Have you ever felt like something vital was missing? I can remember when I was in college and things weren't exactly going well, there was something missing. I was in a downward spiral, with nowhere to turn. I remember even telling my mom I had a whole in my heart. There was emptiness. Then one day, the pharmacist I worked for invited me to an evangelist meeting. I really didn't even know what that was. He said that He thought that I would really like it, so I went. That night, as the man was talking about the power of Jesus Christ and forgiveness, something came over me and when he called us to the alter, I went.
It was a jubilant event for me. One hour of talking changed the course of my life forever. I met Jesus that night. I always believed there was a God and that Jesus was part of the trinity but I had never confessed Him as my Lord and Savior. I wanted to weep one minute and laugh the other. The hole that was in my heart had been completed with just a few words. That night we prayed together, "Lord I invite You into my life because I believe that You died on the cross to save me." That was it! From that day on, I was saved and forgiven. What a miracle and what a God that allows us only to confess He is Lord! On top of that, we just have to go to Him, not to someone else, and confess our sins, and we are forgiven. Really? How does that happen? It happens because we have a merciful God. He's not all about the rules, although it's good to stick to them. He's about a relationship and that night so was I. I needed a Savior because the Devil was having his way on my life and I was empty, so empty, I didn't think I needed to be here anymore.
In a second, I went from hopeless to hopeful. I can't think of any other religion on earth that makes you feel like that, can you? We are under the authority of a God that meets us right where we're at. He loves us and asks us only to be in relationship with Him. He comes to fill a part of your heart you didn't even know existed. He never came to give us everything we desired; He came to complete us.
I haven't been perfect throughout the years. I've doubted and walked away for a period. I let people influence that decision. I looked at humans instead of Christ. It always bothers me when I hear people left a church because of others. None of us are perfect, we come together because we're called. The body is under Christ and we must always remember that people are sinful. Why do you think Paul was always encouraging and writing to the churches? He knew what we should all know, people are fallible, but God is great!
Let's challenge ourselves to invite someone to church this week. If God puts them in your path, be brave and just ask. God wants people to come to Him but sometimes, like me, they have to be invited. Realize that you can't fix the brokenness you see, only Christ can. But an invitation is simple, let God do the rest. He has a plan, we may just be part of it. I will never be able to thank Larry Michaels enough for his bravery in asking me, his employee, to an evangelist meeting. He didn't worry about his status or how it would impact his job, he was led and heard the call, and I am living proof that one mans actions changed the course of a life. Let's be women that stand up for the cross. God can do it without us but think of the reward. We are here to glorify Him. He came to complete us and all we have to do is hear and serve. Be brave today my sisters and love your fellow man. It's worth it, just look at me.
Colossians 2:9-10 NKJV:
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
2 Corinthians 8: 6 NKJV:
So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
Philippians 1:6 NKJV:
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
My prayer today:
O, Lord, how lucky I was that Your servant was obedient to Your call. My heart is complete in You. You are my Lord and Savior and I am in Your debt. When You call, I always want to answer and when You need me, I want to be there. We are women, all over the world, with opportunities to invite Your sheep to a meeting. Please help us gather them together and to tell them the good news. Our completion is through You and only You. Stand before us today, guiding our way, and providing encouragement and courage so that we can speak to Your people. They are in need of a Savior, just like us. Bring them to Your faithful and let us tell them of You. We are in awe of You as we bow down to our Savior. Thank you for being there for us, especially when we are hopeless. None of us would be here today, if it weren't for Your sacrifice. Help us to be faithful in a faithless world. Grant us wisdom and give us discernment as we ride the journey of life. You are one with us. Thank You for loving us and giving Your life, so that we may be with You in eternity. Bring many to us and help them see their way. You are our guide and we worship You today. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Saturday, August 4, 2012
August 4, 2012
Have you ever wondered, "What have I accomplished in my life? I do all the time. I wanted to be a physician and I turned out to be a salesman. I thought I would write a fiction book and instead, I write a blog for Christ. I wanted to be a great actress and light up Hollywood but I turned out to be a wife and a mom, both important jobs but as we all know, there are no lights!
Watching the Olympics and once again seeing Missy Franklin and other young athletes from around the world has me thinking about what it's like to have victory. We measure victory by a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal, or by how much money we have, the car we drive, or if we've been married for along time. We measure victory by everything worldly and nothing heavenly. What does God acknowledge as victory? Have you thought about that lately? Does He care what kind of car you drive or where you live? Is He more prone to bless one country over the other? Does He care if you are successful? All these are mighty questions and honestly, I don't have the full answers.
In my opinion, it comes down to just one thing, loving and knowing Him. When He called the men that would walk by Jesus's side, they were to lay their possessions down and follow Him. No questions asked. Many wanted to follow Him along the way, some wealthy, but they didn't want to lay their stuff down to be by His side. Sometimes I can relate. As a woman, I love my creature comforts. I like my house that resides in a safe neighborhood. I love that I can pay all my bills and don't have to worry about creditors. I love knowing that my children are fed and taken care of and it scares me to think that if I lost my job, all that would change. And yet, am I to depend on all those things or am I to depend on God to give me exactly what I need? The latter of course. And for the most part, I do. But every once in awhile, I wonder what it would be like to walk away from the responsibilities of the world and mark out on a journey of faith and spread the word.
I hope that someday, God will help me do just that. I hope that I will be able to travel the globe and speak about the God I love so much. I hope that when I look back on my life the victory will be for Jesus! Where are you? Contemplating the same thing? I hope so because we have a job to do and I don't care if you live in the US, the UK, Russia, Korea, or anywhere on this globe, we are one, working toward a Holy victory, will we win? Who knows? Jesus will though! And I guess for me, that's enough.
Like the great athletes of the world, we just have to put one foot in front of the other. In order to reach our goals, we must define what's important to us, train and get out there. We can't sit on the couch and hope that people are hearing the word. We have to spread it!
For all my followers, I'm praying that God is calling you to do more than what you did yesterday. Don't regret the past, move forward and find victory in Jesus. Every day, I sit down to write this blog and all I can think about is what woman will read it next, will it touch someone's life and am I doing the best for my Lord. It's silent, but in the silence, I know Christ is working, people are reading and hopefully, they are finding a greater faith in Jesus. I am, so I know you are. Go out and love someone today, there's always victory in that.
James 5:8 NKJV:
You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Deuteronomy 20:4 NKJV:
for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
1 John 5:4 NKJV:
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world-
our faith.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, with every hour I call upon You. We want to have victory in You. None of us are perfect, we are flawed, sinful, and human. You know us because You have counted every one of us. Your hand is on Your creation and we are part of that creation. Watch over us and help us be bolder for You. We want to be Your women, training to be part of Your vast army, being called and taking up the cross. I don't know how it will happen and who You will choose but give us the strength and courage to forge ahead on whatever path You place our feet. I am in awe of You. I love You and I worship You. You are the reason I get up every morning and without a doubt I claim, "YOU ARE LORD." We come before You asking You to continue to feed us and direct us. We love You with all of our hearts, our souls and our minds. Help the women of the world, walk out on faith and spread Your mighty word. Give us courage to raise up the next generation and give us patience to love the unlovable. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Watching the Olympics and once again seeing Missy Franklin and other young athletes from around the world has me thinking about what it's like to have victory. We measure victory by a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal, or by how much money we have, the car we drive, or if we've been married for along time. We measure victory by everything worldly and nothing heavenly. What does God acknowledge as victory? Have you thought about that lately? Does He care what kind of car you drive or where you live? Is He more prone to bless one country over the other? Does He care if you are successful? All these are mighty questions and honestly, I don't have the full answers.
In my opinion, it comes down to just one thing, loving and knowing Him. When He called the men that would walk by Jesus's side, they were to lay their possessions down and follow Him. No questions asked. Many wanted to follow Him along the way, some wealthy, but they didn't want to lay their stuff down to be by His side. Sometimes I can relate. As a woman, I love my creature comforts. I like my house that resides in a safe neighborhood. I love that I can pay all my bills and don't have to worry about creditors. I love knowing that my children are fed and taken care of and it scares me to think that if I lost my job, all that would change. And yet, am I to depend on all those things or am I to depend on God to give me exactly what I need? The latter of course. And for the most part, I do. But every once in awhile, I wonder what it would be like to walk away from the responsibilities of the world and mark out on a journey of faith and spread the word.
I hope that someday, God will help me do just that. I hope that I will be able to travel the globe and speak about the God I love so much. I hope that when I look back on my life the victory will be for Jesus! Where are you? Contemplating the same thing? I hope so because we have a job to do and I don't care if you live in the US, the UK, Russia, Korea, or anywhere on this globe, we are one, working toward a Holy victory, will we win? Who knows? Jesus will though! And I guess for me, that's enough.
Like the great athletes of the world, we just have to put one foot in front of the other. In order to reach our goals, we must define what's important to us, train and get out there. We can't sit on the couch and hope that people are hearing the word. We have to spread it!
For all my followers, I'm praying that God is calling you to do more than what you did yesterday. Don't regret the past, move forward and find victory in Jesus. Every day, I sit down to write this blog and all I can think about is what woman will read it next, will it touch someone's life and am I doing the best for my Lord. It's silent, but in the silence, I know Christ is working, people are reading and hopefully, they are finding a greater faith in Jesus. I am, so I know you are. Go out and love someone today, there's always victory in that.
James 5:8 NKJV:
You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Deuteronomy 20:4 NKJV:
for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
1 John 5:4 NKJV:
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world-
our faith.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, with every hour I call upon You. We want to have victory in You. None of us are perfect, we are flawed, sinful, and human. You know us because You have counted every one of us. Your hand is on Your creation and we are part of that creation. Watch over us and help us be bolder for You. We want to be Your women, training to be part of Your vast army, being called and taking up the cross. I don't know how it will happen and who You will choose but give us the strength and courage to forge ahead on whatever path You place our feet. I am in awe of You. I love You and I worship You. You are the reason I get up every morning and without a doubt I claim, "YOU ARE LORD." We come before You asking You to continue to feed us and direct us. We love You with all of our hearts, our souls and our minds. Help the women of the world, walk out on faith and spread Your mighty word. Give us courage to raise up the next generation and give us patience to love the unlovable. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Thursday, August 2, 2012
August 2, 2012
Yesterday as I was standing in line, I met a very nice young man. He was by himself and was enrolling for the first time into a new High School. I thought it was strange because most kids go with a parent and he was alone. Meanwhile, I noticed a woman flitting from kid to kid and she came up to him as I was talking. She started telling me that she had 12 children to enroll. She was young and this was High School. I asked, "Are they all yours." She answered, "No, they are in independent living." I wondered what it was so I asked the young man. It's a place for teenage kids that are in foster care. They are on their own. Okay, anyone else see the wrong in this picture.
As I talked to him, he told me that he would be going to a local college and had scored a very high grade on the ACT, which is a college entrance exam in the US. He also told me that his college was fully funded. After further discussion, I found out this was his 3rd school during his High School career. Sad but true. It got me thinking about orphans in the Bible. It also got me thinking about how we are really not responding to the youth in our communities if we are putting them into independent living, making them go to court by themselves and hoping they will make the best choices for their lives when their 16,17 and 18 years old. Their kids not adults.
I have to say it made me quite sad to think about these lonely, unnurtured young men and women. They didn't choose their parents and yet, at such a young age they have been dumped on a system we all know doesn't work. I haven't decided what I'm going to do about it yet but I'm going to God and asking. He called us to protect the widows and the orphans and I'm ashamed to say; I haven't done my fair share. I assumed that all foster kids had a home. Wrong? We have teenagers running around with no parental nurturing, its a business in these independent homes. I'm sure there are caring, loving people there but are they Christians. I wonder? Anyway, it's something for us all to think about and pray about. We can't abandon the lost and although he seemed to be doing well, he's still lost. How do I know, he talked to me for 30 minutes and he's 18 years old.
Needless to say, I want us all to pray for the orphans. We have them in every country and we need to do something about it. They are birds with no home and it's our responsibility to see how God wants us to minister and love them. My prayer is that young man will grow up and be a wonderful person, full of Christ and proving to everyone that he means something. My heart goes out to the lost but when it's a child, it breaks.
2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all, AMEN.
Psalm 68:5 NKJV:
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.
John 14:18 NKJV:
I will not leave you orphans; I wil come to you.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, grant your lost children a home with people that love and nurture them. Surround them with Christian people that will take care of them and show them their paths. Give them encouragement to be their very best and put them on our hearts. As we go about our days, remind us that their are orphans who need us and that we should be praying for them. Thank you for reminding me that we have children everywhere that are alone and fighting as adults. Thank you for saving that young man and giving him a future. My prayer today is that we as women would pray for the children of this world. That we would come before you as their voice and that we would not stop praying. They are yours Lord, please lead them to shelter and a place where they will be loved. I can't stop the evil in this world or the lack of caring. All I can do is come before You and ask that You protect these children. I lift them up to You today. Bring people into their lives that will show them You. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
As I talked to him, he told me that he would be going to a local college and had scored a very high grade on the ACT, which is a college entrance exam in the US. He also told me that his college was fully funded. After further discussion, I found out this was his 3rd school during his High School career. Sad but true. It got me thinking about orphans in the Bible. It also got me thinking about how we are really not responding to the youth in our communities if we are putting them into independent living, making them go to court by themselves and hoping they will make the best choices for their lives when their 16,17 and 18 years old. Their kids not adults.
I have to say it made me quite sad to think about these lonely, unnurtured young men and women. They didn't choose their parents and yet, at such a young age they have been dumped on a system we all know doesn't work. I haven't decided what I'm going to do about it yet but I'm going to God and asking. He called us to protect the widows and the orphans and I'm ashamed to say; I haven't done my fair share. I assumed that all foster kids had a home. Wrong? We have teenagers running around with no parental nurturing, its a business in these independent homes. I'm sure there are caring, loving people there but are they Christians. I wonder? Anyway, it's something for us all to think about and pray about. We can't abandon the lost and although he seemed to be doing well, he's still lost. How do I know, he talked to me for 30 minutes and he's 18 years old.
Needless to say, I want us all to pray for the orphans. We have them in every country and we need to do something about it. They are birds with no home and it's our responsibility to see how God wants us to minister and love them. My prayer is that young man will grow up and be a wonderful person, full of Christ and proving to everyone that he means something. My heart goes out to the lost but when it's a child, it breaks.
2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all, AMEN.
Psalm 68:5 NKJV:
A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.
John 14:18 NKJV:
I will not leave you orphans; I wil come to you.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, grant your lost children a home with people that love and nurture them. Surround them with Christian people that will take care of them and show them their paths. Give them encouragement to be their very best and put them on our hearts. As we go about our days, remind us that their are orphans who need us and that we should be praying for them. Thank you for reminding me that we have children everywhere that are alone and fighting as adults. Thank you for saving that young man and giving him a future. My prayer today is that we as women would pray for the children of this world. That we would come before you as their voice and that we would not stop praying. They are yours Lord, please lead them to shelter and a place where they will be loved. I can't stop the evil in this world or the lack of caring. All I can do is come before You and ask that You protect these children. I lift them up to You today. Bring people into their lives that will show them You. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
August 1, 2012
Good morning all! I hope that this morning finds you well and that technology doesn't fail me again. That was really sad and the post I wrote last night just wasn't the same. So, we will try again this morning and hopefully the Lord will help me be eloquent once again.
I've been thinking a lot about the Olympics this year. I'm not a huge sports fan and really don't get into watching many athletes. But this year is different, for the first time I didn't have parents to take care of and my kids are older, so I sat down with my husband and watched in fascination at the dedication and hard work these athletes put in every day.
It's not just the athletes I love to watch, it's really the reactions of their mothers. It's great to see the horror, the excitement, the nervousness and the joy that the mothers of these young athletes exude. There dad's are right in there too, which is even better. As I have watched over the last couple of days, the athletes have been thanking their mom's and dad's for their commitment to them as an athlete and a person. How great is it to see a 16 year old thanking her parents for loving them and supporting them? Well of course its great, every parent loves recognition, right?
On top of all that, we had Missy Franklin thank God on national television, turn down millions of dollars of sponsorships so that she could swim with her High School team and stay loyal to one coach, WOW! Of course, I find her courage of acknowledging God the most important. The rest just shows great character. She was eloquent and exuberant and she meant every word. I'm so proud of her for standing up there and being a role model for every one of us. She is a young girl with more wisdom and more courage than most of us have today. She understands that her success comes from God and that He will use it for His glory. AMEN!
As I sit here and write I wish I could be an Olympian. I wish that in my teens I would have had a dream and accomplished it. I wish that I had stepped out on faith and with adversity at my back, charged forward and made a difference. But like most teens, I didn't. So, now as I sit here and write, I hope I have the courage and fortitude to move mountains, to exclaim loud and clear that Jesus is real and to be bold, while serving my Lord. I may not have won gold at 17 but I hope that Christ is watching and He's joyous that His daughter is faithful. My goal, really my dream is that women in every nation will hear the call to love and serve Jesus. My hope is that they will walk on faith when tin the dark and that they will ride the waves knowing the boat won't sink. I pray for a world where men and women will come together and unite because Jesus died for them and at the end of my life, I hope I can look back and say, "Job well done."
For if I have learned anything in my life, it's that Jesus is my Savior, that He died for me and all I owe Him is my love. How will I get there? I will train like the athletes at the Olympics. I will study, I will pray and I will read His word. I will ask and He will provide and when I'm down, He will mold me and make me His. The path won't be easy but then nothing we really want ever is. I'm sure that the Olympians have given up hours of family time, thousands of dollars and many simple joys we experience every day to be in a gym, falling off equipment or swimming for 8 hours a day. Wow! Just thinking about it makes me tired.
We are in training whether you realize it or not. The field is wide open and the gold is near. The kingdom will come, are you ready? Please join me in praying for every woman on this planet. We need to unite in a Holy union, one that believes in the principles that God set forth. God loves us, it's time we loved back. May your journey today be blessed as you contemplate the training ahead. He's totally worth it! Stand with me today and praise Him for all He's done and all He will do and please thank Him for the young lives, like Missy's that proclaim Him! What a legacy!
Ephesians 6:4 NKJV:
And you, fathers do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Psalm 144:1 NKJV:
Blessed be the Lord my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle-
Luke 6:40 NKJV:
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.
Hebrews 12:11 NKJV:
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
It's time to train are you ready? Take the challenge today and spend some time with our Lord. Every morning He has new things to say, just look at this blog. I'm really not this smart. Have a great day and wherever you are, know I'm praying for You.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, we come before You in awe. As we watch the athletes from every nation, coming together to compete for a medal, I pray that we would compete for Your medal. The gold medal represents being the best in the world. Many of us will never be on a stage being renowned as the best but we are on Your stage, silently in the background, worshipping You, loving You and praying for women everywhere. We are silent in our ways but as we pray You hear. Lift up every woman in every nation and make her known. We are Your loyal servants coming before You, asking You for knowledge and wisdom. Give us a Holy dose of You as we walk this path and light our way with Your presence. We bow down to You, O, Lord and recognize that we are one strand in an army of strands. Pull ours through and lead us to You. Continue to grow up men and women that will serve You and that will care about Your people. I know the workers are few but I pray that in these next generations there will be a holy revival, where people proclaim with every tongue that You are Lord! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
I've been thinking a lot about the Olympics this year. I'm not a huge sports fan and really don't get into watching many athletes. But this year is different, for the first time I didn't have parents to take care of and my kids are older, so I sat down with my husband and watched in fascination at the dedication and hard work these athletes put in every day.
It's not just the athletes I love to watch, it's really the reactions of their mothers. It's great to see the horror, the excitement, the nervousness and the joy that the mothers of these young athletes exude. There dad's are right in there too, which is even better. As I have watched over the last couple of days, the athletes have been thanking their mom's and dad's for their commitment to them as an athlete and a person. How great is it to see a 16 year old thanking her parents for loving them and supporting them? Well of course its great, every parent loves recognition, right?
On top of all that, we had Missy Franklin thank God on national television, turn down millions of dollars of sponsorships so that she could swim with her High School team and stay loyal to one coach, WOW! Of course, I find her courage of acknowledging God the most important. The rest just shows great character. She was eloquent and exuberant and she meant every word. I'm so proud of her for standing up there and being a role model for every one of us. She is a young girl with more wisdom and more courage than most of us have today. She understands that her success comes from God and that He will use it for His glory. AMEN!
As I sit here and write I wish I could be an Olympian. I wish that in my teens I would have had a dream and accomplished it. I wish that I had stepped out on faith and with adversity at my back, charged forward and made a difference. But like most teens, I didn't. So, now as I sit here and write, I hope I have the courage and fortitude to move mountains, to exclaim loud and clear that Jesus is real and to be bold, while serving my Lord. I may not have won gold at 17 but I hope that Christ is watching and He's joyous that His daughter is faithful. My goal, really my dream is that women in every nation will hear the call to love and serve Jesus. My hope is that they will walk on faith when tin the dark and that they will ride the waves knowing the boat won't sink. I pray for a world where men and women will come together and unite because Jesus died for them and at the end of my life, I hope I can look back and say, "Job well done."
For if I have learned anything in my life, it's that Jesus is my Savior, that He died for me and all I owe Him is my love. How will I get there? I will train like the athletes at the Olympics. I will study, I will pray and I will read His word. I will ask and He will provide and when I'm down, He will mold me and make me His. The path won't be easy but then nothing we really want ever is. I'm sure that the Olympians have given up hours of family time, thousands of dollars and many simple joys we experience every day to be in a gym, falling off equipment or swimming for 8 hours a day. Wow! Just thinking about it makes me tired.
We are in training whether you realize it or not. The field is wide open and the gold is near. The kingdom will come, are you ready? Please join me in praying for every woman on this planet. We need to unite in a Holy union, one that believes in the principles that God set forth. God loves us, it's time we loved back. May your journey today be blessed as you contemplate the training ahead. He's totally worth it! Stand with me today and praise Him for all He's done and all He will do and please thank Him for the young lives, like Missy's that proclaim Him! What a legacy!
Ephesians 6:4 NKJV:
And you, fathers do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Psalm 144:1 NKJV:
Blessed be the Lord my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle-
Luke 6:40 NKJV:
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.
Hebrews 12:11 NKJV:
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
It's time to train are you ready? Take the challenge today and spend some time with our Lord. Every morning He has new things to say, just look at this blog. I'm really not this smart. Have a great day and wherever you are, know I'm praying for You.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, we come before You in awe. As we watch the athletes from every nation, coming together to compete for a medal, I pray that we would compete for Your medal. The gold medal represents being the best in the world. Many of us will never be on a stage being renowned as the best but we are on Your stage, silently in the background, worshipping You, loving You and praying for women everywhere. We are silent in our ways but as we pray You hear. Lift up every woman in every nation and make her known. We are Your loyal servants coming before You, asking You for knowledge and wisdom. Give us a Holy dose of You as we walk this path and light our way with Your presence. We bow down to You, O, Lord and recognize that we are one strand in an army of strands. Pull ours through and lead us to You. Continue to grow up men and women that will serve You and that will care about Your people. I know the workers are few but I pray that in these next generations there will be a holy revival, where people proclaim with every tongue that You are Lord! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
July 31, 2012
Good evening! This morning I was reading my facebook and noticed that Anne Graham Lotz is requesting Christian women in the US to pray for our country. I think that's a wonderful idea but I think we need to expand it to our sisters around the world.
As I watch the Olympics, I see the unity between the athletes and the countries. God wants that in our lives. Today, we are being called to pray for God's kingdom. We live in our towns and our countries but at the forefront of our minds we must pray that God's will be done. The world needs Christ!
He is righteous and he's calling all of us to let down our guards, to love our neighbors with all our hearts and to remember that He has a plan for our lives, our towns and our nations. It's time we work together and pray that God is with us. We need to bring back God into our homes, our classrooms, and our governments. Life without God is chaos. All you have to do is look around and see the extremes. Countries are failing, especially the US. Why? Because God isn't going to bless any country if the people that live there don't believe in Him. So, let's be women that believe in a Savior. Let's pray for our countries and for the men and women that live there. And let's pray that His kingdom comes and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven! We are His chosen, so please join me in praying for the world.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, You are the leader of the world. The earth is under Your authority and someday, Your kingdom will. We realize that the US as well as other countries, needs to turn our toward You. We have given up the right to call upon You. We have been apathetic and have allowed sin into our lives and our homes. We ask You to forgive us of our sins. The women of the world unite to pray for all countries. We ask that You would lift our men to You. That they would become righteous leaders of their families and of their countries. Please bless the earth with Your power and majesty. We love You Lord and we pray that Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!
In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
As I watch the Olympics, I see the unity between the athletes and the countries. God wants that in our lives. Today, we are being called to pray for God's kingdom. We live in our towns and our countries but at the forefront of our minds we must pray that God's will be done. The world needs Christ!
He is righteous and he's calling all of us to let down our guards, to love our neighbors with all our hearts and to remember that He has a plan for our lives, our towns and our nations. It's time we work together and pray that God is with us. We need to bring back God into our homes, our classrooms, and our governments. Life without God is chaos. All you have to do is look around and see the extremes. Countries are failing, especially the US. Why? Because God isn't going to bless any country if the people that live there don't believe in Him. So, let's be women that believe in a Savior. Let's pray for our countries and for the men and women that live there. And let's pray that His kingdom comes and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven! We are His chosen, so please join me in praying for the world.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, You are the leader of the world. The earth is under Your authority and someday, Your kingdom will. We realize that the US as well as other countries, needs to turn our toward You. We have given up the right to call upon You. We have been apathetic and have allowed sin into our lives and our homes. We ask You to forgive us of our sins. The women of the world unite to pray for all countries. We ask that You would lift our men to You. That they would become righteous leaders of their families and of their countries. Please bless the earth with Your power and majesty. We love You Lord and we pray that Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!
In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
July 31, 2012
Good morning all! Well I wrote a very eloquent post today about prayer and as I pressed the button, oops, it got lost and is nowhere to be found. I'm not discouraged because I know that God will have His will one way or another. With that being said, I am going to have to write this evening. It seems that I am running out of time and need to meet my boss this morning. I hope today finds you well. Please read Matthew 6:33. I will be writing about it, again, later today. God reigns even if technology fails.
Your sister in Christ
Your sister in Christ
Sunday, July 29, 2012
July 28, 2012
Do you ever worry that your decisions will impact the rest of someone's life? Or maybe you're just worried about a decision that needs to be made? Either way, we have to make them. Recently, my husband and I had to make a major decision regarding our youngest son and I was perfectly confident when we first made it. I prayed about it for over a month and it seemed like everything was in place, but then, without warning, circumstances changed and the uncertainty crept in.
I know that God has control and yet, I wonder, what if we're making a mistake?
It's hard enough to make mistakes when you're the only one that will get hurt by your decision. However, things change dramatically when you're making decisions for others. I am, by nature, a very decisive person. I can make decisions faster than most. My husband on the other hand listens to many different people, mulls it over in his head, and most of the time becomes more conflicted. He's afraid more than I am and doesn't do well with change. I'm always changing so it's easier for me to continue to change. I also have the Lord, which He does too, but I pray about everything. That's why this time I am so conflicted because my husband is so uncertain and I want us to be likeminded and believe that we did this together.
I prayed about this and believe in my mind that the Lord gave me peace about this decision. I had a peace that surpassed anything I had ever experienced. Of course, every once in awhile, I let doubt creep in. That was easily turned when I reached out to Christ and said, "I trust in You." When I lost my mom, who was the caretaker of my children, I had to trust in God. I didn't have a choice. I was traveling the US almost every week. I was 3,000 miles a way most of the time. I prayed over my sons and asked the Lord to watch over them, provide me peace and help me find another job. I trusted that He would do that. For over a year, I looked and looked for a job, that would keep me closer to my family and when I relinquished my will, God provided. In the meantime, He provided protection and security for my sons.
So, why as I sit and write this am I so conflicted? I just don't want to make the wrong decision. It's hard to know if you're doing the right thing. You definitely can't go by feelings, you have to prayerfully consider every angle and then forge through. It's a balance of pro's and con's and in the end, you hope that your decision aligns with God's.
I'm reminded that trust is earned. And when we trust, we hold confidence that are lives are secure. So, today, I will trust in the Lord that even though I'm human, He will take care of my son. He will watch over him and protect him. He will mold him as he molds me and that this decision will help my son become a better man of God. Maybe, this is his right of passage. Like the days of old, sons were sent off to war, or to work the fields. Today, we send them to different schools and wait to see if the boy we sent in, becomes the man others can look up too.
My husband and I are just vessels of the Lord's. We can pray about the situation but at the end of the day, our son must align his will to Jesus'. He will walk his path alone and although we are guiding him for a little while, Jesus will guide Him a lifetime. Wherever you are today in the decisions of life, I hope that you will go to Jesus and ask Him to light your way. Because we live on earth, we will have to make many decisions and we will have to live by them. Jesus knows and is here to help us, as long as we trust in Him.
Joel 3:14 NKJV:
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
Proverbs 16:33 NKJV:
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
Joshua 1:7 NKJV:
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
Psalm 125:1 NKJV:
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, my prayer today is that we will rest in You. That as the decisions come we would prayerfully go to You and sit at Your feet. We would ask today that You would provide the wisdom we need to make all decisions and that You would reign in the middle. We know that if our will aligns with Your will, our paths are clear. So today, as women of You, from every nation on earth, we come before You and ask that our will aligns with Yours in all things. If there are women out there alone, please be their husbands and help guide their paths. For those that are married, please provide unity between man and wife, so that every decision would be of You. We are Your vessels, to do with what You wish. We pray that we would be strong and courageous and that we would trust in You, and become like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved. You are the power behind our lives, they are Yours to command and it is our will that must follow. Guide us to Your cross and give us hearts for all Your people. Wherever we are today, be our guide, light our paths and watch over us all our days. We are a sinful generation, needing a mighty Savior. Be with us today and always. Your servants in Christ. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
It's hard enough to make mistakes when you're the only one that will get hurt by your decision. However, things change dramatically when you're making decisions for others. I am, by nature, a very decisive person. I can make decisions faster than most. My husband on the other hand listens to many different people, mulls it over in his head, and most of the time becomes more conflicted. He's afraid more than I am and doesn't do well with change. I'm always changing so it's easier for me to continue to change. I also have the Lord, which He does too, but I pray about everything. That's why this time I am so conflicted because my husband is so uncertain and I want us to be likeminded and believe that we did this together.
I prayed about this and believe in my mind that the Lord gave me peace about this decision. I had a peace that surpassed anything I had ever experienced. Of course, every once in awhile, I let doubt creep in. That was easily turned when I reached out to Christ and said, "I trust in You." When I lost my mom, who was the caretaker of my children, I had to trust in God. I didn't have a choice. I was traveling the US almost every week. I was 3,000 miles a way most of the time. I prayed over my sons and asked the Lord to watch over them, provide me peace and help me find another job. I trusted that He would do that. For over a year, I looked and looked for a job, that would keep me closer to my family and when I relinquished my will, God provided. In the meantime, He provided protection and security for my sons.
So, why as I sit and write this am I so conflicted? I just don't want to make the wrong decision. It's hard to know if you're doing the right thing. You definitely can't go by feelings, you have to prayerfully consider every angle and then forge through. It's a balance of pro's and con's and in the end, you hope that your decision aligns with God's.
I'm reminded that trust is earned. And when we trust, we hold confidence that are lives are secure. So, today, I will trust in the Lord that even though I'm human, He will take care of my son. He will watch over him and protect him. He will mold him as he molds me and that this decision will help my son become a better man of God. Maybe, this is his right of passage. Like the days of old, sons were sent off to war, or to work the fields. Today, we send them to different schools and wait to see if the boy we sent in, becomes the man others can look up too.
My husband and I are just vessels of the Lord's. We can pray about the situation but at the end of the day, our son must align his will to Jesus'. He will walk his path alone and although we are guiding him for a little while, Jesus will guide Him a lifetime. Wherever you are today in the decisions of life, I hope that you will go to Jesus and ask Him to light your way. Because we live on earth, we will have to make many decisions and we will have to live by them. Jesus knows and is here to help us, as long as we trust in Him.
Joel 3:14 NKJV:
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
Proverbs 16:33 NKJV:
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
Joshua 1:7 NKJV:
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
Psalm 125:1 NKJV:
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, my prayer today is that we will rest in You. That as the decisions come we would prayerfully go to You and sit at Your feet. We would ask today that You would provide the wisdom we need to make all decisions and that You would reign in the middle. We know that if our will aligns with Your will, our paths are clear. So today, as women of You, from every nation on earth, we come before You and ask that our will aligns with Yours in all things. If there are women out there alone, please be their husbands and help guide their paths. For those that are married, please provide unity between man and wife, so that every decision would be of You. We are Your vessels, to do with what You wish. We pray that we would be strong and courageous and that we would trust in You, and become like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved. You are the power behind our lives, they are Yours to command and it is our will that must follow. Guide us to Your cross and give us hearts for all Your people. Wherever we are today, be our guide, light our paths and watch over us all our days. We are a sinful generation, needing a mighty Savior. Be with us today and always. Your servants in Christ. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Friday, July 27, 2012
July 26,2012
What does it mean to be a woman of Christ? Is it about your image or how much you serve the church? No, to be a woman of Christ you must love the Lord with all your heart. Although image matters to the world, God never looks at image. Image is the deception of the world. If you look a certain way you are accepted, successful and are considered to have a full life. Really? What does that have to do with our eternity or God's plan. Absolutely nothing. God doesn't look at the clothes you wear or how smart you are, he only looks at your heart. We are His chosen women born to live this life fulfilling His plan. You are important, not because you have things or look the part. You are important to Him because He made You!
Today, we unite as women in Christ. We call to our Father and shout, "We are Yours!" Throw away the cares of this world and put on the shield of righteousness. Unite with me as women with one God, loving our sisters and brothers in all nations, praying for one another and praying that God would restore us to Him. The world is changing at a fast rate. We live in a world full of war, famine, death and destruction. Young people are lost and we, meaning Christians, rarely stay steadfast. Sin is all around us and we fall into it so easily. But we have a Savior that came to this earth, perfect in every way. He was born to save us from ourselves. He is the Son of God, who joined His Father at the cross. They are one and we are saved!
Right now as I write this, people are burying loved ones. There are people praying for their children that are lost on drugs. Many are watching crimes happen in the street and feel helpless. And for those without food or shelter, they are wandering, wondering when someone will save them. These are just a few of the many scenarios in the world. There are many more, like female trafficking, prostitution, abuse, neglect and murder. Wow! That's a mouthful. But it exists in our world, just as it has for centuries. The crimes are more vivid because we have mass communication and with it, stories from all over the world are revealed.
I'm glad we were born to this age. A story, a person, or a tragedy is known to thousands and it gives us an advantage because we have the ability to stand in the gap. We can't change the events. However, there is power in prayer. There is power when people come together and pray. There is power in Jesus Christ. Don't ever let anyone tell you that there's not. Jesus knew it. He gave His life so that one day we would be united with Him in Heaven. He threw image out the door and sacrificed Himself for us!
You are an important part of His plan. You were made for this moment. You were designed and molded for today. You are special, not because of anything you have done. He is Your Father and although He could do everything without You, He called You anyway. I don't know what God is doing in Your life right now. I only know what He is doing in mine. My life is open to Him and as I write I feel the Holy Spirit ministering to me and inspiring me. I hope today You find Your path. Reach out to Jesus and hear His call. The workers are few but the fields are many. Like a farmer, our fields need cultivating. We must take care to feed our souls with the word and to ask for boldness. We must believe that our Savior came for us and that we were born for this time.
Please join me in praying for every country around the world. We need to pray for peace, for restoration and for the hand of God to unite men and women all over the world. We need to be one voice, one body, loving our Savior. Time is ticking and at His hand, Christ knows the hour. Meanwhile, we are to be watching over His flock with courage and diligence. We can't do it alone. Christ must be with us and for us. I believe He is; I hope you do too.
May your day be blessed by the words of our Lord today my sisters. We are His! That's the only image we need to count on. For today, as in every day, I'm wishing many blessings on your lives and those of your families. Please join me in being counted as one of Christ's farmers. We have a great work to do, so if you feel called, please have enough courage to move!
Deuteronomy 11:13-14 NKJV:
'And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, my prayer is simple today. Lift up Your workers to cultivate Your fields. Make us women that love You with all our hearts. Give us the courage to be bold in our pursuit of You and unite us one by one for one purpose. We want to serve You all our days. We ask that You would give us enough strength to do Your work and courage to spread Your word. Please take away the bonds of our images and replace them with a need to serve You. This life is hard but You are more powerful than any circumstance. Bring us to YOU!
Until tomorrow...
Today, we unite as women in Christ. We call to our Father and shout, "We are Yours!" Throw away the cares of this world and put on the shield of righteousness. Unite with me as women with one God, loving our sisters and brothers in all nations, praying for one another and praying that God would restore us to Him. The world is changing at a fast rate. We live in a world full of war, famine, death and destruction. Young people are lost and we, meaning Christians, rarely stay steadfast. Sin is all around us and we fall into it so easily. But we have a Savior that came to this earth, perfect in every way. He was born to save us from ourselves. He is the Son of God, who joined His Father at the cross. They are one and we are saved!
Right now as I write this, people are burying loved ones. There are people praying for their children that are lost on drugs. Many are watching crimes happen in the street and feel helpless. And for those without food or shelter, they are wandering, wondering when someone will save them. These are just a few of the many scenarios in the world. There are many more, like female trafficking, prostitution, abuse, neglect and murder. Wow! That's a mouthful. But it exists in our world, just as it has for centuries. The crimes are more vivid because we have mass communication and with it, stories from all over the world are revealed.
I'm glad we were born to this age. A story, a person, or a tragedy is known to thousands and it gives us an advantage because we have the ability to stand in the gap. We can't change the events. However, there is power in prayer. There is power when people come together and pray. There is power in Jesus Christ. Don't ever let anyone tell you that there's not. Jesus knew it. He gave His life so that one day we would be united with Him in Heaven. He threw image out the door and sacrificed Himself for us!
You are an important part of His plan. You were made for this moment. You were designed and molded for today. You are special, not because of anything you have done. He is Your Father and although He could do everything without You, He called You anyway. I don't know what God is doing in Your life right now. I only know what He is doing in mine. My life is open to Him and as I write I feel the Holy Spirit ministering to me and inspiring me. I hope today You find Your path. Reach out to Jesus and hear His call. The workers are few but the fields are many. Like a farmer, our fields need cultivating. We must take care to feed our souls with the word and to ask for boldness. We must believe that our Savior came for us and that we were born for this time.
Please join me in praying for every country around the world. We need to pray for peace, for restoration and for the hand of God to unite men and women all over the world. We need to be one voice, one body, loving our Savior. Time is ticking and at His hand, Christ knows the hour. Meanwhile, we are to be watching over His flock with courage and diligence. We can't do it alone. Christ must be with us and for us. I believe He is; I hope you do too.
May your day be blessed by the words of our Lord today my sisters. We are His! That's the only image we need to count on. For today, as in every day, I'm wishing many blessings on your lives and those of your families. Please join me in being counted as one of Christ's farmers. We have a great work to do, so if you feel called, please have enough courage to move!
Deuteronomy 11:13-14 NKJV:
'And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, my prayer is simple today. Lift up Your workers to cultivate Your fields. Make us women that love You with all our hearts. Give us the courage to be bold in our pursuit of You and unite us one by one for one purpose. We want to serve You all our days. We ask that You would give us enough strength to do Your work and courage to spread Your word. Please take away the bonds of our images and replace them with a need to serve You. This life is hard but You are more powerful than any circumstance. Bring us to YOU!
Until tomorrow...
Thursday, July 26, 2012
July 25, 2012
Take this cup. Do you remember who said that? Do you know what it represents? It was said several very key times in the Bible. Jesus said it. It represents His sacrifice for us. In one passage in Corinthians, He states, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood."
The rules of the past were broken on the cross. A new covenant came into play that encompassed grace. The grace we have in our lives today comes from the cross. Jesus did that for us. He stood in the middle between God and us. He is one with His Father and He earned the right to fight for us, which is why we are led by the Holy Spirit and why we must remember the new covenant.
I'm sure that you have times in your life when you question whether God is listening. I think everyone does but if you remember this promise then you understand the power behind the cross. I have come to realize that everything is not mine. That only what God chooses to give me is. I have also come to realize that this life, just like Jesus's, is not mine, it's His. It's a concept that eluded me for years. Because when I prayed, I really believed He would give me what I wanted. But one day, I grew up and realized that I am given exactly what is in His plan, no more, no less. I'm not two, I'm a grown adult and just like Jesus I must surrender my cup to my Father.
That doesn't mean that I don't struggle with the direction or path He has set. I do. I have taken many maizes in my life, only to come back to the only door that means anything. Jesus is the reason I live, I breathe and I'm alive. I know that now. I won't always get my way and I may still be in a maize a time or two, but I'm learning to look for the door faster and when the door opens, I listen.
We must all take a moment and remember in our busy lives what Jesus did for us today. God made a covenant with Abraham and Jesus made a covenant for the rest of us. We are protected under the trinity, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us, and we have a Father that truly loves us, what more could we ask. Oh believe me, we ask. And yet, we must remember that when we worship Him, when we break bread, when we fast, and when we stand still, He is our Savior. May Christ be glorified by these words and may we all spend some time today thanking Him for His death and for giving us life through His sacrifice.
May God be with you today my sisters, wherever you live. May He bless your families and may He give you strength. He is our Lord and worthy to be praised!
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 NKJV:
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
Mark 14:36 NKJV:
And He said, "Abba, Father all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."
My prayer today:
O, Lord, my Father, my Savior, grant me the wisdom to follow You all my days. Help me to release my cup to You and to do Your will, not for me but for Your glory. Take my hand and guide me day by day. Enlighten me with Your thoughts and keep me from sin. Show me Your ways and how to love Your people more. Grant me peace that goes beyond all understanding. Give me hands to heal and a heart to be open. Take me through the maize of life and guide me to Your door. I'm knocking, waiting for my Savior to open and lead me on my path. I am weak but You are strong. I am sinful but You are perfect. I'm in need of a Savior that reminds me that His blood made a covenant for me. I am in awe of You, my Father, help me to always be this way. I want to walk with You all my days, speaking and shouting, that You are my Lord. If people walk by me and think I'm weird, so be it, because I serve a Lord that laid down His life for Me and I will forever cherish that. Thank You for giving us grace and mercy. We are lost but You continue to find us and show us our way. Take every woman's hand today Lord and guide them. Nations are crying out to You. They need You. Be there for them today and help the United States get back to being a God fearing nation. We have lost You in everything but we need You Lord. Don't close Your eyes to us but lead us to be a great nation that cares for other nations and watches over the weak. In all I do and for all I am, I give my life to You today. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
The rules of the past were broken on the cross. A new covenant came into play that encompassed grace. The grace we have in our lives today comes from the cross. Jesus did that for us. He stood in the middle between God and us. He is one with His Father and He earned the right to fight for us, which is why we are led by the Holy Spirit and why we must remember the new covenant.
I'm sure that you have times in your life when you question whether God is listening. I think everyone does but if you remember this promise then you understand the power behind the cross. I have come to realize that everything is not mine. That only what God chooses to give me is. I have also come to realize that this life, just like Jesus's, is not mine, it's His. It's a concept that eluded me for years. Because when I prayed, I really believed He would give me what I wanted. But one day, I grew up and realized that I am given exactly what is in His plan, no more, no less. I'm not two, I'm a grown adult and just like Jesus I must surrender my cup to my Father.
That doesn't mean that I don't struggle with the direction or path He has set. I do. I have taken many maizes in my life, only to come back to the only door that means anything. Jesus is the reason I live, I breathe and I'm alive. I know that now. I won't always get my way and I may still be in a maize a time or two, but I'm learning to look for the door faster and when the door opens, I listen.
We must all take a moment and remember in our busy lives what Jesus did for us today. God made a covenant with Abraham and Jesus made a covenant for the rest of us. We are protected under the trinity, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us, and we have a Father that truly loves us, what more could we ask. Oh believe me, we ask. And yet, we must remember that when we worship Him, when we break bread, when we fast, and when we stand still, He is our Savior. May Christ be glorified by these words and may we all spend some time today thanking Him for His death and for giving us life through His sacrifice.
May God be with you today my sisters, wherever you live. May He bless your families and may He give you strength. He is our Lord and worthy to be praised!
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 NKJV:
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
Mark 14:36 NKJV:
And He said, "Abba, Father all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."
My prayer today:
O, Lord, my Father, my Savior, grant me the wisdom to follow You all my days. Help me to release my cup to You and to do Your will, not for me but for Your glory. Take my hand and guide me day by day. Enlighten me with Your thoughts and keep me from sin. Show me Your ways and how to love Your people more. Grant me peace that goes beyond all understanding. Give me hands to heal and a heart to be open. Take me through the maize of life and guide me to Your door. I'm knocking, waiting for my Savior to open and lead me on my path. I am weak but You are strong. I am sinful but You are perfect. I'm in need of a Savior that reminds me that His blood made a covenant for me. I am in awe of You, my Father, help me to always be this way. I want to walk with You all my days, speaking and shouting, that You are my Lord. If people walk by me and think I'm weird, so be it, because I serve a Lord that laid down His life for Me and I will forever cherish that. Thank You for giving us grace and mercy. We are lost but You continue to find us and show us our way. Take every woman's hand today Lord and guide them. Nations are crying out to You. They need You. Be there for them today and help the United States get back to being a God fearing nation. We have lost You in everything but we need You Lord. Don't close Your eyes to us but lead us to be a great nation that cares for other nations and watches over the weak. In all I do and for all I am, I give my life to You today. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
July 24, 2012
I was traveling for a few days and wasn't able to write. I will be back on tomorrow. Love to all my sisters in Christ.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
July 21, 2012
Everywhere I look, there is tragedy. A shooting one day, a 17 year old boy the next. Death surrounds us, it encompasses our lives. We live, we die. Really, that is the truth. What is it about the timeline that matters so much? If you live to be old, you probably wish you could have died when your friends and family did. If you lose someone young, you wish they had more time to live. The clock is ticking and yet, we look at life as if we have forever.
Forever comes sooner than we think. It might be as an infant, a toddler, a teenager, or you might just live life into your 90's. The wheel turns and no one knows when their last hour will be. We can fear it, we can deny it but someday, we will all perish.
I used to fear death. I used to fear that I would lose my children. Even as a Christian I feared death. Not because I was afraid to be with Jesus but it was more the idea of those that I would leave behind. As if I had a say in it. I don't fear death anymore and I don't worry about controlling events. Because, I have no control over them anyway. But I do know what it's like to mourn and I do know that the clock is ticking.
Time is only important if we aren't using it wisely. Live for today, what does that mean exactly? It means, give yourself to your maker and strive to live in today. Addicts understand this principle. If you want to become clean and free from addiction, you can only live for today. You must participate in that day, make good choices and serve the Lord your God. In AA, they call it your higher power. I understand the concept, but it's a Biblical principle to live in today and there is only one God that can heal you from addiction. Living for today has to become a vital part of who we are. If you look out too far, you might miss your blessing. God works on today because He already knows what will happen tomorrow. It's too hard for us to wait on Him if we are looking at the clock. First of all, we have no control of the time and second, why do we want to anyway?
I guess that's why I live in the moment. I don't know how many days I have on this earth with the people I love. I could remain 50 more years or be gone tomorrow. So, I must concentrate on what God wants me to do today. The one thing I can always do is love someone. I have control of that because I am called to do so. My heart goes out to all those of you that are dealing with loss. It could be a relationship, divorce, or death. God has a heart for you too. It might not seem like it right now but He sees your tears, feels your hurt, and is reaching out to you. He loves you and He is calling all of us to love you too. I can't fix what's happening in this world. I can only participate in today. I wish I could wipe the tears, hold the lost, and love everyone, but there's just me, so I will be praying for the faceless. God knows who they are. I'm just called to love them today.
If you're there today, feeling lost, hopeless and mourning for an event that has occurred, reach out to me or someone you know. We are here for you, soldiers, in an army of One. Jesus came for you. He's reaching out and asking all of us to unite in prayer. We may not know you, but your cries are being heard all over the world. How? Because, God is calling His women to open their hearts, to pray for those they don't know and to use their time, here on earth, wisely. We only have today, so let's do something productive.
I hope you are making memories today. I hope as I write this you are spending time with friends and family. I hope you are making moments count and tonight, I hope you share your heart to our Lord. I hope you lay there and ask the Lord of your life to heal the hurting, seek the lost and lift up the discouraged. Women all over the world need a Savior, call out to Him today. He's waiting to hear from you. Live today my sisters and find joy in the Lord. Take time for Him, so that you can make Him known. And reach out to someone this week, someone you don't know and encourage them in prayer. Thank you for being my sisters.
John 6:37 NKJV:
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV:
My prayer today:
O, Lord, only you know the time and hour when life becomes death. We were born to die and to become one with You again. Help us to live in today and to have hearts for the hurting. Lay women and men on our hearts that need to know You. Or, if they know you but are floundering, give us the courage to be there for them, to stand in the gap and pray. I love it when you lay someone on my heart that I don't know because it reminds me how much You love all Your children. In Your kingdom, there are no favorites, You call us by name and know what must be done today. Help us to be servants to Your flock and give us the wisdom and authority to seek You, while we are praying for Your children. As always, we are women that want to serve our Savior. We ask that You would hold us up, that You would keep sin out of our lives and that You would protect us as we spread Your word. We want to live for today because only You know about tomorrow. Set us on our path and light our way. Help those today that are mourning and give them peace that You are near. We thank You for the love You provide Your chosen. May we seek You daily and learn to love You more. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Forever comes sooner than we think. It might be as an infant, a toddler, a teenager, or you might just live life into your 90's. The wheel turns and no one knows when their last hour will be. We can fear it, we can deny it but someday, we will all perish.
I used to fear death. I used to fear that I would lose my children. Even as a Christian I feared death. Not because I was afraid to be with Jesus but it was more the idea of those that I would leave behind. As if I had a say in it. I don't fear death anymore and I don't worry about controlling events. Because, I have no control over them anyway. But I do know what it's like to mourn and I do know that the clock is ticking.
Time is only important if we aren't using it wisely. Live for today, what does that mean exactly? It means, give yourself to your maker and strive to live in today. Addicts understand this principle. If you want to become clean and free from addiction, you can only live for today. You must participate in that day, make good choices and serve the Lord your God. In AA, they call it your higher power. I understand the concept, but it's a Biblical principle to live in today and there is only one God that can heal you from addiction. Living for today has to become a vital part of who we are. If you look out too far, you might miss your blessing. God works on today because He already knows what will happen tomorrow. It's too hard for us to wait on Him if we are looking at the clock. First of all, we have no control of the time and second, why do we want to anyway?
I guess that's why I live in the moment. I don't know how many days I have on this earth with the people I love. I could remain 50 more years or be gone tomorrow. So, I must concentrate on what God wants me to do today. The one thing I can always do is love someone. I have control of that because I am called to do so. My heart goes out to all those of you that are dealing with loss. It could be a relationship, divorce, or death. God has a heart for you too. It might not seem like it right now but He sees your tears, feels your hurt, and is reaching out to you. He loves you and He is calling all of us to love you too. I can't fix what's happening in this world. I can only participate in today. I wish I could wipe the tears, hold the lost, and love everyone, but there's just me, so I will be praying for the faceless. God knows who they are. I'm just called to love them today.
If you're there today, feeling lost, hopeless and mourning for an event that has occurred, reach out to me or someone you know. We are here for you, soldiers, in an army of One. Jesus came for you. He's reaching out and asking all of us to unite in prayer. We may not know you, but your cries are being heard all over the world. How? Because, God is calling His women to open their hearts, to pray for those they don't know and to use their time, here on earth, wisely. We only have today, so let's do something productive.
I hope you are making memories today. I hope as I write this you are spending time with friends and family. I hope you are making moments count and tonight, I hope you share your heart to our Lord. I hope you lay there and ask the Lord of your life to heal the hurting, seek the lost and lift up the discouraged. Women all over the world need a Savior, call out to Him today. He's waiting to hear from you. Live today my sisters and find joy in the Lord. Take time for Him, so that you can make Him known. And reach out to someone this week, someone you don't know and encourage them in prayer. Thank you for being my sisters.
John 6:37 NKJV:
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV:
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain and a time to lose;
A time to keep and a time to throw away;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Psalm 56:3 NKJV:
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, only you know the time and hour when life becomes death. We were born to die and to become one with You again. Help us to live in today and to have hearts for the hurting. Lay women and men on our hearts that need to know You. Or, if they know you but are floundering, give us the courage to be there for them, to stand in the gap and pray. I love it when you lay someone on my heart that I don't know because it reminds me how much You love all Your children. In Your kingdom, there are no favorites, You call us by name and know what must be done today. Help us to be servants to Your flock and give us the wisdom and authority to seek You, while we are praying for Your children. As always, we are women that want to serve our Savior. We ask that You would hold us up, that You would keep sin out of our lives and that You would protect us as we spread Your word. We want to live for today because only You know about tomorrow. Set us on our path and light our way. Help those today that are mourning and give them peace that You are near. We thank You for the love You provide Your chosen. May we seek You daily and learn to love You more. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Saturday, July 21, 2012
July 21, 2012
Yesterday, in the United States people woke up to the news that 12 people had died in a movie theatre. The incident is horrific but I'm asking all of us to not look at the act but pray for the victims, the shooter and the families of all involved. We can choose to look at this like everyone else. We can question what kind of parents raised a son that would kill innocent people or we can take the stand that evil lurks but God is good and He will heal those that are left behind. I would rather choose for His glory to be done and healing throughout a nation rather than worrying about why.
I can't change the events that occur all over the world. I wish I could. I would love if women weren't tortured, raped and molested. I would love if the wars would stop and people could find peace. I would love if everyone in Africa and all underprivileged countries had enough food. I would love it if the killing would stop. Unfortunately, I don't get to choose. I get to live in a fallen world, where there is evil. I get to be part of a movement that spreads the Gospel and teaches that God loves us. I get to be a woman praying for a nation and the nation of others. Why? This world may be evil but we bow down to a God that loves us and that will have victory in the end.
I don't want to be afraid to send my kids to a movie, drop them off at school or watch them travel the world. I must raise my sons to look at the world as a canvas and they are the painters. Of course, the minute I heard the news, I stopped. Do you know that my sons, when out of school, attend all the premiers like the Batman one. What if? I don't want to play the game of russian roulette. There is no game for me. This is Christ's will on my life and theirs. I don't want to walk in fear that tomorrow the sky will fall and life will be different.
Satan wants us all to fear the unknown. He plays on it and right now is hoping we are scared to go to the movie theatre. He's hoping that women are watching the news and they are paralyzed. It wouldn't be hard. We want to protect our own and yet, we can't. Our protection comes from our Father. He knows the time we will live and die. He knows every circumstance.
Today, I am having faith that my sisters in Christ will unite and pray for the victims of this tragedy. They are all victims but in the dark there were chosen heroes, saving others, instead of themselves. Those are the stories I want us to remember. Let's thank Christ for those that survived, may they do unbelievable things in their lives through their testimony, like those that came out of Columbine. Many of those children chose Christ and I'm sure they are still thankful that they are here to share their story.
Massacres are never easy. Senseless killing is just not right. But we follow a king that knows what tomorrow will bring. We need to lift our brothers and sisters up and ask that God would do a miracle in their lives. Please pray for the children that attended. That they will see the hand of Christ and that they will walk in the light and not fear evil. Children are resilient and they see God so much better than we do. Pray for all of them please and remember that even though evil lurks, God is here!
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 of 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.
There are no assurances in this life. We could walk out our doors today and perish. We don't know what the next hour holds, let alone tomorrow. Our only assurance in anything is our belief and love of Christ Jesus. He knows everything and as I write, He has control of every word, every deed and every person. I take comfort that He is present in this tragedy. I also take comfort that He is present with all of us. He is our guide, through His Spirit, He is revealed. If you don't know Him today, please come before Him and ask Him into your heart. People will let you down but He won't. He is the only sure thing on this earth. May God bless all of you as you reach out in prayer for the victims throughout the world. They aren't just in Colorado, they are in every nation. God will have victory but first, we have to believe.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, I come before You asking You to heal a nation. We ask that You would bring comfort to the victims in Colorado and that You would be present with them as they deal with the events of July 19, 2012. They are Your people and I'm sure that many came to know You that fateful night. The testimonies of the heroes are about sacrifice and You know sacrifice better than anyone. I'm asking that You protect those that survived and feed them through Your body. I pray that women in every nation would unite and pray that Your will be done on the lives of these victims. I pray that You would have victory in the battle and that people all over the world would come to You, crying that You are king. I ask that Your Holy Spirit minister and pour out to the people of Colorado and that this senseless killing would represent more than lost lives. I pray that there would be an outpouring of love and that we would all respond by lifting these people up. You are the only one that can heal a nation. You are the only one that can save a woman from being stoned. You are the only one that can protect us and keep us all our days. I pray right now that we would see that and we would claim that You are the chosen Son, who came and died for us. We are sinful people, Lord. People will judge the shooter's parents. They will judge the parents that took their children to the movie. They will judge! Please keep us from judgement and help us turn toward You. The judgement comes from our fear and Lord, we don't want to fear. We come before You, Your women asking for You to do miracles in every nation in the world. War will come, people will die but please help us to pray through it, so that we can see Your victory. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
I can't change the events that occur all over the world. I wish I could. I would love if women weren't tortured, raped and molested. I would love if the wars would stop and people could find peace. I would love if everyone in Africa and all underprivileged countries had enough food. I would love it if the killing would stop. Unfortunately, I don't get to choose. I get to live in a fallen world, where there is evil. I get to be part of a movement that spreads the Gospel and teaches that God loves us. I get to be a woman praying for a nation and the nation of others. Why? This world may be evil but we bow down to a God that loves us and that will have victory in the end.
I don't want to be afraid to send my kids to a movie, drop them off at school or watch them travel the world. I must raise my sons to look at the world as a canvas and they are the painters. Of course, the minute I heard the news, I stopped. Do you know that my sons, when out of school, attend all the premiers like the Batman one. What if? I don't want to play the game of russian roulette. There is no game for me. This is Christ's will on my life and theirs. I don't want to walk in fear that tomorrow the sky will fall and life will be different.
Satan wants us all to fear the unknown. He plays on it and right now is hoping we are scared to go to the movie theatre. He's hoping that women are watching the news and they are paralyzed. It wouldn't be hard. We want to protect our own and yet, we can't. Our protection comes from our Father. He knows the time we will live and die. He knows every circumstance.
Today, I am having faith that my sisters in Christ will unite and pray for the victims of this tragedy. They are all victims but in the dark there were chosen heroes, saving others, instead of themselves. Those are the stories I want us to remember. Let's thank Christ for those that survived, may they do unbelievable things in their lives through their testimony, like those that came out of Columbine. Many of those children chose Christ and I'm sure they are still thankful that they are here to share their story.
Massacres are never easy. Senseless killing is just not right. But we follow a king that knows what tomorrow will bring. We need to lift our brothers and sisters up and ask that God would do a miracle in their lives. Please pray for the children that attended. That they will see the hand of Christ and that they will walk in the light and not fear evil. Children are resilient and they see God so much better than we do. Pray for all of them please and remember that even though evil lurks, God is here!
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 of 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.
There are no assurances in this life. We could walk out our doors today and perish. We don't know what the next hour holds, let alone tomorrow. Our only assurance in anything is our belief and love of Christ Jesus. He knows everything and as I write, He has control of every word, every deed and every person. I take comfort that He is present in this tragedy. I also take comfort that He is present with all of us. He is our guide, through His Spirit, He is revealed. If you don't know Him today, please come before Him and ask Him into your heart. People will let you down but He won't. He is the only sure thing on this earth. May God bless all of you as you reach out in prayer for the victims throughout the world. They aren't just in Colorado, they are in every nation. God will have victory but first, we have to believe.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, I come before You asking You to heal a nation. We ask that You would bring comfort to the victims in Colorado and that You would be present with them as they deal with the events of July 19, 2012. They are Your people and I'm sure that many came to know You that fateful night. The testimonies of the heroes are about sacrifice and You know sacrifice better than anyone. I'm asking that You protect those that survived and feed them through Your body. I pray that women in every nation would unite and pray that Your will be done on the lives of these victims. I pray that You would have victory in the battle and that people all over the world would come to You, crying that You are king. I ask that Your Holy Spirit minister and pour out to the people of Colorado and that this senseless killing would represent more than lost lives. I pray that there would be an outpouring of love and that we would all respond by lifting these people up. You are the only one that can heal a nation. You are the only one that can save a woman from being stoned. You are the only one that can protect us and keep us all our days. I pray right now that we would see that and we would claim that You are the chosen Son, who came and died for us. We are sinful people, Lord. People will judge the shooter's parents. They will judge the parents that took their children to the movie. They will judge! Please keep us from judgement and help us turn toward You. The judgement comes from our fear and Lord, we don't want to fear. We come before You, Your women asking for You to do miracles in every nation in the world. War will come, people will die but please help us to pray through it, so that we can see Your victory. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Friday, July 20, 2012
July 20, 2012
Can you believe July is almost over? The days tick by so quickly. I can remember a time when it seemed like the calendar would never speed up and now, I would like it to slow down. Well, as I've been telling you, we are in a pretty dangerous situation in the middle of the US. Temperatures are rising into the 106 and 108 range this week. Grass is dying and I don't see the birds flying as much as I used too. It's just too hot. But yesterday, as I was driving the clouds were forming overhead and guess what? Five raindrops hit my windshield. Just five, but I praised the Lord for each one. I understand that some areas did get some rain, unfortunately, none of it hit my house. But I was praising God anyway. It's strange, if we didn't need the rain would I have had so much passion for five little drops. I'm not sure, probably not. I can think of many circumstance in life where I praised God when I really needed something but often, if I have an abundance, the praise doesn't come so easy.
It reminded me that my needs are taken care of every day. I have a roof over my head, with air conditioning, food to eat and money to pay my bills. I sometimes take these things for granted and yesterday, I realized that I really need to be praising Jesus for everything. I have been blessed and with that comes a great responsibility to remember exactly who holds my life in His hands. The birds know, the animals know, I think we are the only creatures that are praising Him one minute and grumbling the next.
Which got me to thinking about the Israelites and the praises they sent up to God when the Red Sea parted. I was actually in one of the offices I sell too and they had a little newspaper clipping on this subject. It said that the Israelites were praising and worshipping God but the longer the journey, the louder the grumbling and the less praising they were doing. I guess all of us are like that at times in our lives. I know that I would love for it to rain for several days and coat the land, but if it were to rain for weeks; I'm sure I would be that grumbling Israelite.
Our hearts and our need dictate which way we will go. If our heart needs something badly and God provides it, we will praise Him all day long. If we aren't getting what we think we need, we will grumble. I am going to challenge myself for the rest of this month to praise Him in this excessive heat, with or without rain. I'm going to thank Him for every provision and for every life I meet. I'm going to even thank Him when a doctor walks away from me, which by the way is not that easy for me, it really does hurt the pride.
I don't want to be like the Israelites counting the days, thinking negative thoughts and forgetting that I am in Christ's hands. I want to walk, knowing that every day He is with me and He will provide when the time comes. I want to keep at the forefront of my mind that I don't know His thoughts or His ways, but they are right and just. It's quite a challenge I know! I'm laughing right now wondering when I will fail it. However, I am committed to loving my Lord and that means thanking Him for every provision, every day.
I hope you challenge yourself too. It's amazing how many things we take for granted. As always, I am praying for you my sisters and asking God to further His kingdom through you. Thanks for reading this blog and for giving me inspiration every day to get up and write it. This blog is just another example of why I should be praising God. He provides the words, I'm just the vessel He uses to write them. May God be with you today as you go about your day.
Deuteronomy 14:1-2 NKJV:
"You are the children of the Lord your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead. For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."
Psalm 132:15 NKJV:
I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV:
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven;
My prayer today:
O, Lord, I come before You, humbled by five rain drops. It was exciting to watch the clouds cover the earth and to see those tiny drops as they hit my windshield. You are the great provider on this earth and I don't think we give You enough credit or praise for our lives and the provisions You provide. I'm in awe of You today and want to shout out to the world, "YOU ARE LORD." Help us to be like You, to take each circumstance and praise You through it. We are so fickle that we wander around in a state of confusion. One minute we are up praising Your name and the next, we are grumbling, depressed and full of unbelief. But You know us and You love us anyway. You are the Father of our hearts, the power behind the Spirit and the God behind His people. We need You daily and we want to praise You for Your life! We never deserved to be saved and yet you came and chose us one by one. Guide Your women to You, help us to raise the next generation, give us the strength and the courage to fight the spiritual battles ahead and unite us all over the world. Please put on our hearts women and countries that need our support. We need to be aware that Your people need us to lift them up and to be ready when called. You are the light in my life. You guide me, You mold me and thank You Lord for You provide for me. We love You Lord, not just today but every day. Be our light in this darkened world and remind us of Your wonderful Spirit. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)