing You are near.  We come before You a sinful generation.  Please guide us and provide only what we need to grow in our faith.  We desire to be in Your presence and thank you for Your mercy and favor.   AMEN

Until tomorrow...

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

March 27, 2012

David's journey with God has always been an extraordinary comfort to me.  Of all the Bible figures, He wrote His prayers to the Lord and when He cries out, I know why he is the man after God's own heart. From the start, David had courage beyond most men.  He felled a giant, ran from Saul, built an army, killed men and lead a country.  During his journey he lived as a criminal and was crowned as King.  He also killed Bathsheba's husband, took her for his wife, repented and lost a son, which were consequences for sinning against God.  All in all, he never lost hope in God.

I doubt any of us will ever experience the magnitude of David's life but we do have our own journey.  Sometimes we feel as though we are nothing, other times we feel as though we have everything but always we need courage, fortitude, and God.   We are no different than David.  We don't wear robes or live in palaces but we need to live like David did.  He had a great heart for God.  In Psalms, all is revealed to us.  His trials, tribulations and his joy and praise, nothing is left untouched.  I think that's why I always encourage women to write in a journal.  We need to pour our hearts out to God so that He can show us His hand.  Often times, we overlook the little things Jesus is doing in our lives but when you read the Psalms, the truth is revealed.  Every emotion under the sun is written in that book.  And God gave direction, understanding, wisdom and love to David. He was real with his feelings and with his need for God.

If you are hiding behind a fake smile today, wishing that life would change, change it.  Get real with what you are feeling inside and find Christ.  He already knows the real you; be strong enough to cry out to Him for answers.  We need Him in every situation.  In order for us to experience the fullness of what He gave to us, we must pour our hearts out to Him and ask for His mighty power into our lives.  Of course, this comes only when we repent and pray.  David knew this and was forever praying and repenting.  His sins are no greater than ours.  We are all sinners and no sin is greater than another.  Ask Christ for forgiveness today and then come to Him and pray for courage, understanding, compassion, and love.  These things are waiting for you and all you have to do is ask.  David didn't bring the giant down by himself, God did but David believed God could do it!  The Bible is full of places where God brought down the giant.  He can do it in your life too!


Psalm 181-12 NKJV:


    I will love You, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD  is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;  My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.


The pangs of death surround me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.  The sorrows of Sheol surround me.  The snares of death confronted me.  In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.  Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken, Because He was angry.  Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; Coals were kindled by it.  He bowed the heavens also, and came down with darkness under his feet.  


And He rode upon a cherub, and flew; He flew upon the wings of the wind.  He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters.  And thick clouds of the skies.  From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.


There is much more to this Psalm.  Take time to read it today and meditate on it.  If you want to know the heart of God, read about His people.  David sought Him daily and throughout his entire life.  We need to do the same.  He desires a relationship with us, take His hand and walk with Him today!


My prayer today:

Lord, I have no idea what the women that read this blog are going through but You do.  Please help each one of them to pour out their hearts to You.  We want to be more like David, forever seeking Your hand and asking You into our hearts.  We are so grateful that the stories of David are there for us.  We realize that he was a sinner, just like us, but he believed that You were greater and that's what we want today!  We pour out our hearts to You and ask for You to come into our lives.  You are the conqueror of all giants and we ask that You conquer ours today.  We trust in You and love You always.  May we seek You first, repent for our sins, and love You more!  AMEN

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

March 26, 2012

I feel a compelling need to talk about the Holy Spirit today.  As I watched a young mother laid to rest, I realized that women need the power of the Holy Spirit.  We need to understand it and call on it.  We are in a spiritual battle and without Christ we can't win but if we prepare and understand the tools He gives to us, we will win over the enemy, forever.  So let's look into the Holy Spirit. What is it and why did God give it to us?  I am sure You have felt it from time to time.  Like when your friend is sharing a great story about what God has done for someone or maybe, when you have quoted Scripture into someone's life.  The Holy Spirit was given to us after Jesus's resurrection.  He wanted to give us a part of Himself so that we would have a guide, while He was in Heaven.  God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are one.  This can be confusing to a new Christian because people assume that Christians believe in 3 Gods, not one.  However, there is no question that they are one.  It is through divine reckoning that we have Christ and through the Holy Spirit we can be guided by Him.

The Holy Spirit is our guide and it's where our peace resides.  Whenever we feel confused or chaotic, more than likely we have not taken the time to pray for peace.  We are so full of sin that we love to do everything in our own strength.  There are whole cultures that believe in depending on oneself, rather than depending on others.  This is a false doctrine.  We are to depend on Christ always and if He surrounds us with good people, we are to depend upon them for wisdom and prayer.

Our society teaches us to be independent individuals, which directly goes against Scripture.  We are individuals with our own personalities and gifts but we are part of a body and a Great Commission, which takes every man, woman and child to fulfill.   If that is the case, then it's vital that we spend time walking and talking with God.  Putting Him first in our lives and making sure that we are standing still long enough for the Holy Spirit to guide us is essential to our commission.  If you just take a moment and think about your routine in the morning, more than likely you shower, dry your hair, figure out what to wear for the day, grab a cup of coffee, and out the door you go.  It's not surprising since we are a culture on the move from the time we get up to the time we go to bed.  So, if we aren't standing still, how in the world will Jesus speak to us?  To put it into perspective, I was watching a basketball game with my husband and the Hulu commercial came on.  Every time I think of it, I become nervous because it reminds me that even television can be a great distraction from our time with God.  When we do sit, what do we do with our time?  Most people sit and watch television, it's a great way to numb ourselves from every day life but it's detrimental to the fabric of the family and for each one of us.

If our brains are focused on everything but Him, what chance do we have to really minister to others, let alone being still long enough to hear from God for ourselves?  It is vital that we let Christ in daily and ask Him to reveal Himself through the Holy Spirit.  Some of the most beautiful moments I've had with Christ was asking Him to talk to me through the Holy Spirit.  I have gotten into Scripture and found exactly the right passage for me.  He has taken me out of my depression and brought joy back to my life through the Holy Spirit and He has ministered and healed others through the Holy Spirit too.

There is wonder and awe in the Holy Spirit.  Many churches are talking less about it.  And of course, you have those churches that only talk about it.  I think there has to be a balance of messages but I want all of us to recognize the power of the Holy Spirit.  It was given to us after the resurrection of Jesus.  He wanted us to have a part of Him and we need to call upon it when necessary.  Don't be scared, be amazed that our God thought enough of us to give Himself to us and for us.

I don't want to go to another funeral where there is no hope.  Our hope, no matter how dire our circumstances, is in our Creator.  If you haven't asked Jesus into your life, today is the day.  Our days are numbered and our time on earth is short, but our time in Heaven is for eternity.  He is with you today and He wants all of us to know how much He loves us.  Call out to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help you, to heal you, to love you.  Jesus is but a call away.

Don't forget to reach out to your friends too.  More than likely the Holy Spirit has already informed your friends to lift you up in prayer.  Prayer partners are powerful and they are part of His plan.  Ask them to pray for you.  It's so important we unite and we already have the most powerful tool on earth, Jesus Christ!

John 20:21-23  NKJV:

     So Jesus said to them again "Peace to you!  So the Father has sent Me, I also send you."  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."


My prayer today:

Oh Lord, reveal yourself through the Holy Spirit.  I ask today to lift up those that are struggling with depression, grief, hurt and pain.  I ask You to guide Your army in prayer for the lost, the hungry and the sick.  Please help us understand the Holy Spirit better and give us the ability to call on it when needed.  Humble our hearts and help us not to lean on ourselves but build us up so that we can call on You.  You are everything to us and we recognize that we are too busy to stand still.  Give us time in our daily lives to listen to You and to be with You.  We need You to come into our lives, to be a part of our routine and to be with us in the good and bad times.  Help us to realize that without You there is nothing but with You, we have hope, not just in today but for eternity.  Thank you for sacrificing Yourself and for providing a counselor, through the Holy Spirit.  We need to be guided daily by You.  Please help the lost find You and guide us to those that need You the most.  Give us strength to conquer our sins and Lord forgive us when we don't make time for You.  I thank You for being with us always and for loving Your chosen people.  AMEN

Until tomorrow...

Monday, March 26, 2012

March 24, 2012

I love the early morning, when I can enjoy my first cup of coffee and contemplate how my day will unfold.  It's the best time of my day because it's so quiet and all I can hear are the birds chirping and my dogs breathing.  God made the days so full of wonder but most of the time, we are just too busy to notice.  Just like the sun rising in the Spring, how often do we miss the awesome power of the sun?

There is wonder everywhere we look.  I love the changes of the seasons and the changes in people.  We are like the seasons, forever changing and growing.  There is beauty in the change and although sometimes it feels as if everything is falling apart; God is in the middle, instructing, correcting and helping us through our lives.  I am so glad that He is with me every morning and every night.  I am so glad that I can see Him when the leaves start sprouting from the trees or when the first blossoms are popping up from the soil.  I am surrounded by beauty daily and the knowledge that God created it makes it so much more brilliant!

There is so much splendor in these things.  I challenge you to look around your apartment, house, or flat.  You will see splendor; I am sure.  If you live in a large populated area, look at the colors of the clothes people are wearing or at the water that is rushing from the stream.  Water is everywhere, so take a moment to sit by it and experience God's majesty.  We have so many things to remind us that God is present in our universe.  Don't let anyone tell you that evolution created the wonder you see today.  The only evolution that happened was that God created all of this in His time and it's so beautiful!

If you are looking at life with fright, horror, sorrow or sadness, get out of your house and look at the sun, the sky, or the moon.  Look for a bird, for birds tell us that God provides for all His creatures.  How else would they be fed?  If that's not enough, take a walk in the park or drive along a country road.  In both those places you can see wonder, like small children swinging and laughing or drive the countryside, you will see hawks, crows and other birds feasting in the fields.  God gave us a beautiful canvas and He changes it regularly.  Whenever I am down, I follow my own advice because it's more important to me in that moment to look for God.  We must always look for the beauty He has provided so that we can see the love He has for us.  Never give up on God.  I promise He is nearer than you think.  If you are praying right now for something important and nothing is happening, go seek His beauty.  The solution you are hoping for could be around the corner, but if you are trusting in Him to do a great work, He may not bring it about until you come before Him.  Trust comes from what we see, so go outside and see the beauty He made for all of us to enjoy. Then, you will be able to see the hand of God and all your worries will wash away.

Genesis 2-5 NKJV:

     Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.  And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from darkness.  God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.  So the evening and the morning were the first day.

Genesis 9-13 NKJV:

     Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.  And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas.  And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.  And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind.  And God saw that it was good.  So the evening and the morning were the third day.

Never doubt that God created this land and all the beauty in it.  He is our maker and we have everything we see because of Him.  If you are doubting He exists, take a look around you and wonder how did all this beauty happen and who did it?  If it was God, imagine the power of our King and put your full trust in Him.  He knows what He's doing; we just have to trust and believe that His way is the right way.

My prayer today:

Lord, please show us the splendor of all your creations.  Help us in our hour of need to look at the wonder you have provided and if it's within your pleasure, show us a rainbow.  Times get tough but you are so much tougher.  You knew that we would need to be surrounded by beauty and You also knew that we would need to believe You existed.  There is no finer way than to look at the beauty You provided.  Help us to see You in every circumstance and provide hope to the hopeless.  We come before You women that love to see the beauty around us.  Please help us minister to others so they can see the beauty too.  You are so majestic and more wonderful than words can describe!  Thank You for all the beauty but mostly, thank You for being our Father. AMEN

Until tomorrow...

Saturday, March 24, 2012

March 24, 2012

Last week, my youngest son's teammate, lost his mother.  She was only 37 years old.  Death comes so quickly and for most, we lose those we love suddenly.  To be young and not to have a mother, the thought of it's more than I can bear.  Luckily, I didn't have to experience the loss of my mother until later on in life, but no matter when it happens, the loss is significant.

I have thought a lot about this family and what they now face.  School is still in session and life will go on, but for those four kids, life changed and will never be the same again.  What does a mother bring to her children?  She brings stability, compassion, nurturing, love, endurance and passion.  And when she leaves this earth, we are left with only those memories to sustain us.

It's natural for us to move away from our parents.  To become our own people with our own values, feelings, and direction.  But when we're young, it's hard enough to know which path to choose.  The bible talks about the widows and orphans.  In this situation, there is a father left to raise four young people.  Three of them are teenagers and one almost there.  The difficulties will be numerous but if we all ban together and pray for them; God can and will heal this family.

I don't know what it's like to face life without a mother so young, but I do know what it's like to face my loss now.  Sometimes you wish you could pick up the phone and share a story but then you realize there won't be anyone to hear you.  If you know of a family that has lost a mother, wife, father, or husband, please take time to pray for them today.  Take time to do something thoughtful for them, something unexpected that will show the hand of Christ.  Give them your time, your servanthood, and your love, they will definitely need it.

There is no better time to show the hand of God than in tragedy and loss.  The young are looking toward us to show them that there is hope beyond their loss and so are the adults.  We need to be ready to share Christ and to let them know that they are far from alone.  My heart goes out to this family and any family that has lost a loved one.  Hopefully, those that have passed on knew Christ and we can one day see them again.  If not, the alternative is quite devastating.

Once again, I am reminded that there is no time like the present to share the message of our Savior.  Reach out to the lost, the brokenhearted and the widowers.  They need us and Christ needs us to be His hands and voice.  Let's show the love Christ died for today!  We don't want to ever miss an opportunity to spread the love and mercy our Savior gave His life for.  The race is on, let's win it!

1 Timothy 5: 16  NKJV:

     If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

James 1:27 NKJV:

     Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.


We need to have at the forefront of our minds that we are here to serve others.  Our spot on this earth is not just so we can take care of our family but it's to pray and serve God's chosen people.  I hope today that we will always help those in need and recognize when Christ is calling!

My prayer today:

Lord, we come to You praying for the widowers and children.  All over the world men and women are dying for what they believe.  Children are losing their parents through war and illness.  They need You and the love You have for them.  Let us be Your messengers.  Give us the ability to show compassion to the lost and hopeless.  We ask that You would give us a heart for those that have lost loved ones and that we would pray and serve those around us that are in need.  We aren't You but we need You to provide wisdom and mercy, as we minister to the brokenhearted.  Thank You for loving us and for showing us every day how much You love Your people.  I lift up this family to You and ask that You would guide them through the darkness.  We know that they are feeling lost but we ask that You give them strength and mercy as they face this great tragedy.  Please lift up all the widowers on eagles wings so that they can take care of Your treasures.  During this loss, we know that You can feel their pain.  Help us to feel it too and to provide encouragement and love whenever necessary.  We thank You for the power of the Cross and for the sacrifice You made.  Unite us in prayer and petition for the lost, the hurt, the brokenhearted and Lord, especially for the children.  May our service be for Your glory! AMEN

Until tomorrow...


Friday, March 23, 2012

March 23, 2012

Sometime in your life, you will wake up and think, "I'm not pretty today."  Women are creatures of vanity and we love to look pretty.  We may not be as beautiful as the models we see in magazines or on television but in our eyes we look good.  What happens when we decide we aren't beautiful anymore? When we believe we are ugly, either because we have gained weight, lost weight, found our first grey hair or had absolutely no time to do anything with ourselves, we begin to doubt our beauty.

As the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  When I see handicapped people, I see their beauty.  When I see an older couple in their late eighties taking care of one another, I see their beauty and when I look at a young girl trying to be a good mother, I see her beauty.  Ladies, we must begin to get out of our heads and see our beauty, not through the mirror, but through God's eyes.

If you are beautiful on the outside, more power to you.  But I am talking about something so much deeper.  The beauty God gave us can't be seen by the naked eye because it resides in our hearts.  When God looks at His children, He sees our hearts.  Each one of us was made special and like everything in this world, some have more than others, but we can always be beautiful in our hearts.

The heart is a fickle thing. It changes with our moods, our age and our feelings.  It wants what it wants and it can betray us in a second.  We must always guard our hearts and what I mean by that is that we must really ask God to renew our hearts daily for Him.  If our heart longs for something not in His will, it will be detrimental.  So if you got up this morning or are going to bed tonight, feeling ugly, remember that God is looking straight through you.  He sees a beautiful woman.  You are His daughter and no matter how you look today; He loves you.

If we want the next generation to value themselves then we must value ourselves.  We must ask Jesus to show us how He sees us.  We must pray that our hearts would stay pure and that our minds would not overtake the heart.  Most of the issues of life are heart issues.  Anger, judgement, sadness, joy, and happiness all come from the heart.  If you are struggling in the negative, that's a heart issue too.  Take heart my friends and realize that Christ is near.  He understands the heart and all He is asking you to do is come before Him.  He will correct that fickle heart and make it His own.

I gave a friend of mine a word of wisdom that I believe came straight from the Lord.  I told her to go into the mirror and say, "I am beautiful in the eye's of the LORD."  Our minds are very powerful and Satan will use them to make us weak.  If you are struggling with your beauty, or lack of it, get to that mirror and repeat, "I am beautiful in the eye's of the Lord.  He made me and I am beautiful in Him."  Don't let Satan rule over your mind, let Christ come in and heal your heart!

Psalm 51: 17 NKJV:

    The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
    A broken and contrite heart--
    These, O GOD, You will not despise.

Proverbs 4: 23 NKJV:

     Keep your heart with all diligence,
     For out of it spring the issues of life.

Luke 6:45 NKJV:

    A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV:

    You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.


God's love for us is in our hearts.  If you aren't feeling it, then repent and ask Christ to renew your heart.  We are His chosen children.  We are or will be the mothers of the next generations.  Our beauty is not what people see on the outside, it's in the love we have for Christ.  If you are struggling today, get to that mirror and ask Christ to show you your beauty!  He loves you and you are beautiful in His eyes.

My prayer today:

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, please show us our beauty in You.  Take away the vanity and the need to be beautiful and give us a heart only for You.  When we struggle with the outside, please renew our hearts and give us the ability to see ourselves the way You see us.  Take away the struggle of our mind and bring forth the beauty that's inside.  We want to be women that seek you daily and that repent when we are feeling ugly.  We want to walk on this earth knowing where our value lies and be women with great hearts.  Help us to see the struggles in others, so that we may value them and tell them of Your love for us.  We need You LORD to be the center of our hearts, without You we will fail.  Restore our hearts to their rightful place and give us strength to conquer our minds.  May we rejoice in all the changes we see and become stronger women in You.  AMEN

Until tomorrow...

Thursday, March 22, 2012

March 22, 2012

Is there something you do every day that makes you feel alive?  When I wake up every morning, the first thing I want is a cup of coffee.  The first sip is like heaven and as it warms me, I feel alive.  The second thing I do every morning is write this blog.  When I started in January, I wondered how it would feel every morning to spend time with God.  With a career and a family, it was always hard to make time for God in the morning but as I began to write and spend time with Him; I felt very alive, invigorated and joyful.

Our lives are full of distractions.  We can make ourselves so busy that even the simplest of pleasures, like drinking coffee, are a chore, rather than a joy.  Our walk with Christ can become exactly the same.  I have heard many people say, "I just don't have time."  I have to admit I was one of those people.  I love Beth Moore Bible studies but to be honest, when my kids were little and I was working full-time, it was hard to sit down and do one.  Sad but true.  I realize that our time is challenged today but there is always time to seek Jesus.  If we don't take the time somewhere in our day, I guarantee we will become weary, worn out, confused, and eventually nothing will rejuvenate us.

Our time with Jesus is the most important part of our day.  I don't want you to become legalistic about it but I do want you to spend time with Him.  For me, I have been waking up at 5:30 am to write this blog.  I thought that I would be exhausted but instead I am feeling more alive than I have for years.  My time with Jesus has been inspirational in my life.  Taking twenty minutes a day with Jesus is nothing ladies.  We have to make time for Him so that He can help us with our daily lives.  We all have too much on our plates but He can multiply our time, give us a sense of peace during a storm, and give us wisdom to make good decisions for our lives.  We owe it to our maker to spend time with Him and to listen to what He has to say.  If you haven't been spending time with Him, challenge yourself and pray for more quality time with Him.  He wants us to come before Him daily.  He understands the challenges of the world but He also understands that when we grow apart, our challenges increase and our joy decreases.

Psalm 119: 105 NKJV:

    Your word is a lamp to my feet
         And a light to my path.

Proverbs 17:1 NKJV:

    The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, 
    But the LORD tests the hearts.

Proverbs 15: 21 NLT:

    Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; 
      a sensible person stays on the right path.


Let's not be foolish with our hearts or our time.  Let's make time for Jesus today and every day.  If you want to feel alive then let Him be the lamp to your feet.  There is no greater light than His.  Rejoice in the Lord today and ask Him to keep your feet on the right path!


My prayer today:

Lord as we seek You in our daily lives, I pray that we would see the fruits of being in Your presence.  I pray for the weak and weary, that they would be rejuvenated through the Holy Spirit.  That when we come before You and ask for more time, You would provide it so that we may worship You fully.  We ask that You would remove the distractions of our hearts and give us a clear understanding of You.  We desire to be one with You LORD!  We come before You asking for forgiveness.  The world takes up much of our time and we know that in order for us to be Your servants; we must put You first.  Help us to  make time for You and to give us a desire to listen.  Thank you for Your love, Your devotion, and Your word.  Without them, we would be lost.  We come before You today, women with a desire to be closer to You.  Jesus give us Your wisdom and joy today, as we worship You.  AMEN

Until tomorrow...


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

March 21, 2012

What if someone came and asked you, "How could a loving Father let His own son die?"  Do you know how you would respond?  Probably not.  We can't imagine what would happen if our child died, let alone sending him to his death.   And yet, our Father sent His son to die for our sins.  What does that mean?  Did God not love His Son?  Nothing could be more false.  God loved us so much that He gave His Son for our sins!

We need to believe this and speak it with pure conviction.  The lost are looking to us for answers.  The only way we can provide those answers is to read our Bible and pray to our Father. He is the wisdom behind our words and the life given, so that we may know Him.  Without us seeking Him first there is no way to answer the questions of the lost.  When you are lost there is confusion and only God can open our eyes and ask us into His kingdom.  But through us, He can reveal Himself.  Like you, I have heard of many people coming to Christ through evangelism.  I would hate to think that any of us have lost an opportunity to bring someone to Christ because we didn't know how to answer this question.

The question itself is more complicated than it seems but it's also quite simple.  Do we know why God sacrificed His Son for our sins?  Is God exactly like man or were we made in His image?  We must be able to distinguish to those around us that God is not man.  He does not think like man nor does He reason like man.  He is pure with no sin, no shame, no darkness.  He doesn't contemplate what we do because He is the Creator.  We can't compare Him to our experiences because we have never known anyone like Him!

If you are planning on talking to someone that is lost, think about the question I opened with.  Can you answer it?  Do you understand that God is like no one else?  If you can, how do you explain to another living thing who God is and what He thinks?  The last question is unfair because we can't answer how God thinks.  We can't even come close to understanding the mightiness and power of our LORD!

There is only one Bible figure that actually was put to the test of sacrificing his son and that witnessed first hand God's abundant love and grace.  Abraham was the chosen one of God.  God and Abraham had a covenant between them and it was Abraham that God chose to illustrate his love for mankind.  Can you imagine how Abraham must have felt while he took his son up the mountain or as he watched him gather the wood?  Abraham was going to trust in the Lord and as the story goes, an angel came and stopped Abraham from sacrificing his child.  Through Abraham's faith, came life.  

We have all gone through tests and later found great faith.  I don't even try to second guess God anymore.  Because if we try to understand His ways, we will fail.  Just the act of dying on a cross is too much for me to even fathom.  How could a man stand at the hour of his death and love the men around Him?  How could he know that one would betray Him and another would deny Him and still take the cross and bear the sacrifice?  Maybe one day we will be able to ask God these very questions but for now, we must rely on Scripture and the fact that we are loved by a wonderful Savior.

I would ask that you would challenge yourself this week to really think about the questions you asked when you didn't know Christ.  Be prepared to explain how you found Christ and what you believe.  Ask Christ to reveal to you His ways so that you can explain to someone what it means to know His love.  Our experiences on earth jade us, which ultimately confuses the true picture of God.  The key to opening the box is to believe: that Christ died on a cross and rose again; that He will come again; and that His sacrifice provides everlasting life.  If you know that, you understand everything perfectly.  Share the gospel this week and ask God to prepare the lost to receive His grace!

Isaiah 55: 8-9 NKJV:

     "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
      Nor are your ways My ways," says
              the LORD.
      "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
      So are My ways higher than your ways,
      And My thoughts than your thoughts.


Genesis 22:  1-12  NKJV:

      Now it came to pass after these things that "God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!"  
     And he said, "Here I am."  
       Then He said, "take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."  So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place which God had told him.  Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.  And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."  
     So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.  But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!"  
     And he said, "Here I am, my son."  
    Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"         And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering."  So the two of them went together.  Then they came to the place of which God had told him.  And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.  And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  
     But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!"  So he said, "Here I am."  And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."


My prayer today:

As we look upon these Scriptures, help us to answer the lost.  May the stories of the fallen, the bold, the righteous, and the sacrificial come to life.  We are a fallen people trying to understand Your ways.  Please forgive us for putting You in a box and for placing You on our level.  Please help us to understand You in Your fullest.  We desire to know You and to walk in Your ways all our days.  May we be like Abraham the father of all nations.  We want to fear You, while we learn to love You.  Our prayer today is that the lost will find You as we have and that they will experience the love we have with You.  Thank you for allowing us a glimpse into who You are and for sacrificing Your only Son so that we have everlasting life.  AMEN

Until tomorrow...



Sunday, March 18, 2012

March 18, 2012

As I sat and watched generations of a family come together last night, it made me realize how very special it is to be part of a family.  At an early age, I realized that not every person was able to achieve the beauty of a family.  Lots of people have children but that doesn't mean they have the aptitude or fortitude to raise them up and help them move forward on their journey.

My children will be leaving me in just a couple of years.  I hope that I have instilled in them what it means to be men of God and why it's so important to invest in their children.  Men will always have to provide. But like my dad showed all his children, work was what you did to put food on the table, but time was what you gave when you came home.  I never felt cheated because I had parents that always had time for their children.  I pray that I have sacrificed as much but then none of us are perfect.  My goal has always been that my children would one day be married and that they would lead their wives and their children to Christ and through their lead, my grandchildren would become great men and women of God.

What none of us realize is that every decision we make in life effects the next generation and the generation to come.  My birth father gave me up and never wanted to be part of my life.  That effected me for years but it was my father's love and later coming to Christ that made me realize that the love God gave to me was enough. Some may never know a parent's love but we can all experience Christ's love. He can fill the deepest voids and change the direction of any family.

If you have been adopted, abandoned, or come from a divorced family, God can heal you.  Through His great healing Christ can move from generation to generation.  We are daughters of Christ and He wants us to know how valuable we are to Him.  We are loving and raising the next generations for Him.  I think sometimes we live in the moment too much and don't realize that we aren't just praying for our mates and our children; we are praying for their spouses, their children and their grandchildren.  My hope is that through my flaws and my strengths; my children will see how God healed and changed me.  I wish I could steer them both in the right direction.  Unfortunately, I have them for such a short while, but I can give them the foundation that Jesus Christ is Lord and head over their lives.  When they leave I pray that this will be at the forefront of their minds and their lives.  If I have done nothing but that, I will be very blessed, for Christ is their Father and He will lead the next generations with all His power, glory and majesty!

Take some time today to love the people God gave to you.  We are a family for a reason.  Call your sister, brother, or parents and tell them how much you love them and how much they mean to you and your future.  My son's are who they are today because my parents helped me raise them so that I could go to work.  They showed them how to love, but more importantly, the man that adopted me showed them how to be patient, kind, and helpful.  But to this day if you asked them what their grandparents brought to the table, they would tell you a lifetime of love.  We need to be that for our future generations. So if you are waiting for your spouse, pray that God would bring Him to You.  Pray that He would be a grounded man, not only in the Bible, but in the love of Christ.  If you are married, pray for your children, that their spouses would be great women and men of God and that they would unite to make God the center of their lives and their children's lives.

Satan's goal is to rock this union. If he can destroy a marriage, he will destroy generations.  Pray over the most important institution we have.  God brought man and woman together for a reason.  If Satan destroys that, he will destroy the family.  Always remember that in all things, God can heal and save us from the destroyer.  Christ knows the difficulties of this world but so do we.  So let's never quit praying for ourselves or our future generations.  We are not here for our own gratification; we are here for Christ! Be proud of the institution of marriage.  We are His chosen people and we will be raising His next generation.  Out of Adam's line came Jesus and through Abraham and Sara; we all have life.  Remember that God has watched over us for generations and that we are His people.  Never stop praying, we are called to remember Christ in everything!

Psalm 119: 90 NKJV:

    Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth and it abides.  They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants.

Isaiah 41: 4  NKJV:

    Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? 'I the LORD am the first; And with the last I am He.'

God came first, then man, and through Adam's line, came Christ.  And someday, Christ will rise again and all generations, everywhere, will know His name.  We are part of His army.  We were chosen to bring Him glory and so therefore my dear sisters, let's unite and pray for today, tomorrow, and for years to come!

My prayer today:

OH LORD, HOW GREAT YOU ARE!  We are women in the midst of a world full of spiritual battles.  The battle over the family is so great that no one knows what truly is right anymore.  We want to be women of You that pray for ourselves as well as for the next generations.  Lead us Lord on how to pray for our husbands and children.  Give us courage to correct and direct.  Help us to teach our children what it means to put You first so that when Satan does attack we are able to fight through prayer.  Protect our families and give them a huge dose of the Holy Spirit.  Lead the future generations to You so that we may bring the lost to You.  We worship You Lord and thank you for being within us, loving us, and helping us raise the next generations.  I pray that from today forward that the women that read this blog will pray for all women everywhere.  That we would be praying for our nations, our husbands and our children.  Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we know when You need us on our knees.  We desire to be in one union with You.  You are the maker of the family and I pray that we will all bow down to You to help women everywhere know Your love.  Protect us Oh Lord and keep us strong in a world where marriages are falling apart.  We know that You are here and we thank You for Your mighty power. Keep us today and help us walk strongly in Your light.  We love You and thank you for keeping Your promise so many generations ago!  AMEN

Until tomorrow...

Saturday, March 17, 2012

March 17, 2012

What does it mean to fully embrace God's presence?  I have heard many people say that they have felt God's presence or that they wanted to experience God's presence but what about abiding in His presence?  The question arises, if God exists and He loves me, is He with me or against me?  All of us have had times in our life where we have questioned Him.  We wonder what He is doing and if He is listening or turning His back on us. We contemplate the question more when things don't go our way and then we wonder if He love us or have our sins taken us away from Him.

I believe that if we repent and Scripture states as much; He will hear and forgive.  He sent His son to be one with Him so that we could experience God in all His majesty.  Without Christ, we would be like the Israelites, scared to death, without the knowledge of grace or His presence.  I am so glad that we live in a generation that came after the resurrection of Jesus.  We get to experience the power of God through the Holy Spirit.  This enables us to understand the impact God has on our lives and yet, we still question whether Christ is for us or against us.

I am not saying that I haven't questioned this myself.  I think that with age comes understanding and faith. I still may question but the length has shortened and the prayer has increased.  Although we don't live in the times of Exodus, all that was written applies to us in our journey today.  After reading Exodus today, I realized that hidden within the book, is a glorious passage on Moses belief that God had to go before Him.  Moses knew that trying to do anything without God was a disaster.  Without knowing it, Moses's talk with God has helped us know God's presence for generations.

If you feel like Christ is far away, ask yourself where your heart lies.  Are you like the Israelites that were afraid of a God they couldn't see and only trusted that He was there when Moses was with them?  Or are you a person that can stand still and pray for God's presence to come into you?  In order for you to fully experience God's glory, you must look inside yourself and repent if you're not trusting He's there.  He hasn't left His people.  He is still protecting Israel and He loves all that call His name.  If you are doubting that, tell Satan to leave you.  God is the same today as He was when He spoke to Moses.  The only difference today is that we have Christ and the Holy Spirit to guide us.  Our Lord knew that we needed a Savior and that Savior sacrificed His life so that we would know Him.  Take a moment to reflect on the last couple of weeks.  I am sure you will find Christ somewhere within that time, being present, and helping you walk more fully with Him.  If not, repent and ask Him to come into You today.  There is no greater love than His!

Exodus 33: 12-18 NKJV:

    Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people.'  But You have not let me know whom You will send with me.  Yet You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.'  Now therefore, I pray if I have found grace in Your sight, "show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.  And consider that this nation is Your people."
     And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."  Then he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.  For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us?  So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth."
     So the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name."
      And he said, "Please show me Your glory."


This Scripture is a reminder to us all that God must go before us and that we must ask to see His glory daily.  We can not rest without the power of God with us.  And we will never know His glory, unless we ask.  He knows us by name and we are His chosen people.

My prayer today:

Lord we come before you a people of great need.  We need to know that You are with us and that we are with You.  When we doubt, we ask that You show Yourself to us and that You will find grace and mercy on us.  We know that we are not a perfect people.  We question more than we repent.  Please help us know You better and give us the tools to be Your people.  We are so thankful for the sacrifice You made, so that we may know Your powerful presence.  Without You, we can do nothing, but with You, we can do everything.  Please forgive us for doubting You.  We want to experience Your presence daily so please show us Your glory.   AMEN

Until tomorrow...

Friday, March 16, 2012

March 16, 2012

I am grateful for my friends today.  As I look upon my life, I have a selection of very dear and wonderful friends.  They have walked with me through some of my most difficult times and I am so very grateful to have them in my life.  I can honestly say that I have had trouble with women in the past.  I don't often understand the underlying meanness that women have in them.  Gossip is only a part of it.  In some women, there is a lack of compassion when they want what someone else has and it's very ugly.  I have always thanked God for what I have but also for what others have, because I know that all of us are blessed by God.

So if you are all over the place in your life right now, coveting what your friend has, wishing you were a size 6, or just wishing that you had more, look into your motives. This is a heart issue and it carries you through your life.  We have to quit dreaming for what we don't have and praising Christ for what we do have.  If you have ever lost a good friend, you know what I mean.  A good friend accepts you for all that you are and helps you through yourself.  I believe that God provides that kind of friendship to us.  You may not have a human on earth that understands you in that way, but Christ does.  He accepts you for all that you are and is molding you to be all that you can be.

Personally, I love when the potter is molding me because then I know how much He loves me.  Whether it be a person or God, if you aren't being corrected by them, more than likely they don't love you at all.  So if God is working on your heart today, know that He is loving you right where you're at and praise Him for it.  There is no greater love than when Jesus is doing a great work in us.  So as you go about your day today, remember all the women that have loved you through yourself.  Look around you and see if Christ is working on you and then stop.  And as you stand still, thank Christ for the wonderful work He is doing in your life.  You are beautiful to Him and so are the ladies He has put in your path.  Invest in other women, as Christ has for you, and show them Christ today.


1 John 3:16-23 NKJV:

    By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in Him?
     My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  And by this we know that we are the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.  For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.  And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.  And this is His commandment:  That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

My prayer today:

I come before you a blessed woman.  A woman full of love.  I thank you for molding me and making me more like You.  I praise you for the ability to love other women and I worship You for Your majesty.  You are the maker of all things and the lover of my soul.  No person can fulfill what You have done in my life and for that I am truly grateful.  As I stand still, I pray for all the women in the world.  God come to them and unite them in Holy matrimony. Give them the ability to show Your love to the world and in every moment lift us up and make us Yours.  We worship You and praise You for being our God of love.  Please correct us when we are wrong and give us courage to change, so that we may be more like You.  Finally, thank you for all the friends you have brought into my life.  For teaching and correcting me, through them, and for giving me the ability to be vulnerable to another human being.  I am not perfect and it's a pleasure to know that in my raw form, they love me as much as You do.  Please provide a unity among the women in the world and help us to lift them in prayer.  Lord, I want all women, in all nations, to know the love only You can provide.  Help me and others show that love and give us a heart always for those in need.  Today, on bended knee, I praise Your Holiness and thank you for being in my life.  AMEN

Thursday, March 15, 2012

March 15, 2012

Have you ever lost it over nothing and wondered why you did it?  I am not proud of myself but last night I lost it on three men.  You can imagine their surprise as the banshee woman came out and replaced their mother and wife.  I can't say that it was my finest moment but it indicates something to me that only that incident could reveal.  I have been under an immense amount of stress.  I live by the motto that no matter how tough the times get; I get tougher.  But common sense and a dose of God induced repentance last night, reminded me that I am a woman doing all things within my own strength, not His.

I hate when God provides a lesson through my bad behavior. Especially, in front of my children.  My husband already realizes that when I am overwhelmed, things get crazy for me.  But your children have no idea and they just think you're weird.  Well last night, I was weird but I am thanking Christ that He revealed my need to come to him and solidify my strength through Him.

It's not easy for me to eat humble pie.  It is especially hard for me to go to my children and ask for forgiveness.  At the time, I thought I was right.  Doesn't anyone else see what I see?  That's the wrong heart attitude.  Of course they don't and if I hadn't come off like some three headed medusa, they might have heard something I said.  I realize we are all going to have times where life has gotten the best of us, where we are overtired, weary from the world, and just need a break.  But if you are like the banshee I became last night, realize that you are trying to do too many things in your own strength.  God will let you continue until you don't recognize yourself, so take my advise, repent and ask for His strength!

Remember strength doesn't come from how many things you accomplished today.  It's not a conviction or an attitude; it comes from our Father and it will not only bring you strength but peace.  If you are lacking peace, I can guarantee God isn't in the middle.

Psalm 28: 7-8 NKJV

    The LORD is my strength and my shield;
    My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
    Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
    And with my song I will praise Him.


    The LORD is their strength,
    And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.


My prayer today:

Lord of great strength, power and might, I come before a repentant woman.  I have been trying to do everything in my own strength and like everything I try to do alone; I failed.  Please help me today and every day recognize that my strength only comes through you and that anytime I feel overwhelmed, I would get down on my knees and ask for You to come in and give me strength.  I ask Your forgiveness today for my behavior and I pray that in today, You would provide me the strength, the peace and the time to get all my tasks done.  I want to honor You with my life and I am sorry that I was trying to be my own King.  Be the King of my heart today and provide all my needs.  I come on bended knee praising Your mightiness, Your power, and Your strength.  AMEN

Until tomorrow...


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

March 12, 2012

The world is in chaos.  Countries are going bankrupt and people are being killed all over the world for what they believe.  Times are getting rough and for some, they are losing hope that things will never change.  I don't have all the answers and never claimed to have, but I do know that if we put our trust in what we see today, there is no hope.

Our government is having trouble making major decisions and an election is on the rise with very few candidates that could do the job.  The people running our government are more for themselves than what's right and we are all running around without a voice.

As crazy as it may seem,  God is still in control.  I am sure you, like me, question it sometimes.  But in truth, God is here watching the chaos and having a hand on the troublesome spots.  Even when David was hiding in the caves from Saul, God had his pulse on David and his followers.  God was building David's army of trustworthy men and raising them up so that they could lead Israel to greatness.  Today, we wonder who that person will be.

As I have said before, I don't have all the answers but I do cry out to someone that does.  I turn towards Jesus in good and bad times.  I know that even when the going gets rough; He is in control.  I may not always like how long it takes to get my answers but from experience, I know the only one I can count on is Jesus.

We must not be naive about world events.  We must pray about them.  Many things have changed in History due to prayer.  When one or more get together, God hears us.  We as women have a great charge ahead of us, to raise the next generation.  To pray for the men and women serving in our forces and to be women that God can call on.  We are part of the great commission and it's time we start standing in the gap for men and women everywhere.

Isaiah 31: 1 NKJV:

    Woe to those who go down to 
            Egypt for help,
    And rely on horses,
    Who trust in chariots because they
            are many,
    And in horsemen because they are very strong,
    But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
    Nor seek the LORD!

Let's seek the Lord with all our hearts today and be glad that we don't have to count on the chariots.  Rise up in prayer for all the women everywhere!

My prayer today:

Lord, You are the Lord of our lives.  We want to make you everything.  We want to rely on you in times of trouble and in times of joy.  Help us to remember that we don't need horses and chariots, all we really need is You.  You are the Lord over Israel and the Lord over America but most of all, You are the Lord over all of our hearts and we wish to make You our King.  Please help us to pray for our sisters and give them courage to fight whatever their circumstances.  Give us strength of character and a willingness to hear from You.  We want to be Your eyes, Your heart, Your ears.  We ask this because we love You and we love those we don't even know.  Thank you for being a God that is for all time!  We need You Lord, come into our hearts today and make us prayer warriors for Your people.  AMEN

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, March 11, 2012

March 11, 2012

Today, I celebrate a 13 year old miracle.  Thirteen years ago, my brother and his wife brought into the world their twin boys, they were 23 weeks old.  Most babies don't survive, due to complications, but these two did.  They were born at 1 lb. 11 oz. and 15 oz.  Gordon was one of the smallest babies on record in our home town.  At the time, neither my brother or sister were Christians.  My sister-in-law had been going to a church but it didn't really teach about Christ and my brother just didn't believe.  After the boys were born, they spent a  lot of time in the hospital.  They coded many times and there was even a moment when my family looked at planning a funeral for Gordon.  On bended knee, I prayed with both of them.  I was brave that day, asking for permission to pray for their tiny boys, and that bravery paid off.  Both survived, my sister-in-law was saved and eventually, so was my brother.

Their journey was far from easy.  And even today, although both healthy, Gordon suffers from Cerebral Palsy.  It doesn't stop him and I know that someday God will use him in a mighty way.  But for now, there are challenges.  But as I believed and prayed I knew that no matter how great the challenges, we must have faith that God is present.

March 11th is a reminder to me that anything is possible with Jesus Christ.  Most doctors would have written them off for dead and most would have given up hope that my brother would be saved.  If that event didn't do it, what would?  The problem with all of us is that we spend most of our time second guessing God's motives.  He didn't ask us to question His authority; He asked us to walk with Him.  We think too much about what the next step looks like instead of risking it and believing.  God is the only one that knows the future.  He is the only one that can predict your every move.  He's the one with the answers, including your destiny and your purpose.  Why must we always question him?  Especially, when our circumstances are not exactly the way we want them to be.  Unfortunately, that's just part of our sinful nature.  We want to know before He is willing to reveal.  But like most miracles, the wait is worth it.

If you know someone today that doesn't believe in miracles, pray that they receive one.  The days of multiplying bread are still with us.  God will show himself in all ways.  Otherwise, we wouldn't see people being healed, housing provided for the homeless, food to the needy, and care for the sick.  God is still working His miracles, they just might not be as incredible as parting the Red Sea.  But if you were starving or dying of Aids, a care package from the US would look like a miracle.

I will always believe in miracles.  All we have to do is look around at the sky, the trees, the birds, and every living thing to know that God is present in today and it's His beauty and power arising.

1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 NKJV:

     There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Each one of us has been blessed with the gifts of the Spirit.  They represent the fruit of the Spirit and miracles are mentioned.  Therefore, as it is written; it shall be.

My prayer today:

God please come before us and help us to understand our gifts.  You say in Scripture that some will work miracles.  I pray that miracles will continue and that Your beauty will be shown in every land.  We are all your people, seeking a God that is the same from generation to generation.  We ask forgiveness for our need to know the future, and ask that You would help us live for today and to walk with You as You provide our path.  Give us eyes to see the miracles around us and a heart that is for You only.  We want to believe and make You our priority.  This generation needs to see You in all things and especially Lord; we want to believe in miracles.  Please reveal Yourself in our lives today and help us to make You known.  AMEN

Until tomorrow...

Saturday, March 10, 2012

March 10, 2012

It has been 4 days since last I wrote.  A major chapter in my life has closed and many more will begin.  Someday, I will watch my sons as they stand by a minister waiting for their bride.  And hopefully, someday I will get to see my grandchildren running and laughing as they romp through the grass.  These are now the things I contemplate.

Once upon a time, I wished for my prince.  Never truly believing it would happen and now my children are wishing for their brides.  Praying and hoping that someday when asked; they will say yes and all will have a happy ending.

Wouldn't that be nice if life was so cut and dry.  If every man could find the perfect woman and live happily ever after.   Unfortunately, life is not that easy and sometimes we have to hit a wall before we find our true love.  Love is worth it and sometimes we must risk our hearts to gain our reward.

If you have never known love, my prayer is that you will someday.  Love is the basis of our existence.  It is the fabric of God's creation and it sustains all life.  Love never ends.  So if you're out on a limb, trust in God that love never fails.  It's not just a saying; it's a way of life.  We must trust and we must love, in order to find our paths with Christ.

Whether you are waiting for your prince or looking forward to your future.  Remember to trust and all else will fall into place.

Proverbs 3: 5-6 NIV:

     Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him.  And He will make your paths straight.


My prayer today:

May the Lord of light guide us on our paths.  May He lead us to the person that will fulfill His will and give us the love we so need.  Lord fulfill our hopes and help us trust in you.  Keep us on a straight path and guide us as we learn to sacrifice and love one another.  For all the women that are single, I pray that you would help guide them to their right mate and for all the women looking forward, You would help them make their mark on the future generation. Only You know the path each one of us is to take, please take hold and help us trust that You know what is best.  Love us today and help us love others.  AMEN

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

March 6, 2012

Yesterday, as I was driving the wild western portion of Kansas, I took time to really look at the beauty around me.  We are in the beginning of March and for the most part the only green parts are the vast fields, with winter wheat springing from the ground.  But as I looked further, I watched the doves trying to fight the wind, the great red tail hawks soaring in the sky, the tumbleweeds rolling straight into cars, and the horses running.  What to some looks barren, dusty, and not all that pretty, became beautiful to me.

Hours went by on my lone journey and as I contemplated my world and all the various intricacies of it; I was greatful for the beauty.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if you had asked me several years ago if the barren land of Western Kansas was beautiful; I would have said no.  However, I always loved watching the birds in flight, seeing the skies change and watching the wind beat at the wheat.  But rarely would I have said I liked the wind or the tumbleweeds, let alone the dust.  I guess I have changed and for the better, I think.  This life has taught me that we have just a short time to enjoy the little things. In this day and age, we rarely stand still.   We are going from one thing to another and we take very little time to see the beauty God has made.

How often do you wonder where your water comes from or how your food gets to the grocery store?  Most people live in cities too big to have a garden or to watch crops come into their own.  Few know the hard work, perseverance and prayer it takes to get those same crops we eat to market.  We are a generation with plenty and rarely do we realize it. We are bogged down in our own lives, but we need to be smelling the roses, contemplating God's glory in our water, being stewards of our food, and participating in the beauty all around us.

Today, I want us to really look at the beauty God has made.  He has crafted each one of us in His image.  We are beautiful to Him and as we participate in His will; we are like the spring wheat, green and growing.  Faith is beautiful to the Lord.  He desires us to grow in our faith and to see the beauty He has laid out before us.  We were a seedling that He alone has cherished, watered, fed, and provided just the right sunlight to see us to maturity.  Grab hold of our King and ask Him to continue to grow you so that one day you will be a part of His beauty.

Genesis 1:27-31 Gideons International:

    So God created man in His own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them.  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."  And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.  "Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so.  Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.  So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.


My prayer today:

Lord, we come before you a busy generation.  I pray today that everyone would look around and see Your beauty and the beauty You have provided.  We come before You and thank You for the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the food we eat.  You are the master gardner and we want to be mastered by your hand.  Take our seeds and water them so that we may grow in faith.  Lift us up when we are weary and provide the sunshine we need to get through today.  Our battle is within, we must believe that You are who You say You are and that we are Your chosen generation.  Bring forth faith as we seek You.  We ask that You forgive us our sins as You grow us up to be Your Soldiers.  Give us great faith and provide us with just enough today.  We thank you for the beauty You provide and the Glory that shines!  AMEN

Until tomorrow...

Sunday, March 4, 2012

March 4, 2012

When I started this blog so many days ago, I wondered if I could actually stay true.  My life is full of ballgames, work, and just every day life.  I am no different than any woman reading this.  But something happened to me in December of last year, my father was dying and I realized he could leave this earth and not know Jesus.  It was an overwhelming time for me because I love Jesus and although we had some conversations around Jesus; I was never sure he really heard me.  I made a promise that day, to not only live for Jesus, but to speak for Jesus.  It's one thing to pray in silence, encourage your friends and love people; it's a whole different situation to speak on behalf of God.

As I sat by my father's bedside praying for the Lord to come to him in dreams, believing that God was bigger than man and hoping that He would reveal himself mightily; I realized that I could never be silent again.  Living what you believe is one thing but truly speaking it is another. This world is a cruel place and I don't know too many of us that like rejection.  I am all about loving people but at the end of the day; I want them to love me back.  For me, waiting in my dad's room made me realize that no matter how strong the rejection, I would never be silent again.

I never heard the words that I wanted to hear from him.  He was much too sick for that.  But I did watch as he raised his hands in prayer, mumbled something, and pointed to Heaven.  I believe that Christ did come and that He did accept our Lord as His Savior.  Of course, I will never know until I get to Heaven but the one thing I can state today, is that the Lord has opened my mouth through this blog. And as I write I am praying that many women that know Him and that are yet to know Him, will seek Him and accept Him as their Savior!

I have learned that my silence was a sin and that my voice is a blessing to the Lord.  Don't sit in silence, show Christ, reach out to people, love them and speak to them about the Lord that saved your life.  We are all sinners, men and women, needing a Savior.  I don't care what religion you come from or what culture you were raised in, Christ wants all people to come before Him.  We will one day anyway and I want to be able to say that I spoke with the Holy Spirit's guidance and that many saw Him and worshiped Him.  We all have the power of the Cross behind us. No one is special but if you are feeling called today to have a voice, speak!  You may get rejected or you may watch as someone accepts our Savior.  And even if you never get to hear the words, you planted the first seed.  Chew on that for awhile!

Ezekiel 34 11-16   NKJV:

    'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.  As for a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy dark day.  And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.  I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel.  "There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.  I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord GOD.  " I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and strong, and feed them in judgement."

I love the analogies in the Bible around sheep.  We are truly a scattered herd.  There is so much turmoil in this world and everyone is looking in all the wrong places.  People are plunging into darkness but even in the Old Testament the Lord was saying, "I will gather my sheep."  We are all his sheep and if we truly love Christ, then we must stand on faith that if He calls; we must follow.  What's the worst thing that can happen?  Someone tells you they don't believe or that you are strange or in need of psychiatric care?  Who cares, the Lord came for the lost, we sought Him and accepted Him.  As of December, I stopped caring what people thought of me and really began to live for Jesus!  Take a step on faith, you'll be surprised how freeing it feels to not only believe in Jesus but to walk with Him, boldly!

My prayer today:

Lord, I call upon you to bless the women that read this blog and for those that have yet to be revealed.  We are all sheep, scattered and in need of a great shepherd.  Thankfully, you came to me in my need and revealed yourself upon me.  I am a changed woman and as others seek you; I pray you will change them too.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak through You and I pray that You would be revealed in a mighty way through these words.  I ask you to forgive me for my sins and for every word on this blog to be Yours!  I am humbled by Your awesome power and the love that You have for all Your sheep.  I pray many races, many cultures, many women would come to know You as I have.  May I continue to speak in a mighty way and please protect all of us as we follow You.  AMEN

Until tomorrow...

March 3, 2012

Where are your treasures stored?  There is no better time to realize that stuff is just that, stuff.  It holds no value, no meaning, beyond today.  I say this because as I sat in my parent's house, looking at all the treasures they had amassed, I realized that what we treasure on earth comes down to dust.  Today, I will sell off my parent's stuff, the bedroom set they cherished, a chair my mom sat in after hip surgery, a couch that is older than me, and many trinkets.  They all add up to one thing, nothing.  Why?  Because my parents are gone.  All that is left of them will be bought and sold for pennies, but in the end my treasure is the love they left behind.

This sale will be one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do.  So, it is amazing to me that I woke up this morning with the thought running through my mind that "This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!" Can we be glad in our pain?  Absolutely!  Our pain is part of our treasure because in the quiet, He comes to us and reminds us that our treasure is not on earth but it's with Him and that every day we wake up it's His day.  When I finally get to walk and talk with Jesus, I am going to thank Him personally for today!  In my pain, He reminds me that He is my treasure and that's all I need to get through today.  If you are in the middle of a  major battle or struggle, realize that today is the day that the LORD has made!  It might be the most painful day of your life but it is full with the presence of Jesus!

So, today I come to you my sisters and ask you to rejoice in the LORD for He is good!  Every day we walk with Jesus is one more treasure we store in heaven.  Someday, you will realize the power that happened in your life because of Jesus.  If you do nothing else, please shout out, "WE REJOICE IN YOU JESUS!"

Matthew 6:20 NKJV:

    Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


Our wealth does not come from here nor do our possessions last forever.  However,  our faith in the Father will last an eternity.  Be bold my sisters and give your hearts to Jesus!


My prayer today:

In every hour today, I will rejoice and be glad in it.  Even when the days are long and hard, I know that in order to focus on what is a true treasure, You must be first.  I am appreciative of the power You have over my life and for helping me in every battle.   As I take into consideration that stuff is just stuff, help me value what You value.  Give me ears to hear and eyes to see what is important to You and help me lead women to a greater faith, so that the treasures I amass will be Your treasures.  I come to You on bended knee praying for the lost, the brokenhearted and the weary.  Please provide courage and strength and help us to remember that every day is Your day! AMEN

Until tomorrow...


Thursday, March 1, 2012

February 28, 2012

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to sit at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to heal a hurt, love a lost one, or take away the loneliness?  When I was little, I dreamed about walking and talking to Jesus.  I remember it vividly and in those dreams I felt treasured and loved.  Today, I don't see Jesus in my dreams but I know without a doubt He is always with me.

Faith is a fixture in our society. We have faith in many things, mostly possessions and sometimes people but overall, our faith comes and goes as quickly as the wind.  Only when we are grounded do we truly know what faith is.  How many times have you wanted to ask Christ to heal someone or fix a problem?  For most of us, that's daily.  But what I am really talking about is a true, unwavering faith, that God is in the middle of all our circumstances and even when you don't receive the answers your hoping for, you know He's there.      

What makes one woman a woman of faith and another a ball of mess?  The answer is not that simple because we are all a ball of mess.  But in some women, down deep, there is a resounding knowledge that Christ is in the middle.  They might not understand why things are going wrong but they do understand that He is present in them.

I like what my friend Michelle told me the other day about Christ.  She said when everything is going crazy; she steps out on faith and asks the Lord to go before her.  Simple, but when you think about it, isn't that what we all want?  He lights the path for our feet and He knows when the road will be curved, so why not?  You know the old saying about the horse and cart.  The cart can't go unless the horse is attached so if we want great faith, Christ has to lead!  Oh and we have to believe!  These two things are essential to all of us having great faith in our Father.  Without them, the cart will tip and our faith will spill all over the ground. Personally, I like containment, don't you?

Matthew 15:21-27 NKJV:

     Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is severely demon-possessed."  But He answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."  But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"   But He answered and said, " It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered and said o her, "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.   


What is Jesus saying in all this?  He is telling us that one woman would rather take his scraps than to have nothing and through her faithfulness, her daughter was healed.  Take Christ out of the box you set Him in.  He is more powerful than we believe.  His scraps healed a demon-possessed child, parted the Red Sea, brought Israel to greatness and has continued to make the history books not one year, but every year.  He is our strength and our encourager.  Praise Him for His mightiness.  Faith comes from belief, belief comes from prayer and the two together build faithful women.  Choose Christ today and every day and your faith will abound.

My prayer today:

Lord you are mighty.  We often don't give you enough credit and we want to today.  Thank you for the crumbs You give to us.  The crumbs of mercy and grace are what we cherish.  Please continue to grow us up in our faith and provide us avenues to share Your word with others.  We want them to know the power of You.  I come before you today a soldier asking for your mercy on my house and for all houses across the Nations. Our world is in chaos but You can heal the Nations, restore families and save our children.  I pray for this today and thank you so much for every crumb You have bestowed on our lives.  Lead us and guide us on our journey and please Lord go before us! AMEN