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Clean On The Outside, Messy On The Inside

Clean On The Outside, Messy On The Inside

1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

On yesterday a friend came by to pick me up for lunch. When I got in her car, there was dog fur everywhere, from her sweet dog shedding his fur.  Please be clear, I am not sharing this with you, to be judgmental or gossipy.  This lady has a super busy schedule and I realize that. So I understood that she had been on the go so much lately, that she just had not had a chance to take her car in to be detailed.   In her defense, I must say that I know for a fact that she does have her car detailed from time to time because of her dog’s excessive shedding.

As we were riding, she decided to whip into a local car wash and have her car washed.  Afterwards, it was nice and shiny and it even looked brand new. It’s actually amazing what a little soap and water can do.  But what the other drivers passing by could not see when they saw her shinny cleaned car, was how dirty it was on the inside. I immediately thought that this was so much like life.  How many times do we see someone who is all put together, and we decide that everything in their life runs perfectly? They couldn’t possibly have any issues, because we are basing it on their outward appearance.  Only to find out that they are a hot mess on the inside. They may have low self-esteem, or they may be dealing with low self-worth.

It may be that their life is filled with sin. They may even have secret sins that only they and God know about.  We only see the gorgeous clothes, the flawless makeup, the perfect hair and the matching shoes and purse and we immediately decide that they have it all together.    I want to assure you that at some point, from time to time we all look like the inside of my friend’s car, a mess.  We look great on the outside but we are torn to shreds on the inside with fear, worry or doubt about something.

Today I want us to make a decision to love people where they are, remembering that we are not perfect either.  We are all a work in progress.  We have absolutely no authority to judge anyone.

| Let’s love as Christ loves, and that is unconditionally.
Let’s also commit to spending as much time focusing on our inner self as we do our outward appearance.   When that becomes our focus, I think our world will start to see a change. Have a blessed week my sisters!

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
1 Peter 3:3-4

 

Mandatory Pause

Mandatory Pause

Last week in my part of the country a large snowstorm blew in.  Prior to the snowstorm, I made a list of the things that I wanted my husband to pick up from our local grocery store.  You see when we hear that snow is in the forecast, we start to get a little excited. Snow on the ground usually means that my husband will be off from work for a few days for a much-needed break.   I love it because life quiets down long enough for me to focus on projects around the house that I really need to get done.

I must tell you that when I heard the forecast this time, I immediately planned to work on something that I had been trying to complete for months. I just knew that I would have three to four days that I could get in my office and knock it out.  I considered it very high on my list of priorities, because I didn’t know when I would get that opportunity again.

Well don’t you know that absolutely nothing turned out as I thought that it would.  As I am writing this, I am on day five of being in bed with the Flu.  Yes, the Flu!

So frustrating!  But apparently so necessary for God to reveal some answers to things that I had been praying about.   When I got still even though it meant being in bed with the Flu, God started to enlighten me through training material I was lying in bed listening to, and through scriptures I was reading. Also, He spoke to me through some resources that had been shared with me that I had not yet had time to research.

You see, had things gone my way, I would have been so busy working in my office that I would have missed what God wanted to share with me. And believe me it is something that will be life changing for my business. I am sure that my focus would have been on my own agenda, and I would not have heard God’s whisper and God knew that.

Don’t you just love that God knows His children and that He knows each of our personality types.   He knows just how to communicate with each of us and how to get our attention.  And apparently, He knew that I needed a mandatory pause.  Oh, how I love my Savior, He always knows just when and how to rescue me.

Today I want to encourage you, not to fight Him if you are given a mandatory pause.  Look for the good in it.  Ask God what He wants you to learn from the experience.  And most importantly trust that he always knows what He is doing. You will be better, wiser and stronger on the other side of your mandatory pause.  Embrace all that God has for you by simply trusting Him.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Psalm 32:8
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Proverbs 19:21
21 You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
Proverbs 16:9
9 We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

 

 

Are You In Alignment?

Are You In Alignment?

Have you ever had a season when it seemed that no matter how hard you tried, things were just not working out as you had hoped?  Well I certainly have had a season or two in my lifetime, when I have experienced this.  As I look back over those years I have come to realize that there have been times when what I wanted was simply not in God’s will for my life at that time.   There have been other times when I simply was not in alignment with God.
You may be asking, how exactly does one get out of alignment with God?   You see even though we are Christians, there are times when we get off track. We may know in our hearts what God’s will is for us and we selfishly don’t want to surrender to it.  He may be leading us in a direction that He desires for us to go and we are pushing back with resistance.  Something as simple as a recurring sin may also block our blessing from coming through.
I encourage you today to eliminate the frustrating struggle that you may be experiencing, by simply doing a self evaluation.
Ask yourself the following 10 questions:

1. What am I resisting or running from?
2. What is the one thing that I know that I need to be doing, but I keep putting it off?
3. What are my secret sins?
4.  What is it that I keep doing over and over that I know is sinful?
5.  Do I have a consistent prayer life?
6.  Am I reading my Bible daily?
7.  Who am I choosing to be influenced by?
8.  Do I have a Christian accountability partner?
9. Do I truly trust God with my life?
10. Am I willing to do whatever God asks of me?
Prayerfully these questions will help you to see if you are in or out of alignment with God.   Hopefully you will be able to get back on track if you are not happy with what you conclude.  The wonderful thing is that we serve a God that forgives and restores.  Repent and ask for forgiveness where you have fallen short.
I hope that you will make a commitment to walk in alignment with God. He is so worthy of our faithful obedience.

Deuteronomy 5:32-33
32 So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
28 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:
You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.
The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.
The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you.
11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.
12 The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
John 14:23
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
Psalm 33:18
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
Proverbs 28:14
14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
John 15:10
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him……..

Are You Willing To Trust And Obey? 

Are You Willing To Trust And Obey?

John 21:1-14
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.[a] It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus[b]), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[c] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. Have you ever felt like Jesus asked you to do something that defied all human logic? 

In John chapter 21:1-14 it is quite clear that the disciples probably felt this way.  They had been out fishing all night and had caught absolutely nothing.  Jesus shows up and instructs them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. Well of course this probably made no sense to them, since they had already told Him that they had been fishing all night and they had not caught anything.

 You see these were professional fishermen.  This was not their first rodeo so to speak.  They did this daily for a living.  One would think that if something as simple as casting their nets on the other side of the boat, would bring about a successful fishing day they would certainly have enough experience to figure that one out.
What I love about this story is that they did not try to think of all the reasons why it did not make sense to cast their nets on the other side.  Two things happened immediately. They heard Jesus’s voice, and they obeyed His voice.
What we must remember is that our blessings are always connected to our obedience to God.  Because the disciples were willing to obey and cast their nets on the other side of the boat, the Bible says when their nets were drawn from the water they had caught 153 large fish.   God did more in a second than they had achieved all night and possibly even over several days.
Where are you today?  When God instructs you to do something, do you obey without question, do procrastinate, or do you try to rationalize and figure out all of the reasons why it does not make sense to you?   May I suggest that you respond immediately, trusting that God has always faithfully guided you correctly, and this time will be no different?  Let’s make it a point to respond to God’s voice without hesitation.  He is a loving kind Father who knows what’s best for us.
Remember He knows where the fish are so
Don’t Miss Out!  Trust and Obey!

You Are Worthy

You Are Worthy

This past weekend I was asked to speak at a retreat.  The theme of the retreat was Worthy To Win.  I thought that this was a great topic, because at some point or another we all have felt unworthy to some degree.
Feeling unworthy comes from believing the lies that Satan tells us.  He wants us to doubt the promises, and truths that God’s Word has given us.  He wants us to live in doubt, fear and unworthiness.  These are the tools that he uses over and over and over again.
Another one of his tools is to accuse us of things that God has already forgiven us for.  Although God has forgiven us, Satan’s constant accusations make it hard for us to forgive ourselves. He reminds us of past failures or past experiences and that causes us to feel shameful.
 He knows how this eats away at our self-esteem and our sense of self worth,  so he keeps the accusations coming.  It is difficult to feel worthy when you are constantly reminded of all of the reasons why you should qualify as unworthy.  Through this process we are held hostage and we lose our effectiveness to grow and achieve all that God would desire of us.  Believing Satan’s lies keeps us from stepping into our purpose.
Be clear, God sent Jesus to sacrifice His life for us, because we were important to Him.  That in itself means that we have value and we have worth.  God took the time to masterfully create us, and all that he created was good.  We are worthy because of what God has done for us, not because of who we are. Because we wear His seal we have worth.
We are worthy to live a joyful life.  We are worthy to enjoy the blessings that God has provided for us.  We are also worthy to walk in freedom, because we are no longer held captive. We have been set free by Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection.  We can only be held captive if we choose to believe Satan’s lies.
How Do We Change Our Thought Process And Start Believing That We Are Worthy?
1.  Pray!  Since our worth comes from God, we should spend time in His presence.  Daily when you pray, ask God to help you believe that you are who He says         that you are, and that you can do what He says that you can do. Remember, it is His power that works through you to achieve great things.
2.  I encourage you to Journal.  Journaling is one of the best ways to process your thoughts and feelings.  It also helps you to release the things that you have             been holding on to.
3 Forgiveness is key!  If you have been hurt or abused in some way, it is crucial that you forgive the person that offended you.  This helps you to move forward         in believing that you are worthy.  Remember you are not what happened to you.
4.  Read your Bible daily.  I recommend that you read scriptures when you rise each morning and before you fall asleep each night.   Keep God’s word on your           mind and in your heart at all times. It has transforming power.
5.  Take ten to fifteen minutes each day, and just be in total silence.  Listen for God’s voice during this time.  Remember, total silence!
6.  Believe that you are worth the personal work that it will require to change your thought process.  Your goal is to get to a place where you are in full agreement       with God, that you are worthy of all of the blessings that He has for you.
7.  Positive affirmations are important.  Look in the mirror and tell yourself five to ten great things about yourself each day.
8.  Be grateful!  Write down ten things that you are grateful for each day.  Gratitude opens the door for more blessings to enter in and it helps you to be appreciative of what God has already provided.
9.  Don’t allow people who are consistently negative to occupy your time or space.

10.  If you are still struggling after several months of follog these steps, I suggest that you seek a good Christian Therapist, or Counselor to help you work   through issues that may be more serious.  Don’t be afraid to get the help you need, because you are worthy!

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made
Luke 12:7
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Psalm 8:4
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,  human beings that you care for them?[a]
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

 

 

Holy Matrimony

Holy Matrimony

This past weekend my family and I attended a beautiful wedding reception. The bride looked radiant as all brides do, and of course the groom was full of smiles.   I couldn’t help but hope that the joy they were experiencing at the reception would last a lifetime.   Those of us who have a few years of marriage under our belts, know that marriage is not always rainbows and kisses.  There are great days, and some not so great days.  There are ups and downs. There are twists and turns and there may even be some disappointments along the way.  It’s called life!

Whether you choose to marry or stay single, life is still going to happen to us all. When we marry someone, we are choosing the person that can be our lifelong partner to navigate the strong waves and currents of life.

We are making a  commitment to love that person unconditionally just as God loves us, no matter how hard the winds of life may blow.  Only death should be what separates us from our spouse.

So you may be thinking how is this even possible?

Here are 10 keys to a healthy marriage.

  1. Only with the help of God, can we enjoy marriage in the way that God has purposed it to be.  Allow God to be the head of your marriage. Honor Him with your marriage and your marriage will be blessed.
  2. It requires putting your spouse’s needs ahead of yourself at times.  It requires living a selfless life.
  3. It means being willing to forgive offenses that may occur. Both partners should ask for forgiveness quickly and be willing to forgive quickly. Don’t let things fester.
  4. Praying with your spouse is also a key component to a strong and healthy marriage.  Study God’s Word together and also worship together. Keep the enemy from your doorstep.
  5. Communication is also key.  Share your feelings, wants, needs and desires with your mate.  Don’t leave them constantly guessing or trying to read your mind.
  6. Keep dating.  Keep romance alive in your marriage.
  7. Make important decisions together.
  8. Speak to each other respectfully and honestly.  Even when you are upset try to choose your words wisely.  It may even be best to calm down first, before having a difficult         conversation. Another good thing to do is to pray together before having a difficult discussion.
  9. Never publicly embarrass your mate.
  10. When you hit a tough spot that you just cannot navigate your way through, pray together first.  And if it’s still hard to get on the same page,  go and see a  good Christian counselor.   Don’t allow too much water to get under the bridge that you are at a place of no return.
  11. Set goals, live life with zest, enjoy one another

Genesis 2:18-25
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam[a] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[b] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[c] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Matthew 19:4-6
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’[a] and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’[b]So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Mark 10:9
Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Ephesians 5:21-25
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Colossians 3:18-19
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Ephesians 4:2-3
4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
Ephesians 5:28-33
28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[a] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Ephesians 4:32
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1 Corinthians 7:2-5
But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Romans 12:10
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who Will You Pour Into?

Who Will You Pour Into?

Most of us are where we are because of the kindness of someone else.  When you look back over your life, who would you say, has had the most impact on your life?   Some of you may say it was a parent or a teacher or even possibly a best friend.  Today I would like to challenge you to be that person in someone else’s life.   I challenge you to be a difference-maker.

Who do you know right now who could use some guidance, encouragement or mentoring?  I would start with getting with that person over a cup of coffee just to see how they are doing.  They may not necessarily need help, they may just enjoy having a friend initially, or they may just need to know that someone cares.   I can assure you that if you create an environment that feels safe to them, they will be willing to open up and share what’s going on in their life with you.

This gives you the perfect opportunity to be a blessing to them.  Sometimes being a blessing is just sitting and listening, and sometimes you may be asked your opinion because they are seeking guidance and direction.  Always be sure that you are being prayerful over the situation so that you are allowing God’s wisdom to be the guiding light.  As you share with them, always point them back to God and His Word as their source of wisdom and direction.

8 Questions To Consider When Mentoring Or Helping Others
  1. Do you approach others with love instead of skepticism or judgement?
  2. When you leave someone are they better off because you have been in their space?
  3. Do you find it easy to encourage others?
  4. Do you speak life into others?
  5. Are you a motivator?
  6. Are you willing to check in on those you are helping from time to time, to see how they are doing?
  7. Are you willing to hold them accountable in a loving way to what they say they are going to do?
  8.  Are you willing to be a great example first?

Let’s go out and be the hands and feet of Jesus.  So many need to know that someone cares for them. Let that be us!
1 Corinthians 11:1
11 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Titus 2:7-8
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Proverbs 9:9
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
Proverbs 1:5
let the wise listen and add to their learning,  and let the discerning get guidance—
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Titus 2:3-4
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children,
Proverbs 27:
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
Philippians 4:9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Proverbs 1:8-9
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers,[a] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

 

 

Free Indeed

Free Indeed

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

On yesterday our country celebrated another July 4th Anniversary, or some would call it Independence Day.  This marked another year of our country living in freedom, which is one of the reasons it is considered to be the greatest country in the world to live in.

While thinking about this, I thought of the freedoms that we have in Christ.  Oh what a blessing to be free of the eternal death sentence that comes as a consequence of our sins. This is a yoke that Christ stepped in and chose to bear on our behalf.

As Christians we are also free of the guilt and shame of our sins, when we confess and repent of them.

Freedom in Christ means that we no longer have to fear dying, because we will have an eternal home with God.  This freedom also means that we can boldly approach God’s throne of grace and ask for His divine help for any situation we encounter.

Freedom in Christ means that we can move through life freely and without reservation or fear, knowing that God’s hand of protection is over us.  Freedom in Christ means that we can pursue our God given calling, knowing that God has already gone before us and opened any closed doors.

Because we are children, we are free!    Now that’s something to celebrate!

What Does God’s Word Say About Our Freedom

Galatians 5:1
5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do
2 Corinthians 3:17
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Acts 13:38-39
38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.
Ephesians 3:12
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Psalms 119:45
45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
1 Peter 2:116 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
Galatians 5:3-14
Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b

John 8:32
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Romans 8:1-4
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 6:2
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
1 Corinthians 7:22
22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave
Isaiah 6:1
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
Romans 6:14
14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

 

 

 

 

 

When They Are All Grown Up

When They Are All Grown Up

Last month we celebrated Mother’s Day.  I have been really busy the past few months, so for this special occasion to interrupt my normal routine was wonderful!
Usually, we only celebrate on Mother’s Day.  However, this year my daughter took charge.  She had the most wonderful surprises planned for each day. Starting that Friday evening all the way through that Sunday.  We had fun new restaurants to experience, as well as I got to go and take in a movie that I had been wanting to see. It was really a fun weekend!

It’s times like these that make me reflect on the yesteryears, when I was a new mom and trying so hard to get it right.  I feel like I was constantly stressed out, because I watched over our daughter like a momma hawk. I did not want her out of my sight. I knew that I was supposed to protect her, and I took my job seriously.  I now know that it would have been ok to relax a bit more and trust that God would protect her.

My days were super busy as a mom, as they are for every mom that I know.

There were days when I was so tired that I didn’t know what to do, and it didn’t really matter because I had to keep going anyway.  I remember the times that I would go to the kitchen to prepare dinner, and I honestly didn’t know if I had the strength to do it.  I was totally exhausted!  There have been many times that I just prayed and asked God to give me the strength to get through it, and He did.

There were basketball games constantly and piano lessons, Children’s Choir and Church.   And let’s not even talk about the occasions when my daughter was ill and had to pull an all-nighter.  And because I loved her and I loved being her mom I would choose to do all of this over and over again.

Let’s face it, motherhood is hard work and it requires lots of sacrifices, but it is worth every step of the journey.   Motherhood will also teach you more about yourself than you ever thought possible.

When you look at your adult children all grown up and living a life that honors you as a parent, and most importantly honors God, you can’t help but be proud, as well as thankful to God for his guidance and protection.

So to all of you moms with young children, hang in there!  It really does get better.  Continue to lift your children up to God in prayer and continue to ask God to bless you with strength and wisdom for the journey.  One day you will get to witness the fruit of your years of labor.   Your children truly are a blessing from the Lord!  And no one on this planet will ever love them like their momma!

Be blessed and be encouraged, your work is not in vain.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Proverbs 17:6
Children’s children are a crown to the aged,  and parents are the pride of their children.
Psalm 127:3
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.
Proverbs 31:31
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

 

HOW TO HOLD ON DURING A DIFFICULT SEASON

HOW TO HOLD ON DURING A DIFFICULT SEASON

I don’t know what you are going through at this present moment.  Perhaps this is a wonderful season of life for you, and everything that you are hoping for is falling right into place.  For some of you life may be very hard right now, and you are barely hanging on by a thread.

We all go through seasons, and some seasons are much harder than others. I have heard many times that it’s not what we go through, but how we choose to respond to what we are going through that matters.

If this is a tough season for you right now, I want to first encourage you to hang in there, and don’t allow the enemy to take any more ground than he has already taken.  Stand firm in your faith in God.  Trust that he will bring you through, in his perfect timing and in the way that is ultimately best for you.
Sometimes in hard seasons it’s easy to drift away from God, instead of turning towards God.  Let me encourage you to not walk, but run towards God during your difficult season.  When life seems like an unending tornado, he is your safe place.

Also, remember when it seems like it’s taking God forever to answer your prayers, there are always things going on behind the scenes that we are not aware of.  God is working it out. Be patient, his timing is different from our timing.   Because he has a plan for each of our lives, and he can see our future, the sequence of events that we encounter will be perfectly timed.

How To Hold On During A Difficult Season
  1. Pray, Pray, Pray!  Pray without ceasing.   Prayer will get you through.
  2. Stay close to God by staying close to his Word.  Read your Bible daily and he will guide you on important decisions that you may need to make.
  3. If you are in a Community Group through your Church ask them to keep you and your family lifted up in prayer.  If you are not in a Community Group ask   your Christian friends to pray for you.  There is much power where two or more are gathered in prayer.
  4. Journal your prayers.  Journaling your prayers is like pounding on the door of heaven.  I highly recommend it.  It also is a great way to process your thoughts  and feelings about what you are going through.
  5. Never ever give up on God or yourself.  Stay hopeful, keep trusting in God, and keep believing for your miraculous breakthrough, because it is coming, so hold     on!
    Scriptures:

    Psalm 55:22
    22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
    Psalm 56:3-4
    When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
       In God, whose word I praise—in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
    Psalm 62:8
    Trust in him at all times, you people;  pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
    Isaiah 41:10
    10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
    Hebrews 13:6
    So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?”[a]
    Psalm 121:1-8
    I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
    My help comes from the Lord,  the Maker of heaven and earth.
    He will not let your foot slip—  he who watches over you will not slumber;
    indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
    The Lord watches over you—   the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
    the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
    The Lord will keep you from all harm—  he will watch over your life;
    the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
    Psalm 9:9
    The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,  a stronghold in times of trouble.
    Psalm 32:7
    You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
    Psalm 27:5
    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.
    Psalm 18:2
    The Lord is my rock, my fortress , and my deliverer;  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,  my shield[a] and the horn[b] of my salvation, my stronghold.
    Psalm 119:114
    114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
    Psalm 91
    Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
    I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
    Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
    He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
    You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
    nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
    A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
    You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked
    If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
    10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
    11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
    12 they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
    13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
    14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
    15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
    16 With long life I will satisfy him  and show him my salvation.”
    Psalm 23
    The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
        He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
        he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
    Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a]I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
    You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
    You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
    Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
    and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
        forever.