Good morning my sisters-
2015 has left us with many things to think about. We have seen wars, watched warriors come home and Christians being persecuted. Conflicts with police officers and rumors of abuse have been abounding and children and young men and women have lost their lives. People have experienced loss and the economy is still in bad shape. We have watched men getting their heads cut off because they believe in Jesus and attacks have happened all over the world. Hate is everywhere and love keeps slipping away like grains of sand. And yet, I have hope in the future. I am abounding with hope in Jesus.
What does 2016 have in store? I don't think any of us knows. I'm hoping there's revival for Jesus, with a great impact and renewal on teenagers that have turned to drugs, alcohol and sex. I pray for marriages around the globe and those that were put into prostitution. I'm praying for those struggling with depression and opression. I'm hoping that God will find compassion for the weak and mercy on the nations. I'm praying that we would stand up for what we believe in and not worry about people's opinions or thoughts of who we are. I'm hoping for God's glory to be seen from coast to coast and globally. I'm praying that I personally would have great faith and that through my fingers, God's word would come and heal the broken, oppressed and shamed.
I am moving on from 2015 with thankfulness in my heart. I have been sifted and have come out of it stronger, wiser and a better person. I believe more and am hoping for the plans God has for me. Through every storm, every war and every loss, Christ is with us. Life will always happen. We can't stop it nor can we control it. We have to live every day with hope, love and the pursuit of God.
As you enter this new year remember that Abraham believed God in everything. Joseph didn't stop when he was put in prison and Paul, although a murderer, became the disciple most talked about today. His faithfulness goes to show that when we take the challenge, live day to day and seek God's face, we will find Him. We are the next generation that can bring about change through prayer. Prayer is the one thing we can do together. Jesus will hear the choir on earth for redemption and peace. I'm praying for every person that is being persecuted but I'm also praying for everyone that doubt the impact of Jesus Christ. The enemy is strong but Christ is so much stronger. This is the year we must believe in the supernatural. I am praying, are you? Make 2016 the year of prayer and petition. It should be the year that we believe Christ will move our mountain and that we are warriors for this time. I leave you with some Scripture that was given to me this last few weeks. I have prayed for Scripture that will remind me of who I serve.
Luke 22:31-32 NIV
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
John 3:2-3 NIV
He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him." Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
John 14:1 NIV
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believing in God, believe also in me."
John 4:25 NIV
The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Judges 6:12 NIV
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, He said, "The Lord I with you, mighty warrior."
My prayer on the 1st of January 2016 was that God would give me a Scripture that I could meditate on and this one came to mind.
Psalm 27:5 NIV
For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
All of these Scriptures have meant something to me personally. The Word is for you. It has meaning. It might have been written thousands of years ago but God still uses it to help us, love us and move us to Him. If we aren't in it, then we won't know what He wants us to know. Like you, I struggle with this walk but every day I find solace in the fact that I am dependent on the God who loved me so much that He gave His only begotten Son for my eternal life. If you have hit this blog, you are being asked to seek Him, love Him and move toward Him. How do I know? Because that's what He's called me to do. Happy 2016 and may the Lord of my heart reign in my life, through my life and for others who need a Savior.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
When did God get so big?
Good morning my sisters-
Christmas is almost here and the world is in utter turmoil but there is hope. Where you might ask? It's in the laugh of a little child, in the smile of someone who just turned 80 or in your teenager as they think they have pulled one over on you. Life has hope everywhere. It's in the moon rising in the sky as the sun has set or when you see two jets close to one another. Maybe it's when a nurse says there right here for you
or a doctor gives you a ray of hope. It's in the wind as it whips through the wheat and it's in a dog's tongue as it licks you and tells you life is good. Everywhere there are signs of hope and yet this season can make you feel as if there's no hope. I'm going to argue with you on that. Jesus brought hope to Israel, He brought hope to the gentile and He brought hope to the world.
Our brothers and sisters are being persecuted in other lands and it's time for us to pray. The miracle of Christmas is not in the presents and the beautiful tree, it's in the prayers of the righteous. Please take a moment this Christmas and pray for those that are standing up for Christ. He is the reason for the season!
Have a beautiful day.
Christmas is almost here and the world is in utter turmoil but there is hope. Where you might ask? It's in the laugh of a little child, in the smile of someone who just turned 80 or in your teenager as they think they have pulled one over on you. Life has hope everywhere. It's in the moon rising in the sky as the sun has set or when you see two jets close to one another. Maybe it's when a nurse says there right here for you
or a doctor gives you a ray of hope. It's in the wind as it whips through the wheat and it's in a dog's tongue as it licks you and tells you life is good. Everywhere there are signs of hope and yet this season can make you feel as if there's no hope. I'm going to argue with you on that. Jesus brought hope to Israel, He brought hope to the gentile and He brought hope to the world.
Our brothers and sisters are being persecuted in other lands and it's time for us to pray. The miracle of Christmas is not in the presents and the beautiful tree, it's in the prayers of the righteous. Please take a moment this Christmas and pray for those that are standing up for Christ. He is the reason for the season!
Have a beautiful day.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Be still and know that I am God
Good morning-
The end of this year is creeping up on us and all I can think about is the lesson God has etched on my heart. All year, I have heard "Be still and know that I am God." It's something that people that are driven have a hard time doing. I have no problem believing in God but I have a huge problem in being still. Still to me means sleeping and even there my dreams are vivid, busy and often very confusing. I've gotten very used to being busy, running when I should walk and only collapsing when my head hits the pillow. So I've asked my self over and over, why does Jesus constantly remind me to be still?
Being still means you can hear. I'm used to doing five things at the same time but it's been in the quiet, between me and the keyboard with no noise, no people and just the wind whipping against the window pane that I have heard God. Not audibly of course but deep in my spirit. My cousin sent me a family tree necklace today and I was in awe of it's beauty. God promised Abraham He would be the Father of nations. Do you believe that Abraham and his faithfulness brought you to this day? I hope you do because it's that promise that continues until Christ comes back for us. Obviously, Abraham must have spent time with God, scripture says he did. During those times is when this immense blessing was proclaimed. It wasn't when he was toiling on the earth, it came when he sat still and let God reveal His vision to him. That's the key I think most of us miss in this technological highway. How do we remain still when emails are popping on our computers and phones as fast as we can read them? We are surrounded by television, radio, Internet and cell phones. When do we have time to be still and know that God is who He said He was?
So this morning as I rounded the corner to get my first cup of coffee, I decided to sit down and write what's most on my heart as Christmas approaches. It's not how fast the year has gone or that my birthday is around the corner, it's about the gift of clarification, peace and understanding Jesus has given me this year. He has directed my path, increased my faith and rewarded me as I sat still waiting on Him for so many things. I am the luckiest girl in the world because I've come out of a trial more faithful, full of immense hope and looking forward to the adventure before me. I have less fear, more hope and a tremendous thankfulness in my heart that although life isn't easy, God will always be near and when I'm still I can hear from Him.
This Christmas is not about the presents for me, that being said my husband bought me a really cool refrigerator but that's not the best gift I've been given this year. The best gift I've been given this year is the realization that I've moved from my head to my spirit. I've realized that all provision comes from my Savior. He has bended me just like a tree that has ice on it. It doesn't break, it just moves toward the earth and as the ice melts the tree pops up stronger, higher and reaching for the hope of the sun. There is hope on this earth even in the midst of all the evil. In order for us to keep this hope alive we must pray for our sisters in the US and abroad. We must not fall to the fear of foreigners and welcome the love of Christ. Evil is everywhere. We shouldn't fool ourselves to believe we can protect ourselves. Only through Christ can there be protection. Ladies it's time we heard from our God. It's time we got on our knees and proclaimed the name of Jesus Christ and it's time we let Him walk beside us, go in front of us and remain strong in Him. I for one have benefited from the moments I've spent with Him. I have prayed more, read more and sought Him more in this year than in any other year in my life. Why you might ask? I found it in Scripture this week. I had to be sifted in order to bring women to Him. I have been sifted and through it all I have found the only sustainable thing on earth, faith and hope in Jesus Christ.
As you reflect on this year, look up and thank Jesus for every joy and every disappointment. Ask Him to really show you the good in the year. And if you've experienced, war, a wayward child, death or despair, know Jesus walks with you and when your still all things are possible through our Lord and Savior!
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 KJV
Join me in a Christmas prayer:
O, Lord Jesus as we come to celebrate Your birth we ask that You would unite nations, change hearts and surround evil with Your power. We believe in the promise You provided to Abraham. He became the father of nations. Your people are all over the world, generations were proclaimed so long ago and now they are spread thousands of miles apart. We need You to open eyes, bring hope to the hopeless and more importantly, guide your warriors to our knees. Let this Christmas be more than lights and children's squeals as they open presents. Let this Christmas be about kindness toward one another and a cry for "Peace on Earth!" But most importantly, let this Christmas season be about being still and providing a vision for your people to look for their Savior. We thank You for Your awesome power and Your holy word that one day You would come and rescue Your bride! Power and Glory to You our risen Savior who was and is to come....AMEN
The end of this year is creeping up on us and all I can think about is the lesson God has etched on my heart. All year, I have heard "Be still and know that I am God." It's something that people that are driven have a hard time doing. I have no problem believing in God but I have a huge problem in being still. Still to me means sleeping and even there my dreams are vivid, busy and often very confusing. I've gotten very used to being busy, running when I should walk and only collapsing when my head hits the pillow. So I've asked my self over and over, why does Jesus constantly remind me to be still?
Being still means you can hear. I'm used to doing five things at the same time but it's been in the quiet, between me and the keyboard with no noise, no people and just the wind whipping against the window pane that I have heard God. Not audibly of course but deep in my spirit. My cousin sent me a family tree necklace today and I was in awe of it's beauty. God promised Abraham He would be the Father of nations. Do you believe that Abraham and his faithfulness brought you to this day? I hope you do because it's that promise that continues until Christ comes back for us. Obviously, Abraham must have spent time with God, scripture says he did. During those times is when this immense blessing was proclaimed. It wasn't when he was toiling on the earth, it came when he sat still and let God reveal His vision to him. That's the key I think most of us miss in this technological highway. How do we remain still when emails are popping on our computers and phones as fast as we can read them? We are surrounded by television, radio, Internet and cell phones. When do we have time to be still and know that God is who He said He was?
So this morning as I rounded the corner to get my first cup of coffee, I decided to sit down and write what's most on my heart as Christmas approaches. It's not how fast the year has gone or that my birthday is around the corner, it's about the gift of clarification, peace and understanding Jesus has given me this year. He has directed my path, increased my faith and rewarded me as I sat still waiting on Him for so many things. I am the luckiest girl in the world because I've come out of a trial more faithful, full of immense hope and looking forward to the adventure before me. I have less fear, more hope and a tremendous thankfulness in my heart that although life isn't easy, God will always be near and when I'm still I can hear from Him.
This Christmas is not about the presents for me, that being said my husband bought me a really cool refrigerator but that's not the best gift I've been given this year. The best gift I've been given this year is the realization that I've moved from my head to my spirit. I've realized that all provision comes from my Savior. He has bended me just like a tree that has ice on it. It doesn't break, it just moves toward the earth and as the ice melts the tree pops up stronger, higher and reaching for the hope of the sun. There is hope on this earth even in the midst of all the evil. In order for us to keep this hope alive we must pray for our sisters in the US and abroad. We must not fall to the fear of foreigners and welcome the love of Christ. Evil is everywhere. We shouldn't fool ourselves to believe we can protect ourselves. Only through Christ can there be protection. Ladies it's time we heard from our God. It's time we got on our knees and proclaimed the name of Jesus Christ and it's time we let Him walk beside us, go in front of us and remain strong in Him. I for one have benefited from the moments I've spent with Him. I have prayed more, read more and sought Him more in this year than in any other year in my life. Why you might ask? I found it in Scripture this week. I had to be sifted in order to bring women to Him. I have been sifted and through it all I have found the only sustainable thing on earth, faith and hope in Jesus Christ.
As you reflect on this year, look up and thank Jesus for every joy and every disappointment. Ask Him to really show you the good in the year. And if you've experienced, war, a wayward child, death or despair, know Jesus walks with you and when your still all things are possible through our Lord and Savior!
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 KJV
Join me in a Christmas prayer:
O, Lord Jesus as we come to celebrate Your birth we ask that You would unite nations, change hearts and surround evil with Your power. We believe in the promise You provided to Abraham. He became the father of nations. Your people are all over the world, generations were proclaimed so long ago and now they are spread thousands of miles apart. We need You to open eyes, bring hope to the hopeless and more importantly, guide your warriors to our knees. Let this Christmas be more than lights and children's squeals as they open presents. Let this Christmas be about kindness toward one another and a cry for "Peace on Earth!" But most importantly, let this Christmas season be about being still and providing a vision for your people to look for their Savior. We thank You for Your awesome power and Your holy word that one day You would come and rescue Your bride! Power and Glory to You our risen Savior who was and is to come....AMEN
Saturday, December 12, 2015
What happened to dreaming big...
Good morning all-
The question of the day is what happened to dreaming big? You know when you were a little girl and you dreamed of your family, your job, your new invention or just baking a cake. How about dressing up and imagining yourself as the fairy princess in the latest Cinderella film? All of us had dreams. Dreams that were so much larger than ourselves. And yet, as life ticked by, we lost sight of those gigantic dreams. Why? Reality set in, that's why.
I had a dream to be a doctor, that got thrown out because I couldn't pass Physics. Then I was going to be a journalist, oh that got thrown out too. And then, I was going to be a great Historian, well that didn't happen either. So in a span of four years, three of my very ambitious dreams got washed away, never to be thought of again, until today. Today, I was thinking of one of my very large dreams. I prayed that I would go into business with my husband. This dream happened long before I met my husband and do you know what happened this year, my husband started up a business and I am his financial and business advisor. How did that come to fruition? Honestly, I don't know. I've thought about it. Maybe it was my boss taking the time to teach me about the fundamentals of small business financials or maybe it was the opportunity I was given to help run a business, either way I'm still not sure. So three of my dreams were washed deep within the ground and one became a reality. Now I have other dreams like writing a book and speaking to women throughout the world, will that come true? Time will tell. The point I'm trying to make is that as our dreams are washed away so is the vision, excitement and expectation that our dreams can come true.
This year has been full of dreams that have been squashed and opportunities that have been given. When I look at this year I realize that God has had His hand in all things and that I need to dream bigger, believe more and let God take the wheel. I love having the wheel and up until this last year my driving was excellent. I was the NASCAR champion of my career. No one could stop me. I had propelled to the pinnacle of all my hard work. Well nothing is perfect and I hit a road block or two, I didn't die or even have severe injuries but I did have a concussion for a while. It took a great amount of prayer for me to see that my opportunities are endless and I can make good of a very difficult situation. I have learned that I'm not perfect. Crazy to think I was anyway. I really believed I understood people but I didn't. I really believed that as long as I cared, people would care back, not so much. And finally, I believed that my hard work and production would always be enough. Well it hasn't been. My life is not perfect, I'm not perfect, people aren't perfect and I still want to dream.
Writing my life goals and producing them into fruition has been my mantra. I don't let "NO" impact my ability to perform. I don't let what you think about me defeat me and I don't stop until I achieve. I am in control, right? Wrong. Although those things are admirable in the world, I'm not sure they are for God. Goals are wonderful and I believe we should set them but they are not the end all of this life. Every moment of the day, I'm thinking about how to achieve my goals. What's left then for God to guide me, watch over me and produce fruit from my life? Not much. I've orchestrated everything weighing out the risk and the reward but I've left something out, my dreams. Why do we squash our dreams? I have because I had to provide. Provision has been my compass and my entire focus and somewhere in that word, I began to believe I was actually responsible to provide for everyone. What about Jesus, where was He? Was He sitting on the sidelines? No, He was waiting for me to be still, which by the way I'm horrible at. My mind goes as fast as one of those race cars. It propels around a track in less than 30 seconds and can solve problems, multi-task and rationalize all within the same time period. It's a super highway of thoughts, feelings, and risk modeling. I would hate to actually look inside. So how does a person like me be still you might ask? The answer: God brings me to my knees. There is no greater way to get someone like me to slow down and listen than to put up obstacles I just can't scale alone. That's how He got to me this year. He put up road block after road block and with each one I found myself deeper in Scripture, more in tune with needing Him and praying until I didn't think I could pray anymore. And this week, He got in, finally.
Having dreams is not wrong? As a matter of fact, I think that's how God inspires us to be better. Having dreams and believing your in control, that you can make them happen, that's the wrong part. We must step forward and at the same time realize that Jesus will fulfill them if they are in His will. Telling someone they aren't good at something is not going to take away a vision from God. I'm not good at math and yet, I can do accounting. How did that happen? Because God wanted it to happen, that's how. My childhood dream and prayer to be in business with my mate came true years after I prayed it. As a matter of fact, I had forgotten about it until this week when I was still. Dreams come to us when we aren't trying to solve the world's issues. They are inspired and when your a believer they are God inspired. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't achieve anything you dream. You can and you will if God is the captain of your ship. Be at peace, don't try to figure out all the details, let Jesus gently guide you, just as He did for His disciples. Jesus prayed for Peter because He knew the path Peter would take. If He did it for him, He's done it for us. I leave you today with Jesus' prayer for Peter. I've made it an image on my bible app so that I can remember He prayed for me too.
May your dreams propel you toward our Lord and Savior and may He make them a reality for His glory!
Luke 22:31-33 NIV
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked me to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
The question of the day is what happened to dreaming big? You know when you were a little girl and you dreamed of your family, your job, your new invention or just baking a cake. How about dressing up and imagining yourself as the fairy princess in the latest Cinderella film? All of us had dreams. Dreams that were so much larger than ourselves. And yet, as life ticked by, we lost sight of those gigantic dreams. Why? Reality set in, that's why.
I had a dream to be a doctor, that got thrown out because I couldn't pass Physics. Then I was going to be a journalist, oh that got thrown out too. And then, I was going to be a great Historian, well that didn't happen either. So in a span of four years, three of my very ambitious dreams got washed away, never to be thought of again, until today. Today, I was thinking of one of my very large dreams. I prayed that I would go into business with my husband. This dream happened long before I met my husband and do you know what happened this year, my husband started up a business and I am his financial and business advisor. How did that come to fruition? Honestly, I don't know. I've thought about it. Maybe it was my boss taking the time to teach me about the fundamentals of small business financials or maybe it was the opportunity I was given to help run a business, either way I'm still not sure. So three of my dreams were washed deep within the ground and one became a reality. Now I have other dreams like writing a book and speaking to women throughout the world, will that come true? Time will tell. The point I'm trying to make is that as our dreams are washed away so is the vision, excitement and expectation that our dreams can come true.
This year has been full of dreams that have been squashed and opportunities that have been given. When I look at this year I realize that God has had His hand in all things and that I need to dream bigger, believe more and let God take the wheel. I love having the wheel and up until this last year my driving was excellent. I was the NASCAR champion of my career. No one could stop me. I had propelled to the pinnacle of all my hard work. Well nothing is perfect and I hit a road block or two, I didn't die or even have severe injuries but I did have a concussion for a while. It took a great amount of prayer for me to see that my opportunities are endless and I can make good of a very difficult situation. I have learned that I'm not perfect. Crazy to think I was anyway. I really believed I understood people but I didn't. I really believed that as long as I cared, people would care back, not so much. And finally, I believed that my hard work and production would always be enough. Well it hasn't been. My life is not perfect, I'm not perfect, people aren't perfect and I still want to dream.
Writing my life goals and producing them into fruition has been my mantra. I don't let "NO" impact my ability to perform. I don't let what you think about me defeat me and I don't stop until I achieve. I am in control, right? Wrong. Although those things are admirable in the world, I'm not sure they are for God. Goals are wonderful and I believe we should set them but they are not the end all of this life. Every moment of the day, I'm thinking about how to achieve my goals. What's left then for God to guide me, watch over me and produce fruit from my life? Not much. I've orchestrated everything weighing out the risk and the reward but I've left something out, my dreams. Why do we squash our dreams? I have because I had to provide. Provision has been my compass and my entire focus and somewhere in that word, I began to believe I was actually responsible to provide for everyone. What about Jesus, where was He? Was He sitting on the sidelines? No, He was waiting for me to be still, which by the way I'm horrible at. My mind goes as fast as one of those race cars. It propels around a track in less than 30 seconds and can solve problems, multi-task and rationalize all within the same time period. It's a super highway of thoughts, feelings, and risk modeling. I would hate to actually look inside. So how does a person like me be still you might ask? The answer: God brings me to my knees. There is no greater way to get someone like me to slow down and listen than to put up obstacles I just can't scale alone. That's how He got to me this year. He put up road block after road block and with each one I found myself deeper in Scripture, more in tune with needing Him and praying until I didn't think I could pray anymore. And this week, He got in, finally.
Having dreams is not wrong? As a matter of fact, I think that's how God inspires us to be better. Having dreams and believing your in control, that you can make them happen, that's the wrong part. We must step forward and at the same time realize that Jesus will fulfill them if they are in His will. Telling someone they aren't good at something is not going to take away a vision from God. I'm not good at math and yet, I can do accounting. How did that happen? Because God wanted it to happen, that's how. My childhood dream and prayer to be in business with my mate came true years after I prayed it. As a matter of fact, I had forgotten about it until this week when I was still. Dreams come to us when we aren't trying to solve the world's issues. They are inspired and when your a believer they are God inspired. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't achieve anything you dream. You can and you will if God is the captain of your ship. Be at peace, don't try to figure out all the details, let Jesus gently guide you, just as He did for His disciples. Jesus prayed for Peter because He knew the path Peter would take. If He did it for him, He's done it for us. I leave you today with Jesus' prayer for Peter. I've made it an image on my bible app so that I can remember He prayed for me too.
May your dreams propel you toward our Lord and Savior and may He make them a reality for His glory!
Luke 22:31-33 NIV
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked me to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Friday, November 20, 2015
My year of YES!
Good morning all-
I have just finished a really good book. It's called, "Year of Yes" by Shonda Rhimes. Now I need to preface this with the fact that I didn't even know who she was until Sunday night. Some of you may be saying, what? I know but I just don't watch a lot of television. I'm too busy. I have a house to take care of, a job and my husband's company to run. I don't have time to veg by the television Thursday night to watch the trio written by Shonda and that's why my channel searching and falling onto the OWN channel just as she was answering Oprah's question is so incredibly awesome.
I have been working on taking care of myself. I am eating smaller portions, working smarter, traveling better and working out. I'm trying to remember that if I don't give something to myself, I won't be anything to anyone else and people depend on me to sell, take care of the house, cook and do the books. People need things from me but I need to do something for myself because this year has flown by and I don't have anything to show for it really. So as I began to get on my husband's bike to go four boring miles(you all know what I'm saying), I turned the television on and I hear Soul Sunday, so I stop, watch it for a second and start riding and everything in my life started to change. One minute, one bike, one channel and then light.
Jesus is my reason to live so if you read her book and start disagreeing, just take a moment and put her journey into the story of Jesus. She wants to love, she needs to love and she hasn't ever loved herself until her year of yes. I saw Jesus all over it. Now if you buy the book and I suggest you do, you may judge me but I can honestly say that every page I turned, I saw Jesus transforming, creating and lifting up. I saw redemption and joy.
This life isn't easy and great women that become warriors aren't great because they were born with a silver spoon, never had hard times or walked in grace all their lives. Great women overcome challenges, scale tall walls and endure hard circumstances. They learn to give of themselves to survive and what drives them is their insecurity and drive to be the best in a world that constantly will knock you down. So yes, I loved the book and yes, I saw Jesus and yes, I believe He alone brought me to OWN for that moment. It's not about the universe or a higher power; It's God!
If you've read this blog you've been part of my challenging year. I have fought and won. I have found peace or what I thought was peace in the storm and I have sought to challenge myself in the face of much adversity. I have not failed this year. I have learned and with every lesson comes enlightenment and right now reading Shonda's book may have opened my eyes in a way I never thought possible. In some ways she and I share commonalities. We both love to read, to create and to dream. And just like her, I held in everything I thought and felt. I closeted my eating to help me with the stresses of life and I succumbed to sitting at home, going to bed early and sleeping rather than living. I hid and hid and hid. I even hid behind this keyboard. It's so easy to write out what I think but it's much harder for me to share these same feelings one on one. I'm a lion behind the keyboard but a mouse in my personal life. Well I'm shedding that and every other thing I've carried in my life. I was made for this time and I'm going to hit it head on.
I love to work. I was made to work. The greater the challenge the more I want to conquer it. If you don't like me, I will work to make you like me. If you think I'm a failure, I'll show you I'm not. If you think I can't do something, I will because I learned very young no one was going to lift me up, wipe me off and look into my blue eyes and say, "Lisa, I'm your savior." No one, that is, except for Jesus. And once again, I'm in a room by myself and Jesus appears. I'm a thinker. I think about everything. I stifle my emotions, have a hard time telling someone they made me angry and hate to be mad because when I'm mad, I have no sense. So I learned young, as the popular people were picking on me, making fun of me and even the nerds excluded me, to stifle all emotion. I pushed it down. I worked at having a shell of pride and I never let anyone tell me I couldn't do it but through the years I have also let fear and worry creep into my life, my dreams and my hope. Jesus is not worry, He's freedom. And yet the bondage of my youth has crept into every part of me and as I finished this wonderful book I realized this was my year of yes.
I'm sure you think I'm crazy. How does a book make you say, "YES?" Well how did six words from a sister change Shonda's life, you'll have to read the book because it really is very special. For me, it was as simple as saying, she's just like you. She loves to work. She loves her kids. She wants to be the best mother and the best working woman. She needs to be creative as much as she needs to breathe and she loves control. Guess what? If this was an algebraic equation, it would equal me. And all of the sudden, I heard that inner voice that really is an introvert, reformed nerd, say, "Why can't I say Yes?" One moment, one thought, could it mean true transformation? My answer is YES. This has been a year of challenge, growth, opportunity and Jesus. Without Him none of this would matter. I don't matter if He's not driving. So yes, I need to do the things that scare me to death. I need to worry less, ride that bike more and revel in the fact that I get to spread the Word of God. I get to, that's just crazy. How does a reformed introvert who is more nerd than anything else, get to? I'm anointed that's how and I'm His and this is my year of yes.
To commemorate this very special moment in my life, I took a note. I'm a goal-oriented person. I put a goal on something and I will meet that goal. I will work for it with verve. I just love that word. So it's on my list. There are fifteen very specific things I am going to say YES to this year and I'm going to look at them every morning after I've read my Bible and have asked God to lead me. It's time to be the butterfly and not the caterpillar. It's time to experience the blessings God has bestowed on me and those I tell everyone else to celebrate. It's time for me to be one with Jesus and transform into an all believing, all seeking soldier with all the wounds befitting to a great warrior. My wounds are His reward. I need to embrace that, you need to embrace it and you need to say YES to your fears. It's time that the women of God stand up in faith and believe we are strong because of Jesus. We are not faint, we don't need to stand on the sidelines, we need to embrace the power of the cross and live!
Lord make us mighty warriors for you in every way, not just in this moment but for generations to come. Please bless my year of YES and gather me unto You as I face my fears, surrender my worries and look up! Your the only reason I need to live and Lord I want to live with my whole heart. IN JESUS NAME I ASK THIS, AMEN
I have just finished a really good book. It's called, "Year of Yes" by Shonda Rhimes. Now I need to preface this with the fact that I didn't even know who she was until Sunday night. Some of you may be saying, what? I know but I just don't watch a lot of television. I'm too busy. I have a house to take care of, a job and my husband's company to run. I don't have time to veg by the television Thursday night to watch the trio written by Shonda and that's why my channel searching and falling onto the OWN channel just as she was answering Oprah's question is so incredibly awesome.
I have been working on taking care of myself. I am eating smaller portions, working smarter, traveling better and working out. I'm trying to remember that if I don't give something to myself, I won't be anything to anyone else and people depend on me to sell, take care of the house, cook and do the books. People need things from me but I need to do something for myself because this year has flown by and I don't have anything to show for it really. So as I began to get on my husband's bike to go four boring miles(you all know what I'm saying), I turned the television on and I hear Soul Sunday, so I stop, watch it for a second and start riding and everything in my life started to change. One minute, one bike, one channel and then light.
Jesus is my reason to live so if you read her book and start disagreeing, just take a moment and put her journey into the story of Jesus. She wants to love, she needs to love and she hasn't ever loved herself until her year of yes. I saw Jesus all over it. Now if you buy the book and I suggest you do, you may judge me but I can honestly say that every page I turned, I saw Jesus transforming, creating and lifting up. I saw redemption and joy.
This life isn't easy and great women that become warriors aren't great because they were born with a silver spoon, never had hard times or walked in grace all their lives. Great women overcome challenges, scale tall walls and endure hard circumstances. They learn to give of themselves to survive and what drives them is their insecurity and drive to be the best in a world that constantly will knock you down. So yes, I loved the book and yes, I saw Jesus and yes, I believe He alone brought me to OWN for that moment. It's not about the universe or a higher power; It's God!
If you've read this blog you've been part of my challenging year. I have fought and won. I have found peace or what I thought was peace in the storm and I have sought to challenge myself in the face of much adversity. I have not failed this year. I have learned and with every lesson comes enlightenment and right now reading Shonda's book may have opened my eyes in a way I never thought possible. In some ways she and I share commonalities. We both love to read, to create and to dream. And just like her, I held in everything I thought and felt. I closeted my eating to help me with the stresses of life and I succumbed to sitting at home, going to bed early and sleeping rather than living. I hid and hid and hid. I even hid behind this keyboard. It's so easy to write out what I think but it's much harder for me to share these same feelings one on one. I'm a lion behind the keyboard but a mouse in my personal life. Well I'm shedding that and every other thing I've carried in my life. I was made for this time and I'm going to hit it head on.
I love to work. I was made to work. The greater the challenge the more I want to conquer it. If you don't like me, I will work to make you like me. If you think I'm a failure, I'll show you I'm not. If you think I can't do something, I will because I learned very young no one was going to lift me up, wipe me off and look into my blue eyes and say, "Lisa, I'm your savior." No one, that is, except for Jesus. And once again, I'm in a room by myself and Jesus appears. I'm a thinker. I think about everything. I stifle my emotions, have a hard time telling someone they made me angry and hate to be mad because when I'm mad, I have no sense. So I learned young, as the popular people were picking on me, making fun of me and even the nerds excluded me, to stifle all emotion. I pushed it down. I worked at having a shell of pride and I never let anyone tell me I couldn't do it but through the years I have also let fear and worry creep into my life, my dreams and my hope. Jesus is not worry, He's freedom. And yet the bondage of my youth has crept into every part of me and as I finished this wonderful book I realized this was my year of yes.
I'm sure you think I'm crazy. How does a book make you say, "YES?" Well how did six words from a sister change Shonda's life, you'll have to read the book because it really is very special. For me, it was as simple as saying, she's just like you. She loves to work. She loves her kids. She wants to be the best mother and the best working woman. She needs to be creative as much as she needs to breathe and she loves control. Guess what? If this was an algebraic equation, it would equal me. And all of the sudden, I heard that inner voice that really is an introvert, reformed nerd, say, "Why can't I say Yes?" One moment, one thought, could it mean true transformation? My answer is YES. This has been a year of challenge, growth, opportunity and Jesus. Without Him none of this would matter. I don't matter if He's not driving. So yes, I need to do the things that scare me to death. I need to worry less, ride that bike more and revel in the fact that I get to spread the Word of God. I get to, that's just crazy. How does a reformed introvert who is more nerd than anything else, get to? I'm anointed that's how and I'm His and this is my year of yes.
To commemorate this very special moment in my life, I took a note. I'm a goal-oriented person. I put a goal on something and I will meet that goal. I will work for it with verve. I just love that word. So it's on my list. There are fifteen very specific things I am going to say YES to this year and I'm going to look at them every morning after I've read my Bible and have asked God to lead me. It's time to be the butterfly and not the caterpillar. It's time to experience the blessings God has bestowed on me and those I tell everyone else to celebrate. It's time for me to be one with Jesus and transform into an all believing, all seeking soldier with all the wounds befitting to a great warrior. My wounds are His reward. I need to embrace that, you need to embrace it and you need to say YES to your fears. It's time that the women of God stand up in faith and believe we are strong because of Jesus. We are not faint, we don't need to stand on the sidelines, we need to embrace the power of the cross and live!
Lord make us mighty warriors for you in every way, not just in this moment but for generations to come. Please bless my year of YES and gather me unto You as I face my fears, surrender my worries and look up! Your the only reason I need to live and Lord I want to live with my whole heart. IN JESUS NAME I ASK THIS, AMEN
Monday, November 9, 2015
Pray for the World....
Good morning-
I just wanted to reach out today and encourage you all to pray for your countries, this world and Israel. Strange things are taking place and I think the one thing God is calling us to do is to repent and to look for Him. We continue to have food supplies wiped out by drought, storms and disease. The earth is growling and in Kansas this last week on the 7th day of November there were 7 earthquakes in 7 hours, strange you might say but it's definitely something to think about.
On top of those things, Israel is facing huge challenges. North Korea, Russia and ISIS would love to destroy other countries and people groups and with all that chaos we are losing another generation to laziness, drugs and a sense of apathy for God.
So this morning, I prayed for the hills of Mount Zion to protect Israel. I prayed a crown of thorns around my family and especially my kids and I prayed at lunch that God would protect all of us as we repent and look for Him. It's a shame that it takes the rumors of wars, famine, floods and fire to make us look toward Him. It's a shame that God needs to shake us up so that we quit being apathetic and we move toward Him. I'm in prayer not about all the situations that are happening but about repentance, mine and everyone else's sin. I need Jesus to envelope me and to make me see the power of the cross and so do you.
Instead of second guessing what's to come or looking for signs, which God promises will be there, let's just get down on our knees and pray for mercy. That's what I'm doing and so should you.
Remember to pray:
I just wanted to reach out today and encourage you all to pray for your countries, this world and Israel. Strange things are taking place and I think the one thing God is calling us to do is to repent and to look for Him. We continue to have food supplies wiped out by drought, storms and disease. The earth is growling and in Kansas this last week on the 7th day of November there were 7 earthquakes in 7 hours, strange you might say but it's definitely something to think about.
On top of those things, Israel is facing huge challenges. North Korea, Russia and ISIS would love to destroy other countries and people groups and with all that chaos we are losing another generation to laziness, drugs and a sense of apathy for God.
So this morning, I prayed for the hills of Mount Zion to protect Israel. I prayed a crown of thorns around my family and especially my kids and I prayed at lunch that God would protect all of us as we repent and look for Him. It's a shame that it takes the rumors of wars, famine, floods and fire to make us look toward Him. It's a shame that God needs to shake us up so that we quit being apathetic and we move toward Him. I'm in prayer not about all the situations that are happening but about repentance, mine and everyone else's sin. I need Jesus to envelope me and to make me see the power of the cross and so do you.
Instead of second guessing what's to come or looking for signs, which God promises will be there, let's just get down on our knees and pray for mercy. That's what I'm doing and so should you.
Remember to pray:
- Nations bow down to Jesus
- People repent of their sin
- God would protect our families by the crown of thorns He wore on the cross
- Pray that all nations would be under God, invisible!
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
What would happen if we got our way?
Good morning all-
Have you ever wondered what would happen if God just granted our every desire? I'm not sure why I've been thinking about that one question so much but I have. Recently, I picked up one of Beth Moore's studies and I'm going through the Psalms of Ascent. It's eye opening in the sense that I've been through a time where God needed to change me and make me new and so I think the passage makes so more sense then it did before I went through that trial.
There are so many things I've dreamed of in my life. I wanted a faithful husband and I have one. I wanted to be a princess and instead I'm a working girl. I wanted a daughter and instead I got two beautiful sons. I wanted to take care of my parents financially but they both died before I could do that. I wanted to be a manager of people which I achieved but with some hard knocks along the way.
There are always things people have in their hearts. We want to run before we can walk, that's the nature of the sin in our heart. God called us to walk first, right? Otherwise we would have a million 10-12 month olds running before they walked and we would never keep up. There is order in everything and yet, most think they know what's best for their lives, when in reality only God knows.
It took me the last nine months to realize that God was before me. It also took me that long to realize that I like who I am and I'm not going to change it. And finally, it took me that long to realize that it was best for God to get His way over my way. He had the answer, the timing and the direction all along. Thank you Jesus for not letting me have my way!
David has always been one of my most favorite people in the Bible because I recognize him as a Hero, a King, an Adulterer and a man after God's own heart. Take a moment and read those words again, do you see the painted picture? He had it all and then committed sin and then became a man after God's own heart. When I read the words in the Psalms, I get the picture of a man who knew how to be on His knees. I get his struggles, his need to seek wisdom and His unbelievable knack to cry out to God, not just when he needed Him but every time he needed God. I know I don't always do that and there are religions that teach you not to do that. They call it selfish, right? Well then tell me how a man after God's own heart was selfish in doing so, I don't think our Father would agree.
It's when we are on our knees thinking about the Scripture and one with Jesus that I believe He shows us why we didn't get what we wanted. I think it's in the silence when no one knows what we're doing that we find the answers to the perplexity of this life. I believe there is a holy battle over your life and your either going to let God go before you with all the answers or your going to choose the path that makes you run before you walk, which is not the way God intended. Countries will eventually be crushed if they don't turn toward God, floods of great magnitude will wipe out generations if we don't turn to God, financial empires will be crushed if we don't turn to God and unfortunately for us, when we want to be spoiled and secure in the world we won't see God's hand guiding us through the rough waters and the spiritual battles.
I'm done being my own direction driver. It hasn't done much for me. Oh, I have achieved what the world sees as good but I would rather receive the lesson I learned this year because my eyes are focused on something far greater than myself. I'm glad He didn't deliver everything to me I asked for because I needed to be tested, tried and put into a situation where He was the only foundation I needed. I've learned many things through this trial but what I've learned most of all is being humble, setting my feet firmly in Scripture and repentance which is more important than being the greatest mom, the top salesman, the greatest accountant or the best manager, those are worldly things. Don't get me wrong, I'm always going to strive for those things because that's who God made me. And yet, I hope I've learned a lesson that I will take to my grave. I hope that I've learned that God will make me walk when I want to run. He will make me quiet when I want to defend. He will give me wisdom when I want to commit folly and He will build my house. All I have to do is submit.
Rejoice if God has not given you your way. It might be the one lesson that propels you to greatness. In those dark moments I wasn't rejoicing I can promise you that but then I remembered David and I'm sure he had many dark moments seeking our Father in Heaven. It's in the Psalms that we find a man after God's own heart and if I had to fight an inner battle between flesh and God, it was worth not getting my way. I don't have to worry about the battle because God fights for me. He is for me! Do you realize what that means? If He's for this sinner, He's for you too. Take a moment to think about all the things He has done, were they worthy? Did He change your heart, your mind, your direction? I think if we really look at the impact of what He has shown us along the way, we will see that our direction or really our desires were important to us but not important to His plan.
God delivers us even when we aren't seeing. That's my comfort and that's why I've rejoiced in giving up my direction to walk instead of run. His plan is PERFECT, ours never is.
May God bless you with these words and may you see what He's trying to show you today. These words are mine but His will can take them and make them into someone's lifeline. I hope He does that for you today as He has for me this year.
Psalm 124 KJV
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say;
Have you ever wondered what would happen if God just granted our every desire? I'm not sure why I've been thinking about that one question so much but I have. Recently, I picked up one of Beth Moore's studies and I'm going through the Psalms of Ascent. It's eye opening in the sense that I've been through a time where God needed to change me and make me new and so I think the passage makes so more sense then it did before I went through that trial.
There are so many things I've dreamed of in my life. I wanted a faithful husband and I have one. I wanted to be a princess and instead I'm a working girl. I wanted a daughter and instead I got two beautiful sons. I wanted to take care of my parents financially but they both died before I could do that. I wanted to be a manager of people which I achieved but with some hard knocks along the way.
There are always things people have in their hearts. We want to run before we can walk, that's the nature of the sin in our heart. God called us to walk first, right? Otherwise we would have a million 10-12 month olds running before they walked and we would never keep up. There is order in everything and yet, most think they know what's best for their lives, when in reality only God knows.
It took me the last nine months to realize that God was before me. It also took me that long to realize that I like who I am and I'm not going to change it. And finally, it took me that long to realize that it was best for God to get His way over my way. He had the answer, the timing and the direction all along. Thank you Jesus for not letting me have my way!
David has always been one of my most favorite people in the Bible because I recognize him as a Hero, a King, an Adulterer and a man after God's own heart. Take a moment and read those words again, do you see the painted picture? He had it all and then committed sin and then became a man after God's own heart. When I read the words in the Psalms, I get the picture of a man who knew how to be on His knees. I get his struggles, his need to seek wisdom and His unbelievable knack to cry out to God, not just when he needed Him but every time he needed God. I know I don't always do that and there are religions that teach you not to do that. They call it selfish, right? Well then tell me how a man after God's own heart was selfish in doing so, I don't think our Father would agree.
It's when we are on our knees thinking about the Scripture and one with Jesus that I believe He shows us why we didn't get what we wanted. I think it's in the silence when no one knows what we're doing that we find the answers to the perplexity of this life. I believe there is a holy battle over your life and your either going to let God go before you with all the answers or your going to choose the path that makes you run before you walk, which is not the way God intended. Countries will eventually be crushed if they don't turn toward God, floods of great magnitude will wipe out generations if we don't turn to God, financial empires will be crushed if we don't turn to God and unfortunately for us, when we want to be spoiled and secure in the world we won't see God's hand guiding us through the rough waters and the spiritual battles.
I'm done being my own direction driver. It hasn't done much for me. Oh, I have achieved what the world sees as good but I would rather receive the lesson I learned this year because my eyes are focused on something far greater than myself. I'm glad He didn't deliver everything to me I asked for because I needed to be tested, tried and put into a situation where He was the only foundation I needed. I've learned many things through this trial but what I've learned most of all is being humble, setting my feet firmly in Scripture and repentance which is more important than being the greatest mom, the top salesman, the greatest accountant or the best manager, those are worldly things. Don't get me wrong, I'm always going to strive for those things because that's who God made me. And yet, I hope I've learned a lesson that I will take to my grave. I hope that I've learned that God will make me walk when I want to run. He will make me quiet when I want to defend. He will give me wisdom when I want to commit folly and He will build my house. All I have to do is submit.
Rejoice if God has not given you your way. It might be the one lesson that propels you to greatness. In those dark moments I wasn't rejoicing I can promise you that but then I remembered David and I'm sure he had many dark moments seeking our Father in Heaven. It's in the Psalms that we find a man after God's own heart and if I had to fight an inner battle between flesh and God, it was worth not getting my way. I don't have to worry about the battle because God fights for me. He is for me! Do you realize what that means? If He's for this sinner, He's for you too. Take a moment to think about all the things He has done, were they worthy? Did He change your heart, your mind, your direction? I think if we really look at the impact of what He has shown us along the way, we will see that our direction or really our desires were important to us but not important to His plan.
God delivers us even when we aren't seeing. That's my comfort and that's why I've rejoiced in giving up my direction to walk instead of run. His plan is PERFECT, ours never is.
May God bless you with these words and may you see what He's trying to show you today. These words are mine but His will can take them and make them into someone's lifeline. I hope He does that for you today as He has for me this year.
Psalm 124 KJV
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say;
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Changing direction with faith...
Good morning all-
I woke up this morning way before my alarm clock to what I believe is a true revelation in my life. You know it when you ask the Lord to reveal to you your sin and then He does. In this case, it's really not a total revelation because the sin has been present for most of my life and as it's been revealed this year. Something had to change.
Since I was 24 years old, I have worried about provision. It has been on my shoulders day after day, hour after hour. You probably are wondering what changed for me. My whole life changed because it was that year I became a wife and a mother and the worry set in. Not in my wildest dreams would I have believed that provision would haunt me even 25 years later but it has. Nothing can be more life changing than watching your child be so sick he should be in the hospital but you don't have insurance and there's not enough in your checking account to even write a $50.00 check so that your son can have medical treatment. It was a profound and life changing experience for me and that one event has propelled me to work myself to exhaustion. At this point, you might be asking yourself why? Well it was mostly because if I worked hard enough, I would never have to worry about medical treatment, where I would live or if I could buy food.
Unfortunately, I believe that it's this one sin that has kept me from fulfilling my calling and has been a life sin, one I really wasn't aware of until this year. Who would blame a woman for working hard to support her family? No one. And yet, it is the one thing that has made me miss school events, be away for days at a time, and completely immerse my head into the problems of the day rather than the joy of being present with my kids. That's how one small event can change the course of who you are and where your going.
At this point your probably wondering if I have regrets. Yes but only in the sense that I wish I could have been around more. I don't regret making sure my kids had clothes, food or shelter. I don't regret supporting my husband so that he could do what he loved and I will never regret the calling God gave me to love others and there's been many I have prayed for and loved. At the same time, I have high expectations of people because of my journey, which I believe have decreased in the last couple of months.
So what changed? I started immersing myself into Scripture, I prayed and I asked God to cleanse me and make me new and out of it came this very significant revelation, I only trust myself for provision. Just writing that makes me sick. I often wondered how the Israelites could turn their backs on the manna that rained from the sky and here I am just realizing I'm no better. I'm like the rich man that wanted to follow Jesus but didn't want to sell everything to follow Him. I'm the Israelite who made a golden calf why Moses was on the mountain. I'm part of the crowd who wanted to kill Moses for His words. Pathetic don't you think?
And yet, I have a Father that doesn't give up on a daughter who believes she is the provider. He pursues her and waits patiently until an event changes her whole life and the only place she has to go is to Him. Everything she held sacred is in jeopardy and the only direction she has to run is into His arms and instead of turning her away, He holds her and says, "I've gone before you." And if that weren't enough, He sends her to a Beth Moore event where on her chair is "Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Coincidence, I think not. Each chair was prayed over by a team of women and on my chair was the one thing I most needed to hear because I no longer believed in the security of my hard work. I needed a miracle. I thought He was going to deliver me from my circumstances but instead I found myself, through Christ, by the revealing of my sin and true repentance. I'm not the provider, He is.
So I'm changing direction. I'm not looking for the next great thing I can worry about, like my future, my 401K or even my next step. I'm only looking for His provision. I haven't conquered the need to provide. It will be with me daily as I give it to Him and asking Him to bless those around me first. The last months have been very rough on me personally but the moment I gave up my provision and asked Him to provide the clouds moved out and the sun has never shined brighter. I owe everything to Christ Jesus and I know it. Thank you to a God that pursues us even when we can't see. Thank you mostly to Jesus for loving me enough to reveal this very disfigured mindset, while renewing my heart at the very same time. I owe all to Him and so do you. I'm praying for a change in your direction of faith, go to Him today and ask Him to change your course.
YOU ARE NOT THE PROVIDER, JESUS IS. IT IS BY FAITH THAT HE WILL REVEAL HIMSELF AND MAKE YOU NEW. DON'T WAIT FOR SOMETHING LIFE CHANGING TO HAPPEN, START TODAY BY REPENTING AND BELIEVING HE WILL PROVIDE ALL YOUR NEEDS! HE'S WAITING AND THE ONLY PHONE CALL YOU HAVE TO MAKE IS ON YOUR KNEES.
Rest for the Weary
…27"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.…
I woke up this morning way before my alarm clock to what I believe is a true revelation in my life. You know it when you ask the Lord to reveal to you your sin and then He does. In this case, it's really not a total revelation because the sin has been present for most of my life and as it's been revealed this year. Something had to change.
Since I was 24 years old, I have worried about provision. It has been on my shoulders day after day, hour after hour. You probably are wondering what changed for me. My whole life changed because it was that year I became a wife and a mother and the worry set in. Not in my wildest dreams would I have believed that provision would haunt me even 25 years later but it has. Nothing can be more life changing than watching your child be so sick he should be in the hospital but you don't have insurance and there's not enough in your checking account to even write a $50.00 check so that your son can have medical treatment. It was a profound and life changing experience for me and that one event has propelled me to work myself to exhaustion. At this point, you might be asking yourself why? Well it was mostly because if I worked hard enough, I would never have to worry about medical treatment, where I would live or if I could buy food.
Unfortunately, I believe that it's this one sin that has kept me from fulfilling my calling and has been a life sin, one I really wasn't aware of until this year. Who would blame a woman for working hard to support her family? No one. And yet, it is the one thing that has made me miss school events, be away for days at a time, and completely immerse my head into the problems of the day rather than the joy of being present with my kids. That's how one small event can change the course of who you are and where your going.
At this point your probably wondering if I have regrets. Yes but only in the sense that I wish I could have been around more. I don't regret making sure my kids had clothes, food or shelter. I don't regret supporting my husband so that he could do what he loved and I will never regret the calling God gave me to love others and there's been many I have prayed for and loved. At the same time, I have high expectations of people because of my journey, which I believe have decreased in the last couple of months.
So what changed? I started immersing myself into Scripture, I prayed and I asked God to cleanse me and make me new and out of it came this very significant revelation, I only trust myself for provision. Just writing that makes me sick. I often wondered how the Israelites could turn their backs on the manna that rained from the sky and here I am just realizing I'm no better. I'm like the rich man that wanted to follow Jesus but didn't want to sell everything to follow Him. I'm the Israelite who made a golden calf why Moses was on the mountain. I'm part of the crowd who wanted to kill Moses for His words. Pathetic don't you think?
And yet, I have a Father that doesn't give up on a daughter who believes she is the provider. He pursues her and waits patiently until an event changes her whole life and the only place she has to go is to Him. Everything she held sacred is in jeopardy and the only direction she has to run is into His arms and instead of turning her away, He holds her and says, "I've gone before you." And if that weren't enough, He sends her to a Beth Moore event where on her chair is "Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Coincidence, I think not. Each chair was prayed over by a team of women and on my chair was the one thing I most needed to hear because I no longer believed in the security of my hard work. I needed a miracle. I thought He was going to deliver me from my circumstances but instead I found myself, through Christ, by the revealing of my sin and true repentance. I'm not the provider, He is.
So I'm changing direction. I'm not looking for the next great thing I can worry about, like my future, my 401K or even my next step. I'm only looking for His provision. I haven't conquered the need to provide. It will be with me daily as I give it to Him and asking Him to bless those around me first. The last months have been very rough on me personally but the moment I gave up my provision and asked Him to provide the clouds moved out and the sun has never shined brighter. I owe everything to Christ Jesus and I know it. Thank you to a God that pursues us even when we can't see. Thank you mostly to Jesus for loving me enough to reveal this very disfigured mindset, while renewing my heart at the very same time. I owe all to Him and so do you. I'm praying for a change in your direction of faith, go to Him today and ask Him to change your course.
YOU ARE NOT THE PROVIDER, JESUS IS. IT IS BY FAITH THAT HE WILL REVEAL HIMSELF AND MAKE YOU NEW. DON'T WAIT FOR SOMETHING LIFE CHANGING TO HAPPEN, START TODAY BY REPENTING AND BELIEVING HE WILL PROVIDE ALL YOUR NEEDS! HE'S WAITING AND THE ONLY PHONE CALL YOU HAVE TO MAKE IS ON YOUR KNEES.
Rest for the Weary
…27"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.…
Saturday, October 17, 2015
It's hard to wait...
Good morning my sisters-
Have you ever thought to yourself that it's just really hard to wait? I have a million times. I know people right now that are waiting for the right mate, the right job or just the storm to pass. I remember my dad saying after my brother died that it would hurt for a while and then it would be more faint. If you've lost a loved one you know the immense ache you feel and over time it does lessen. You never forget them but it's not as intense as the day they died or even a year later. Time does heal some wounds.
Death is one thing and waiting on God to provide is another. Those moments anticipating when, where and how can be intense. You might even find yourself thinking you have control over the situation. Definitely, don't go in that direction. We need to be proactive always but it isn't our hard work, our fortitude or even our stubbornness that will get the job done. God alone must open a door, bring a mate to us or change the course of a wayward person. We don't have that kind of power. However, we were given a power many of us choose not to use. We were given the opportunity to send prayers to heaven, not just for ourselves but for the world.
As I was sitting listening to Beth Moore in September, I heard prayers out loud going to heaven. It sounded like a symphony and I thought how pleased God must be to hear all these women crying out to him. There were almost 9000 women in that stadium that day. Now quadruple that and what would you hear? Beth didn't get to that point over night. She spent hours researching, writing and spending time on her knees and when I say on her knees, that's exactly where she goes. And now after much prayer, she is going to launch a television show. Did that happen in an instant? No. It happened over time through many tears I'm sure. It happened by walking with Jesus, not for herself, but for others and it happened in God's timing, not hers. Now I'm sure she did some things to get to this moment but God provided the door and the timing.
I know it's hard to wait for the right spouse or the right job, especially when your heart hurts and you need a new avenue. I know it's hard to be alone night after night wondering when that special person is going to complete your life. Those moments are real. Yet, in my heart of hearts, I also know that the Lord of our souls loves us and is going before us. He is preparing our rooms in heaven and He is watching us on earth. I hate waiting just as much as all of you do. I want things to happen right now. Waiting allows me enough time to prepare my heart, my mind and my soul. Waiting builds faith, perseverance and love. Waiting means I have time to learn what God has in store and just like the Israelites, waiting prepares me to fight the next battle.
If I have to wait for my reward, then let me wait patiently, without grumbling and with a whole bunch of prayer. Let me look toward my maker with awe and see that my little life is not as important as His plan. I am just one of His children and I wait just like you and if I'm waiting to do great things then I'm totally okay with waiting. My mom used to say, "The best things come to those that wait." I know she was right because every blessing in my life has come by waiting on the Lord. He has always been my rock and when I'm full of myself, I know it's time to get full of Him.
May today find you well my sisters as the days get darker earlier. Remember to look up and remember all that He has done for you!
Romans 8:19 NIV
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait ...
Have you ever thought to yourself that it's just really hard to wait? I have a million times. I know people right now that are waiting for the right mate, the right job or just the storm to pass. I remember my dad saying after my brother died that it would hurt for a while and then it would be more faint. If you've lost a loved one you know the immense ache you feel and over time it does lessen. You never forget them but it's not as intense as the day they died or even a year later. Time does heal some wounds.
Death is one thing and waiting on God to provide is another. Those moments anticipating when, where and how can be intense. You might even find yourself thinking you have control over the situation. Definitely, don't go in that direction. We need to be proactive always but it isn't our hard work, our fortitude or even our stubbornness that will get the job done. God alone must open a door, bring a mate to us or change the course of a wayward person. We don't have that kind of power. However, we were given a power many of us choose not to use. We were given the opportunity to send prayers to heaven, not just for ourselves but for the world.
As I was sitting listening to Beth Moore in September, I heard prayers out loud going to heaven. It sounded like a symphony and I thought how pleased God must be to hear all these women crying out to him. There were almost 9000 women in that stadium that day. Now quadruple that and what would you hear? Beth didn't get to that point over night. She spent hours researching, writing and spending time on her knees and when I say on her knees, that's exactly where she goes. And now after much prayer, she is going to launch a television show. Did that happen in an instant? No. It happened over time through many tears I'm sure. It happened by walking with Jesus, not for herself, but for others and it happened in God's timing, not hers. Now I'm sure she did some things to get to this moment but God provided the door and the timing.
I know it's hard to wait for the right spouse or the right job, especially when your heart hurts and you need a new avenue. I know it's hard to be alone night after night wondering when that special person is going to complete your life. Those moments are real. Yet, in my heart of hearts, I also know that the Lord of our souls loves us and is going before us. He is preparing our rooms in heaven and He is watching us on earth. I hate waiting just as much as all of you do. I want things to happen right now. Waiting allows me enough time to prepare my heart, my mind and my soul. Waiting builds faith, perseverance and love. Waiting means I have time to learn what God has in store and just like the Israelites, waiting prepares me to fight the next battle.
If I have to wait for my reward, then let me wait patiently, without grumbling and with a whole bunch of prayer. Let me look toward my maker with awe and see that my little life is not as important as His plan. I am just one of His children and I wait just like you and if I'm waiting to do great things then I'm totally okay with waiting. My mom used to say, "The best things come to those that wait." I know she was right because every blessing in my life has come by waiting on the Lord. He has always been my rock and when I'm full of myself, I know it's time to get full of Him.
May today find you well my sisters as the days get darker earlier. Remember to look up and remember all that He has done for you!
Romans 8:19 NIV
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait ...
| Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. ... Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! ... We wait on the Lord, not because it's easy but because it's not. We look for You ABBA as we watch the days turn to night and the years pass like the crow of the rooster. We look forward to Your coming and to the time when waiting means Your glory. Help us to look, watch and wait not for our own interests but for yours. We are not patient by nature but we want to have Your patience. Bless those that wait upon the Lord and watch for Your hand on all things great and small. Also, please bless Beth Moore as she reaches out to thousands of women across the US with this new television endeavor. Her heart is Yours and we all need to live like that! We are watching world wide waiting for you to do miracles on earth and as You establish your glory not just in heaven but on earth. We praise the name of Jesus! AMEN |
Friday, October 16, 2015
Having faith to sow a seed....
Good morning all-
For the last couple of months I have had a Compassion International flyer in my bag. I was going to send it off the minute I got back from Beth Moore but it sat in my bag. I have also wanted to donate to the Wounded Warriors project but I didn't know if the money truly went to those veterans that had served our country so strongly.
I have a big heart and sometimes that has impacted my judgment so I think I've become a little jaded when I really should have just prayed and God would give me the answer I needed. Both things have been on my mind so much that every time I eat or see any commercial concerning a child I think of starving children everywhere. And when I pass by someone serving in the military or see the commercial on TV it makes me pause.
But as I reached for my coffee this morning and remembered the dinner I ate last night, I realized I had to find that card in my bag. I made a commitment that I need to fulfill. It's to a little boy, far away from America. It's my duty to remember the poor, the starving, the wounded and the lost.
I'm not telling you what to do. I don't know your situation but I do know our God. The money we are provided is for His kingdom. If I don't sow a seed He's given me, how is His kingdom supposed to grow? Nothing grows if it's stored inside. It must be planted deep within the soil, fed water and fertilizer and then with enough good sun, it will grow.
I'm praying that this very small gift will help someone have what is plentiful here and so scarce in other parts of the world. Please join me in asking God to feed nations and to give care to those that have fought for our security and for the security of nations.
For a seed sown in love surely will grow, are you willing to sow today?
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread ...
For the last couple of months I have had a Compassion International flyer in my bag. I was going to send it off the minute I got back from Beth Moore but it sat in my bag. I have also wanted to donate to the Wounded Warriors project but I didn't know if the money truly went to those veterans that had served our country so strongly.
I have a big heart and sometimes that has impacted my judgment so I think I've become a little jaded when I really should have just prayed and God would give me the answer I needed. Both things have been on my mind so much that every time I eat or see any commercial concerning a child I think of starving children everywhere. And when I pass by someone serving in the military or see the commercial on TV it makes me pause.
But as I reached for my coffee this morning and remembered the dinner I ate last night, I realized I had to find that card in my bag. I made a commitment that I need to fulfill. It's to a little boy, far away from America. It's my duty to remember the poor, the starving, the wounded and the lost.
I'm not telling you what to do. I don't know your situation but I do know our God. The money we are provided is for His kingdom. If I don't sow a seed He's given me, how is His kingdom supposed to grow? Nothing grows if it's stored inside. It must be planted deep within the soil, fed water and fertilizer and then with enough good sun, it will grow.
I'm praying that this very small gift will help someone have what is plentiful here and so scarce in other parts of the world. Please join me in asking God to feed nations and to give care to those that have fought for our security and for the security of nations.
For a seed sown in love surely will grow, are you willing to sow today?
2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread ...
| Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ... //biblehub.com/2_corinthians/9-10.htm - 19k |
Sunday, October 11, 2015
When you are lonely...
Good morning all-
Lately, I have really been cognizant of people. I watch them and see their smiles don't always match what's going on inside. I have found that we all put on a mask and allow the World to see what we want them to see.
I for one, am trying not to be that way anymore. I'm trying to be authentic in all things including my very strong faith in Jesus. I screw up just like everyone but I'm the first to apologize for my behavior, even when I don't want to.
Lonely people almost always seem okay. That's why so many that commit suicide don't understand how they will be missed. They believe tomorrow just doesn't have any meaning but it does. You are needed, wanted and have purpose. Don' t let the moments of great loneliness get you down. Realize that a child needs a hug or an elderly person needs to be cared for. We are needed. The problem is that the depression outweighs the truth. No one needs to be alone. There is always a different path.
Today, I have a beautiful friend going through loneliness. My prayer for her is that she will come and be with me at church. My prayer is the God of Abraham would fill her with His love and that she will come to Him in her hour of need. I wish I could fill the emptiness but I can't. She's alone and that's tough.
Please join me in praying for every sole that feels lost and alone. They are important pieces to this journey and we need every soul to win the battle. I'm praying and I know that our Father in Heaven loves His children. Lord bring forth your comfort and lift up those that are downtrodden. I ask that You would give them hope for their future and that they would see Your guiding hand in every step of today. With all I have Lord, I cry out for them and ask them to come into the shelter of Your hand.
In Jesus name I pray, AMEN!
Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Lately, I have really been cognizant of people. I watch them and see their smiles don't always match what's going on inside. I have found that we all put on a mask and allow the World to see what we want them to see.
I for one, am trying not to be that way anymore. I'm trying to be authentic in all things including my very strong faith in Jesus. I screw up just like everyone but I'm the first to apologize for my behavior, even when I don't want to.
Lonely people almost always seem okay. That's why so many that commit suicide don't understand how they will be missed. They believe tomorrow just doesn't have any meaning but it does. You are needed, wanted and have purpose. Don' t let the moments of great loneliness get you down. Realize that a child needs a hug or an elderly person needs to be cared for. We are needed. The problem is that the depression outweighs the truth. No one needs to be alone. There is always a different path.
Today, I have a beautiful friend going through loneliness. My prayer for her is that she will come and be with me at church. My prayer is the God of Abraham would fill her with His love and that she will come to Him in her hour of need. I wish I could fill the emptiness but I can't. She's alone and that's tough.
Please join me in praying for every sole that feels lost and alone. They are important pieces to this journey and we need every soul to win the battle. I'm praying and I know that our Father in Heaven loves His children. Lord bring forth your comfort and lift up those that are downtrodden. I ask that You would give them hope for their future and that they would see Your guiding hand in every step of today. With all I have Lord, I cry out for them and ask them to come into the shelter of Your hand.
In Jesus name I pray, AMEN!
Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Friday, October 9, 2015
The New Faith..
Good morning all-
I hope all is well with you. As I sit down to write this morning I have already had a cup of coffee, biked for 2 miles and listened to Bill Winston Ministries. It's been a glorious morning. I have about 10 minutes until I have to leave for work but this one thought is streaming in my head and I just couldn't hold it in anymore. The thought is:
I love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind!
I woke up praising my savior and as always hoping I don't screw up His amazing teaching in my life. I have been renewed and my faith restored, not in people, but in Jesus. I'm so glad for what He has been doing in my life and the lessons I have learned. My faith is stronger then its ever been and I feel stronger than I ever have. I'm empowered and I am the Lord's child.
I don't know what the day will hold today but I do know that Jesus is with me every step of the way. The things that used to be so important to me are gone and replaced is a sense to love people. That's really all I want to do. I want to spread the love God has shown me to the world and I want to be known as someone that has great faith. I've always had it for others but now I know that the faith I believe for others lives in me. It has been tested and I would be wrong if I didn't say it was a painful lesson but in it's place is an understanding that I can't do anything alone and that Jesus is walking beside me.
I'm grateful for this journey even if its painful. I'm grateful that I can love but I'm most grateful that my God believed in me enough to set my feet on the path toward him and continues to mold me and make me His. I'm amazed, humbled and so very grateful.
My prayer for you as you read this is that God will become the Lord of your heart and that your faith will be restored, not in man, but in Him!
I hope all is well with you. As I sit down to write this morning I have already had a cup of coffee, biked for 2 miles and listened to Bill Winston Ministries. It's been a glorious morning. I have about 10 minutes until I have to leave for work but this one thought is streaming in my head and I just couldn't hold it in anymore. The thought is:
I love the Lord my God with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind!
I woke up praising my savior and as always hoping I don't screw up His amazing teaching in my life. I have been renewed and my faith restored, not in people, but in Jesus. I'm so glad for what He has been doing in my life and the lessons I have learned. My faith is stronger then its ever been and I feel stronger than I ever have. I'm empowered and I am the Lord's child.
I don't know what the day will hold today but I do know that Jesus is with me every step of the way. The things that used to be so important to me are gone and replaced is a sense to love people. That's really all I want to do. I want to spread the love God has shown me to the world and I want to be known as someone that has great faith. I've always had it for others but now I know that the faith I believe for others lives in me. It has been tested and I would be wrong if I didn't say it was a painful lesson but in it's place is an understanding that I can't do anything alone and that Jesus is walking beside me.
I'm grateful for this journey even if its painful. I'm grateful that I can love but I'm most grateful that my God believed in me enough to set my feet on the path toward him and continues to mold me and make me His. I'm amazed, humbled and so very grateful.
My prayer for you as you read this is that God will become the Lord of your heart and that your faith will be restored, not in man, but in Him!
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Watching the beauty of a wedding...
Good morning all-
Last night I had the honor of watching one of my co-workers marry a very special man. They both have been through a lot. There past is what made them who they are and because of that past they have learned to love. If you love to be in love, you will be I promise.
Love is talked about in the Bible many times and is the greatest commandment. We think of love as romantic love but its so much more than that. This couple shares an agape love. It consists of being kind and patient, of loving when things aren't easy and it is surrounded by God.
During the ceremony, I thought of the path of tears that happened before the road to happiness. I thought of the loss and the times of fear and I thought how great our God truly is. My co-worker has been given a gift far beyond what people treasure today. She has been given a gift from God and I know she knows it.
Getting married is a very important decision. You must be able to trust and to be vulnerable. You must be whole and one hundred percent committed. This man didn't just marry a woman, he married a family and from the very beginning took it on as if each of the children was his own. It gave me hope for every woman that has experienced a difficult road and it was beautiful.
I wish everyone could have that kind of love and commitment. It's my prayer that what I saw yesterday would be spread across this earth. As women, our prayer should be that we love with all our hearts and that the men we marry would trust God in all things.
My last thought as they completed their vows was, "Love never ends." It was the last thought I had as I put my parents wedding rings into our lock box. My father was such a man. He took on the challenge of a daughter and loved my mom to the very end. He was my mom's greatest gift and their love has always given me hope. God loves us in a way no human can love but we are still called to love with all our heart. I hope for a day that I love like that.
May God bless your marriage today as you read about this very incredible union. God loves you and He looks out for you and if you aren't married or don't have this kind of marriage, you have a God that loves you far beyond this earth. He loved you before you were born.
Blessings to the beautiful couple I watched bind their lives together yesterday and blessings to everyone that loves with all their hearts.
1Corinthians13
Last night I had the honor of watching one of my co-workers marry a very special man. They both have been through a lot. There past is what made them who they are and because of that past they have learned to love. If you love to be in love, you will be I promise.
Love is talked about in the Bible many times and is the greatest commandment. We think of love as romantic love but its so much more than that. This couple shares an agape love. It consists of being kind and patient, of loving when things aren't easy and it is surrounded by God.
During the ceremony, I thought of the path of tears that happened before the road to happiness. I thought of the loss and the times of fear and I thought how great our God truly is. My co-worker has been given a gift far beyond what people treasure today. She has been given a gift from God and I know she knows it.
Getting married is a very important decision. You must be able to trust and to be vulnerable. You must be whole and one hundred percent committed. This man didn't just marry a woman, he married a family and from the very beginning took it on as if each of the children was his own. It gave me hope for every woman that has experienced a difficult road and it was beautiful.
I wish everyone could have that kind of love and commitment. It's my prayer that what I saw yesterday would be spread across this earth. As women, our prayer should be that we love with all our hearts and that the men we marry would trust God in all things.
My last thought as they completed their vows was, "Love never ends." It was the last thought I had as I put my parents wedding rings into our lock box. My father was such a man. He took on the challenge of a daughter and loved my mom to the very end. He was my mom's greatest gift and their love has always given me hope. God loves us in a way no human can love but we are still called to love with all our heart. I hope for a day that I love like that.
May God bless your marriage today as you read about this very incredible union. God loves you and He looks out for you and if you aren't married or don't have this kind of marriage, you have a God that loves you far beyond this earth. He loved you before you were born.
Blessings to the beautiful couple I watched bind their lives together yesterday and blessings to everyone that loves with all their hearts.
1Corinthians13
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