Wednesday, January 6, 2016

A follow up to my year of yes..

Good morning all-

On November 20, 2015 I wrote about my year of yes.  I had just read a best selling new book with that very title and I really began to think about all the things I never said yes to.  So I proclaimed on this very site that I was going to take the wheel and say yes to things I normally would have said no to.  I was going to be kinder to myself, exercise more and a whole bunch of other things.  Interesting though because through the holidays, I started realizing my year of yes had nothing to do with me and everything to do with Jesus.

Funny how the flesh takes over when you read a book that has some enlightenment to it.  I believe I can scale tall buildings in a single leap.  Don't you?  What happens when you don't?  Come on girls we have all been there.  I know you want to fit in those size 0's you wore in high school, right? Well that's just not a good goal and besides, what did it take for you to be in those, starving yourself, that's what.  Is that a healthy choice or a fleshly choice?  We all know it's pure flesh.  The stigma of making good choices is always around being thin and yet, God made us in different sizes and shapes.  There is not one person the same so really, what's the point.

Okay my rant is over.  My point today is that the flesh wants me to think about myself, my feelings, my wants, my dreams, my desires.  It never wants me to think about Heaven, whose in Heaven or that He really does know what He's doing.  It wants to gain knowledge so that I don't look for God and it really wants to believe it can do all things by itself.  Isn't that how we were raised?  Of course we should desire to make goals, spend time refining our craft and take care of ourselves, that's not the issue.  The issue is when no one wants to talk to us because all we can talk about is ourselves.  That's the problem.

So over the holidays, I spent a lot of time seeking the wisdom from the only source that matters, the Word of God.  I asked God to reveal to me Scriptures that would fill my mind with His will not mine and to help me look at the unseen.  I was once very good with that until life hit me in the face and I had to go to work and provide.  I used to know who provided, who was supreme and who was always right and by the way I know it for you but this is me we're talking about.  I believed for you but forgot for me.  That's what was revealed to me, so clear, I felt like I got hit by a bus and in it I began to feel true peace, not just the peace we talk about but God's divine and utterly perfect peace and that's when I realized my year of yes needed to be about Jesus.

Up to this epiphany, I really thought it was about taking care of myself better, having better work/life balance but in retrospect that wasn't what Christ was asking from me.  He wanted me to take up my mat and believe.  That hit me like a rock yesterday so I put it on Twitter.  I thought I had but obviously I haven't.  So before the day begins, I'm sitting at this computer to tell you to take up your mat, believe, and spread the word to anyone that will hear that Jesus Christ has risen and will come to get His bride.  Don't be shy, be bold and if the devil tries to get you to back down, pray for protection and proclaim that the only way to Heaven is through Him.  He is bold, beautiful, loving, kind and He holds our provision, success and our eternal life in His hands.  My year of Yes is about Him and through Him all things are possible.  May the Lord of our Father Abraham bless you as you walk toward Him and away from you.

Here's the King James Version of John 5:7-8

7The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.8Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. Note: "mat" is in the NIV version

Jesus please let us take up our mat and walk toward You!!!!!

Saturday, January 2, 2016

One Servant Full of Faith for Women Everywhere: A new beginning with Jesus!

One Servant Full of Faith for Women Everywhere: A new beginning with Jesus!: Good morning my sisters- 2015 has left us with many things to think about.  We have seen wars, watched warriors come home and Christians b...

A new beginning with Jesus!

Good morning my sisters-

2015 has left us with many things to think about.  We have seen wars, watched warriors come home and Christians being persecuted.  Conflicts with police officers and rumors of abuse have been abounding and children and young men and women have lost their lives.  People have experienced loss and the economy is still in bad shape.  We have watched men getting their heads cut off because they believe in Jesus and attacks have happened all over the world.  Hate is everywhere and love keeps slipping away like grains of sand.  And yet, I have hope in the future.  I am abounding with hope in Jesus. 

What does 2016 have in store?  I don't think any of us knows.  I'm hoping there's revival for Jesus, with a great impact and renewal on teenagers that have turned to drugs, alcohol and sex. I pray for  marriages around the globe and those that were put into prostitution.  I'm praying for those struggling with depression and opression.  I'm hoping that God will find compassion for the weak and mercy on the nations.  I'm praying that we would stand up for what we believe in and not worry about people's opinions or thoughts of who we are.  I'm hoping for God's glory to be seen from coast to coast and globally.  I'm praying that I personally would have great faith and that through my fingers, God's word would come and heal the broken, oppressed and shamed.

I am moving on from 2015 with thankfulness in my heart.  I have been sifted and have come out of it stronger, wiser and a better person. I believe more and am hoping for the plans God has for me.  Through every storm, every war and every loss, Christ is with us.  Life will always happen. We can't stop it nor can we control it.  We have to live every day with hope, love and the pursuit of God. 

As you enter this new year remember that Abraham believed God in everything.  Joseph didn't stop when he was put in prison and Paul, although a murderer, became the disciple most talked about today.  His faithfulness goes to show that when we take the challenge, live day to day and seek God's face, we will find Him.  We are the next generation that can bring about change through prayer.  Prayer is the one thing we can do together.  Jesus will hear the choir on earth for redemption and peace.  I'm praying for every person that is being persecuted but I'm also praying for everyone that doubt the impact of Jesus Christ.  The enemy is strong but Christ is so much stronger.  This is the year we must believe in the supernatural.  I am praying, are you?  Make 2016 the year of prayer and petition.  It should be the year that we believe Christ will move our mountain and that we are warriors for this time.  I leave you with some Scripture that was given to me this last few weeks.  I have prayed for Scripture that will remind me of who I serve.

Luke 22:31-32 NIV
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

John 3:2-3 NIV
He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.  For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him." Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."

John 14:1 NIV
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believing in God, believe also in me."

John 4:25 NIV
The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming.  When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

Judges 6:12 NIV
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, He said, "The Lord I with you, mighty warrior."

My prayer on the 1st of January 2016 was that God would give me a Scripture that I could meditate on and this one came to mind.

Psalm 27:5 NIV
For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

All of these Scriptures have meant something to me personally. The Word is for you.  It has meaning.  It might have been written thousands of years ago but God still uses it to help us, love us and move us to Him.  If we aren't in it, then we won't know what He wants us to know.  Like you, I struggle with this walk but every day I find solace in the fact that I am dependent on the God who loved me so much that He gave His only begotten Son for my eternal life.  If you have hit this blog, you are being asked to seek Him, love Him and move toward Him.  How do I know?  Because that's what He's called me to do.  Happy 2016 and may the Lord of my heart reign in my life, through my life and for others who need a Savior.