The End of 2015

As I sit here on this last day of 2015, I think of what an amazing, yet hard, yet amazing year we have had, that has ended with a tragedy to close down the year.

Sometimes, you want to ask God why, but you hear a still small voice return with "I love you", and peace fills your heart, but your heart still hurts and the void of loss is still there. But you go on in this life with the everyday routine.

Eventually .....either through divine revelation or loss or getting to rock bottom, at some point you realize the importance of loving others. You experience community, family and fellowship and helping others as you realize the importance of giving yourself to others and loving as Jesus commanded. His greatest commandment was love others as yourself. (that is hard) Sometimes it's hard to love others when the world is so cold. But so many blessings lie with loving others.

It seems like I ask God for many things, and as I was sitting here, thinking about 2016, and what I would like to accomplish and see,  I felt like thanking God for what he has given and what he is doing in our life.

Thank you for Danny, a great man of God that I get to experience life with.

Thank you for great children.
Thank you for health
Thank you for our home( even though it isn’t ours, you help make provisions for us to have it)

Thank you for our car, our truck, and other things that make life easier.
Thank you Lord,
Thank you for great men of God, that help us with the ministry now, and the women that stand behind them and work in the trenches with us. Thank you Lord.
Thank you Lord for the people of peace that you have sent our way, as well as the laborers and friends . Thank you.

As 2015 ends and 2016 begins search your heart and ask God what is it that he wants you to do, how can you impact his kingdom and make a difference. If you are not living for him, get into fellowship with him, read the Bible, pray, fellowship with other Christians, find a mentor, an accountability partner. God will help you, but being with others is the key to "living it out" That's why God created man and women, that is why God created a need for a relationship with him, we were made for relationships !  As an introvert, I know it is hard, but do the best you can to connect with others, and community and his kingdom, so that you can grow in 2016 !!

When you wake up on the floor

I don't know if you have ever slept on an air mattress, but many times  I have slept all night on an air mattress with some type of leak and usually you wind up on the floor, or severely deflated to the point of it feeling like you are sleeping on one of those exercise balls or a balloon or something un-natural when the moment you open your eyes, your body aches and you know that today is a new day.... a new day of aches and pains induced by a good ole mattress malfunction.

Well during this awesome holiday season, some of us will find ourselves on that wonderful air mattress.

This holiday season, after day two of this torture, I was complaining a little to my husband and secretly wondered if I was stuck in some Dystopian novel a story that has yet to be written.

He, being the Godly man that he is reminded me during this holiday season, that the deflating air mattress is still much better than what our Lord Jesus Christ lay on or his family. Of course I was humbled. We often talk about the birth of Christ and yeah, he was born in a manager (which is basically a feeding trough for animals), but we talk about it and don't relish it. When I say relish it, I mean really think about it. I am sure his family had aches and pains as they lay in the hay or whatever they had to lay their heads on. I am sure he being a baby did not care where he lay, but he was the King, Prince Of Peace, Savior, Lord, Hope, Wonderful Counselor, and he was born in a barn on some hay.

So I cannot complain about a deflating air mattress at Christmas and it muddy up my heart with a complaining spirit. I must think about Jesus Christ during this time, to replace that sludge in my heart with a heart of Thanksgiving, of hope, of appreciation for the one and ONLY Savior and Lord of my Life !!! I cannot possibly list all the ways he blesses me, he gives me hope, he changes my heart, he stills my heart, he warms my heart, but I do know that he is real, he is a living God that lives within me, and reminds me often of who HE is and who I am.

During this holiday season, though we may not have the comforts of home, we have Him, He is our home, and his love, his hope, and his spirit will guide us and comfort us. His light will give us warmth and hope and love that should fill our hearts.

Why? Because many do not understand, or get any of this, and sometimes we are the only light they see, and just like glass, we must let HIS light shine through us.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12

Not Good Enough

So, we had a great message on being good today.

As a Christ follower, I strive to be good, not because I think I must in order
 to go to heaven but because I feel that I should because I love Jesus Christ and want to be like him, not that I will ever meet that mark, but we are to strive.

But I am not good, I am never good enough to live up to God's standards, that is why he sent his son for me, for you and for all. Most religions concentrate on being good and how we are to be good..... but in reality we are not good. We were born in sin and into a sinful world. Children naturally lie without ever being taught to lie. We were born with a sin nature.

But one day God sent his Son so that We would not have to endure hell's flames, so that we could have a hope and redemption .......God sent his son for you and for me.

We live in a fallen world, with sin, hurt, and pain all around, but there is one promise that can be real this Christmas season and that is God sent his son for you.


It is by grace that we are allowed to live, that we are allowed to have free will and choose, it is grace.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Mph 2:8-9

So how do we embrace life through the reality of not being good enough?

We embrace it through grace, through hope, through the knowledge and wisdom that God's promises are real and true and he loves us so much that he sent his Son, fully man, yet fully God to die for our sins.

So this Christmas, when you hear the blessed Christmas story and you open gifts and enjoy family, remember God loves you so much that though a sinner, though we can never be good enough, he made a way for us, a way to him through his Son, through Grace, through redemption.

You can have all of that today if you want it. Embrace life, Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today !

Seasonal Sins

I can remember a song I used to listen to years ago, and included in the lyrics was:


" Those seasonal sins have a sting in the end"

I remember thinking what are they talking about?  And then I realized it... it's the sin of envy or lust or just wanting more, and over spending or even the hustle and bustle that inches out your time alone with God.

Those are the seasonal sins ....

Christmas is a time of year to spend money... We all have a good heart and we want to spend it on others, and give, but sometimes we can be over indulgent and give too much leaving our pocket books in debt or overspent. That kinda defeats that good hearted gesture doesn't it?

The other day we were sitting in group and the question was put out there.....

What have you been studying or what have you been dealing with in your study... the room got quite.

The room getting quite is a sad thing, why, because that could indicate that no one is studying. No one would speak up and share because everyone is so busy with the holiday season that quite time gets put aside for other things. (well and there could have been a few shy ones who did not want to speak up about their devotions with God) but......

I was one of those people. As I was driving to work a few days later, I heard a Christmas song playing about Jesus(the reason for the season) and I was immediately convicted, convicted that I was not spending enough time with God. I could blame it on graduate school, work, my second job, the church stuff, or I can just take the blame of busying myself... with shopping online, social media, looking, searching.... idol time that should be spent with God.

Search yourself right now, do you spend time with HIM, I mean more than just reading a Bible verse, time to listen, pray and listen some more. Read, listen, pray listen. Spend some time with God and see how blessed your

holiday season will be !!

Embrace Life

We have been studying about embracing life.... I know you have heard the phrase before, embrace life, live....live in the moment. Life is short, do what you love, love what you do. Embrace Life.....

Well it is often hard for us to Embrace Life and live above our circumstance or frame of mind. The everyday struggle can and will get you down, not to mention bigger issues, and pain that we face in this world. How do we embrace authentic, abundant life?

 How do you  embrace life through loss, pain, stress and how do you live above the struggle in a place with a Christ relationship that can help you face these struggles. We serve a living God who loves you and wants you to embrace life and have authentic life through him. You were not created to live oppressed, depressed or sad. You were created to live in abundant, authentic life with Him through Him and for Him.

With Him
Choose salvation. Do you want to live above your circumstances and this oppressed world? Choose Christ, allow him to come into your life and give you life.


Through Him
Once you have been saved, live free, live in him. That relationship that you established when you accepted him, yeah, that one, well you must continue in that relationship. How do you continue in a relationship ?, well you must spend time with them and spending time with God looks like this- Quite time- to hear him, to pray and not just ask him for things, but pray, sit quietly, listen, be still. Read His word, yes, look in the scriptures for answers, for hope, for strength, look to him. Pray, intentionally pray: talk to Him, yes, God, our savior, talk to Him, thank Him, ask Him, seek Him !!


For Him
Live an intentional life through the scriptures. Is the Bible still relevant today, yes. We do live in grace, but we also live in obedience to him, the Bible was written for purpose and that is a road map for our lives. The commandments are still commandments and we are still to love our neighbor. Love is the key..... live through him. He loved, we should love.

Flesh and Blood

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown, When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.  Isaiah 43:2

Have you ever been through trials? If you are living and breathing and on this earth, most likely you have been through some type of trial or struggle.

Having been through my fair share, I can say that I have never been left alone to struggle through all the bad. I have never been forsaken.  Sometimes I wonder is it because I chose Him or He chose me.

Then my mind is reminded probably a little of both as having Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is a choice we make, being in fellowship with him is a relationship and all relationships require work.

The battle within us against spiritual and flesh will always try and tell you that you cannot have a relationship with someone that you cannot see or feel with a physical presence, but I beg to differ. You can.

We were created by our Creator to have that relationship. The flesh and spiritual being within us will always struggle unless we succumb to Him and submit to his higher power.

You don't always have to get to rock bottom to experience divine intervention. Sometimes that divine intervention just happens to ordinary good people, but we still have to make a choice. A choice for him and to follow him.


       

Live in the Moment

Recently, I was giving some advice to a dear friend that lost a child or miscarried.  She was saying how her life is not what she thought it would be at this point and how she thought she would just have a child by age 30 and her plan would go accordingly. My heart hurts for others as I am not lacking in the virtue of compassion, though I can be tough because life has made me that way, but I still have a big bleeding heart for others. Long story short, I have prayed for her and talked to her on several occasions and have given her the advice to "live in the moment" ....

Actually she said it one day and I was reminding her something that she said right after the miscarriage as she said that she felt better and would just live in the moment and enjoy this short time alone with her husband without children. Somehow though reality crept in and she was down again...

We cannot always live in the moment as there is a time and season for everything. But overall, if we spent less time looking to the future or crying about the past, there is more time to live in the moment. God does not want us to worry or to be sad, he wants us to trust him and live in faith that he has our lives in his hands, that whatever happens we love HIM enough to trust him. In the end,  isn't the ultimate goal to be with him in heaven and live forever?  
But I know, it's true, everyone wants to go to heaven but no body wants to die. Well the ultimate goal is to die and be with him .... So why worry about all that when that is what we were designed for......

But we do.... we just do...

But try more moment living, more being present, being accounted for, looking people in the eyes and being real.  Try it, I know I am.

 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2, ESV

I often will find myself getting down or blue when I dwell on either the future or the past. But when I live in the moment, I am the most happy.

They say a habit can be formed if you do the same thing for 45 days or more. So I have been practicing living in the moment so that it can become a habit !!

Being Content - In death

I cannot say that I am content in death.... Yes, I know it's better and a better place and it's gonna be wonderful with Christ, but as I have lost my father and other loved ones, I know the sting of death as well. I have seen others suffer with that sting, that loss, that hurt, and void. The questions with no answers. Is it possible to be be content in death?? Maybe.... I have heard those that speak of being content, those that suffer with cancer or other incorrigible disease and how they are so ready for death and they welcome it with open arms.. as it is relief to them. Look at Job in the Bible he begged to die. Paul was ready to die...

“Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT

Every soul longs to be with our Lord. We were created for him, so our soul longs for Him, that is why we struggle some with loneliness and voids if we do not know him and are not in fellowship with Him. 

I remember this song that said "Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die" now that has a couple of different meanings, but really no one wants to die literally but also no one wants to die to self and accept God as Lord over our lives.

Somehow it's hard to leave this world, it's hard to separate ourselves from this world and that is the whole answer to being content. The answer to being content..... is finding that wonderful balance of it all.

I have talked with a couple of women who are at risk of loosing their child and women that have lost a child and most struggle with it, but I have to say my niece told me once and it touched me to the core. Her daughter has a heart condition and really it's only by the grace of God she is alive each day. She was going for a test and I asked her how she felt about it, and she said" I know she is God's, she belongs to Him and I am only getting her for a little while...." I was like wow... such wisdom from such pain.  I know if something happened to her the mourning and pain would be hard, but such wisdom and comfort she has gotten for putting God in her life and in her beliefs and coping.

That is the bottom line...He, our heavenly Father promised a comforter would come, and has come when He went away in physical body, he sent that comforter for us. He is a living God and that heavenly spirit is the factor that helps us to be content in death.

I have been reminded recently of the pain of death and spoke with a very special person who has lost someone so dear. I was humbled by God's grace in it all. God is such a good God.

For to me to live is Christ but to die is gain. Phil 1:21...   v23..My desire is to depart for that is far better.

Being Content on this Roller Coaster Called Life

That roller coaster of life. ..... yep ....so many ups and downs.

Being in the ministry, we get to see a lot of those ups and downs in peoples lives. Just being here in Florida for 2 years, I think of the things people have told us, the hurt we have seen and the joy. Such a roller coaster of sorts. I read an article once that most pastors have to be on some type of antidepressant medication because of the stress, and information that they are entrusted to from people.  The standards that are expected and I could go on and on, but it's a ....

A Roller Coaster.

 People come, people go. We love people and we love on people and share ourselves and just like any loss when they leave,  it hurts....Just as we have come and went out of peoples lives that we love and that love us.  I never thought I would live 8 hours away from my own mom. It has been a Roller Coaster for sure !

Again, as I said before, being content is not a state of current circumstance, it is a status of being whole through all of the ups and downs. It's knowing through everything that God is in control. He is bigger than all of this down here and putting him first will get you through many of the curves life throws at you.

I share Paul's quote again.

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Phil 4:11-13, Holy Bible)

So I am learning to be content in whatever situation, people come people go, loss, heart ache, happy times, joy, sadness, hurt, and God is growing me through this roller coaster called life.....

Most days though the ride is pretty awesome !! 

Being Content with Your Lot in Life

Can a poor person without anything be completely content. I have to attest to that and say yes. I see it often in the homeless on the streets. I have seen it many times, money, and materials do not constitute  well being. Your lot in life or your present circumstances do have to define who you are. 

It is what is within you that defines who you are. 

Often when we think of contentment, we think about money and having things. Things that are materials that make life better, easier, more enjoyable.  Plenty of food, good healthy food, we think of clothes, cars, a home etc.. I could go on and on, but contentment does not and should not revolve around your circumstances but should reside within your character.  

 I figured this out along the way of life. We work or don't work, we live, we love, we share ourselves our walk, our faith and hope with others and that alone should be enough right? Well look around it isn't. 

“ I maintain that both poverty and wealth are inhibiting. People living in poverty 

 are scared, you scare money away, you scare values away and you scare blessings 

 away. Now some wealthy people also freeze. they too are scared. They are scared of losing what they have. They hold on to all of it and therefore blessings stop coming to them”
 Norman Vincent Peale.  

Peale goes on to pen that the key to contentment is having a giving heart, and being willing to give it all away. The “it” is not only money but ourselves, and our time for God. The way to get to that freedom is complete submission to the Lord, our God. Submission leads to freedom.

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Phil 4:11-13, Holy Bible) 

I have lived in want, and need, I have lived in plenty, and I am still learning how to be content, but isn't God the wonderful potter.

Contentment is often put in the category of having or not having and often it’s associated with money, just as I have associated with money, but it is so much more than just having financial freedom. It is submitting to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it is daily seeking him and walking in fellowship with him to obtain just a piece of what Paul had. It is a state of mind and product of character. It is a virtue to strive for, and a habit that can be obtained through submission to God. A product of that submission, will be a thankful heart. That gratuitous heart of humility will seek Him and find Him along with peace and freedom like no other. That my friend, will be contentment at it’s best.

This is part 1 .... be on the look out for part 2.... "Being content on this roller coaster called life."
 

When I feel weak, he is strong

We have been studying in small group about Gideon and the few chapters that tell his story in Judges(Judges 6-8).  I am always surprised when I start studying about him that the story is so short, but the impact is so large. Short story, huge story, lot's of good stuff in it. This past week we talked about discerning God's will, or plans for us. 

If you look at Gideon it was without a doubt God's plan that Gideon defeat the Midianites. God orchestrated a plan that he wanted completed and Gideon was but a vessel he used. Isn't that exactly how we are, just a vessel God can use. 

When I think of my own life, and where I am in life right now, it often looks like I cannot possibly do all that I need to do or want to do or am expected to do. I feel sometimes like Gideon, cowardly, and lacking. I have asked for a sign, for encouragement, and help from God.  Gideon asked, and he received. This story reminds me of just how big God is, how he accomplishes things the way he wants, no matter how crazy or unusual it may seem to us, God is so much bigger than we can comprehend.  

So, I am reminded, be present, be ready, be willing, and God will use this vessel, God will sustain, he will strengthen the weak, he is an almighty God that uses ordinary people. 

Amazing, right ! 

".....I am in the least in my entire family"(Judges 6:15b)

"The Lord said to him, I will be with you"(Judges 6:16a)

More, More, More

Submission, and humility are two words so very hard to understand, so very hard to apply, so very hard to live with. I think it starts all they way back in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve wanted the knowledge of the tree, they were decieved but also deep within they wanted more. We all want more don't we?
More education, more money, more home, more clothes, more health, more shoes, more car, more, more, more......

Contentment could be the attribute we all lack, Contentment could be the answer to submission and humility and most every problem out there.

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Phil 4:11-13
We all love the last part, but do we read and contemplate on the first part of this scripture?

Someone once told me and I remember these words clearly, "if you are not content now in this moment with what you have, you will never be content even with more." you see it isn't a state of lack that gets us, it's a state of want, a state of desire, a state of discontent deep within us that gets us, maybe it does go all they way beck to the Garden, and even before.  God had to throw angels out of heaven for their want of more, more power, more control, more.
The same concept goes for the rich and the poor, the poor want more and live in a state of discontentment often striving for more, hoarding, saving what they have, and living guarded lives of preservation. The poor live in a state of need, and want, guarded, striving, wanting, needing, but both can have contentment if they want it. Contentment is a product of the heart, not circumstance, not the lot in life, but character.

What were the disciples doing when Jesus told him he was going to the cross and going to die,  but trying to figure out who was the greatest. They wanted more, more power, more adoration, more love, just more.  We all desire validation which is not a characteristic of humility. We all desire to be adored, appreciated, esteemed, but why?


The reason why submission and humility are so hard is because we work towards contentment through submission to Jesus Christ and believing through humility that his sovereignty will keep us. He has a plan and his plan is perfect. He knows us personally, and even knows the numbers of hair on our heads and when we grasp that concept and can cling to it, we can begin the journey towards humility.

If you want to read more, read Philippians chapter 2-4

Romancing Life

Have you ever been around that optimist, the one who always tries to turn things around to the brighter, more hopeful picture, when sometimes you actually want to live in the real world, you know the one who wears the rose colored glasses and see's all things as opportunities and lessons,  not the known reality that life is....
Well let me tell you, I see that as Romancing life... yep that is what I shall call it.

Then there are others, the people that continuously live in the real world and see things as they truly are, not hopeless, not a cynic or fatalist or pessimist, but a realist.

The realist-  someone who lives in the real world, but occasionally gets to experience Life to it's fullest, they usually can see the silver lining, hope and often will be optimistic, but when we get to Romance life, well that is great. Even the realist get to experience life and life to it's fullness.

I could go on and on with definitions of cynic, fatalist, pessimist etc... but we all know what those words mean, let's talk about Romancing life..... without rose colored glasses.

Enjoy the little things, small moments that take your breath, gestures, flowers, sunrises and sunsets.

Enjoy the grace, hope and mercy Jesus Christ offers. It is abundant, it is everlasting, and it is an awesome experience in the Life journey !

Romance Life, find the good, see the good, look for the good in others, in situations, challenge yourself to do it if you do not do it naturally.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippine 4:8

God has a plan for your life. He wants you to live for him... simple. He wants you to be happy and if Romancing life does not come naturally, take a vacation from what comes natural and try it, try on a pair of rose colored glasses for a few hours, challenge yourself to think a little differently and find good in everyone, not bad. Look for that good quality and concentrate on it. God will bless your efforts. When something bad happens look for the good, look for a lesson, look for God in all things. If you cannot find God in it, look for him to be there with you through it.  I will say he will be there for you in all things if you are his. He will comfort you, guide you and help you in times of trouble, he is a refuge of strength and peace. Try him.


Try Romancing life a little, look for the good.....

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.Romans 12:2

Faith is Holding on....

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

I have heard that scripture for as long as I can remember, but God showed me something a little different the other day. 

I love it when God shows me things. It is very humbling to hear from God.
When you think of Faith, you think of that very scripture.

 God showed me that faith is a necessary attribute and discipline in our life. I can remember getting saved when I was younger and not always walking in his way. I tried, I strived, and I stumbled. I kept my faith, and I prayed and though I wasn't always in fellowship and though I did not always hear from him (because sin separates and I was in sin). I kept my faith, he was there and He was still there when I decided to live wholly for him. God is so Good. I am thankful for his grace and mercy and for helping me even when I was not in fellowship with him.

What's so great about that? He was always there, He was changing me and molding me even when I did not realize it. When I chose to live for Him, and put Him first in my life, my life changed.

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."Matt 11:29

God is with you right now, wherever you are. He will help you and lift you up, He will teach you and be with you, even when it feels like you are alone. He is with you, he loves you and he is calling to you.

Whatever you may be going through, remember to hold on tight to Him, he will bring you through.

So hold on 

and hold tight,

 Don't give up 

with all your might, 

times may be hard, 

things might get tough

 but God is there, 

just look up

Why go to Church?

Many articles and commentaries are out there on why different generational groups are leaving the church, what they like and how many people out there believe in the organic church and I could go on and on about less is more, more is less and philosophies, theories, etc... but I won't.

First and foremost, why go to church?
Is it for self? for enrichment, fueling, getting revived and improving oneself?

Of course, and  that is a great biblical question.

That is the day ole question.

Do we go to church to worship and fellowship with other believers, well yes, that is biblical too.

God's word when shared has the ability to produce new life, whether it's from a pulpit or in personal conversation.

The question here again as it is always is a matter of the heart. There is a fine balance in all things of life. Finding that balance and contentment is our journey.

Is church necessary? another question that poses many debates.
God's word says preaching is necessary and assembling together is necessary, so the answer would have to be yes. Some type of worship with fellowship is necessary .

"not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another ; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh" Heb 10:25


 “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17)


God's word when shared has the ability to produce new life.......

we are to share, share our life, our hurts, our hopes, our short comings, because when we share with others and explain how awesome our God brought us through, held our hand, taught us something or simply gave us peace.... we touch a life.

If you are in the church or not in the church, search your heart today and ask yourself some important questions.

Why am I here ?

What am I doing to help someone else along the way.

Am I too proud to join a body of believers, am I scared, am I hurt and feel like I cannot get close to others because of past hurts, insecurity or pride?

A true body of believers will accept you right where you are..... God will change you and mold you and make you more like him if you will let him.... If you are in the church and feel like you don't belong, take a look at self and look closely to see if you are allowing God to mold you, drawing you closer to him. Stop looking at others and comparing yourself, your ideals, your beliefs and start looking at others like God looks at them...

A beautiful being he created, that isn't perfect, that may be hiding, may be "fake" as some people say, they may have walls up, they make mistakes, in church or out, but they are his, and they are trying, and it is up to HIM and them to follow that narrow path to Him, not us to judge and feel elevated because we have it all figured out.

Try and look at others as God does, someone he loves, someone he created...
If you can do that, you can fellowship with a body of believers .... even the ones who you deem fake or pretending .... We are all traveling this journey together, some just figure it out before others.....

Not Good enough

I woke up feeling slightly oppressed and questioning “am I good enough” 

Am I pouring into people like I should be, 

Am I living as holy as I should be

Am I loving like I should 

Am I the mother and wife that I should be 

Am I the daughter and sister that I should be

After all those questions, I came up short. I came up short in every category 

Why do we come up short? Why do we as Christians always come up short? 

I am reminded of the other blog I wrote about "Fighting an image", though a true Christian will try and work hard at being Christ like, we often fail and the world around us sees it. Whether it's small or big, they look for excuses to prove that we are no better than them.   I am reminded that my sin or short comings are covered by the blood of my Lord and Savior and the world hated him then, just as they do now. Things are really different, times are different, but's it's all the same, just as the Bible predicted over and over that it would be. IT's not popular to be a Christian and never will be. 

A true Christian is striving to be Christ like so we are reminded when we mess up. Whether we are reminded by others through reproof or through the nudging of the Holy Spirit, A Christian will evaluate self and turn or try to correct the problem, striving to be Christlike,

 but we will never be perfect until we make it to heaven. 

I woke up feeling inadequate because I am inadequate, I am completely inadequate in my own strength.
 I prayed this morning and God reminded me of a few things, including my purpose.  He reminded me that I can do all things through him(Phil 4:13) and the key there is through him, in that I must include him and how do I include him? 
I include him by praying, seeking, reading his word, 
He reminded me that I am His and I need to lift up my head and go forward, continually striving 

I serve an amazing God and I am so thankful to be his. 

Fighting an Image

I have been on both sides of the coin, the judged individual who was living a life of sin and saw the "church" as my judge and have been on the other side of the coin in which now I see the church being judged and ridiculed and honestly feel like a minority in this beautiful America that was founded on God, and a protestant religion. 

As a Christian, or Christ Follower you are under a microscope to live up to the teachings of Jesus Christ and walk a straight line or else you bring damnation and a bad taste into that unchurched, or de-churched or lost person who is watching you intently and waiting for you to mess up or make a mistake.

They don't see you as an individual who is struggling to live right, or who is under grace or who is under the potter's hand being molded to become a better person, no,  they just see you through their convicted, judgmental eyes, looking to see that you are no better than them. 

Well I have news for you. I am no better than you. I am a sinner. I am only saved by grace and my savior went to the cross to die for my sins and through him and only through him can I live authentic, abundant life and when I say through him, I mean being in fellowship with him.  I am on a journey to find that perfect person, that perfect life, that perfection but I know that I will not see it until I am in heaven and Christ makes me perfect there. Until then I can only strive and do my best. 

I seek Christ to help me to become better and I seek HIM to forgive me when I mess up, no I am not perfect, but one day I will be. 

I am living my life to try to be a light to others, to extend Christ's mercy to others and to love others so that this sad, oppressed world can get maybe a glimpse of who Jesus is and I say glimpse because I know that I am not perfect, but I love, I hope and I pray for you.  I am thankful for his grace, I don't think one can live soley on grace.I do think there is some action on our part to strive to be better, and to read our Bible and take the whole Bible in stride, not just parts of it, but all of it. I do think we are required to strive and try, but with God all things are possible and he can and will help each one who desires him. 

My prayer for you is to find him, not find some religion or some church or group but Jesus Christ. 

My prayer is that you can have an intimate relationship with him who can change your life and make you new !! 

My prayer is that we can extend grace, love and acceptance to others as such has been given to us by Jesus Christ. 

Reflection of 2014 / The Mirror of 2015

James 1:23-25 ...'For if any be a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way and straight away forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continuity therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.'

This past year, I have been reminded more than once how fragile life is. How life is fleeting and like a vapor. It has been a great year, but it has been real as well. In experiencing life and death, I am reminded how Jesus Christ is who helps us daily, he gives us peace and sustains us. He gives us hope to see us through.
I am also reminded through living life that in all things I want to glorify Christ. Not because life is fleeting or short, or because of fear, but because of love, because of hope and because of life promised to all who will. All who will. It’s a choice. 
Christ gives us a choice to follow him. I don’t want to be the man or woman who looks in a mirror and forgets where I came from, or who I am, but I want to remember where I came from so that I can extend mercy and hope to others. Through him, we as Christians can share a light that he gives.


This year, if you display the banner of “Christian”, please remember what it means. Please look in the mirror and strive to see Christ. Strive to live like Christ, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer.

No one looks in the mirror and forgets himself, but who might just go to church for one hour on Sunday and then forget God the rest of the week ? 

It's easy to go to church for one hour on Sunday and get that feel good feeling of worship, the great songs, and maybe even listen to the message as long as we can refrain from our smart phone distracting us for that one hour, but regardless, one hour a week is not gonna give you the strength and peace you need to have the peace you so desire. It's a daily walk, it's constant prayer, it's a relationship with Jesus Christ that will get you through. 

One hour a week won't sustain you when trials come, one hour a week won't fulfill you when life is not, one hour a week will not empower you to go the distance and minister to others which we have been called to do. One hour a week is not enough.... 
unless you are a baby Christian and just learning how to walk, God will help you increase, and grow from there. 

As you reflect on 2014 and move forward into 2015 remember who you are and where you came from, pray that as you look in any mirror you will see Christ or at least a portion of Christ, a desire and a hope. 

My prayer for you in 2015 is the promise that Christ gives. Peace to sustain you and hope to get you through, resulting in abundant, & authentic life through him. God Bless !