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 !