where are you headed?

Today as you wake do you know which direction you are going? At times our lives can be spinning, like a merry-go-round. It is going so fast we just want to jump off. The spinning makes us queezy, and we feel as though we are going to fall. We have to hold on to something to stand, until we get our balance. It is hard to see which direction God wants us to go to if we are not in tune with His word. As you are driving down the highway, and the rain begins to pour down so hard, you have to pull over until the rain slows or comes to a stop. You know in your mind its too dangerous to keep going when we can't see where we are headed. Just as driving at night, the oncoming lights can blind us, and we have to turn our eyes away for a moment, we too get blinded by all that comes into our vision. It can be so distorted we can't see clearly. In order for us to follow Christ, we must use the map He gave us, the bible. We must keep our vision clear, and our ears open to His word. We must keep our heart in-check to make sure we are living for Him, not ourselves, not the anger in our hearts, not the pain, not the burdens, and not to make others happy. We must totally lay all that at His feet, leave it there, and not pick it up again. We tend to let others tell us where or what we should do. Every need is not to be met my us. Just because there is a need there, it is not for us to do unless God is calling us to that work. We must be open to where He leads us, and never say,"I won't go there." Often those places He is sending us may be different, we may think that it isn't safe or the right place for us, but if God is calling you there He will protect you, He will provide all your needs, and you will see those blessings all around you. Just because your friend can sing, doesn't make you a singer, just because your friend can make beautiful pieces of jewelery doesn't mean you can put one together. We all have different gifts and talents. We are not to be all alike, God made us different for a reason, for His purpose and will. You may be sitting there thinking God didn't give you a talent, maybe He forgot while you were being made. No, He didn't forget, you have everything in you, that He has placed there. You must seek Him, and He will begin to unravel your gifts before your eyes. If you are in the position that you have to make a decision on which direction to go, pray, and pray until you receive His answer. So many times I stepped ahead, and didn't wait on Him, but made those desisions by myself, only to have them blow up in my face. God is calling today, He is calling you and I to do remarkable things through His power and might. He is calling us to a higher standard, and calling us to live out the example of Christ like. He wants each of us to follow Him with our mind, body and soul. He wants every part of us to be in tune to hear His voice. He wants us to give up control of our lives, so that He may lead us and guide us in His will. It is when we are out of His will, and living for ourselves that we get so confused about what to do. We must stop worrying about what others think and who likes us, and who hates who we have become as christians walking in God's light. He is the one we answer to, no other, and if we are following Him, He will take care of all else around us. So where are you headed today? Are you headed out the door to do your own thing because you so think you deserve it, or are you headed out the door to take part in all God has for you today? Its all your choice, we can choose Christ or ourselves, and from my own merry-go-round I can tell you with all the passion in my heart to choose Christ. He will never let you down, or lead you down the wrong road. So take His hand today, and let Him lead you through the journey of this life. Allow Him to make those tough decisions you are facing, and watch the glory come out of the spout.... "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up." Psalms 5:3

What is the cost of your ransom?

As we are living a free life in Jesus Christ today, there was a cost to Christ. Christ paid our ransom with His own blood, His own mangled body, His own life was given so that we may live, and live free in Him. He gave all so that we could live each day. Although some have not been set free yet, their ransom has already been paid. All they must do is go to Christ and ask Him to enter their heart. I remember the day I was set free, the day I realized my ransom was paid, and paid in full. It was a feeling as I was sitting in church that just washed over me, I felt the Holy Spirit move my heart and my feet forward to my Pastor.It is hard to me to fathom just how many times I have sinned in my life. Combine my sins with the sins of the worlds people, and that is what Christ died for, His blood was shed for my filthy sins. Although my sin brought on Christ's death, He died loving us, for us to live with Him forever. To know those nails were for me, the shed blood should have been mine, the cross was mine to bare, and Christ crawled upon the cross for every man and woman, boy and girl. His love covers all, and His mercy and grace are given freely. For me to think of the pain He bore out of love for all of us brings tears to my eyes. No words can express the love and thankfulness I feel for what He did for me. To think that each of our sins were cast upon Him, to know each one, each selfish sin of mine caused Him to die, I can only say Holy Holy Holy is our God almighty. If anyone knows how words hurt, its Jesus. If anyone knows the pain of gossip, Jesus does. If anyone knows the pain of having your children turn against you, its Jesus. If anyone knows the pain of being mocked, its Jesus. All that touches us, has already touched Him. He knows our pain, our hurts, and our blessings. We should be living each day for Christ, each day we should be giving our time to Him. Do we? Shamefully, I have to say I do not. I can say I love the Lord, I live for Him, but my days do not always show my love for Him, they show my love for myself and my selfish ways. Whatever the cost of our lives, however high the ransom was, Christ was ready to pay and to pay in full with His life. He paid our ransom and now its time for us to pay it forward. Its time for us to live a life that Christ wants for each of us. It is time to give back all that He has given us. Our world is dying right in front of us, what are we to do? We should be out doing all Christ leads us to do. If that means giving our time, giving all we have, or giving our life, we should be willing to lay down our lives for a brother in Christ. Today as you live and breathe your ransom has been paid, now its up to you how you live each day, so whats it going to be? We either live for Him or for ourselves. His gift was given in love and is a forever gift for us to cherish. It is the one thing that will never die. Today is a blessing, each breathe is a blessing. We have blessings upon blessings, may we change our thoughts today, and live and breathe for Him and for Him alone.. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45 "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1 Timothy 2:5-6a

What are you chained to?

Just what in life are you chained to? Is it your job, your house, your enemies, your pride, lies, your jealousy, your power, your anger, name your sin and it can hold us down. Many things can be what we are chained to. As we wake we have to move that ball and chain just to get around. It is constantly holding us down, and keeping us from being who God wants us to be. Like a python, the things in this world can wrap around us, and begin to squeeze the life right out of us. We can have those days that seem to keep us down. Just as weeds in a garden choke the life out of new plants, life too can choke us until we want to give up. In the UFC fighting, once they get down by the other, they can tap out, and the fight is over. That is what we need to do daily. Just tap out and call upon Christ for the rescue. He can free us from whatever in life has us down. He is our redeemer, He is our strength, and He is that chain breaker. Why face those battles daily alone? We don't have to. We can release the choke hold, and allow Christ's arms to wrap around us, and bring healing. Nothing is too big for God, and life can be much greater if we allow Jesus to live through us, if we allow Him to take all the burdens. Its time to take off the chains, to walk through the sand between your toes, to take that dive you have been afraid of, to let go of the pain your carrying around, the anger that is swelling in your heart, whatever you are facing God can turn things around. All we have to do is give Him control over our lives, let go, and let Him release the hold of pain life has on us. Life is worth living to the fullest, to live, laugh and love. With Christ we can overcome and we can break free, get out of that pit, throw our arms up, and praise Jesus. Leave those chains behind us, along with all the pain and hurt, begin a new day without chains. Once we break free, we will begin to understand what joy in life is, we will be able to enjoy life to the fullest. Take a chance with Christ today, I promise, He won't let you down, He will lift you up..." Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him. 'If you abide in My word, you are My disiples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'." John 8:31-32 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." Galations 5:1 Let Christ set you free today in all His glory!

Are you bringing honor to your parents?

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother',which is the first commandment with promise:'That it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.' And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." Ephesians 6:1-4 This is a verse for all in our family. God just isn't directing His words to the children of the home, but to the parents as well. As we want our children to obey, we must also obey God and not be severe with our children. It is a balance for both sides. We teach our children to love and obey the Lord. We teach them to respect others, and to obey us as their parents. Just as my children learned from me, I too learned from my children. As I was young I didn't always obey my parents. I thought at times I was getting away with things, but I never did really. Even though we may think our parents don't see, God sees all, and one day we will be accountable for our actions. You begin with trust in your children. Once they break that trust it is hard to gain back. Once we begin to dishonor our parents, it breaks a bond that you share. I know my parents loved me very much, but during that time I know I disappointed them. As we want our children to be accountable we too must be accountable for our actions. There are times as our children are growing, we can't understand everything. When they disobey, we hurt also. We hurt for them, and for our relationship. There were times I said and did things that only came from my mouth out of hurt, but needless to say I should have kept my mouth with soothing,loving,words of disipline. We all make mistakes, we learn new each day with our children. Many times its those very mistakes that have helped us to learn and grow. We need to be the examples for our children. We need to be walking in Christ daily to show them how to grow in Christ. I always taught my children if they were obeying God, then they too would obey me. When God is first in our lives, all else falls natural. When we are in God's word as a parent we are more likely to speak with love when we are angry, then to shout out in anger with words we cannot take back. Thats the thing with words, once they are out there, the hurt is already felt, and no matter how many times we say we are sorry, the hurt is still there in that open wound, and takes time to heal. We must teach our children to follow Christ, and to be themselves, and to seek the will of God. If we are seeking His will, then we are going to honor and respect those around us. It is a relationship, our relationship with Christ as we walk with Him, and a relationship with our children as we walk with them.Children need to see their parents loving each other, not arguing within their hearing. When our children are home, it is a building block for the rest of their lives. We are either teaching them about Christ and walking with Him, or we are teaching them the things of this world. Children want to be loved, they want disipline. There is a big difference in disipline and anger. After we disipline our children, we must be willing to explain why, to teach them the ways of Christ. I can honestly say these words have come from experience. I have lived them during my childhood, and with my children also. I have great children, they are a rich blessing. But with those blessings come trials. I cannot share all those trials, it would not be fair. We struggle at times with what to do in situations with our children. Some choices I have made were blessings, and then their are those choices that did not bring glory to God. You have to be willing to apologize to your children when you have messed up. As we grow as parents it is a learning experience. It seems with each child we learn more and more. But if we are right where we need to be with Christ, and if our answers are in soft spoken words, filled with love, our circumstances are going to change for the better. Today, times are different than when I was a child, and that really wasn't that long ago. Children today face many different trials that I never had to face. Our children can be the young adults Christ wants them to be if we lead in a Godly manner, teach them with love, and if we pray for them. I have prayed for my children since the time I was carrying them. I have prayed for all things, their husband or wife to be, their children, their safety, for them to grow in the Lord and never turn away from Him. I have made a list, and kept to it, praying daily for my children. Sometimes our children make a decision to turn away from Christ and their teachings. They go through a period of wanting to live life on their own, and make their own decisions. We must pray that God will show Himself to them, and they will come back to Christ, following Him. There is a verse I hang on to, it is one that brings comfort to all parents. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 God knows us and He is prepared for everything that comes. Nothing surprises Him, He has seen it all, and He will whisper His words to all to bring them to Him. Just as our children can move away from Christ, we too as parents can move backward. There were times I would move forward two steps only to move back four more. We must forgive ourselves. As parents we are not perfect, as much as we try and only want the best for our children, we will falter, but we must remember Christ is there, and He will lift us up and put us back on the path we need to be. Today as my mom is seventy-one, I still obey her. I should say I have learned to obey her more with the years I have grown. I am closer to her today than when I was young. We have a wonderful relationship that I cherish. Today, it is me taking care of my mom. The roles have reversed, things have changed. I am humble and proud to care for my mom. As she struggles today, it is me she calls when she is ill or afraid. Our relationships are a circle. A circle of love. There may be trials with our children, if you haven't faced them, you may call yourself blessed, but if you have you may also call yourself blessed. Having children is a blessing and I wouldn't change being a mom for anything. My life would have never been the same without my children. When you see them you can see a glimpse of me. When I was young I wanted to make my parents proud, and today I still do. As you raise your children, raise them up to God, your strength and wisdom will come from the Lord if you allow Him to control, take that control out of your hands, and place it in His, and watch all the blessings begin to fall upon you...

Saving yourself..

As we grow as young women we are taught to save ourselves for that right young man, for that day of marriage that is so very special. I began teaching this to my daughters at a young age and also to my son. See, for me, I was one young girl who didn't save herself for that right man, my husband. Although I can say I wasn't taught to save myself, I still knew what was right, we all do. The world has a different viewpoint on this. The world teaches us that its our body and we can do with it what we want. We can turn on any television show, any movie, and it will show us that we are not cool if we are saving ourselves. Often they make fun of those who have taken that vow seriously. I wish I could do that part of my life over as I am sure my husband does. As a woman who is married now, and loves her husband, it would have been a wonderful gift to share just between us. Christ teaches us that sex before marriage is wrong. We may look at that and disagree, but I am here to share with you just how He is so right. When we take that step, that leap with another before marriage we lose something special about ourselves. Each time takes another piece of us. When your young you think your in love and this is the one for you. You think time has stopped and you will be together forever, so why not just give in to those strong feelings? For that reason alone, they are feelings, and we should never base our decisions on feelings, no matter how strong they are. To be with your husband now, and to know at times you have those memories that just pop into your head out of nowhere brings about a sadness to your heart. As young girls we can hear the words,"If you love me you will", "What, are you afraid", "Everybodies doing it". Those would be three reasons to keep yourself pure. If you are afraid, the Holy Spirit is telling you no, its not time, if everybody else is doing it, it probably isn't the right thing to do, and just to share a bond with someone, just to love someone is not a reason to give a part of yourself that you will spend the rest of your life wishing you had back. If a young man loves you, really loves you, he will want you to wait. He will want to share in that special time together with wedding bands on your fingers. If a young man is telling you your frightened, ask him, "Please go ask my daddy if we can have sex, and if we have his approval." I remember being young and in school, and at that time if kids were having sex they hid it really well, not wanting others to know. Today it is celebrated and you are esteemed high if you have been with many. In our world today what is right is wrong, and what is wrong is right. Any man or woman for that matter that says they love you, if that love is really strong, they will wait, they will stand and make sure neither of you are in that position to be tempted. The choices we make impact the rest of our days, and at times we have to live with those choices that affect us mind, body and soul. For me, I know I have been forgiven of my past, I am a child of the King. My sin is remembered no more with Him, but at times it is remembered by me. I have friends who made the choice to wait, and to hear them speak of how special it was, the bond they share with their husband brings tears to my eyes. I am overjoyed for them, but for me, I can only say I wish I could have experienced that with my husband. Don't listen to what the world says, don't listen to what the kids at school say, go to Christ, go to your parents, your christian people who can give you wise advice. We face trials and temptations of all kinds, and when we are young it is just beginning, and it doesn't get any easier, but with the Lord, we can overcome, we can stand firm and hold ourselves at a higher standard. If you have made that mistake of sex before marriage, its not too late to renew yourself in Christ and make a new day, a new covenant to save yourself for that right one that Christ brings into our lives. When we are young we allow our emotions to lead us, we allow others to lead us, and we want to be loved and accepted, just as women want the same things. If you have to sacrifice what is holy and pure its not of God, and its not His wishes for you. Our bodies are the temple for the Holy Spirit, our bodies were made to have a bond with Christ, to allow Him to live through us. Once we give in to temptation its easier the next time, and the next, and pretty soon we are in over our heads, and we are not looking to Christ any longer, because we know what we are doing is wrong, but we allow our selfishness to take over. We must not allow that temptation to be greater than our love of Christ. He can give us the strength to overcome any temptation. We don't have to be followers of the world, we can be the leaders that change this world. For me it is a process of forgiving myself. That is the hardest one for me. To forgive myself of the mistakes I have made, but if God, if Christ is willing to forgive me, to set my sins as far from the east is to the west, if He loves me, I can put my past behind me also, and just bring in a new day, with a new purpose, and a new standard for myself. We can be walking billboards for Christ. Each time we stand up and say no, we are saying yes to Christ and His will for our lives. What about you, is there something you wish you had waited on? Is there something lurking from your past, that seems to come in out of nowhere that you wish you could forget about? You can, ask for forgiveness, and ask God to wash over you with His love and comfort. You can stand proud and say no to any man, knowing you are God's princess, your His child and no other love is greater than His. If anyone is trying to get you to do things you know is not a will of God for your life, say no, and share with that person your love of Christ. If they agree, if they understand, then move forward, but if they don't agree, if they are asking of something so precious, they really don't know the meaning of love yet. I encourage you to talk with your children while they are young, share with them the love of Christ and all He is and lift your children up to Christ asking He instill in them the power to overcome temptation. I know all to well, what falling into temptation can do to your life, to your soul. If you have fallen, pick yourself back up, and allow Christ's grace to flow over you. He will quench the thirst you have, and He will quench the temptations so you will not fall into them. Today is a new day, with a new breathe, live it to the fullest with Christ living through you. Share your story so others can learn. If we stand and share the pain we have faced, we may be able to make a difference in those lives around us. Your purity is something so valuable, so beautiful, know that waiting is the best yes you will ever say, when you choose to say yes to God, and no to the world that so longs to take all you have away..."Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12 "He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend." Proverbs 22:12 "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple for the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are of God's." 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 " Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 We all struggle, we all face temptations, but we can flee from them, we can overcome with Christ. Love without respect is no love at all. Love without boundaries is no love at all. We can look to God's word on love and purity to show us the way to live, to experience life at its fullest.

Got a dream?

What do you do with the dreams that God implants in our hearts? If they are for Him and the glory of His kingdom we continue to push forward inch by inch, watching Him move through us, watching Him create in us something that beauty cannot even describe. All that He has placed in our hearts we should be moving forward with those dreams no matter how hard or trying they are. Don't allow your heart to listen to those who laugh, say you'll never be able to do that, or just simply think its no big deal. Anything we do for Christ is always projected from Him onto us. He instills many gifts in each of us, and it is for us to study, to learn just what those gifts are and what we are to do with them. Never listen to the negative thoughts inside your head, be possitive and watch that dream come true with each new step you take. I am seeing my dreams come true with my writing inch by inch. First, I write only for the Lord, never for any other cause. If I step forward and make things about me, if I take any glory, it is taking away Christ and the beautiful blessings that He has created. Whether your dream is to write like me, to play a sport, to sing, to invent, to share, to heal, to teach, to dance, whatever your dream is, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 To live out our dreams is to show Christ to the world. Success is defined in many ways. To the world its getting all you want, being popular, and seeing your name in lights. Its all about the "Me", but success for christians is living and watching God move and change all around us. To have success your going to fall, your going to doubt, and when you do you pick yourself right back up, brush off your knees, and release all those doubts, give them to Christ and let Him fill us with His strength and wisdom. Let our lives become His, give control all to Him, and pray for Him to use us, to keep us clean, and to stay on focus. We don't focus on the dream, we place our focus on Christ and allow Him and His will to lead us. Living for Christ is changing your attitude, its taking the vision off of us and placing it on Christ, the beginner of all our dreams. When we sit and wait for things to happen we can get discouraged waiting, we begin to think nothing is going to happen, but with Christ things happen in His timing and in His ways. Don't give up on that dream you have in your heart, march forward, spend time on our knees, and let God take the lead. God has great things for us to complete for Him. If our hearts are not open to Him, He will pass us up with those blessings, and use someone else. When we step up to the plate, it can be awefully frightening, we see those fast pitches coming in, we are trying to figure out just which pitch we should swing at and which one we should let go by. Don't let the fear become part of you, or get in the way of your dream. Stand firm, with your feet planted in His word, and He will show you which pitch to swing at, and He will give you the strength to hit that homerun for Him... "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

from darkness to light in five years

Five years ago things were happening in my life, and I thought life was over. I thought I would never smile again, and I for sure knew that nothing was ever going to be the same. As each day brought a new set of tears, I found myself losing hope. I found myself in this pit and didn't think I would ever make it out. Although I clawed and kicked and tried to get out, nothing was happening or so I thought. As I look back five years ago I thought God forgot all about me. I called for Him, and I just knew He was passing me by. I knew all was moving and going on around me, but I was being still, if not going backwards. At times I think I was angry at God. I thought I was doing everything right, I thought I was following God, and living for Him, so how could these things happen? How could my life change over night? How could I feel so lost, when I knew I was found? When we seem to be in our darkest times, we cry out, and although we may feel as though God has given up, He is working in us, and all around us. I know in these last five years I have grown closer to Him, and I have learned a great deal about life. I have learned so much about myself. The things I must change and the things I must allow God to work through. When we cry out to God He hears each and every word. For me, this has been a long journey. It has been a path few really know about. But I am here today to share with you, God moves, God is great, God is mighty, and He is our Redeemer. God brought me through those dark days, He brought me through the nights I layed awake crying. He never left me, I was leaving Him. I was trying to find my own way again. I thought if God isn't going to move then I must take control. But what I didn't realize was just how much He was working. There are times we must go through trials to see who God really is, and its through those trials when we are losing everything, that we realize He is everything. I have learned to trust, to believe, to know that God has His hand on us everywhere we go. When we are thinking we are at the last of our rope, God reaches out to us and pulls us into His loving arms. I would have never thought God could use me for His glory. Here I am writing, my first piece in a magazine, and now I am a book reviewer for the biggest publishing company for christian books. I am overwhelmed, I am humbled, I am forever thankful God shows us a way. He uses our pain to bring glory. I can see how He has moved in my life. I can see how He is placing each stitch just where it needs to be. He is healing those wounds, and has filled my heart with His peace. When we are going through the dark, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that light is God. Just when we think we can't take another step He is right there picking us up and carrying us until we can stand again. Never give up, never give up on your dreams, for in those dreams God has placed His will. Don't lose sight of what is really important. Nothing is as bad as it seems in the new morning light. We can just allow Christ to wash His comfort and His blessings over us. When we give up on ourselves, we give up on Him. For Him to move through us, to teach us and to mold us into who He wants us to be, we must be humble before Him, open our hearts and let the healing begin. We are never alone, and in our darkest nights, He is there with us. Morning always comes, and with it comes grace and mercy. All doesn't heal or change over night. It takes time for God to teach us, and it takes time for us to really see the big picture. Just when we think its over, its just beginning. Don't ever doubt God like I did, don't give satan that satisfaction of bringing you down into the depths of despair. There is hope, there is faith and there is love. Whatever you are going through tonight, know that He is with you. As those storm clouds are blowing in, and you can see the darkness, and feel the pressure of that coming storm, know without a doubt that God is your shelter, your strength, and our comfort. As that storm comes, the rain will begin, but as the sun begins to shine, the rainbow appears in all its glory, just as God does in our moments of pain. If God can use a simple girl like me, if God can do anything and He does. He is forever, He is unchanging, He is our past, He is our present and praise Jesus He is our future. Don't give up, God isn't going to let you down. He will bring you through, He will raise you high, and you will praise His name for all He has done, is doing and will do in your life. Five years seemed long to me, but to God it wasn't. Nothing is too big or to powerful for God. With God all things are possible. Hide those words in your heart and believe on them... "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and notof evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 "For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings." Psalm 61:3-4 "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 Never let go of Him, for He will never let go of you~

just another place to add to the list?

We have so many places to go. We go shopping for food for our families, if you are like us, we spent the majority of our time at sports activities with our children. We have arrands to run daily, that seem to tire us. We work all week, only to be home on the weekends making up what we didn't get finished during the week. Have you ever been driving home from a place that you frequent, and before you know it your in the drive way? You have driven this road so many times you could find your way blindfolded. For us during school we have a set time for everything, we know what has to be done, and when we have to get it finished by. In our lives if we are not careful, we can get into a funk, we can get into a cycle, and go through all the motions not really taking part. Are Sunday mornings like this for you? Has it just become habit to set the alarm, pick out your outfit, get the kids ready, fix breakfast, clean up everthing, change clothes again for the third time, grab your bible, read the Sunday school lesson you didn't have time to do through the week, get in the car, drive and walk through the doors, walking to your classroom, saying hello to everyone who passes, get seated for class only to watch the clock go by and now move upstairs and set your behind in a pew? The music begins to play, the Pastor begins to preach, the altar call is coming, you pray, and then you walk out the door only to think, "What is it he said,what was that message?" We at times can go through all the motions, only to miss out on the blessings right in front of us. Everything becomes a ritual, we go through the motions, only to begin another week. Is Sunday just another day of the week for you? Is it important for you, are you coming to worship, or has it become something you have to do to follow your list? I have to admit I have been in that trap. You get so tired and bogged down, you get lost in all you have to do, you must keep moving, because if you lay down, slow down, or just stop to enjoy, your going to fall asleep from the rest you are not getting from all that is in your life. Oh, how well I know this in my own life. There was a time I was homeschooling my three children, teaching Sunday School for the Junior High, teaching Awana on Wednesday nights, and I was in a race to get our children in all the places they had to be. That last year of doing all, I was helping to plan our oldest daughters wedding, and coaching softball. I just kept going through all the motions, and was so busy, I couldn't stop to enjoy, to just breathe. After that year, I learned to slow down, or I was going down. Even church became just another check off my list. I feel today I missed so much, for all I thought I had to do. I use to teach the kids at church, that if they will place God first, all else will fall into place. It is so true. To let other things go to make God our priority, to slow down, and listen to the music, to calm ourselves to see the beauty of all around us. Today I have learned from the past, I now place God right where He should be, and I can tell you once I did that, life seemed to all fit in its part. Nothing is more important than walking with Christ, to have Him in our hearts, to learn and grow with Him while we are serving Him. When He enters the picture, the whole scene changes, and we begin to see things in a new light. Don't just go through the motions, let the motions of Christ fill you until your cup is overflowing. Place Him first, open your heart and get excited about all that He is doing. Its amazing when we stop long enough to see the beauty and to hear His whispers of love.. "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be viligant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.Amen

please turn in your reseme

As my husband has been looking for work he has learned alot about resemes, what they should say about him as a person, and what information should he put in there. An employer can tell alot about a person by their reseme. If their handwriting is sloppy, those go in the trash. If there is information that is missing, those are soon to follow. Our resemes speak about who we are and what are goals are. If I had to turn in a reseme today to God, asking Him to enter heaven, I'm not sure what mine would say. I would tell Him,"I know I don't belong here, but I really want to come in." Isn't that what some of our resemes say? Don't they say,"I know I'm not really qualified to work here, but the benefits are great, and this is where I want to be"? We are not worthy of heaven, but as we are working on our resemes, what do we have so far? Do we have faith down, do we have our hours we spend in prayer, the time we give to others, the words that come out of our mouths, our actions to those around us? In the christian life you cannot just have faith, nor can you just have works. They go side by side. Without works our faith is not really speaking out "Christian" and without faith, our works are just in vain. We must have both to grow as a christian, to grow with Christ, and to live each day with a joy in our heart about all we do. Our christian reseme should be packed so full its overflowing. I am afraid to see the look on Christ's face when He opens my reseme. Although I try, my heart wants to follow, but I still each day stumble and fall. As an employer looks over your work history, what does he see? What would God see looking at our christian history? Would there be much prayer, much studying, and works to go along with it, or would He see alot of selfish ambitions that really lead to nowhere? I want to work on my reseme, I want to make it look like Christ. I want to hear those words from Him,"Well done my faithful daughter", just as we want to hear from our boss that we are doing a great job. In heaven atleast we have cheerleaders lifting us up. Can you hear them now, the saints that have gone before us,"Go girl, you know you can do it", Thata boy, keep it up"? Our lives here should show a reflection of our Boss, the Manager over our lives, although He is in control, we must follow His instructions if we want to move up, and are we not looking to be heaven bound one day? Take a look at your reseme before its time to turn it in, fill in the blanks, and let those works be pure and clean, not sloppy and not selfish ambitions, but showing a faith, a belief, and a trust in the one who is leading us through this journey.. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10 "Let nothing be done in through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4 "Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?" James 2:22 "But someone will say,'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" James 2:18-20

Your caught!!

Today I was at my mom's house and saw her trash needed to be taken out. So I began to gather up the trash and headed out to the trash bin. As I lifted the lid and threw the trash in, a little critter jumps up and hisses at me. I throw the trash and I am screaming at the top of my lungs running. Okay, this is the part like at the scary movies you want to tell the person, "Don't, don't go into that room you hear a noise in!" I go back to the trash bin to see what it was. I lift the lid ever so slowly only to scream again as this little raccoon sits up, screeching at me with his little paws up in the air, like I had just caught him doing something wrong. I just had to get my phone camera out of my purse and take a picture of him. I tried to coax him out as my mom was yelling, "Get away from him, he could have rabies!" This little guy was caught red handed and he wasn't about to go anywhere. Are we ever like that? Do you ever feel as though you were caught red handed by God and you know you are doing something you shouldn't be doing, and you feel His conviction? As sinners we get caught red handed all the time. I'm sure there isn't a day that goes by that I am doing something against God's will. I try my best to follow Him, but I still falter, I still fail trying to be the person He has called me to be. Just as our children have been caught with their hand in the cookie jar, we have been caught with our hand reaching out to the world for something to satisfy us. The amazing thing about this little raccoon is it is part of his nature to get in trash heaps for food. He was hungry and he was going to get him some food to fill him up. It is in our nature also to sin, we were born with a sin nature. Although we will never be perfect until heaven, we can overcome temptation by walking away, by putting our hands up lifted high just as the little raccoon did when he saw me. I'm not sure who was more afraid, me or him, but it was a shock to both of us. Just as when our children make a bad decision, when others make a choice of wrong doing, and we too do not reach our potential, it is a shock to us when we do wrong, when our children do wrong. We tend to look at others when something has happened and we think,"Wow, I would have never thought she would have done that." We live in a world that is full of sin and temptation. We face it every day of our lives in some way or fashion. But, we can pull our hand out of the cookie jar without being told, we can take a step back and think before we act. We don't want to be sorry just for getting caught, we want to be sorry for thinking the thought, for allowing the action to take place. An apology with an excuse is not an apology at all. When we are caught with our hands up, we need to be humble before the Lord, and truly be sorry for hurting Him with our sin. Pride gets us nowhere fast, but when we humble ourselves before the Lord with open hearts, He forgives and doesn't remember that sin anymore. Is that not grace? Have you been caught with your hands up? My hands have been up many times as I have been caught by the Holy Spirit. Today we can turn all that around and teach ourselves disipline to walk away from temptation, and free ourselves of the guilt and shame... "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12