Wednesday, July 29, 2015 "Die to Thyself"

We first must die to thyself in order to live. 

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Tuesday, July 28, 2015 "No Gray Area"

     “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Matthew 6:24

There is no gray area with being a Christian. You either believe           or your don't. You are either saved or you are lost. You are
either serving the Lord or you are serving satan. You are either in           or you are out. Only you decide. So what is it going to be?

Monday, July 27, 2015 "Fan or Follower of Jesus?"

And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:17-19

Are you a fan or follower of Jesus?  Often times people love Jesus only when things are going well in their life. Others turn to Jesus only when their lives are in turmoil. The truth is Jesus is the answer not an answer so we are to love Him through good times and bad. He is the same yesterday today and forever. He is the great I Am. He is consistent and His Word never changes nor will it ever fail. A life with Jesus is not all peaches and cream. A fan looks at Jesus as a magic genie or ATM machine that grants all their wishes and showers them with cash. A follower knows a life dedicated to our Lord and Savior will bring about rewards money cannot buy. Blessings such as peace, everlasting love, joy and contentment. A follower also knows trials and tribulations will come for no one is exempt.  Only you can decide for yourself what it is going to be. So are you going to be a fan of Jesus when it suits you or are you going to be a follower of Jesus, no matter what lies ahead? The choice is yours. 

Sunday, July 26, 2015 "His Will Not Mine"

Saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

I have witnessed it time and time again when something is of God.  Everything is effortless.  Whether you are making plans or buying something or whatever it is, when the Lord is in the center and it is of His will, it all comes together seamlessly. When you are facing difficulties or something seems too hard and it does not seem to be coming together, you may want to hit the pause button and seek the Lord's will. It may very well be something He is not approving of at this time. Be spiritually aware. Ask and He shall answer you. There is nothing worst than to be outside His will therefore desire it for your life and you will be blessed.

Saturday, July 25, 2015 "Allow Him to Shelter You"

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. 

Psalm 91:4

He will leave His peace with you.  You need only be still.  When trials come and the storm seems overwhelming, be still. Is there anything you can do apart from the Lord?  Of course not and that is why it is wisest to allow Him to shelter you. He will see you through to the rainbow. Just hold on to Him. Don't give up. Don't panic. Don't allow anything or anyone make you doubt. Just trust in His supernatural power and He will deliver on His promises for His Word is true and His promises are faithful. 

Friday, July 24, 2015 "Different Crisis but the Same God"

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Therefore we must remember not to worry when we face new challenges or are experiencing a new crisis in our life.  He took care of it last time, He will take care of it again. We need only pray and believe. Leave that worriment at the door. He has got you. He is forever faithful!

Thursday, July 23, 2015 "The Light"

John 3:19-21 "This is the judgment: that light has entered the world, and men have preferred darkness to light because their deeds were evil. Everybody who does wrong hates the light and keeps away from it, for fear his deeds may be exposed. But everybody who is living by the truth will come to the light to make it plain that all he has done has been done through God."

Sin lives in darkness. When we are not living a holy life,we are not concealing anything from Him for He sees and knows all. If you know your life is not aligned with the Word, repent and do right. The Bible also tells us if we see a brother or sister in Christ doing something detrimental to their walk, we are to confront them and hold them accountable. This doesn't mean we are to judge one another. We are to be accountable to one another. I remember years ago when I was not living life right and a friend of mine tried to show me the areas that were not pleasing to God. At the time I was angry but I look back and I see she was doing exactly what she should have been doing. She was acting as my sister in Christ and showing me my sin. There is nothing we can do that will separate us from His love once we have been saved. So turn away from the darkness and live in the truth and come to the light. It is never too late. 

Wednesday, July 22, 2015 "We Are Orphans"

Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 8:6

Today is three years I lost my Mom. It will be ten this November losing my Dad.  It stinks I am not going to lie.  Losing both parents really shakes your core.  I am grateful to have a husband who has been through the same devastating loss because his support has been insurmountable.  By the world's standard we are "orphans" but with our God in Heaven we are never alone.  He is our Abba Father. He is enough. He completes us and makes us whole. If you are grieving a loss in your life but have yet to find the comfort in Jesus, today can be the day you ask Him into your life by accepting Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior. When you confess with your mouth that He died on the cross to bear your sins, you are forgiven and He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within you to guide you through your life. It really is that simple yet His love is beyond comprehension or words. May today be the day your life is transformed.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015 "The Fork in the Road"

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 

We are to forgive one another as God has forgiven us.  I used to hold grudges, turn my back on friends and not give it a second thought. I was like my Dad in a lot of ways and I thought being "strong and tough" were good qualities until....I found the Lord. I realized and learned my way was not pleasing at all and He had to deal with me.  I no longer am cold or aloof when it comes to others in my life. I now know to forgive one another and keep the peace. Friendships, marriages, in fact all relationships will hit bumps in the road and you will come upon that "fork in the road" that will force you to choose a path. Either the path to separate and go your separate ways or to power through and stick together down the same path on the road moving forward. Divorce seems to be too easy, friends seem to walk away too easy and relationships seem to end more and more. We all will face this difficult choice in our life. But if we continue to choose the easier path to just move on alone, than we will eventually end up alone. That to me is not worth it. The relationships in my life are worth fighting for, praying for, holding on to...for better or for worse. Don't discount the people in your life simply because they hurt you or offended you...Forgive them. Maybe they don't even know what they did or said. Choose to walk forward together. What a wonderful blessing it will be.

Monday, July 20, 2015 "When is it Time to Let Go?"

A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; Ecclesiastes 3:6

Life is made of seasons-seasons of holding on, letting go and moving on. I learned that when we do right and live in God's will and do what He calls us to do, we will always be in peace. When we are holding on to something or someone even when the Lord calls us to let it/them go, we will not be in His perfect will. Is there an area in your life where the Lord is telling you to walk away, put something down, move on from a job or relationship and you are not listening out of fear? Do yourself a favor and listen to His voice, trust His instruction and obey His word. He will lead you to the righteous path He prepared for you. It will be amazing. Don't be afraid, just trust. 

Sunday, July 19, 2015 "God's Love"

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

Despite all of our differences, the one thing most people do have in common, is they want love in their life. And the truth is when we have the love of our Father in heaven, we are whole and at rest, for His love completes us. His love produces acceptance, purpose and identity to our lives. When we seek these things from the world, we will be left cold and empty for this world is temporal. But when we place all our faith and trust in the Lord, we will feel secure for His love is our rock eternal and His love never fails. Therefore if you want a love that is everlasting and real, seek God's love for His love is real. Be blessed in Him.

Saturday, July 18, 2015 "I Choose the Lord not the World"

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. Psalm 118:8

Never allow the world or man to get you down. We are saved by the grace of the Lord and His shed blood on the cross. We are not of this world. When we surrender our lives to the Lord and confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior we die to thyself and become transformed. Sometimes that means you will not be the most popular person. You will feel left out, mocked, criticized and left uninspired.  We are set apart from the lost. That does not mean we are to treat anyone differently but rather to expect them to treat you differently. The best thing you can do is focus on the Lord and allow Him to inspire you. It hurts, I know when you feel lonely, but He is with you, always. He knows your hurts and He hears your cries. He is your refuge. Trust in Him and He will bring you peace. 

Friday, July 17, 2015 "Tests and Temptations"

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

The devil will come to tempt you and The Lord will use these times to test you.  He allows all believers to be tested but He does not test the lost. But the truth is the enemy is not that hard to figure out. He usually uses our weaknesses to tempt, steal or destroy. I have always said his attacks will come right before a blessing, because he does not want us to experience the blessing. And often times an attack can come right after a blessing. It is as if a spoiled child did not get his way and he acts out one last time before defeat. The best thing you can do is focus on God. Focus on His love for you and your love for Him. Ask that no weapon formed against you prosper and dress yourself daily with the full armor of God. Pray, read the Word, serve and love. This is what we are called to do. When we obey the Lord, we are blessed. Our lives are enriched and we are at peace. Expect to be nudged, bothered, attacked. I don't give the enemy or any of his servants any credit or credence. I won't even speak of them out loud. I simply pray that anything that is not of God be rebuked and removed. All demons must flee when you call upon the name of Jesus. We are healed and saved by His blood. Live in that truth. Be victorious! Be bold! Be strong and courageous! Do not wither or worry about anything for He is with you and He is mighty to save. Amen!

Thursday, July 16, 2015 "The Inward Christian"

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. Matthew 23:27

I may not always look the part of the Christian woman. I may not always act the proper way, think the proper way or even speak the proper way. But to me...that is all outward appearances. I know who I am in Christ. I know my heart is right. I walk blamelessly, and I know I love others the way God intended. So what is more important? To be an outward Christian who looks the part but on the inside secretly harbors ill feelings, anger/lust/jealousy toward another....or to be an inward Christian? One whose heart is pure and thoughts are lovely. We will never be perfect, only our Father in heaven is, therefore we must know we will fall short. We will  never keep up to the standards of being sinless however it is such a great feeling to know we are forgiven by the blood of Christ. Therefore throw away the outward appearance of being a Christian and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you on the inside...for that is what truly matters. 

Wednesday, July 15, 2015 "Wealth vs. Poverty"

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

I have heard the saying, "people are funny when it comes to money" and I have to say I have seen it first hand.  I don't understand why people are judged based on their wealth or lack thereof. People are hated and envied when they do have it while others are mocked and shamed for not having it. I used to believe that wealth meant you were favored by God and poverty meant you were in sin/bondage. But as I have grown in my walk, I have learned that not to be true at all. The Lord spoke to my husband years ago when He said, "let no man enslave my daughter to the blessings I have bestowed upon her" and I also want to add "let no man judge us for the blessings God has bestowed upon us".  Don't ever let anyone make you feel guilty for your blessings. The Lord blesses His children so we in turn can bless others. Our wealth is to be used as service to Him. He wants us to give Him the glory and honor. Don't get caught up in the mindset of this world whether you happen to have much, or whether you happen to have little. Our heart is who we are, not our wallets. 

Tuesday, July 14, 2015 "Earnest Prayer"

Remember that James 5:16 says, 'The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.' When you are in need, what is your initial reaction? What do you do? In all things, we need to pray and take our cares to the Lord. We are to believe He hears our prayers and we are to speak the Word out loud. Having done all this, we thank the Lord for hearing our prayer and for answering our prayers according to His will. Then stand on His promises and wait to receive. Amen?!

Monday, July 13, 2015 "Prosperity in the Life of a Christian"

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

A generous man will prosper in all areas of his life. The biblical definition of prosperity is different than the world's definition. It does not just mean financially. Being prosperous in the life of a Christian means you will be filled with peace and joy. You will have favor and the Lord's perfect timing on your life. It goes so beyond money. The world would like you to believe we are measured by what our bank book says, but that is not the standard to which we live by.  We want to live our lives giving glory and honor to the Lord. We should desire what He desires. When we are generous of ourselves, our time, our tithes and love offerings, we will prosper in every way. When we obey the Lord, we are in the Lord's good graces for we are living our lives according to His will and not our own selfish needs and wants. True obedience unlocks the Lord's supernatural power on our lives and that is true prosperity. 

Sunday, July 12, 2015 "The Closet Christian"

We are called to be reflectors of God's light.  Let us shine our lights bright. Some Christians hide their light when they are around certain people or in certain places.  Employees feel under increasing pressure to keep their beliefs hidden at work and they also feel discriminated against when it comes to wearing religious symbols. When I worked in the corporate field, my office reflected exactly who I was and who my Lord was. I was bold in my faith and everyone knew I was a Christian and I have to say in all my years, I never once was made to feel intimidated. In fact I was respected highly for it. Don't be afraid to share your Father with others. Be bold. Make a difference. Don't be a closet Christian and only worship Him when you are alone where no one can see you. Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are serious consequences if we deny the Lord to men. Jesus firmly tells us, But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:33)

Saturday, July 11, 2015 "God's Grace"

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

God's grace is His free gift to us. It cannot be earned or bought. We receive this unmerited favor when we accept Jesus into our hearts and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Don't miss out on this beautiful gift. 

Friday, July 10, 2015 "Hold on. Wait. And it Will Come"

With God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:25) All you have to do is believe.  Keep the faith no matter what the circumstances. Stay focused on God and do not listen to the negative voices of others.  You cannot expect someone else to know your journey nor to understand it. This is between you and your Lord. So stand firm on His Word. Hold on. Wait. And it will come in His time.

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3

Thursday, July 9, 2015 "Is Pride a Virtue?"

I was led to write about pride and how we are raised to believe it is a virtue when in fact the Bible is very clear on the consequences on pride. Here is a great explanation I found from gotquestions.org  ....

Question: "What does the Bible say about pride?"

Answer:There is a difference between the kind of pride that God hates (Proverbs 8:13) and the kind of pride we feel about a job well done. The kind of pride that stems from self-righteousness is sin, and God hates it because it is a hindrance to seeking Him.Psalm 10:4 explains that the proud are so consumed with themselves that their thoughts are far from God: “In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” This kind of haughty pride is the opposite of the spirit of humility that God seeks: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The “poor in spirit” are those who recognize their utter spiritual bankruptcy and their inability to come to God aside from His divine grace. The proud, on the other hand, are so blinded by their pride that they think they have no need of God or, worse, that God should accept them as they are because they deserve His acceptance.

Throughout Scripture we are told about the consequences of pride.Proverbs 16:18-19tells us that “pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” Satan was cast out of heaven because of pride (Isaiah 14:12-15). He had the selfish audacity to attempt to replace God Himself as the rightful ruler of the universe. But Satan will be cast down to hell in the final judgment of God. For those who rise up in defiance against God, there is nothing ahead but disaster (Isaiah 14:22).

Pride has kept many people from accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. Admitting sin and acknowledging that in our own strength we can do nothing to inherit eternal life is a constant stumbling block for prideful people. We are not to boast about ourselves; if we want to boast, then we are to proclaim the glories of God. What we say about ourselves means nothing in God’s work. It is what God says about us that makes the difference (2 Corinthians 10:13).

Why is pride so sinful? Pride is giving ourselves the credit for something that God has accomplished. Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God alone and keeping it for ourselves. Pride is essentially self-worship. Anything we accomplish in this world would not have been possible were it not for God enabling and sustaining us. “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). That is why we give God the glory—He alone deserves it.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 "Yes!"

For the Lord gives wisdom;

    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 

He holds success in store for the upright,

    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless. Proverbs 2:6-7

Tuesday, July 7, 2015 "Do Not Censor Me!"

I am not interested in the latest current events nor am I watching the political madness closely.  But I cannot help but notice and feel that Christians are being demonized in the media.  It seems as though everyone has a voice, as they should, but those that believe in Jesus Christ and His commandments are "homophobic, racist, sexist, out of touch, hypocritical, judgmental, weird" ..... shall I continue? I do not appreciate that everyone else has freedom of speech in this country yet when someone tries to share their biblical worldview they are bullied, criticized and/or chastised. I don't get it. Do not censor me! Do not try to discredit me! Do not try to quiet me! I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ nor am I intimidated to speak my beliefs. It is nonsense. This country has completely lost its way, and I will not apologize for not choosing the same path, Be bold for Christ!

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will". 

Romans 12:2

Monday, July 6, 2015 "I Will Repay, says the Lord"

Don't ever cut off your own blessings because of something someone else has done to you. When we are wronged by man, the Bible tells us to leave it to the Lord.  In fact Romans 12:19 says, 

"Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord." 

The world may say it is an eye for an eye but I say, let go and let God handle it. I refuse to discount my testimony and think or say unholy thoughts/words because I am hurt. The best thing we can do is to live life loving as much as we can, forgive our trespassers, and seek His joy and peace in our hearts. The rest....is up to the Lord. 

Sunday, July 5, 2015 "It's Time"

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

I was sitting at my desk on this day five years ago when the Lord whispered in my heart "It's Time".  I knew it was then He was calling me out of the world. I knew it was going to be a spiritual journey like no other. He told me to trust Him and that was all I needed to know.  My husband stood by me, supported me and never doubted. I sacrificed everything I held on to and gave it to the Lord to do what He would. I didn't know what would be the end result but He cleaned house in many ways. He removed the toxic people from my life, the doubters, the haters, the betrayers. He kept me close to Him and I journaled every word He spoke. This very blog was created during this time and I have never missed one entry since. So thank you Lord for all You have done. Thank you for loving me enough to rescue me from world that enslaved me. I love you more than anyone, anything and I am honored to be your daughter. I will continue to trust in You.

Saturday, July 4, 2015 "I am the Branch"

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

As we observe this 4th of July, also known as Independence Day, I cannot help but be so thankful I am not independent at all but rather completely dependent on my Father in heaven. My life is in His hands, and I trust whatever path He leads me to. He is the vine and I am the branch. I trust in Him, He keeps His promises, and He will never leave me. There is nothing more valuable to me than my relationship with Jesus, and I am proud to declare my dependence on Him for apart from Him, I am nothing. 

July 3, 2015 "God is Sovereign"

God knows all things past, present, and future. There is no limit to His knowledge, for God knows everything completely before it even happens Romans 11:33

Our attitudes will factor in to how long we spend in the pit on the way to the palace. The Lord wants us to trust Him in all times, not just some times.  When the going gets tough and things are not looking too good, we are to trust Him. Whatever battle you are facing, He is with you. No matter what the bank book says, no matter what the unemployment rate may be for others, no matter how someone is treating you, you must remember that.... 

He is sovereign over all. Sovereign means God is in total control. There is nothing that happens to us that is outside of God's influence and authority. God has no limitations. 

July 2, 2015 "Audacious Prayers are Heard and Answered"

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

Never give up on dreaming big and praying big.  I believe we are to think big and dream big as long as our thoughts are of God and pleasing to God.  He loves when we pray with expectancy therefore He would also be pleased when we think big.  My heart's desires are to give glory and honor to our Father in Heaven who is righteous and worthy of all my praise.  There is nothing I desire a part from God.  My journey with Him, especially these last five years, has been life changing in every way, in terms of how I think, to how I live. Even how I speak is different than before. He has opened my eyes to the truth and I no longer want anything that is not in His will for me. I accept all blessings from Him as I place all my trust in Him. I do not rely on man to make me happy nor do I credit man for anything that comes my way.  When we keep our mindset on Him in every aspect of life, we stand firmly on the rock and we will not slip. Stay focused on God.  He will keep you grounded and He will keep you safe.  My husband and I are experiencing some major changes in our life that are all good and we are overwhelmed and it is like a roller coaster zipping by but we are keeping everything in perspective. We are continuing to live and take each day one at a time. We are excited, we are thankful and we stand in awe.  We are here to tell you .... never give up on what you hope for, pray for, dream for.  Audacious prayers are heard and they are answered. Just read Joshua 10:12-13 and you will see the power of our mighty God. Think like Joshua and pray big!

Wednesday, July 1, 2015 "Believe in Him"

"Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:29

I believe in the power of Jesus Christ.  He has dominion over my life and He is my King.  He calms me when I am anxious.  He instructs me when I am lost.  He comforts me when I am troubled and He answers me when I seek Him.  He is everything to me, and I cannot imagine my life without Him.  I cry for those that do not know Him as their personal Savior for He is more than a statue or a repetitious prayer. He is more than something you do on Sunday.  He is the One true God who died on the cross to take away the sins of the world. He died so that you and I could live. Don't miss it. Don't assume tomorrow will be another chance/day to decide. Your choice today could have eternal consequences. Believe it. Believe in Him.