Yesterday, I was driving as a huge storm was forming. I looked into the clouds and two of them looked like angels pushing the storm to the North. The sky was fascinating with a dark blue background, billowing clouds, and one white bird flying into the storm. The canvas was so beautiful that I drove in pure awe and wonder.
The crazy thing is that I don't look around enough. But I found myself enthralled. Quite astonishing because I had just taken a driving while distracted course and the number one reason people get into collisions is looking at scenery. I can find the humor, can't you?
God always surprises me when I call to Him and ask Him to show me what He sees. He painted the sky yesterday and drowned the land with much needed rain. He formed the clouds that painted the sky and made me long for Heaven. He put the white bird in the middle to remind me of the majesty and peace He brings the earth. For a moment, I would have sworn it was all for me but then, it's there for all of us. The problem is we are so caught up in our problems that we rarely see the beauty. I'm counting myself in "we." So if you were feeling convicted, know I'm right there with you.
I don't take enough time to smell a rose, put my finger in the dirt to see what creature comes up, or really enjoy the moments. Life is too busy. We are over stimulated, over worked, and over committed to enjoy the beauty all around. I hope as you approach your day, you take a moment to look out your windshield and find the beauty that lies around you. I don't know what picture God will create for you but I know it will be inspiring and if you look hard enough, you might just see the hand that made you, the hand that loves you, the hand that knows you and the hand that provides for you.
He's everywhere. We just have to take a moment, breathe and look for Him. Wherever you are, see God's beauty, and thank Him for it. He never holds back on His creation. So like the storm yesterday, we are all unique, made for a special moment, and breathed by a God who loves us and all those that call His name.
Psalm 27: 4 NIV 84:
One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
Colossians 1:16 NIV 84:
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, I come before you a unique creature. A woman formed for Your purpose. And through Your divine intervention, You are molding me and making me for Your purpose. As I look around and see the tapestry You are painting, I pray that women everywhere will be called and that they will follow. I stand on faith that You will be my protector, provide courage over fear and that You will make each one of us bold, bright and beautiful; so, that in the end, we are part of the greatest canvas of all! Daily we ask that You would forgive us of our sins and that You would be known to all. For You are all we need today, tomorrow, forever. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Thursday, May 31, 2012
May 30, 2012
I have been on the road and will return with a new post this evening. I hope in the meantime you are all doing well. I leave you a prayer.
My prayer for you today:
Lord please help these women and me be better servants to you. Lift us up in Your arms and give us faith to forge through the challenges of life. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear and when we don't have a direction, please place our feet on the right path and show us our way. We need You in every facet of our lives. Without You, we are dead. This world is fleeting but You are forever. Thank you today for Your promises to us. May You reign in our hearts today. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
My prayer for you today:
Lord please help these women and me be better servants to you. Lift us up in Your arms and give us faith to forge through the challenges of life. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear and when we don't have a direction, please place our feet on the right path and show us our way. We need You in every facet of our lives. Without You, we are dead. This world is fleeting but You are forever. Thank you today for Your promises to us. May You reign in our hearts today. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Monday, May 28, 2012
May 28, 2012
Today, I took some time to remember those that I have lost. Those that loved me and provided shelter, comfort and encouragement all my life. In the last 5 years, I have lost a brother and both of my parents. Moving as a child, from place to place, brought a bond between our family, like none I have come across. We were close, some would say too close and yet, it made us all respect and love family.
The loss that I feel is still there. Sometimes when I wake, I realize how much I have lost. Even this morning, I couldn't write because the fact that you have lost someone doesn't go away; time just heals the very open wound. My cure is Jesus Christ. My family is my Father and it's Him who I go to when this journey is too tough, too raw and too painful.
The blog that you now read comes from a woman who has lost half of her family. I never thought I would get through a day without my mother, let alone, losing my brother and my father. But I have. I have learned that my family is much bigger than my community or my country; it spans the sea, the mountains and many countries. My family is now the people that Christ calls me too. And in the quiet and sometimes the darkness, I know that my call is for His glory and all the pain I feel will be replaced with a purpose far beyond today.
I am thankful to my mother and father because they instilled in me a heart that loves others. I'm not sure either one of them knew a stranger. They loved their neighbors and people they didn't even know. Because of this love, the love I too received, I can now love women in many nations.
You are faceless to me. I can't see you and I can't even talk to you but Christ has called me to pray for you and hopefully, someday we will meet. Being a woman is a challenge in any country and it's time we unite for the good of the generations to come. Men create war and women pray about it.
I have been one of the lucky ones. I live in a country where women are free and where they have choices. Not every woman can do that. There are countries where reading the Bible will get them killed. I am free to read the Bible, pray for nations, love women and worship my Savior. In my loss, I have great strength. Because the loss taught me to shout from the roof tops and tell women everywhere to walk with Jesus. He is all we need!
If you're struggling with darkness, lost someone, getting divorced, or live in a depressed nation, please reach out to Jesus Christ. He will fill the empty areas of your heart. I can't promise that you will live in a mansion or have food to eat daily but I can promise that Christ is with you and He is calling women to Him. We must believe and have faith that the Jesus of the Bible is real and moving in our world. Time is short and we only have so much time to work. Our time is now, please join me in the fight for women everywhere and please pray for those that are less fortunate than us. We need to remind ourselves that Christ came for the broken, the sick, the hurt, and the lost. We are those people. The color of our skin, the way we talk or where we live should never have bearing on our fight to love one another.
Today, I am thankful for those of you that follow this blog. I know God has done all things through His will and I pray that every day I will write for His glory. My heart is whole through my Father. For every step in my journey, for every tear I have shed, for every loss I have felt, for my failures and my successes, I thank Jesus Christ for saving me and making me His!
I am praying my sisters that you will see Him today. Even though we are miles apart, He is with us, all we have to do is pray!
James 4:10 NIV84:
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
1 Timothy 6:12 NIV84:
Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of witnesses.
Job 22: 27 NIV84:
You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
My prayer today:
Today I thank you for the people You have brought into my life. For the moments You gave and for the memories that will last a lifetime. Lord, I come before You a changed woman. I am Your woman and I want women everywhere to know You and to love You, the way I do today. My faith has come at a price but I am so glad I have it. You are my resource, my hope, my joy and my love. You fill my heart with love and understanding and when I am weak, You are strong. Life would be nothing without You. Help those today that are seeking a Savior to find a person, a website, or a blog that will help them know You. You are the key to this life, without it the lock is frozen. Continue to free us from our bonds, provide encouragement to the weary and give us a heart for every woman in every nation. We love You, ABBA FATHER! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
The loss that I feel is still there. Sometimes when I wake, I realize how much I have lost. Even this morning, I couldn't write because the fact that you have lost someone doesn't go away; time just heals the very open wound. My cure is Jesus Christ. My family is my Father and it's Him who I go to when this journey is too tough, too raw and too painful.
The blog that you now read comes from a woman who has lost half of her family. I never thought I would get through a day without my mother, let alone, losing my brother and my father. But I have. I have learned that my family is much bigger than my community or my country; it spans the sea, the mountains and many countries. My family is now the people that Christ calls me too. And in the quiet and sometimes the darkness, I know that my call is for His glory and all the pain I feel will be replaced with a purpose far beyond today.
I am thankful to my mother and father because they instilled in me a heart that loves others. I'm not sure either one of them knew a stranger. They loved their neighbors and people they didn't even know. Because of this love, the love I too received, I can now love women in many nations.
You are faceless to me. I can't see you and I can't even talk to you but Christ has called me to pray for you and hopefully, someday we will meet. Being a woman is a challenge in any country and it's time we unite for the good of the generations to come. Men create war and women pray about it.
I have been one of the lucky ones. I live in a country where women are free and where they have choices. Not every woman can do that. There are countries where reading the Bible will get them killed. I am free to read the Bible, pray for nations, love women and worship my Savior. In my loss, I have great strength. Because the loss taught me to shout from the roof tops and tell women everywhere to walk with Jesus. He is all we need!
If you're struggling with darkness, lost someone, getting divorced, or live in a depressed nation, please reach out to Jesus Christ. He will fill the empty areas of your heart. I can't promise that you will live in a mansion or have food to eat daily but I can promise that Christ is with you and He is calling women to Him. We must believe and have faith that the Jesus of the Bible is real and moving in our world. Time is short and we only have so much time to work. Our time is now, please join me in the fight for women everywhere and please pray for those that are less fortunate than us. We need to remind ourselves that Christ came for the broken, the sick, the hurt, and the lost. We are those people. The color of our skin, the way we talk or where we live should never have bearing on our fight to love one another.
Today, I am thankful for those of you that follow this blog. I know God has done all things through His will and I pray that every day I will write for His glory. My heart is whole through my Father. For every step in my journey, for every tear I have shed, for every loss I have felt, for my failures and my successes, I thank Jesus Christ for saving me and making me His!
I am praying my sisters that you will see Him today. Even though we are miles apart, He is with us, all we have to do is pray!
James 4:10 NIV84:
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
1 Timothy 6:12 NIV84:
Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of witnesses.
Job 22: 27 NIV84:
You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
My prayer today:
Today I thank you for the people You have brought into my life. For the moments You gave and for the memories that will last a lifetime. Lord, I come before You a changed woman. I am Your woman and I want women everywhere to know You and to love You, the way I do today. My faith has come at a price but I am so glad I have it. You are my resource, my hope, my joy and my love. You fill my heart with love and understanding and when I am weak, You are strong. Life would be nothing without You. Help those today that are seeking a Savior to find a person, a website, or a blog that will help them know You. You are the key to this life, without it the lock is frozen. Continue to free us from our bonds, provide encouragement to the weary and give us a heart for every woman in every nation. We love You, ABBA FATHER! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Sunday, May 27, 2012
March 27, 2012
During this Memorial Day weekend, I want us to look back to the greatest human sacrifice of all time. The death of Jesus Christ and what it means to you and me. His death is represented in the Bible as a sacrifice of immense proportions. Because our Lord was willing to sacrifice His life for us, we are free to worship Him, love Him, abide in Him, ask of Him, seek Him and forever be in His kingdom.
What does one human life mean? In today's world, I sometimes have to admit; I'm not quite sure. But our Father knew that one life would save millions. We need to hold this dear as we face life's many challenges and temptations. This world is full of darkened paths and creepy corners. Our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by satan and knew that we would be tempted with glory, power, money, pride and all the other deadly sins.
We are human and therefore, not always wise in the ways of the world. We seek our self-esteem from others and believe what they say above what Jesus said. I fall into the trap myself. Being in sales, you want people to like you. But I learned along time ago, that if I compromised myself for a sale, I would lose myself and so I try to pray about my behavior and my need to succeed. Only God can bring my success now, I no longer depend on myself, because to do so, would mean that I have forgotten about God and my greatest desire is to give Him all the glory.
There will always be pitfalls in our journey through Christianity. We must lift ourselves up and pray that God will guide us through the maze of life. His guiding light is the Holy Spirit and the Bible. We must intrench ourselves in the word so that we remain steadfast when faced with difficult situations. And we must remember what Jesus did for us. He gave His life and in return, we are saved.
Psalm 51:12 NIV84:
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Ephesians 5:2-10 NIV84:
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
If we do nothing else this week, let's have at the forefront of our minds the sacrifice Jesus gave to all of us. Without Him, we would live with darkness and light would be lost forever. For those of you that don't live in the US, we love you and know that many have sacrificed for your freedom too. And of course, God gave His life for people in every nation. For this, we are all blessed, in one accord, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
My prayer today:
I find myself reflecting on Your great sacrifice this week. Anyone that has lost a loved one, hopes they will see them again. And as I reflect on these passages and through my journey with You, I can't wait to see You. I know that I have work to be done here but in all things; I wish I could bow at Your feet and thank you for the wonderful life you have given all of us. You came to die for our sins and we thank you, by being disobedient, angry, fearful, and full of doubt. You knew we would be that way and even though we don't deserve You; You gave Your life anyway. We owe You so much Lord and we ask that we would become Your light in a world full of darkness. Continue to mold us and make us Yours and forgive us for our sins. We needed You, long before we knew You. Thank you for making us Your children and giving us the tools to follow You all of our days. We are Yours! In Jesus Name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
What does one human life mean? In today's world, I sometimes have to admit; I'm not quite sure. But our Father knew that one life would save millions. We need to hold this dear as we face life's many challenges and temptations. This world is full of darkened paths and creepy corners. Our Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by satan and knew that we would be tempted with glory, power, money, pride and all the other deadly sins.
We are human and therefore, not always wise in the ways of the world. We seek our self-esteem from others and believe what they say above what Jesus said. I fall into the trap myself. Being in sales, you want people to like you. But I learned along time ago, that if I compromised myself for a sale, I would lose myself and so I try to pray about my behavior and my need to succeed. Only God can bring my success now, I no longer depend on myself, because to do so, would mean that I have forgotten about God and my greatest desire is to give Him all the glory.
There will always be pitfalls in our journey through Christianity. We must lift ourselves up and pray that God will guide us through the maze of life. His guiding light is the Holy Spirit and the Bible. We must intrench ourselves in the word so that we remain steadfast when faced with difficult situations. And we must remember what Jesus did for us. He gave His life and in return, we are saved.
Psalm 51:12 NIV84:
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Ephesians 5:2-10 NIV84:
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-such a man is an idolater-has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
If we do nothing else this week, let's have at the forefront of our minds the sacrifice Jesus gave to all of us. Without Him, we would live with darkness and light would be lost forever. For those of you that don't live in the US, we love you and know that many have sacrificed for your freedom too. And of course, God gave His life for people in every nation. For this, we are all blessed, in one accord, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
My prayer today:
I find myself reflecting on Your great sacrifice this week. Anyone that has lost a loved one, hopes they will see them again. And as I reflect on these passages and through my journey with You, I can't wait to see You. I know that I have work to be done here but in all things; I wish I could bow at Your feet and thank you for the wonderful life you have given all of us. You came to die for our sins and we thank you, by being disobedient, angry, fearful, and full of doubt. You knew we would be that way and even though we don't deserve You; You gave Your life anyway. We owe You so much Lord and we ask that we would become Your light in a world full of darkness. Continue to mold us and make us Yours and forgive us for our sins. We needed You, long before we knew You. Thank you for making us Your children and giving us the tools to follow You all of our days. We are Yours! In Jesus Name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Saturday, May 26, 2012
May 26,2012
I would like to start this blog out by thanking Jayson for commenting on my blog. If you wish to contact me in private, my email address is lbrogers23@aol.com. It's at the top of my blog. This will give you the ability to contact me for any reason. Like you all, it's nice to know that my effort is reaching people and blessing lives. Check out his site, you might find it useful.
So as we approach a long weekend in the United States, I wish to thank all the families who have given their lives for this country. It's not just the soldier that sacrifices their lives for us; it's also their families. The tours are long and hard on those that serve. Many of the wives have their babies without their husbands being home. And if they lose their spouse, they have to go on.
Being in the armed forces, wherever you are, is an honorable and courageous way to serve. Many hate war, even I do. I can't think of a woman that likes war. It's too easy to lose the ones we love but unfortunately, we live in a world full of dangerous circumstances. I hope that if you are serving in the military or know someone that is, you would thank them with all your might. They are why you have freedom.
It's important to realize that we must not just thank them but pray for the soldiers all around the world. The world is raging and peace is far away. Please lift up the soldiers, their families, and all countries. We have to counter our fear by prayer. If anyone has recently watched the news, Iran is getting more and more uranium. They are very close to Israel. We need to pray for our Father's country and the US must always protect God's people. From the beginning, they belonged to God and until the end of this world they will be the chosen for all mankind. Don't forget them. He doesn't.
So with that being said, thank you to all the mothers and wives who have men and women that serve in the military today. Your sacrifice has been counted and blessed. You honor us, along with your families, in serving to protect this country. Through prayer, we must unite and ask God to protect the ones that protect us. Please lift up the mothers, wives, husbands and children of our military. They miss them too. It's our honor to pray for them and to serve them, the way they serve their countries. Many have payed the price for our freedom, please take time on Memorial Day to remember them in your prayers! They are part of a great plan and should never be forgotten.
During WWI the 91st Brigade prayed a prayer every day, through some of the bloodiest battles in History. Every member of that Brigade survived. I ask us all to pray this prayer today for all those that are fighting around the world.
Psalm 91:
So as we approach a long weekend in the United States, I wish to thank all the families who have given their lives for this country. It's not just the soldier that sacrifices their lives for us; it's also their families. The tours are long and hard on those that serve. Many of the wives have their babies without their husbands being home. And if they lose their spouse, they have to go on.
Being in the armed forces, wherever you are, is an honorable and courageous way to serve. Many hate war, even I do. I can't think of a woman that likes war. It's too easy to lose the ones we love but unfortunately, we live in a world full of dangerous circumstances. I hope that if you are serving in the military or know someone that is, you would thank them with all your might. They are why you have freedom.
It's important to realize that we must not just thank them but pray for the soldiers all around the world. The world is raging and peace is far away. Please lift up the soldiers, their families, and all countries. We have to counter our fear by prayer. If anyone has recently watched the news, Iran is getting more and more uranium. They are very close to Israel. We need to pray for our Father's country and the US must always protect God's people. From the beginning, they belonged to God and until the end of this world they will be the chosen for all mankind. Don't forget them. He doesn't.
So with that being said, thank you to all the mothers and wives who have men and women that serve in the military today. Your sacrifice has been counted and blessed. You honor us, along with your families, in serving to protect this country. Through prayer, we must unite and ask God to protect the ones that protect us. Please lift up the mothers, wives, husbands and children of our military. They miss them too. It's our honor to pray for them and to serve them, the way they serve their countries. Many have payed the price for our freedom, please take time on Memorial Day to remember them in your prayers! They are part of a great plan and should never be forgotten.
During WWI the 91st Brigade prayed a prayer every day, through some of the bloodiest battles in History. Every member of that Brigade survived. I ask us all to pray this prayer today for all those that are fighting around the world.
Psalm 91:
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation."
My prayer today:
Lord, this psalm says it all. We lift up those that are serving their countries all around the world. We ask that you would have your will on their lives and they would come to trust in you. Thank you for those that sacrifice their lives and time to help us stay free. Please lift up their families along the way and put them on the hearts of women everywhere. We praise your Holy name.
Until tomorrow....
Friday, May 25, 2012
May 25, 2012
Have you lost your joy? I think there are times when life throws us a curve ball and zap, our joy is gone! How does this happen? One day we are walking along and everything is going well and the next we can't get out of bed. What stole our joy?
Difficult circumstances are always at the core when joy is lost. We lose joy because we lose sight of Jesus Christ. We can't see our circumstances change so instead of believing that Jesus is with us; we choose to let Satan rob us of our joy. I hope you're saying right now; that's not me. But I know too many wonderful Christian women whose joy was robbed because they looked at their circumstances and not at the glory of our Savior.
It's no wonder the Israelites spent 40 years in the desert. And if you think that can't be you, watch out because it surely can. We must realize that this life is full of temptation, hardship, and defeat. Only through Jesus do we have victory. We are an apathetic generation and often we are wishy washy in our belief system. Jesus is good when we can see Him and feel Him. What if for a time, Jesus decides to remain silent, what do you do then?
That's the question I want us all to contemplate. If we don't feel like Jesus is near, will we still believe that He loves us and wants the best for our lives. Will we believe that we will come out of our circumstances and that our lives will be better for them?
I have a doctor who is very dear to me. He is a very kind, Christian man who last year went through a routine procedure, during the procedure, everything, I mean everything, went wrong. He thought that He was going to die. Unfortunately, he must face another, more dangerous surgery to fix a complication that came from the first. As I looked at him and told him that I would be praying for him, I asked him if he learned anything from his experience. He looked right at me and told me that he couldn't believe how at peace he was with death. That dying didn't scare him in the least. He told me that the worst part was saying good-bye to his wife. Interesting isn't it? In every situation, no matter how dire, we learn about ourselves and about our Savior. He learned that even when facing death; He was ready to meet Jesus.
In every trial, we will learn something about ourselves we didn't know. It could be strength, courage, faith, or it might be that we clung to Jesus like we never have before. He became our front, back and middle. Daily we went to Him, crying out and asking for some relief and if we were lucky, He gave it to us. Life is going to happen but Jesus is in it. We are His to do with what He wants. And we must serve Him the way He wishes. Only He knows our true weaknesses, what will rock our boats, what will scare us to death and what will be our breaking point, so that we can follow Him better.
I don't know what's going on in your life today. Maybe you are on a calm stream or maybe, you are on the waves of wrath, either way, take heart, cling to Jesus and He will be with you. Call out to the people closest to you and ask for prayer. They are near and if they aren't, call on me. I'm already praying for every woman that comes to this blog or that reads it. I may not know who you are but I love you anyway.
That's whats happened to me through my many trials and loss. I have learned to trust Jesus more, walk in faith, not sight, and to believe that He can move mountains as long as I walk with Him daily. They may not be the mountains I want removed, but they are the ones He wants to remove. And in the end, that's all that matters to me. I want to follow Jesus and take my manna as He provides it. I love Him and am so grateful that He saved me. I'm not perfect and either is anyone that walks this earth. My boat gets rocked from time to time, but in the end, I always can say I love Him more!
May your journey be in days, not weeks or hours. Learn to walk with Him only in today. It's not a coincidence that AA or some of the other habit breaking associations talk to people about walking daily. I believe in a God that truly knows what He's doing, don't you?
Luke 6:21-23 NKJV:
Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out
your name of evil,
For the Son of Man's sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
Phillippians 2:12-13 NKJV:
Therefore, my beloved as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
The takeaway from these passages are to rejoice in tribulation and let God do His will on your life for His good pleasure. If you have lost your joy, please pray for God's will on your life and that He would provide your joy!
My prayer today:
At every corner you are near. You wait for us Lord to acknowledge Your presence and Your authority. We argue, cry, get angry, and finally, we come by still waters to have You walk and talk with us. Please help us walk daily with You and to be true to You. We are like the Israelites, sometimes doubting, sometimes selfish, and sometimes faithless. Please provide the faith we need to be in Your army. You are our God and we love You with all our hearts. Hear our cries O, Lord and bend Your favor to us today. We want to learn to trust You in every situation and when the boat is rocking, we ask You to calm our storm. We are Yours to do Your will with. We pray that we are faithful and open to Your great work! In Jesus name, AMEN
Difficult circumstances are always at the core when joy is lost. We lose joy because we lose sight of Jesus Christ. We can't see our circumstances change so instead of believing that Jesus is with us; we choose to let Satan rob us of our joy. I hope you're saying right now; that's not me. But I know too many wonderful Christian women whose joy was robbed because they looked at their circumstances and not at the glory of our Savior.
It's no wonder the Israelites spent 40 years in the desert. And if you think that can't be you, watch out because it surely can. We must realize that this life is full of temptation, hardship, and defeat. Only through Jesus do we have victory. We are an apathetic generation and often we are wishy washy in our belief system. Jesus is good when we can see Him and feel Him. What if for a time, Jesus decides to remain silent, what do you do then?
That's the question I want us all to contemplate. If we don't feel like Jesus is near, will we still believe that He loves us and wants the best for our lives. Will we believe that we will come out of our circumstances and that our lives will be better for them?
I have a doctor who is very dear to me. He is a very kind, Christian man who last year went through a routine procedure, during the procedure, everything, I mean everything, went wrong. He thought that He was going to die. Unfortunately, he must face another, more dangerous surgery to fix a complication that came from the first. As I looked at him and told him that I would be praying for him, I asked him if he learned anything from his experience. He looked right at me and told me that he couldn't believe how at peace he was with death. That dying didn't scare him in the least. He told me that the worst part was saying good-bye to his wife. Interesting isn't it? In every situation, no matter how dire, we learn about ourselves and about our Savior. He learned that even when facing death; He was ready to meet Jesus.
In every trial, we will learn something about ourselves we didn't know. It could be strength, courage, faith, or it might be that we clung to Jesus like we never have before. He became our front, back and middle. Daily we went to Him, crying out and asking for some relief and if we were lucky, He gave it to us. Life is going to happen but Jesus is in it. We are His to do with what He wants. And we must serve Him the way He wishes. Only He knows our true weaknesses, what will rock our boats, what will scare us to death and what will be our breaking point, so that we can follow Him better.
I don't know what's going on in your life today. Maybe you are on a calm stream or maybe, you are on the waves of wrath, either way, take heart, cling to Jesus and He will be with you. Call out to the people closest to you and ask for prayer. They are near and if they aren't, call on me. I'm already praying for every woman that comes to this blog or that reads it. I may not know who you are but I love you anyway.
That's whats happened to me through my many trials and loss. I have learned to trust Jesus more, walk in faith, not sight, and to believe that He can move mountains as long as I walk with Him daily. They may not be the mountains I want removed, but they are the ones He wants to remove. And in the end, that's all that matters to me. I want to follow Jesus and take my manna as He provides it. I love Him and am so grateful that He saved me. I'm not perfect and either is anyone that walks this earth. My boat gets rocked from time to time, but in the end, I always can say I love Him more!
May your journey be in days, not weeks or hours. Learn to walk with Him only in today. It's not a coincidence that AA or some of the other habit breaking associations talk to people about walking daily. I believe in a God that truly knows what He's doing, don't you?
Luke 6:21-23 NKJV:
Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out
your name of evil,
For the Son of Man's sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
Phillippians 2:12-13 NKJV:
Therefore, my beloved as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
The takeaway from these passages are to rejoice in tribulation and let God do His will on your life for His good pleasure. If you have lost your joy, please pray for God's will on your life and that He would provide your joy!
My prayer today:
At every corner you are near. You wait for us Lord to acknowledge Your presence and Your authority. We argue, cry, get angry, and finally, we come by still waters to have You walk and talk with us. Please help us walk daily with You and to be true to You. We are like the Israelites, sometimes doubting, sometimes selfish, and sometimes faithless. Please provide the faith we need to be in Your army. You are our God and we love You with all our hearts. Hear our cries O, Lord and bend Your favor to us today. We want to learn to trust You in every situation and when the boat is rocking, we ask You to calm our storm. We are Yours to do Your will with. We pray that we are faithful and open to Your great work! In Jesus name, AMEN
Thursday, May 24, 2012
May 24, 2012
With every season there is change, so life goes. I love spring time and it's just too short. I grew up in upper state New York where the spring and fall seasons were so beautiful. As I got older we moved all over the United States and in my early teens, we landed in Kansas. That's where I found my husband and now it's my home. But, I miss the seasons changing slowly. In Kansas, you can go from 60 to 90 in a day. The only season we truly see for a long time is summer and if you watch the weather channel, we get so hot here, you can't even go outside.
Often, I wonder why God created the seasons. Maybe, He was telling us something about His plan for the world. Spring is when the animals mate and have babies. Fall is when the children play in the leaves. Summer is for fun, swimming and outside activities and winter is for the family. With every season comes newness and challenges. Spring brings tornadoes and earthquakes, summer brings unbearable temperatures and droughts, winter brings on huge snow falls and avalanches and fall brings on changes in weather patterns throughout the world.
We have numerous changes going on all around us, so why does it surprise us when life changes? God made us for change and asked us to change with each season. We are to grow and bear fruit. He will prune us and make us new and as we face the challenges of life; we will reap fruit.
That's why we should spend time understanding the power of change, not just in the weather but in life. I could poll ten people right now and they would be facing different circumstances, some more severe than others, but nevertheless, they would be facing something. I think we should remind ourselves that seasons do change, years change and centuries change. There is change all around us and if you're in a tumultuous season, spring may be coming.
During change, we must grab onto two things, Jesus is with us and prayer. Those two things can get us through the worst seasons of life. We might not like this season but there's another on the horizon. We have to capture our thoughts and know God is near. There is fear in the unknown but He has promised us that He is always near.
Look around you today and count the blessings you have. In every season, you can and will find a blessing. You may have to look harder then some, but it's there. I call them my rainbows. Without them, I would be a basket case. God showed me along time ago that a rainbow can get you through the roughest of winters, the hottest of summers, the rainiest springs and the darkest fall. I encourage you to embark on a faith journey, no matter what season you're in. Find Jesus. He will lead you and give you courage to face each season with courage, dignity and faith. I'm not saying we won't have moments of defeat, that happens to every one. I am saying that Christ can help us wherever we are. He forgives our weaknesses and gives us courage when we ask. We are human and He knows it!
Don't get down this season. Find your rainbow, walk with Christ, read Scripture and pray. He gave us the tools to be successful, use them. And if you're friends with someone going through a difficult season, please don't leave them or criticize them. They need you so much. Many people walk away from Christ because the people they believe are their friends, leave them. Let's be women that are solid in the word and in the heart. We need to stand up for those that can't and be there. We are being counted, let's be used by God for His purpose, not our own!
John 15: 1-2 NKJV:
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1 NIV:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
We don't have to dread the seasons of life, as long as, we love Jesus Christ! Let's be women that challenge ourselves and bear fruit. The generations are watching us, so let's work towards each season with grace, love, compassion, courage, and wonder. He knows what He's doing, even if we don't!
My prayer today:
Holy Father, lover of our souls, please lift us up in our hour of need. Help us through the seasons of life and give us joy in every season. We want to be women that come before You, day and night, worshipping You and believing that You are near in every season. Help us to find the blessings You have brought to our lives and provide friendships that will last the test of each season. We need You to be in the middle of our lives, guiding us and loving us through. We ask that You would teach us in each season to be faithful servants of You and to believe that You are near. We place our fear into Your hands and ask for Peace instead. Light our way, O Lord, and guide our feet around each corner, in each country and through each season. We bow to You our King! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Often, I wonder why God created the seasons. Maybe, He was telling us something about His plan for the world. Spring is when the animals mate and have babies. Fall is when the children play in the leaves. Summer is for fun, swimming and outside activities and winter is for the family. With every season comes newness and challenges. Spring brings tornadoes and earthquakes, summer brings unbearable temperatures and droughts, winter brings on huge snow falls and avalanches and fall brings on changes in weather patterns throughout the world.
We have numerous changes going on all around us, so why does it surprise us when life changes? God made us for change and asked us to change with each season. We are to grow and bear fruit. He will prune us and make us new and as we face the challenges of life; we will reap fruit.
That's why we should spend time understanding the power of change, not just in the weather but in life. I could poll ten people right now and they would be facing different circumstances, some more severe than others, but nevertheless, they would be facing something. I think we should remind ourselves that seasons do change, years change and centuries change. There is change all around us and if you're in a tumultuous season, spring may be coming.
During change, we must grab onto two things, Jesus is with us and prayer. Those two things can get us through the worst seasons of life. We might not like this season but there's another on the horizon. We have to capture our thoughts and know God is near. There is fear in the unknown but He has promised us that He is always near.
Look around you today and count the blessings you have. In every season, you can and will find a blessing. You may have to look harder then some, but it's there. I call them my rainbows. Without them, I would be a basket case. God showed me along time ago that a rainbow can get you through the roughest of winters, the hottest of summers, the rainiest springs and the darkest fall. I encourage you to embark on a faith journey, no matter what season you're in. Find Jesus. He will lead you and give you courage to face each season with courage, dignity and faith. I'm not saying we won't have moments of defeat, that happens to every one. I am saying that Christ can help us wherever we are. He forgives our weaknesses and gives us courage when we ask. We are human and He knows it!
Don't get down this season. Find your rainbow, walk with Christ, read Scripture and pray. He gave us the tools to be successful, use them. And if you're friends with someone going through a difficult season, please don't leave them or criticize them. They need you so much. Many people walk away from Christ because the people they believe are their friends, leave them. Let's be women that are solid in the word and in the heart. We need to stand up for those that can't and be there. We are being counted, let's be used by God for His purpose, not our own!
John 15: 1-2 NKJV:
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1 NIV:
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
We don't have to dread the seasons of life, as long as, we love Jesus Christ! Let's be women that challenge ourselves and bear fruit. The generations are watching us, so let's work towards each season with grace, love, compassion, courage, and wonder. He knows what He's doing, even if we don't!
My prayer today:
Holy Father, lover of our souls, please lift us up in our hour of need. Help us through the seasons of life and give us joy in every season. We want to be women that come before You, day and night, worshipping You and believing that You are near in every season. Help us to find the blessings You have brought to our lives and provide friendships that will last the test of each season. We need You to be in the middle of our lives, guiding us and loving us through. We ask that You would teach us in each season to be faithful servants of You and to believe that You are near. We place our fear into Your hands and ask for Peace instead. Light our way, O Lord, and guide our feet around each corner, in each country and through each season. We bow to You our King! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
May 23, 2012
Hate is real and it lives where we live. Hate begins in the bowels of our hearts and it grows day by day through frustration, lack of understanding and an overwhelming fear for our self-preservation. It's much easier to stay in the status quo of life and be liked, than to disrupt thinking by saying, I believe in Jesus Christ.
We are so afraid of others that we rarely admit what we believe in our hearts. We hide behind our Christian friends, our church and anyone that believes in the same things we do. It's much harder to stand up and be counted like David, Paul, Abraham, Isaac, Job, and Jesus. They all had to walk a lonely road. Sometimes the journey was full of danger and yet, as they walked toward God, they found Him.
I am urging all of us to stand up for what we believe in. If people want to believe we're crazy, so be it. I am to a point in my life where I want to be accountable to the Lord, who has never failed me. Our testimonies of hardship, failure, and sin all correlate to God's love for His people. In every other religion, you must work for your glory. Following Christ, requires no work on our part, except to believe and take the message to the masses. We can't work for grace; it's given.
If you are walking today afraid of what people will think of you, consider what Christ thinks of you. Are we more afraid of the world or of our Lord? It's time we really take charge of our thought life and our hearts. If we truly believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light, then we must confess it with our lips. Be discerning though. Always pray before approaching an unbeliever and give God the chance to bring the right one to you. We are not the Savior; we are just His messenger.
We must be like the women that sat at Jesus's feet. We must remember that women have a true place in the great commission and we must take up the cross. You are stronger than you think. Ask Christ for courage and you will receive it. Ask Him for compassion and He will provide it. Ask Him for direction and He will lead you. In our weakness, He is our strength. Never doubt that!
Times are changing and we need to unite for the sake of all the next generations. We can't stay in fear of rejection or in an apathetic pattern. We must believe without a doubt that Jesus is with us and tell the world what He has done for all of us. For me, I don't want to sit next to another dying person and wonder, did they believe? I want to know that the people God gave me to love and that He chose to put in my path, know that Jesus is the only way!
I will forever be changed because of that event and I am so grateful to God that this blog came out of those trying days, while I sat and watched my father die, and all I could do was pray. Be strong my sisters and know that a little rejection is a small price to pay. Seeing people walk and talk with Jesus will be the reward. If you love Him, don't be silent. Also, remember there are women in other countries that will die for what they believe. Please pray for them and ask the Holy Spirit to protect them and keep them. We are the lucky ones. The women that can speak freely. Ask the Lord to give you a heart for the nations and for all women everywhere. I did and look what He has done.
I wish you the best on your journey. It's a scary road but one I know each and every one of you can walk. Let's pray for each other and lift each other up. God has given us a place to do that. Reach out to me if you need prayer and I will pray for you. Also, if you feel like this blog has been helpful in your daily journey, please recommend it on google. I pray daily that the Lord will bless these words and use them to reach women everywhere.
With that, may your day be bright and may you keep Jesus in your heart and at the forefront of your mind always. He is worthy to be praised!
1 John 4:14-15 NKJV:
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
Our only hope to be a light in a world full of darkness is to confess with our lips that Jesus is Lord. If we are walking with God, we should want to tell the world what He has done for us. I am guilty of staying silent. I am not proud of it but I confessed and began to walk the path God chose for my life. This blog is just the beginning. I hope your reading it right now and that the Lord uses it to minister to your heart!
My prayer today:
With every journey, there is a cost. Oh Lord, you paved that cost with your life. We can be in relationship with You daily because of the sacrifice You made for us. We are women that want to understand Your heart for the lost and lonely. We know that sometimes we let doubt and fear imprison
us and that we remain steadfast in apathy. We want to break those bonds and become passionate about You and what You want us to do in this world. There are women in many countries seeking a Savior. Guide us as we find courage in You to speak to them. Help us lift them up and believe that You will bring them to us and Lord, please be with us as we begin to spread the word. You are the only way to Heaven and we want the world and future generations to know and believe that. Protect Your soldiers as we go out and help us gain wisdom and discernment so that we can minister to Your people. We thank you for our lives and for the courage to pursue Your will. Forgive us of our sinful nature and bring about a change in all of us. Make us strong where we are weak and provide hearts that yearn for You! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
We are so afraid of others that we rarely admit what we believe in our hearts. We hide behind our Christian friends, our church and anyone that believes in the same things we do. It's much harder to stand up and be counted like David, Paul, Abraham, Isaac, Job, and Jesus. They all had to walk a lonely road. Sometimes the journey was full of danger and yet, as they walked toward God, they found Him.
I am urging all of us to stand up for what we believe in. If people want to believe we're crazy, so be it. I am to a point in my life where I want to be accountable to the Lord, who has never failed me. Our testimonies of hardship, failure, and sin all correlate to God's love for His people. In every other religion, you must work for your glory. Following Christ, requires no work on our part, except to believe and take the message to the masses. We can't work for grace; it's given.
If you are walking today afraid of what people will think of you, consider what Christ thinks of you. Are we more afraid of the world or of our Lord? It's time we really take charge of our thought life and our hearts. If we truly believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light, then we must confess it with our lips. Be discerning though. Always pray before approaching an unbeliever and give God the chance to bring the right one to you. We are not the Savior; we are just His messenger.
We must be like the women that sat at Jesus's feet. We must remember that women have a true place in the great commission and we must take up the cross. You are stronger than you think. Ask Christ for courage and you will receive it. Ask Him for compassion and He will provide it. Ask Him for direction and He will lead you. In our weakness, He is our strength. Never doubt that!
Times are changing and we need to unite for the sake of all the next generations. We can't stay in fear of rejection or in an apathetic pattern. We must believe without a doubt that Jesus is with us and tell the world what He has done for all of us. For me, I don't want to sit next to another dying person and wonder, did they believe? I want to know that the people God gave me to love and that He chose to put in my path, know that Jesus is the only way!
I will forever be changed because of that event and I am so grateful to God that this blog came out of those trying days, while I sat and watched my father die, and all I could do was pray. Be strong my sisters and know that a little rejection is a small price to pay. Seeing people walk and talk with Jesus will be the reward. If you love Him, don't be silent. Also, remember there are women in other countries that will die for what they believe. Please pray for them and ask the Holy Spirit to protect them and keep them. We are the lucky ones. The women that can speak freely. Ask the Lord to give you a heart for the nations and for all women everywhere. I did and look what He has done.
I wish you the best on your journey. It's a scary road but one I know each and every one of you can walk. Let's pray for each other and lift each other up. God has given us a place to do that. Reach out to me if you need prayer and I will pray for you. Also, if you feel like this blog has been helpful in your daily journey, please recommend it on google. I pray daily that the Lord will bless these words and use them to reach women everywhere.
With that, may your day be bright and may you keep Jesus in your heart and at the forefront of your mind always. He is worthy to be praised!
1 John 4:14-15 NKJV:
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
Our only hope to be a light in a world full of darkness is to confess with our lips that Jesus is Lord. If we are walking with God, we should want to tell the world what He has done for us. I am guilty of staying silent. I am not proud of it but I confessed and began to walk the path God chose for my life. This blog is just the beginning. I hope your reading it right now and that the Lord uses it to minister to your heart!
My prayer today:
With every journey, there is a cost. Oh Lord, you paved that cost with your life. We can be in relationship with You daily because of the sacrifice You made for us. We are women that want to understand Your heart for the lost and lonely. We know that sometimes we let doubt and fear imprison
us and that we remain steadfast in apathy. We want to break those bonds and become passionate about You and what You want us to do in this world. There are women in many countries seeking a Savior. Guide us as we find courage in You to speak to them. Help us lift them up and believe that You will bring them to us and Lord, please be with us as we begin to spread the word. You are the only way to Heaven and we want the world and future generations to know and believe that. Protect Your soldiers as we go out and help us gain wisdom and discernment so that we can minister to Your people. We thank you for our lives and for the courage to pursue Your will. Forgive us of our sinful nature and bring about a change in all of us. Make us strong where we are weak and provide hearts that yearn for You! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
May 21, 2012
When we are born, we begin the aging process. We are born to die. Strange to think about but nevertheless, extremely true. So as time goes by, you notice changes in your appearance. It might be a few pounds, widening of the hips, wrinkles, gray hair. There are numerous changes that occur in a woman's body every day. What does all of it mean?
It means that if you try to hold onto your beauty; it will fade. So when you look in the mirror, there will be no question to the changes that are occurring and that will continue to occur. When we are young, most of our focus is on our beauty, especially if you want to attract a mate. More time is put into exercise, clothes, makeup and other beauty enhancements. As you get older those same things are important to you but the effects are much less noticeable and are assured not to last.
Does that mean we throw ourselves down and forget to take care of ourselves? Absolutely not! If you're 20 or 90, continue to do the things that make you feel good about yourself, just don't hold them as an idol. God gives us our beauty and it comes in many different forms. We need to treasure the appearances He gave to us but not to the point of worshiping how we look.
Yesterday, I was in a doctors office and I noticed what I thought was a young woman. She was conversing with a teenager. You can imagine my shock when she got up and it was her son she was taking in. She had to be in her 40's but she was dressed like she was 20. We can't take the world's view of self. We must look farther into ourselves and ask ourselves what our motives are and if they are right with the Lord.
The truth is that we will all age. And if you look around, you will see beautiful women in their 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond. However, it's not just how they look on the outside that matters. It's the wisdom, faith, dedication, love and joy they bring to the table. It's walking with God daily and finding Him in every situation that makes them far more beautiful.
Take some time this week to talk to someone older than yourself. They have walked with God longer, loved Him better and have treasured the relationship far more than their beauty. We will all be there someday and I want us to be the kind of women that can look in the mirror and say, beauty is fleeting but Godliness is eternal. Wrinkles are guaranteed to come but faith isn't. Spend time in your mirror this week contemplating God's greatness, His sacrifice for us, and His word! Those things will never fade.
Proverbs 31:30 NKJV:
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord,
She shall be praised.
This is the woman I want to be. Are you up for the challenge? The reward is far greater than being the most beautiful woman in the world. If you achieve this, you have the praise of our Lord! Take that to the mirror this week and praise Him for your life.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, how great you are. You are wondrous in all Your ways. You bring us into this world and provide our faces, bodies, personalities, and more. We are Your creation. But the world tells us that beauty is far more important than anything else in life. When you are beautiful, you can have the world. And yet, beauty fades and with it, our self-esteem. Help us to be women of You. Lift us up so that we can see far beyond our outward appearances and give us faith that moves mountains. We want to fear You Lord and be faithful servants all our days. Grant us Your favor as we walk with You and help us encourage others as the days grow longer and our beauty fades. At the end of this journey, I want to know that my outward beauty faded but what I lost; I gained on the inside. Make us followers of Your word always. We want to be in Your presence today! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
It means that if you try to hold onto your beauty; it will fade. So when you look in the mirror, there will be no question to the changes that are occurring and that will continue to occur. When we are young, most of our focus is on our beauty, especially if you want to attract a mate. More time is put into exercise, clothes, makeup and other beauty enhancements. As you get older those same things are important to you but the effects are much less noticeable and are assured not to last.
Does that mean we throw ourselves down and forget to take care of ourselves? Absolutely not! If you're 20 or 90, continue to do the things that make you feel good about yourself, just don't hold them as an idol. God gives us our beauty and it comes in many different forms. We need to treasure the appearances He gave to us but not to the point of worshiping how we look.
Yesterday, I was in a doctors office and I noticed what I thought was a young woman. She was conversing with a teenager. You can imagine my shock when she got up and it was her son she was taking in. She had to be in her 40's but she was dressed like she was 20. We can't take the world's view of self. We must look farther into ourselves and ask ourselves what our motives are and if they are right with the Lord.
The truth is that we will all age. And if you look around, you will see beautiful women in their 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond. However, it's not just how they look on the outside that matters. It's the wisdom, faith, dedication, love and joy they bring to the table. It's walking with God daily and finding Him in every situation that makes them far more beautiful.
Take some time this week to talk to someone older than yourself. They have walked with God longer, loved Him better and have treasured the relationship far more than their beauty. We will all be there someday and I want us to be the kind of women that can look in the mirror and say, beauty is fleeting but Godliness is eternal. Wrinkles are guaranteed to come but faith isn't. Spend time in your mirror this week contemplating God's greatness, His sacrifice for us, and His word! Those things will never fade.
Proverbs 31:30 NKJV:
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord,
She shall be praised.
This is the woman I want to be. Are you up for the challenge? The reward is far greater than being the most beautiful woman in the world. If you achieve this, you have the praise of our Lord! Take that to the mirror this week and praise Him for your life.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, how great you are. You are wondrous in all Your ways. You bring us into this world and provide our faces, bodies, personalities, and more. We are Your creation. But the world tells us that beauty is far more important than anything else in life. When you are beautiful, you can have the world. And yet, beauty fades and with it, our self-esteem. Help us to be women of You. Lift us up so that we can see far beyond our outward appearances and give us faith that moves mountains. We want to fear You Lord and be faithful servants all our days. Grant us Your favor as we walk with You and help us encourage others as the days grow longer and our beauty fades. At the end of this journey, I want to know that my outward beauty faded but what I lost; I gained on the inside. Make us followers of Your word always. We want to be in Your presence today! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Monday, May 21, 2012
May 17, 2012
When was the last time you tried to fit your will into the Scripture? People do it all the time. We want what we want so we chalk the word up to, that was then and this is now. We have to be very careful with are thought life because if we compromise on what we know to be true; I guarantee there will be consequences.
We can't fit the Bible into the world's views. It's just not possible. However, no matter what the circumstance, we can love people. There is a resounding theme throughout the Bible that we are not to judge but love. That's not easy for those that like to point fingers, gossip about their neighbor, or believe that they are righteous and far above every one else.
I'm not saying your like this but I know many people that are. They sit in church to be seen and then they leave all thoughts of God and the word behind. Christ is challenging all of us to believe what is written and to act on His behalf. We are to go about our day with no envy, no hate, and no judgement. It's hard to do. All of us fail from time to time but we must be able to walk with Christ knowing that everything He has written is true.
There are scholars that want us all to believe that the Bible is incomplete. And yet, God breathed the word and if you look closely, everything He says is true. Gossip hurts. Anger kills. But more importantly, it's hard to love those that are unloveable. And yet, He calls us to spread His word to every one.
We must believe that the word is true and exists as a compass for us today. We must hold onto those words, especially when we are facing a storm and use them to conquer our fears, while building our faith and believing that Christ is near. If we don't believe that God inspired the Bible, then we live for nothing!
I believe that the Bible is the true word of God and that everything in it is supposed to be there. I'm sure there are other books and that they are historical in nature, but what we read is what God wanted placed in those pages. No other document has been tested more and come out being more truthful. We need to hang onto the facts and realize that He is as real as He was over 2000 years ago. The times have changed but the message is still the same. Believe the words that are written and you will know the hand of God!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
If you question this Scripture, think long and hard about your walk with Christ. You can't say you know Him if you don't believe this passage. Many will question the authority of this passage and yet, if we are to be believers that spread the Gospel, this has to be ingrained in us, as strongly as the nails were in His hands. Take up the cross today!
My prayer today:
Lord, my prayer today consists of just one thing, make us faithful. Fill your daughters with the wisdom to interpret the word and to provide the voice in a largely darkened world. Help each of us grow in our faith as you prune us to be faithful and give us a heart for all nations. Be with us as we walk on this path and put truth into our hearts as we seek you daily. We are not perfect and the world is full of temptations. Keep us on the righteous path and fill us with love for mankind. We thank You for being our guiding light today and yesterday. For all you are and all you were, we love You Lord. In Jesus name, AMEN
We can't fit the Bible into the world's views. It's just not possible. However, no matter what the circumstance, we can love people. There is a resounding theme throughout the Bible that we are not to judge but love. That's not easy for those that like to point fingers, gossip about their neighbor, or believe that they are righteous and far above every one else.
I'm not saying your like this but I know many people that are. They sit in church to be seen and then they leave all thoughts of God and the word behind. Christ is challenging all of us to believe what is written and to act on His behalf. We are to go about our day with no envy, no hate, and no judgement. It's hard to do. All of us fail from time to time but we must be able to walk with Christ knowing that everything He has written is true.
There are scholars that want us all to believe that the Bible is incomplete. And yet, God breathed the word and if you look closely, everything He says is true. Gossip hurts. Anger kills. But more importantly, it's hard to love those that are unloveable. And yet, He calls us to spread His word to every one.
We must believe that the word is true and exists as a compass for us today. We must hold onto those words, especially when we are facing a storm and use them to conquer our fears, while building our faith and believing that Christ is near. If we don't believe that God inspired the Bible, then we live for nothing!
I believe that the Bible is the true word of God and that everything in it is supposed to be there. I'm sure there are other books and that they are historical in nature, but what we read is what God wanted placed in those pages. No other document has been tested more and come out being more truthful. We need to hang onto the facts and realize that He is as real as He was over 2000 years ago. The times have changed but the message is still the same. Believe the words that are written and you will know the hand of God!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
If you question this Scripture, think long and hard about your walk with Christ. You can't say you know Him if you don't believe this passage. Many will question the authority of this passage and yet, if we are to be believers that spread the Gospel, this has to be ingrained in us, as strongly as the nails were in His hands. Take up the cross today!
My prayer today:
Lord, my prayer today consists of just one thing, make us faithful. Fill your daughters with the wisdom to interpret the word and to provide the voice in a largely darkened world. Help each of us grow in our faith as you prune us to be faithful and give us a heart for all nations. Be with us as we walk on this path and put truth into our hearts as we seek you daily. We are not perfect and the world is full of temptations. Keep us on the righteous path and fill us with love for mankind. We thank You for being our guiding light today and yesterday. For all you are and all you were, we love You Lord. In Jesus name, AMEN
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
May 16, 2012
Good morning ladies! I hope you woke up to the birds chirping and a song on your mind. As I sit here and drink my coffee, I am reminded of the many days I have woke up praising the Lord. I am also reminded of all the days I wished He was here.
Routine is so wonderful. It brings about a life cycle and sometimes with our routines, life gets boring. I can't say that about our journey with God. The more we become routined the better we are prepared for our future. It's not easy facing life day to day. We get our expectations up and they get knocked down. We wish for things that don't happen and we hope for brighter and more exciting days. And then of course, we get up and things aren't as bright, as happy or as encouraging as we dreamed them to be.
In today's world we must hold onto the faith and hope of Jesus Christ. We can't long for simpler days because there won't be any. Our heart should be directed and long for only one thing, Jesus Christ! He gave His life for us. I sympathize with women who are in great trials but I am encouraged that they are loved by a God who sacrificed His own desires to cover the cost of our sins.
We are loved and treasured by a God that knew what He had to do in order to save His flock. That doesn't mean that your circumstances aren't important. I'm just asking you to step out of yourself and look at what God has created. Outside the birds are singing, I wonder if they are thanking God for the provision He gave them today. Take sometime and listen to them sing, we should be singing too.
John 17:9-13 NKJV
"I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
I will finish this tomorrow but please take the time to look at the meaning in Jesus's prayer. He prayed for you and me. He prayed that His joy would be fulfilled in us. The promise made to Abraham was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. We must unite and believe that God is sufficient today. Be strong in His strength, be confident in His sacrifice, be loved by Him today!
My prayer today:
O, Lord, Your words are more than we could ask for in this prayer. Thank You for loving us and praying for us. We are so very honored to be part of Your glorious army. We give all credit to You because we are like sheep, roaming this world, aimlessly needing a Savior. You are He and we are loved. There are no greater words than Yours. Our lives are like balls of flames covered with a beautiful sheet of white. Grow us to know You more and cover us as we walk through this life. We need You in every thing we do and in every nation on earth. Unite women to love You! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Routine is so wonderful. It brings about a life cycle and sometimes with our routines, life gets boring. I can't say that about our journey with God. The more we become routined the better we are prepared for our future. It's not easy facing life day to day. We get our expectations up and they get knocked down. We wish for things that don't happen and we hope for brighter and more exciting days. And then of course, we get up and things aren't as bright, as happy or as encouraging as we dreamed them to be.
In today's world we must hold onto the faith and hope of Jesus Christ. We can't long for simpler days because there won't be any. Our heart should be directed and long for only one thing, Jesus Christ! He gave His life for us. I sympathize with women who are in great trials but I am encouraged that they are loved by a God who sacrificed His own desires to cover the cost of our sins.
We are loved and treasured by a God that knew what He had to do in order to save His flock. That doesn't mean that your circumstances aren't important. I'm just asking you to step out of yourself and look at what God has created. Outside the birds are singing, I wonder if they are thanking God for the provision He gave them today. Take sometime and listen to them sing, we should be singing too.
John 17:9-13 NKJV
"I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
I will finish this tomorrow but please take the time to look at the meaning in Jesus's prayer. He prayed for you and me. He prayed that His joy would be fulfilled in us. The promise made to Abraham was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. We must unite and believe that God is sufficient today. Be strong in His strength, be confident in His sacrifice, be loved by Him today!
My prayer today:
O, Lord, Your words are more than we could ask for in this prayer. Thank You for loving us and praying for us. We are so very honored to be part of Your glorious army. We give all credit to You because we are like sheep, roaming this world, aimlessly needing a Savior. You are He and we are loved. There are no greater words than Yours. Our lives are like balls of flames covered with a beautiful sheet of white. Grow us to know You more and cover us as we walk through this life. We need You in every thing we do and in every nation on earth. Unite women to love You! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
May 15, 2012
The power of prayer is not a joke nor is it something to take lightly. There is a power far beyond our understanding when we pray and God hears. Often we think God isn't listening, if that is true, how do people get saved, find themselves from homeless to having a home, illnesses healed, marriages saved and prodigals coming home? These are just a few examples of the power behind the cross.
All through the Bible, there are stories of miracles. People being healed, children being raised from the dead, demons being released. You either believe all of it or none of it. Just because it happened thousands of years ago does not mean that it didn't happen. Records show that Jesus did die on a cross and His disciples wrote about their journey with Him. Did they lie about His prayer life? Or maybe they exaggerated about His 40 days of temptation.
It comes down to whether you believe or not. Simple and factual. If you don't believe Jesus died on a cross, you're not saved. If you don't believe that He raised a child from death, you don't believe and if you think Satan is not real, then more than likely you don't believe in God.
So what is our alternative to this unbelief lurking at every corner? We must sit down, read the Bible and pray. Christ will reveal Himself to you if you ask. This does not mean that He will answer every prayer with a resounding, "yes." What it means is that He desires to be known by His chosen and that when we pray, He hears.
This might sound like a bunch of junk to the average person but all I ever have to ask anyone is where were you when you found Jesus? You know where you were, how you were feeling and if you have a good memory, the year He found you. It's not a coincidence that this moment is part of our lives. It's the moment that you find God and He finds you. When you find Him there is a joy like no other. It almost feels like a piece of your heart was put back in place. The loneliness fades and a peace begins. But as time wears on us and trials come, we forget what He did for us and it all vanishes into questions like, where is God?
God is near. Even Jesus had to go and be alone to pray. He prayed all the time. He left the Lord's prayer with His soldiers so they would know how to pray. Before He went to His death, He prayed in the Garden. So if Christ did it, we must follow. Prayer is the single thing we have control over in this vast and lonely world. It is our connection to the Father of life. If you don't know how to pray, get with someone that does.
Our relationship depends on us walking and talking daily with God. If we don't pray for His will to be done, then we really haven't experienced the full force of the mighty Lord. Part of the reason some of our prayers don't get answered with a yes is because it wasn't in His will to begin with.
Like most people, I love to see my prayers answered. I always feel very close to God when I see His hand in my life. But the question we must ask ourselves is, what if He doesn't answer a prayer? Will I be faithful to believe anyway?
When people walk away from a church or God, it's typically because of unanswered prayers. It's time we realize that this is wrong. The more we get into a habit of talking with God; the better able we will be to handle the situations thrown at us. Through prayer we gain courage, fortitude, relationship, and belief. Without prayer, we will be lonely, lost and broken. Prayer and having a relationship go hand in hand in loving and worshiping Christ. If you're lacking faith today, ask God for it. If you aren't sure He's near, ask Him to reveal Himself. And if the mountains look to steep, ask Him to climb them with you.
He might not answer every prayer with a yes. But if you look closely, I'm sure He has left you a small reminder of His great power. I like to call them rainbows because they come out of nowhere and they are beautiful. Take some time today to pray for God's will in your life. He always fulfills the promises that directly align with His will.
John 17: 1-4 NKJV:
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
My prayer today:
O, LORD, show the masses the power of prayer. Reign down the Holy Spirit and fulfill your will on our lives. Help us to see you in all things and to find the most powerful part of our walks through prayer. We lack courage, fortitude and belief. Often you must find yourself disgusted in our inability to believe and have faith. The only way we are every going to be truly with You is if we align our will to Your will. Help us do that today. Give us the ability to surrender our wants to gain Your wants. It's a hard and selfish road on this earth so we need our Savior to guide us on this journey and help lift us up. Please provide Your mighty power today as we walk and talk with You. All we desire is to be in Your will today. Thank You for Your sacrifice and giving us the ability to have communion with You anywhere! In Jesus name, AMEN
All through the Bible, there are stories of miracles. People being healed, children being raised from the dead, demons being released. You either believe all of it or none of it. Just because it happened thousands of years ago does not mean that it didn't happen. Records show that Jesus did die on a cross and His disciples wrote about their journey with Him. Did they lie about His prayer life? Or maybe they exaggerated about His 40 days of temptation.
It comes down to whether you believe or not. Simple and factual. If you don't believe Jesus died on a cross, you're not saved. If you don't believe that He raised a child from death, you don't believe and if you think Satan is not real, then more than likely you don't believe in God.
So what is our alternative to this unbelief lurking at every corner? We must sit down, read the Bible and pray. Christ will reveal Himself to you if you ask. This does not mean that He will answer every prayer with a resounding, "yes." What it means is that He desires to be known by His chosen and that when we pray, He hears.
This might sound like a bunch of junk to the average person but all I ever have to ask anyone is where were you when you found Jesus? You know where you were, how you were feeling and if you have a good memory, the year He found you. It's not a coincidence that this moment is part of our lives. It's the moment that you find God and He finds you. When you find Him there is a joy like no other. It almost feels like a piece of your heart was put back in place. The loneliness fades and a peace begins. But as time wears on us and trials come, we forget what He did for us and it all vanishes into questions like, where is God?
God is near. Even Jesus had to go and be alone to pray. He prayed all the time. He left the Lord's prayer with His soldiers so they would know how to pray. Before He went to His death, He prayed in the Garden. So if Christ did it, we must follow. Prayer is the single thing we have control over in this vast and lonely world. It is our connection to the Father of life. If you don't know how to pray, get with someone that does.
Our relationship depends on us walking and talking daily with God. If we don't pray for His will to be done, then we really haven't experienced the full force of the mighty Lord. Part of the reason some of our prayers don't get answered with a yes is because it wasn't in His will to begin with.
Like most people, I love to see my prayers answered. I always feel very close to God when I see His hand in my life. But the question we must ask ourselves is, what if He doesn't answer a prayer? Will I be faithful to believe anyway?
When people walk away from a church or God, it's typically because of unanswered prayers. It's time we realize that this is wrong. The more we get into a habit of talking with God; the better able we will be to handle the situations thrown at us. Through prayer we gain courage, fortitude, relationship, and belief. Without prayer, we will be lonely, lost and broken. Prayer and having a relationship go hand in hand in loving and worshiping Christ. If you're lacking faith today, ask God for it. If you aren't sure He's near, ask Him to reveal Himself. And if the mountains look to steep, ask Him to climb them with you.
He might not answer every prayer with a yes. But if you look closely, I'm sure He has left you a small reminder of His great power. I like to call them rainbows because they come out of nowhere and they are beautiful. Take some time today to pray for God's will in your life. He always fulfills the promises that directly align with His will.
John 17: 1-4 NKJV:
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
My prayer today:
O, LORD, show the masses the power of prayer. Reign down the Holy Spirit and fulfill your will on our lives. Help us to see you in all things and to find the most powerful part of our walks through prayer. We lack courage, fortitude and belief. Often you must find yourself disgusted in our inability to believe and have faith. The only way we are every going to be truly with You is if we align our will to Your will. Help us do that today. Give us the ability to surrender our wants to gain Your wants. It's a hard and selfish road on this earth so we need our Savior to guide us on this journey and help lift us up. Please provide Your mighty power today as we walk and talk with You. All we desire is to be in Your will today. Thank You for Your sacrifice and giving us the ability to have communion with You anywhere! In Jesus name, AMEN
Sunday, May 13, 2012
May 14, 2012
Have you ever had to walk without knowing what tomorrow would bring? It's those times in our life that I feel like we get closer to God. We can't see and therefore, the only one we can trust is Jesus! Currently, I have friends that are having to walk with little answers and numerous questions.
God wants us to understand that when we have a situation where we can't see; He is working for the glory of His kingdom. Hard to swallow when you're going through the trial, I know. For I have walked many miles not being able to see what was ahead and yet, when I got there I saw God.
During these times, do you lose heart? Do you think God has left you and doesn't love you? I am sure you all have faced a time like this. We question God and ask, why me? We may never know the answer to this question. Because of the world, we believe when bad things happen to us, we did something wrong or life is just unfair. Guess what, life is unfair. From the fall of Eve, our lives became moments of hard knocks and unfair circumstances. But in the quiet, God provides a light, only known to the men and women that call upon Him.
So if your faith is being tested and the pit is getting deeper, remember all the times Christ was with you, holding you up and showing you the way. It will be in those treasured memories that you will find the strength to persevere and to believe that God is working, even in the unseen.
I caution all of us not to worry in the details. We can't see that far, only Christ can, so give your worries to the King and pray for direction and wisdom. He will provide your manna today, so quit asking about tomorrow and live for today. For if Christ has chosen to work on you, He is working on you for the eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us as far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
All of us are perishing, from the time we are born, we begin to die. Our bodies will decay and we will age. If we only concentrate on that, we will lose the blessing of the Lord molding us and making us His own. I trust God to help me through the hard times and I pray that if I am tested; He will bring people into my life that will pray without ceasing. God loves us and we must remember always, that this life is not ours, it's His. If we can do only one thing, we must put God first and remember that. Treasure the correction, be good students, and love others. I know the road gets hard but we have the Holy Spirit and He will guide us through the turbulent waters of affliction. If you ever need a prayer partner, please email me, I promise to be faithful!
My prayer today:
Lord, I come before you a woman praying for those that are afflicted. It is so easy to face trials when we know the outcome and yet, we are called to walk toward the invisible. We can't see tomorrow but you can. I pray that we would become women that seek you even when the answers are not there. Help us to treasure the times you were with us and brought us through a trial. We need your protection and strength to get through each day. We desire you to reveal yourself to us daily and to grow us in the eternal. We look forward to your coming but until then, we pray that we would be women of faith, loving You, loving others and taking each day as it comes. Be with us today and thank You for tomorrow. Bless us as we grow closer to You and grow us up to glorify You. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
God wants us to understand that when we have a situation where we can't see; He is working for the glory of His kingdom. Hard to swallow when you're going through the trial, I know. For I have walked many miles not being able to see what was ahead and yet, when I got there I saw God.
During these times, do you lose heart? Do you think God has left you and doesn't love you? I am sure you all have faced a time like this. We question God and ask, why me? We may never know the answer to this question. Because of the world, we believe when bad things happen to us, we did something wrong or life is just unfair. Guess what, life is unfair. From the fall of Eve, our lives became moments of hard knocks and unfair circumstances. But in the quiet, God provides a light, only known to the men and women that call upon Him.
So if your faith is being tested and the pit is getting deeper, remember all the times Christ was with you, holding you up and showing you the way. It will be in those treasured memories that you will find the strength to persevere and to believe that God is working, even in the unseen.
I caution all of us not to worry in the details. We can't see that far, only Christ can, so give your worries to the King and pray for direction and wisdom. He will provide your manna today, so quit asking about tomorrow and live for today. For if Christ has chosen to work on you, He is working on you for the eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us as far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
All of us are perishing, from the time we are born, we begin to die. Our bodies will decay and we will age. If we only concentrate on that, we will lose the blessing of the Lord molding us and making us His own. I trust God to help me through the hard times and I pray that if I am tested; He will bring people into my life that will pray without ceasing. God loves us and we must remember always, that this life is not ours, it's His. If we can do only one thing, we must put God first and remember that. Treasure the correction, be good students, and love others. I know the road gets hard but we have the Holy Spirit and He will guide us through the turbulent waters of affliction. If you ever need a prayer partner, please email me, I promise to be faithful!
My prayer today:
Lord, I come before you a woman praying for those that are afflicted. It is so easy to face trials when we know the outcome and yet, we are called to walk toward the invisible. We can't see tomorrow but you can. I pray that we would become women that seek you even when the answers are not there. Help us to treasure the times you were with us and brought us through a trial. We need your protection and strength to get through each day. We desire you to reveal yourself to us daily and to grow us in the eternal. We look forward to your coming but until then, we pray that we would be women of faith, loving You, loving others and taking each day as it comes. Be with us today and thank You for tomorrow. Bless us as we grow closer to You and grow us up to glorify You. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
May 13, 2012
Today, we celebrate Mothers's day. Rest today women of the world and praise God! That's what I will be doing.
Until tomorrow...
Saturday, May 12, 2012
May 12, 2012
Yesterday, I published my 100th post. Oh, to walk with God for 100 days. It has been a great journey and blessing as I have poured out my soul and readers from all over the world have hit it. I am in awe of God more and more. As He blesses my life with His word, people, and Him; I am so very thankful.
Time with God is vital to our every day lives. I won't tell you when to talk and walk with Him but you need to carve out some time every day to be fed. The Holy Spirit will show you the way, but first, you must make time for Him.
Yesterday, I was talking to my sister-in-law, she told me that she had bought a Bible for a lady in her Bible study. And being me, I asked, why? She told me that she had two ladies that were unsaved and she promised to buy one of them a Bible. Crazy isn't it. We forget that the unsaved our led into our paths every day. Neither of these women believe at all but they come for fellowship and stay throughout. Can you guess what God is doing?
She told me that her greatest fear was the questions they would ask or the comments that they would make. We all fear because we are afraid we won't be prepared to answer. Can you go to a Scripture right now that tells the story of your faith? What I'm asking is, can you prove that you are on the right path?
Both ladies don't believe Jesus Christ died on a cross? Now that is crazy. It's written in History. There should never be a question surrounding that fact and yet, two ladies don't believe. I think part of it is if they believe, then what about all the things they thought before. Well, as you all know that have found Christ, they are washed away and in their place God gives you new eyes, thoughts and feelings.
That won't be enough to bring someone to Christ. We must be praying about what to say, how to say it and give them facts to back up what we say. There are many ways people talk about Christ but I think this passage in Corinthians should be bookmarked in everyone's Bible. I know that I am highlighting it right now!
1 Corinthians15:12-23 NKJV:
Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and our faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are all men the most pitiable.
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.
Every answer lies in the word. The word is truth and it does live, otherwise, why would two women that don't believe sit and listen. Take those words into this weekend and remember, the lost are all around us. We need to be prepared with the answers!
My prayer today:
Lord, I leave every one with Your words. If you did not rise, we are dead and if You did, we are alive in You. So as we go along every day, let us have confidence in the truth and give You the glory! You did die on that cross and we are saved because of Your mighty sacrifice. Ready us with the truth so that we can preach to Your flock. Their are people and nations in need of You. Come to the women in this world and build Your army. Guide us in truth, through Your Holy word and give us the knowledge to reveal You. We thank you for Your love, Your wisdom and this powerful journey. May we bless You daily and lift our sisters in prayer. They need You Lord! Thank You for being our Father, please let us trust You, just in today, for tomorrow will take care of itself! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Time with God is vital to our every day lives. I won't tell you when to talk and walk with Him but you need to carve out some time every day to be fed. The Holy Spirit will show you the way, but first, you must make time for Him.
Yesterday, I was talking to my sister-in-law, she told me that she had bought a Bible for a lady in her Bible study. And being me, I asked, why? She told me that she had two ladies that were unsaved and she promised to buy one of them a Bible. Crazy isn't it. We forget that the unsaved our led into our paths every day. Neither of these women believe at all but they come for fellowship and stay throughout. Can you guess what God is doing?
She told me that her greatest fear was the questions they would ask or the comments that they would make. We all fear because we are afraid we won't be prepared to answer. Can you go to a Scripture right now that tells the story of your faith? What I'm asking is, can you prove that you are on the right path?
Both ladies don't believe Jesus Christ died on a cross? Now that is crazy. It's written in History. There should never be a question surrounding that fact and yet, two ladies don't believe. I think part of it is if they believe, then what about all the things they thought before. Well, as you all know that have found Christ, they are washed away and in their place God gives you new eyes, thoughts and feelings.
That won't be enough to bring someone to Christ. We must be praying about what to say, how to say it and give them facts to back up what we say. There are many ways people talk about Christ but I think this passage in Corinthians should be bookmarked in everyone's Bible. I know that I am highlighting it right now!
1 Corinthians15:12-23 NKJV:
Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and our faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are all men the most pitiable.
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.
Every answer lies in the word. The word is truth and it does live, otherwise, why would two women that don't believe sit and listen. Take those words into this weekend and remember, the lost are all around us. We need to be prepared with the answers!
My prayer today:
Lord, I leave every one with Your words. If you did not rise, we are dead and if You did, we are alive in You. So as we go along every day, let us have confidence in the truth and give You the glory! You did die on that cross and we are saved because of Your mighty sacrifice. Ready us with the truth so that we can preach to Your flock. Their are people and nations in need of You. Come to the women in this world and build Your army. Guide us in truth, through Your Holy word and give us the knowledge to reveal You. We thank you for Your love, Your wisdom and this powerful journey. May we bless You daily and lift our sisters in prayer. They need You Lord! Thank You for being our Father, please let us trust You, just in today, for tomorrow will take care of itself! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Friday, May 11, 2012
May 10,2012
The morning has come and another day will begin. Every time I open my eyes, I wonder what new things I will learn, where will I find my hope and who will God lead me to today. I find comfort in a new day, for with each day there are great challenges, especially when we are following Christ. So if you woke up today and life wasn't so good yesterday, find a Scripture that reminds you how much you are loved.
I can't say this enough to myself or to all of you. We are in a Spiritual battle and Christ is calling us to believe, to have faith, and to love those He surrounds us with. Women are fighting for their lives. This is a greater battle than breast cancer, raising their families or saving their marriages. It all goes together. One is part of the other. Why? Because Satan has come to destroy the foundation of creation. We were meant to be a part of the great commission and yet, we lost something that day in the garden. We lost our innocence and we lost the ability to really walk with God.
It was rectified with the death of Christ, through the Holy Spirit. We don't have to sacrifice animals anymore and we don't have to confess our sins to anyone but Christ. But the tone has been set and the charge is before us. We must make a commitment to stand on faith, even when the road is long.
I know what it's like to be on a road that never ends. Every morning I wake up, I have to ask for protection. The ability to follow Christ comes from obedience. Because you might never feel the Holy Spirit again as much as you did when you were saved. As we grow in our maturity with Him; He expects us to walk on faith and not sight.
That's a little hard to do when we all know feelings are the fabric of our lives. How do women take their feelings and push them aside for truth? I can honestly say, I have to capture every thought and give it to Jesus. I have to stand on the test of time, in the events that He changed, on the power He has on my life and believe that He can move mountains, even when the stakes are high.
If I don't believe and I only rely on my feelings, where will I be? I can tell you, lost in the wilderness. We need to believe we are loved, no matter how hard the trial is. We must stand on faith for one another that Christ is with us and that He loves us. If He loves a sparrow, we are loved. If He loves the orphan, we are loved. If He loves a sinner, we are loved!
Don't let the schemer that roams the earth fill you with doubt. Before You get out of bed, make sure You are thinking and praising our Lord! We need Him to fight Satan and to help lift us up and protect us from the arrows by night. We are human but we must not go by our feelings alone. Stand up and walk, even when the road seems lost. We are not lost; our lives are just beginning. If you're going through a trial, stand on faith that God will use that trial to bring millions to Him. The workers are few but He's calling us ladies to believe and feel His love!
We were made for this moment. Let's pick up the cross and remember it! I can't say this enough. Who would lay down their lives for the lost? Ask yourself that question. Although it scares me to death, I want too. I want to be part of His army. I want to speak to women in all nations. I want women to have the faith to stand up and to guide the future generations. I want us to know the power of the Bible. And finally, I want us to believe that we are loved!!!!
Life is full of trials and tribulations. Take time to identify if you're walking by feelings or faith. And if the journey is long, remember the people that have gone before us, David didn't have the easiest time and yet, praise was on His lips. Praise Him even when you don't feel it. Ask Him for protection when the darkness is too dark, and with every thing you have, pray. How do I know? Because I am praying for me and you. Just like you, I have and will be attacked again. I just don't want to be wandering in a desert for 40 years. I want to be part of a generation that hears the call and walks by faith. I'm not fully there yet. But, I have hope that Jesus will get me there.
Go out this morning with praise on your lips. The Son of God rose again for You. We have victory through the death of our Lord. Believe you are loved and help someone else see the glory of God!
Psalm 63 NIV:
O God, You are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory.
Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise You.
On my bed I remember You;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise Him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
My prayer today:
I love that every day is a new day. I wake up and think, Glory, Glory to the Highest and even if I can't feel You, I know You are there. By night and then morning, the arrows are deep, so please protect Your chosen so that they can help the lost. The path is not easy, it's full of stones, rocks, boulders, and mountains and yet, I know You are near. Give us the strength to pray through our trials and to band together for one another. Help women all over the world see the truth in Jesus and give us the strength and the courage to fight in this great battle. We come before You women of faith, asking to be molded into Your image. Please provide our daily bread Lord. We ask for the manna of life! Surround us with Your Holy angels and keep the dark from our site. Bring women to us Lord, Your women. And at the end of every day, help us remember that You are love. Our feelings are nothing, our faith in You is everything! By the power of the cross, I ask that You would bring more women into the fold to fight the good fight and to persevere through evil. Help us to help the next generation of women believe that You are king! Thank you for today and thank you for this morning. We worship and praise our Holy Father, In Jesus name. AMEN
Until tomorrow...
I can't say this enough to myself or to all of you. We are in a Spiritual battle and Christ is calling us to believe, to have faith, and to love those He surrounds us with. Women are fighting for their lives. This is a greater battle than breast cancer, raising their families or saving their marriages. It all goes together. One is part of the other. Why? Because Satan has come to destroy the foundation of creation. We were meant to be a part of the great commission and yet, we lost something that day in the garden. We lost our innocence and we lost the ability to really walk with God.
It was rectified with the death of Christ, through the Holy Spirit. We don't have to sacrifice animals anymore and we don't have to confess our sins to anyone but Christ. But the tone has been set and the charge is before us. We must make a commitment to stand on faith, even when the road is long.
I know what it's like to be on a road that never ends. Every morning I wake up, I have to ask for protection. The ability to follow Christ comes from obedience. Because you might never feel the Holy Spirit again as much as you did when you were saved. As we grow in our maturity with Him; He expects us to walk on faith and not sight.
That's a little hard to do when we all know feelings are the fabric of our lives. How do women take their feelings and push them aside for truth? I can honestly say, I have to capture every thought and give it to Jesus. I have to stand on the test of time, in the events that He changed, on the power He has on my life and believe that He can move mountains, even when the stakes are high.
If I don't believe and I only rely on my feelings, where will I be? I can tell you, lost in the wilderness. We need to believe we are loved, no matter how hard the trial is. We must stand on faith for one another that Christ is with us and that He loves us. If He loves a sparrow, we are loved. If He loves the orphan, we are loved. If He loves a sinner, we are loved!
Don't let the schemer that roams the earth fill you with doubt. Before You get out of bed, make sure You are thinking and praising our Lord! We need Him to fight Satan and to help lift us up and protect us from the arrows by night. We are human but we must not go by our feelings alone. Stand up and walk, even when the road seems lost. We are not lost; our lives are just beginning. If you're going through a trial, stand on faith that God will use that trial to bring millions to Him. The workers are few but He's calling us ladies to believe and feel His love!
We were made for this moment. Let's pick up the cross and remember it! I can't say this enough. Who would lay down their lives for the lost? Ask yourself that question. Although it scares me to death, I want too. I want to be part of His army. I want to speak to women in all nations. I want women to have the faith to stand up and to guide the future generations. I want us to know the power of the Bible. And finally, I want us to believe that we are loved!!!!
Life is full of trials and tribulations. Take time to identify if you're walking by feelings or faith. And if the journey is long, remember the people that have gone before us, David didn't have the easiest time and yet, praise was on His lips. Praise Him even when you don't feel it. Ask Him for protection when the darkness is too dark, and with every thing you have, pray. How do I know? Because I am praying for me and you. Just like you, I have and will be attacked again. I just don't want to be wandering in a desert for 40 years. I want to be part of a generation that hears the call and walks by faith. I'm not fully there yet. But, I have hope that Jesus will get me there.
Go out this morning with praise on your lips. The Son of God rose again for You. We have victory through the death of our Lord. Believe you are loved and help someone else see the glory of God!
Psalm 63 NIV:
O God, You are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory.
Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise You.
On my bed I remember You;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise Him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
My prayer today:
I love that every day is a new day. I wake up and think, Glory, Glory to the Highest and even if I can't feel You, I know You are there. By night and then morning, the arrows are deep, so please protect Your chosen so that they can help the lost. The path is not easy, it's full of stones, rocks, boulders, and mountains and yet, I know You are near. Give us the strength to pray through our trials and to band together for one another. Help women all over the world see the truth in Jesus and give us the strength and the courage to fight in this great battle. We come before You women of faith, asking to be molded into Your image. Please provide our daily bread Lord. We ask for the manna of life! Surround us with Your Holy angels and keep the dark from our site. Bring women to us Lord, Your women. And at the end of every day, help us remember that You are love. Our feelings are nothing, our faith in You is everything! By the power of the cross, I ask that You would bring more women into the fold to fight the good fight and to persevere through evil. Help us to help the next generation of women believe that You are king! Thank you for today and thank you for this morning. We worship and praise our Holy Father, In Jesus name. AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Thursday, May 10, 2012
May 9, 2012
We are approaching Mother's Day and it is with mixed blessings that I find myself contemplating the day. Growing up, I never realized how truly important it is to have a mother that sacrifices and loves you. I guess that's just part of life. But as I matured, I found myself seeking her advice and acceptance more than anything.
A mothers love is precious and amazing. We don't give enough acknowledgement to the mothers that sacrifice their careers and their lives for their children. Some would be so humble to say that it's not a sacrifice but the rest of us know it is.
I was blessed with a stay-at-home mom and to all of you that are there, we thank God for the commitment and love you provide, as well as the blessing of having someone to come home to every day. Unfortunately, I have worked since my oldest son was three. I have missed out on a lot of things but it was my mother that took the reigns and helped me, so that I could provide for my family.
Life gives each of us a deck of cards. The hands don't always seem fair and yet, in each hand we are selected and chosen to do what God has put forth and to believe that in the end, we will be victorious. I don't know where you are in your life right now but I can tell you; I am the wife and mother I am today because of Jinny Zimmer's sacrifice and at every turn; I hear her words and long for the hug that I will receive from her in Heaven.
Until that day, I must remember the lessons she taught and to believe that love never fails. The Bible says it but sometimes we must walk by faith and believe it! As this Mother's Day approaches, I stand on the love of my Savior. He is with me and He is sufficient. I thank Him daily for my mother and the many memories she left behind. She may not be with me today but she gave me a lifetime of love and I plan to share it with the world.
If you're yearning for things unseen and you don't know where to go, please run to Jesus. Look up into the Heavens and breathe the air, watch the birds and remember God is everywhere. He is in the heart of women, men and children. He is the Spirit and we need Him. My mission moving forward is to remember the lessons my mother shared with me and to remember that God is all I need. He will provide the love and guidance she gave and when the road gets long, I will sit back and take the ride for He is love!
For every little girl whose out there, I hope your mother made the sacrifices my mom did and that you thank her this Mother's Day. And if you didn't grow up with that, ask the Lord to give you a mentor that can help you embrace Christ's love. He's everywhere and all He asks is that we seek Him first.
Today, I celebrate every woman that gives her time to a child. I thank God for you. You are blessed and in His favor. Take care of those He has given unto you. Remember, they are His children more than they are ours.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NKJV:
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 truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
I was one of the lucky ones. My mom was my hero and I miss her with all my heart. But I can't thank her enough for lifting me up when I was down, listening for endless hours and giving me more love than anyone deserves. Her love never failed and I want to light the world with that love through Jesus Christ our Lord.
My prayer today:
Lord, You know my heart and the feelings that are there. You know the sadness and loneliness I feel. I can not change anything that has happened but I can remember what my mother did for me and my children and when I'm sad, Your always there. I pray for a day of rainbows but until that day, please help me love every woman in every nation. They are Your mothers, daughters and granddaughters, help me lift them up to You. Give them hope, love and a belief in the unseen. You are my light and I will hold onto Your word, love never fails. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
A mothers love is precious and amazing. We don't give enough acknowledgement to the mothers that sacrifice their careers and their lives for their children. Some would be so humble to say that it's not a sacrifice but the rest of us know it is.
I was blessed with a stay-at-home mom and to all of you that are there, we thank God for the commitment and love you provide, as well as the blessing of having someone to come home to every day. Unfortunately, I have worked since my oldest son was three. I have missed out on a lot of things but it was my mother that took the reigns and helped me, so that I could provide for my family.
Life gives each of us a deck of cards. The hands don't always seem fair and yet, in each hand we are selected and chosen to do what God has put forth and to believe that in the end, we will be victorious. I don't know where you are in your life right now but I can tell you; I am the wife and mother I am today because of Jinny Zimmer's sacrifice and at every turn; I hear her words and long for the hug that I will receive from her in Heaven.
Until that day, I must remember the lessons she taught and to believe that love never fails. The Bible says it but sometimes we must walk by faith and believe it! As this Mother's Day approaches, I stand on the love of my Savior. He is with me and He is sufficient. I thank Him daily for my mother and the many memories she left behind. She may not be with me today but she gave me a lifetime of love and I plan to share it with the world.
If you're yearning for things unseen and you don't know where to go, please run to Jesus. Look up into the Heavens and breathe the air, watch the birds and remember God is everywhere. He is in the heart of women, men and children. He is the Spirit and we need Him. My mission moving forward is to remember the lessons my mother shared with me and to remember that God is all I need. He will provide the love and guidance she gave and when the road gets long, I will sit back and take the ride for He is love!
For every little girl whose out there, I hope your mother made the sacrifices my mom did and that you thank her this Mother's Day. And if you didn't grow up with that, ask the Lord to give you a mentor that can help you embrace Christ's love. He's everywhere and all He asks is that we seek Him first.
Today, I celebrate every woman that gives her time to a child. I thank God for you. You are blessed and in His favor. Take care of those He has given unto you. Remember, they are His children more than they are ours.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NKJV:
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 truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
I was one of the lucky ones. My mom was my hero and I miss her with all my heart. But I can't thank her enough for lifting me up when I was down, listening for endless hours and giving me more love than anyone deserves. Her love never failed and I want to light the world with that love through Jesus Christ our Lord.
My prayer today:
Lord, You know my heart and the feelings that are there. You know the sadness and loneliness I feel. I can not change anything that has happened but I can remember what my mother did for me and my children and when I'm sad, Your always there. I pray for a day of rainbows but until that day, please help me love every woman in every nation. They are Your mothers, daughters and granddaughters, help me lift them up to You. Give them hope, love and a belief in the unseen. You are my light and I will hold onto Your word, love never fails. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
May 8, 2012
In Wichita, Kansas there is a group of atheists that wanted the world to know that millions are okay without God. On a pretty busy street I see this huge billboard and I want to cry. They are so lonely that they want the masses to know that it's okay if you don't believe in God.
Atheists are more apt to proclaim what they believe than we are. It's an atrocity that we hide behind the church and rarely share our faith. Only when asked, do we even share our story and then most of the time, it's with people who believe. I find myself in that same boat and I hate it. So this year, I asked God to help me not to be afraid of what people think but to keep Him at the forefront of my mind.
Passion is given when we find our purpose. If you're a new Christian, you probably remember the date you were saved, where you were and how you felt. If you've been a Christian for awhile, some of the feelings might have gone away but in there place, you should have a resounding understanding of our Lord and His expectations of you.
Not every person given of the Holy Spirit will become a missionary but each of us was given a commission. We were asked by Jesus to go out and spread the good word. It's our job to show love and to pray for women and men to come to us with a desire to know more about Jesus. We are the caretakers of His word and if we don't stop hiding behind our ministers, many will be lost.
Like you, I was scared to death. Even now as I write this blog, I wonder who hit it and what they were looking for. Did they find it by accident and find Jesus? I may never know because the commission God gave to me was to sit down and write and through obedience, He would do the rest. I am grateful to Him for giving me something to write about every morning. And I hope that it blesses many as they go about their days. My goal is to get this out to every nation and that women would know that they have a great purpose.
We don't have to feel alone. We have a Savior that loves us. He gives us other women to lift us up in prayer. He provides community and in the quiet, He fills us with His wisdom. Take some time to look around your city. There are hurting people everywhere. But the message of the billboard says it all, they think they don't need God and will die being foolish all their days, unless we pray and God brings one of them to us, and then, they will be saved. Fulfillment in this life only happens when we accept that there is a Savior. Otherwise, you will be looking at what the world has to offer and that will surely be empty.
I don't need a billboard to tell me we have hurting people in this world. All I need to do is read the Bible. Over and over there were people in turmoil, hurting and needing God. Even His own people turned from Him in the desert and on Moses. We are creatures that want comfort. That's part of why we don't share the Gospel. It's hard to be judged. We need to look at our motives and ask Jesus to give us faith and bring the hurting to us.
1 Thessalonians 1: 2-5 NKJV:
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
My prayer today:
Our election of You Lord is the most important decision in our lives. Without us first saying yes, there is no power and no assurance. I ask that You would reveal Yourself to every woman who hits this blog and that we would be assured in Your power and in the Holy Spirit. We have been called to walk with You and to spread Your Holy word. Please give us faith and hope while we labor on this earth for You. Help women in every nation know You and keep them safe as they choose You. As I ask every day forgive us of our sins and help mold us to be Your women. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Atheists are more apt to proclaim what they believe than we are. It's an atrocity that we hide behind the church and rarely share our faith. Only when asked, do we even share our story and then most of the time, it's with people who believe. I find myself in that same boat and I hate it. So this year, I asked God to help me not to be afraid of what people think but to keep Him at the forefront of my mind.
Passion is given when we find our purpose. If you're a new Christian, you probably remember the date you were saved, where you were and how you felt. If you've been a Christian for awhile, some of the feelings might have gone away but in there place, you should have a resounding understanding of our Lord and His expectations of you.
Not every person given of the Holy Spirit will become a missionary but each of us was given a commission. We were asked by Jesus to go out and spread the good word. It's our job to show love and to pray for women and men to come to us with a desire to know more about Jesus. We are the caretakers of His word and if we don't stop hiding behind our ministers, many will be lost.
Like you, I was scared to death. Even now as I write this blog, I wonder who hit it and what they were looking for. Did they find it by accident and find Jesus? I may never know because the commission God gave to me was to sit down and write and through obedience, He would do the rest. I am grateful to Him for giving me something to write about every morning. And I hope that it blesses many as they go about their days. My goal is to get this out to every nation and that women would know that they have a great purpose.
We don't have to feel alone. We have a Savior that loves us. He gives us other women to lift us up in prayer. He provides community and in the quiet, He fills us with His wisdom. Take some time to look around your city. There are hurting people everywhere. But the message of the billboard says it all, they think they don't need God and will die being foolish all their days, unless we pray and God brings one of them to us, and then, they will be saved. Fulfillment in this life only happens when we accept that there is a Savior. Otherwise, you will be looking at what the world has to offer and that will surely be empty.
I don't need a billboard to tell me we have hurting people in this world. All I need to do is read the Bible. Over and over there were people in turmoil, hurting and needing God. Even His own people turned from Him in the desert and on Moses. We are creatures that want comfort. That's part of why we don't share the Gospel. It's hard to be judged. We need to look at our motives and ask Jesus to give us faith and bring the hurting to us.
1 Thessalonians 1: 2-5 NKJV:
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
My prayer today:
Our election of You Lord is the most important decision in our lives. Without us first saying yes, there is no power and no assurance. I ask that You would reveal Yourself to every woman who hits this blog and that we would be assured in Your power and in the Holy Spirit. We have been called to walk with You and to spread Your Holy word. Please give us faith and hope while we labor on this earth for You. Help women in every nation know You and keep them safe as they choose You. As I ask every day forgive us of our sins and help mold us to be Your women. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Monday, May 7, 2012
May 7, 2012
How do you find hope in a hopeless world? After Eve ate the apple, she had to wonder that very thing. Her life went from the Garden of Eden, walking and talking to God, to toiling and worrying. The guilt had to be more than she could bear and yet, she knew God was there. Don't you ever wonder what she was thinking and feeling during the days when one son killed the other? She had to be contemplating her fall and the fall of the future generations.
Is Eve the cause and effect of the world going wrong? It would seem so, but when you look deeper in Scripture, God knew her heart and told the serpent that her seed would crush him forever. Out of Adam and Eve came the line that would produce Jesus and it's His mission to crush the evil one. We have choices all around us and we are very good at choosing the path of destruction, when in essence all we have to do is stop, ask God and be obedient to the word. Everything we need is in the Bible. The commandments were given to us as a guide and yet, we choose to forsake them for our wants and desires.
Now we live in a world where evil runs free and we have more temptation. We are stimulated by the Internet, television, mobile media and all sorts of lies, including the thought that we deserve a better life. We don't deserve a better life; we deserve the life God gave to us. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had everything they desired. They were nurtured, cared for and established. They walked and talked with our Lord openly. And yet, when the choice was hers, she chose knowledge over life.
Today, we also choose knowledge. It's at our fingertips and we can convince ourselves that what we believe is enough. The fact is that God created the best belief system in the world. There is no other religion that has been more powerful through History. Who teaches that a man came and died on a cross for our sins? Only Christianity. It's the only choice and yet, the world wants us to believe there is more than one way to Heaven.
Our Lord is merciful and just. All we have to do is to look into the line of Adam and Eve. There were horrible consequences to their actions but their line will crush the enemy. Like the Israelites that wandered in the desert for 40 years, will we stand against God or will we believe that He is enough in every situation? I questioned that myself this week and I came to the conclusion that I must believe and have faith above every circumstance. He has proven to me, time and time again, that He deserves my respect and my loyalty. Don't you think that Eve learned that too? She messed up by eating that apple but God is good and He corrected her eternal mistake. There was forgiveness and compassion in His chosen Son.
I realize more than most that bad things happen to good people and that sometimes, life is just not fair. I also realize that I have never sacrificed my life for someone else and that I don't deserve the mercy and love I receive from the Savior. He provides it, not because I am worthy, but because He is worthy and chooses to love me. If you're wondering where Christ is, remember that He is with you. His Father made a pact to destroy the serpent and someday He will. We have to hang on until that day. We must choose to believe that He is real in all circumstances. Please unite with women around you and band together. We are part of the line from Eve to Mary. We have purpose, courage, strength and love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. By Jesus dying on the cross, He sealed a new covenant with us. One in which He reigns and we must take the opportunity to share His love with the masses.
If you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and was risen from the dead, please join me in praying for the hopeless, the lost and the nations. There are women all over the world that need to hear that Jesus is Lord. Some live in poverty, some live in wealth but all live with a need to know Jesus Christ. We are empty without Him and so let's confess with our mouths that He is Lord!
Genesis 3: 13-15 NKJV:
And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." So the LORD God said to the serpent:
"Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall o, And you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heal."
It almost scares me when I read this passage because God was angry. And yet, in His goodness, he corrected a very critical mistake. We choose sin and He chooses us. Not many people can say they love the sinner. Yet, we have a God that by love has saved generations. He didn't need us; we needed Him. And although we make Him angry, He has mercy. God fulfilled His promise to the serpent through the death of His Son. The story isn't finished but we know that our Savior is near and that someday He will come and send evil away forever. Until then, we must rely on the fact that through faith, we have been saved and that our choice must always be Jesus!
My prayer today:
Lord give us the ability to confess openly that You are the way, the truth, the light. That You did die on a cross for us and that nothing has changed from the beginning of time. You came to save generations and will someday reunite us as Your bride. And when that day comes, You will destroy the serpent that deceived Eve and made her believe that knowledge was more important than You. I pray for women all over the world and ask that You would begin to call us into Your army. Give us the weapons to fight the spiritual battles that exist today. We need to know that You are before us and with us and that in all circumstances; we can stand on faith, that You are the only way to Heaven. Keep our minds safe and guide us in a Holy way. We seek You for our comfort, our shelter, our faith. Please come before us today and help us love the one's You love. Bring peace to the nations and protect our families as You call us into Your Holy army. We desire to be with You all our days. Finally, forgive us of our sins so that we can be close to You. We need to hear from You in all things and thank You daily for Your sacrifice. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Is Eve the cause and effect of the world going wrong? It would seem so, but when you look deeper in Scripture, God knew her heart and told the serpent that her seed would crush him forever. Out of Adam and Eve came the line that would produce Jesus and it's His mission to crush the evil one. We have choices all around us and we are very good at choosing the path of destruction, when in essence all we have to do is stop, ask God and be obedient to the word. Everything we need is in the Bible. The commandments were given to us as a guide and yet, we choose to forsake them for our wants and desires.
Now we live in a world where evil runs free and we have more temptation. We are stimulated by the Internet, television, mobile media and all sorts of lies, including the thought that we deserve a better life. We don't deserve a better life; we deserve the life God gave to us. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had everything they desired. They were nurtured, cared for and established. They walked and talked with our Lord openly. And yet, when the choice was hers, she chose knowledge over life.
Today, we also choose knowledge. It's at our fingertips and we can convince ourselves that what we believe is enough. The fact is that God created the best belief system in the world. There is no other religion that has been more powerful through History. Who teaches that a man came and died on a cross for our sins? Only Christianity. It's the only choice and yet, the world wants us to believe there is more than one way to Heaven.
Our Lord is merciful and just. All we have to do is to look into the line of Adam and Eve. There were horrible consequences to their actions but their line will crush the enemy. Like the Israelites that wandered in the desert for 40 years, will we stand against God or will we believe that He is enough in every situation? I questioned that myself this week and I came to the conclusion that I must believe and have faith above every circumstance. He has proven to me, time and time again, that He deserves my respect and my loyalty. Don't you think that Eve learned that too? She messed up by eating that apple but God is good and He corrected her eternal mistake. There was forgiveness and compassion in His chosen Son.
I realize more than most that bad things happen to good people and that sometimes, life is just not fair. I also realize that I have never sacrificed my life for someone else and that I don't deserve the mercy and love I receive from the Savior. He provides it, not because I am worthy, but because He is worthy and chooses to love me. If you're wondering where Christ is, remember that He is with you. His Father made a pact to destroy the serpent and someday He will. We have to hang on until that day. We must choose to believe that He is real in all circumstances. Please unite with women around you and band together. We are part of the line from Eve to Mary. We have purpose, courage, strength and love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. By Jesus dying on the cross, He sealed a new covenant with us. One in which He reigns and we must take the opportunity to share His love with the masses.
If you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and was risen from the dead, please join me in praying for the hopeless, the lost and the nations. There are women all over the world that need to hear that Jesus is Lord. Some live in poverty, some live in wealth but all live with a need to know Jesus Christ. We are empty without Him and so let's confess with our mouths that He is Lord!
Genesis 3: 13-15 NKJV:
And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." So the LORD God said to the serpent:
"Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall o, And you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heal."
It almost scares me when I read this passage because God was angry. And yet, in His goodness, he corrected a very critical mistake. We choose sin and He chooses us. Not many people can say they love the sinner. Yet, we have a God that by love has saved generations. He didn't need us; we needed Him. And although we make Him angry, He has mercy. God fulfilled His promise to the serpent through the death of His Son. The story isn't finished but we know that our Savior is near and that someday He will come and send evil away forever. Until then, we must rely on the fact that through faith, we have been saved and that our choice must always be Jesus!
My prayer today:
Lord give us the ability to confess openly that You are the way, the truth, the light. That You did die on a cross for us and that nothing has changed from the beginning of time. You came to save generations and will someday reunite us as Your bride. And when that day comes, You will destroy the serpent that deceived Eve and made her believe that knowledge was more important than You. I pray for women all over the world and ask that You would begin to call us into Your army. Give us the weapons to fight the spiritual battles that exist today. We need to know that You are before us and with us and that in all circumstances; we can stand on faith, that You are the only way to Heaven. Keep our minds safe and guide us in a Holy way. We seek You for our comfort, our shelter, our faith. Please come before us today and help us love the one's You love. Bring peace to the nations and protect our families as You call us into Your Holy army. We desire to be with You all our days. Finally, forgive us of our sins so that we can be close to You. We need to hear from You in all things and thank You daily for Your sacrifice. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Sunday, May 6, 2012
May 6, 2012
I love prayer and what happens as the Lord answers it. Yesterday, I wrote about a family that needs our prayers. His father called me yesterday and told me that his son wrote to him and told him there was no God. He asked me what he should do. I told him to write back and tell his son that he truly believes in Jesus Christ and although man messes things up, God is in control.
After I got off the phone, I began to pray for a miracle. I asked God to allow this child some peace and to let him out of the prison he was in. My son told me he would be over shortly and then told me he wouldn't be coming but as I was at the grocery store, I began to pray for him and his mother. I believe this family, without knowing it, is in a spiritual battle. It comes down to who is most willing to be on their knees. I thank God that this father was brave enough to tell his son that Jesus was the only way. Further, I am so thankful to Jesus because, yesterday, Christ changed his mother's mind and she let him come to my house.
As I have stated in all 95 of these posts, I believe in the power of prayer and in the Holy Spirit. It's why I end every one of these entries with a prayer. I might not have power over a situation but I have power over my attitude and how much I pray. I must remember that God is in control and only He can truly fix this angry, bitter, world. But that doesn't mean that I have to stand by and do nothing. There is a power in prayer like no other. Like Paul, God knows when someone needs a break. When Christ released him from his prison cell, he went out and spread the Gospel. I have no idea what God's purpose for this child is but I know one thing, God loves him and has him.
I pray today that the children of this family will know the power and majesty of Jesus Christ. I pray that this father will continue to follow Jesus and as he does; I pray that his children will know Christ. The road is long for this family, as it is for many families. However, I am so grateful that Christ saw fit to put me on the road with them. If you know of a family being turned upside down by divorce, please pray for them. It's our duty to show the children of this world that God is in control. He is the only hope in this very dark and dangerous world.
If you're a woman going through divorce or sitting in a bad marital situation right now, I ask that you would reach out to other women. You need to have an army around you that can pray for you and help you. The anger of divorce will destroy a family. It's a fact. So please find a way in your heart to forgive and pray for your ex-husband and your children. When my husband and I divorced, later to reunite, Christ showed me that I had to pray for him. He also revealed to me that the anger I carried toward my husband and Christ was wrong. There was a period of true redemption, where I was on my knees asking God to heal the brokenness in both of us. I believe it's what led us back together. Christ hates divorce but understands that it can happen in a fallen world. As adults, if we choose divorce, let's not choose to use our children as weapons. They were not the party that caused the chaos. We are. So, I am begging you to go to counseling, talk to your pastor, or get some of your best friends together and pray for healing and guidance. Christ doesn't want these children to think they are the reason behind our failures. He wants us all to know that He loves us and wants us in His family.
2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV:
and that from childhood you have know the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 11: 3 NKJV:
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 3: 7-9 NKJV:
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
"Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
In the day of trial in the wilderness,
Where your fathers tested Me,
tried Me,
And saw My works forty years.
These three Scriptures represent our Father's words. We are to remember what we have been taught to have faith in what we can't see and believe without testing our Savior. For He is, today, the same as He was then. We might feel like there is darkness all around us but through prayer; we will have the opportunity to see Christ. I don't wish to try God; I wish to be in His favor. He is love. Let's be wise and work toward loving those we don't know. Nations and their people are in turmoil. We have the answer, so go out and be bold!
My prayer today:
O, Lord, thank you for the small miracles, rainbows, as I like to call them. It's in the small things that you bring about great faith. You know exactly what we need and who we need in our lives to bring about Your will and I am so grateful that I am part of that army. I know that You place people in my life and on my heart for a reason and I thank You for that. I am also grateful for the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, it's so dark and lonely in this world and yet, if we're on our knees we will see the light at the end of the tunnel. Help families on every continent become whole Lord. Provide women a way to humble themselves before You, so that we can protect the children You love. They are innocent in an evil world. As we walk with You daily, bring the lost and broken to us. There are women and children in every nation, waiting for a Savior. Let us be Your voice as we walk on this earth and please protect us from Satan as we are used by You. We call upon the Holy one to guide us today and to forgive us for our anger and bitterness. We know that to be one with You; we must come before you asking for forgiveness. Help us lift our families and other families to You. This world is so in need of You and yet, we let bitterness, resentment and anger build up. We ask that You would demolish these feelings and in there place provide, peace, empathy and love! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
After I got off the phone, I began to pray for a miracle. I asked God to allow this child some peace and to let him out of the prison he was in. My son told me he would be over shortly and then told me he wouldn't be coming but as I was at the grocery store, I began to pray for him and his mother. I believe this family, without knowing it, is in a spiritual battle. It comes down to who is most willing to be on their knees. I thank God that this father was brave enough to tell his son that Jesus was the only way. Further, I am so thankful to Jesus because, yesterday, Christ changed his mother's mind and she let him come to my house.
As I have stated in all 95 of these posts, I believe in the power of prayer and in the Holy Spirit. It's why I end every one of these entries with a prayer. I might not have power over a situation but I have power over my attitude and how much I pray. I must remember that God is in control and only He can truly fix this angry, bitter, world. But that doesn't mean that I have to stand by and do nothing. There is a power in prayer like no other. Like Paul, God knows when someone needs a break. When Christ released him from his prison cell, he went out and spread the Gospel. I have no idea what God's purpose for this child is but I know one thing, God loves him and has him.
I pray today that the children of this family will know the power and majesty of Jesus Christ. I pray that this father will continue to follow Jesus and as he does; I pray that his children will know Christ. The road is long for this family, as it is for many families. However, I am so grateful that Christ saw fit to put me on the road with them. If you know of a family being turned upside down by divorce, please pray for them. It's our duty to show the children of this world that God is in control. He is the only hope in this very dark and dangerous world.
If you're a woman going through divorce or sitting in a bad marital situation right now, I ask that you would reach out to other women. You need to have an army around you that can pray for you and help you. The anger of divorce will destroy a family. It's a fact. So please find a way in your heart to forgive and pray for your ex-husband and your children. When my husband and I divorced, later to reunite, Christ showed me that I had to pray for him. He also revealed to me that the anger I carried toward my husband and Christ was wrong. There was a period of true redemption, where I was on my knees asking God to heal the brokenness in both of us. I believe it's what led us back together. Christ hates divorce but understands that it can happen in a fallen world. As adults, if we choose divorce, let's not choose to use our children as weapons. They were not the party that caused the chaos. We are. So, I am begging you to go to counseling, talk to your pastor, or get some of your best friends together and pray for healing and guidance. Christ doesn't want these children to think they are the reason behind our failures. He wants us all to know that He loves us and wants us in His family.
2 Timothy 3:15 NKJV:
and that from childhood you have know the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 11: 3 NKJV:
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 3: 7-9 NKJV:
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
"Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
In the day of trial in the wilderness,
Where your fathers tested Me,
tried Me,
And saw My works forty years.
These three Scriptures represent our Father's words. We are to remember what we have been taught to have faith in what we can't see and believe without testing our Savior. For He is, today, the same as He was then. We might feel like there is darkness all around us but through prayer; we will have the opportunity to see Christ. I don't wish to try God; I wish to be in His favor. He is love. Let's be wise and work toward loving those we don't know. Nations and their people are in turmoil. We have the answer, so go out and be bold!
My prayer today:
O, Lord, thank you for the small miracles, rainbows, as I like to call them. It's in the small things that you bring about great faith. You know exactly what we need and who we need in our lives to bring about Your will and I am so grateful that I am part of that army. I know that You place people in my life and on my heart for a reason and I thank You for that. I am also grateful for the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, it's so dark and lonely in this world and yet, if we're on our knees we will see the light at the end of the tunnel. Help families on every continent become whole Lord. Provide women a way to humble themselves before You, so that we can protect the children You love. They are innocent in an evil world. As we walk with You daily, bring the lost and broken to us. There are women and children in every nation, waiting for a Savior. Let us be Your voice as we walk on this earth and please protect us from Satan as we are used by You. We call upon the Holy one to guide us today and to forgive us for our anger and bitterness. We know that to be one with You; we must come before you asking for forgiveness. Help us lift our families and other families to You. This world is so in need of You and yet, we let bitterness, resentment and anger build up. We ask that You would demolish these feelings and in there place provide, peace, empathy and love! In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
Saturday, May 5, 2012
May 5, 2012
Yesterday, I was challenged by my own words. There is a young boy in our community that has two other brothers and their lives are right out of a bad novel. The courts are keeping them away from their dad because in the United States, the court system believes they have all the power. A case manager can decide where these boys go, even though their mother has been diagnosed, by professionals, as having many personality disorders.
I realize that I don't have any control but this boy continues to come to my house for shelter and there is nothing I can do. He is not being physically tortured but the mental torture is almost worse. As I talk to him about not giving up on Christ and that I have people praying for him, I want to act and stop the madness. He is not sleeping and yesterday, he was kicked off the track team. It's frustrating to watch as his father stands in the wings and wants to be with his sons.
I was so distraught after his mother picked him up that I went over to one of my friends houses to talk with her. I asked her if she had any advise on what I should do. Without physical signs, everything looks like rebellion and yet, it's so much more. She told me that I needed to continue to talk to his dad about Christ and ask him if I could pray with him. She also said that she would be praying for his mom because the bitterness and hatred had set in and the need to keep her children away from their dad had become a weapon to punish him, when in reality it's only the children who are being punished.
Of course she was right and as I sat in the chair, all my words came back to me yesterday about unanswered prayers and taking God out of the box. I have been praying every morning that she would be revealed and that this child would have relief before he does something he will regret. I have been praying about a corrupt judicial system that allows people to take kids away from parents that could be beneficial in their life. I have been praying for one judge to see the chaos that has been caused and let this father be part of his children's lives. This man was a millionaire in 2006 and now is completely broke. Those kids mean more to him than life, don't we want that ladies? I do. I want men to stand up and be part of their children's lives so that they can grow up and be great men.
In all this, I see it as an opportunity to bring Christ forward in this child's life and in his dad's life. I have become bolder, through my experience, while writing this blog and I am praying that both of them will experience God fully and passionately. If they must face this trial, and by the way it's been 8 years, then please Lord, let it be for Your glory.
I tell this story today because we are paralyzed without the will of God. We must pray for His will to be done and then let him work. My worry must disappear and in my peace; I must count on my Savior. I have watched God move mountains in peoples lives and I am asking all of us to unite and pray that God would move mountains for these boys. I have never been a fan of one parent over the other. We need to pray that families stay together so that children are protected from the wars we create. I thank God every day that he repaired and restored my marriage because I want my sons to know that God is good and that He is sufficient in all things.
Ladies, will you please join me in praying for this family and families all over the world that look like this one? I know that suffering is part of this life but I also know that God is merciful, powerful and awesome. I need you to be praying with me that he would heal families and give boys and girls all over the world the ability to know Him in all things.
Ephesians 2: 1-10 NKJV:
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of the world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit, who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the 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 with Him.
I may not ever know what the purpose was behind this great tragedy but Christ does; and I find comfort in that. He calls us to remember that together He has brought us to Him. We have faith because of Him and none of our works matter. So in today, I must rest and believe that He will show mercy on these children and that in all their suffering; He will prevail. With all my heart, I believe that this situation will be for His glory and my role is to pray for every family, in every nation. If you're out there and going through a similar situation, read my words and know that God puts people just like you, on the hearts of people just like me. May God keep you safe today and may He bless you as you pray for families everywhere.
My prayer today:
As I do every morning Lord, I come before You a woman with a desire to pray for others. Today, I pray for a family that wars over children and leaves those children without hope. Please Lord minister to this family, lift them up and help these boys and their parents know You. I am praying that the corruption in our court system would cease and that children in all nations would be able to participate with both parents. I pray for women, that we would be obedient to You and that You would protect us from Satan. Our children were not given to us to use as weapons. They were given to us to raise in Your name and I am praying that every woman will do so. Children are a gift from You, that should be cherished, loved and provided for. When we allow ourselves to become angry and bitter, there is no way for You to come in. I ask that You would create an army of warriors to pray for the broken families today and that each of us would surrender our will and become one minded with You. You are the thought leader behind the family and if You're not in it; it's a mess. I ask that women everywhere would be lifted up to You today with the message that You are with us and we are Yours. Please protect our families and open doors, as we minister to those that need You. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
I realize that I don't have any control but this boy continues to come to my house for shelter and there is nothing I can do. He is not being physically tortured but the mental torture is almost worse. As I talk to him about not giving up on Christ and that I have people praying for him, I want to act and stop the madness. He is not sleeping and yesterday, he was kicked off the track team. It's frustrating to watch as his father stands in the wings and wants to be with his sons.
I was so distraught after his mother picked him up that I went over to one of my friends houses to talk with her. I asked her if she had any advise on what I should do. Without physical signs, everything looks like rebellion and yet, it's so much more. She told me that I needed to continue to talk to his dad about Christ and ask him if I could pray with him. She also said that she would be praying for his mom because the bitterness and hatred had set in and the need to keep her children away from their dad had become a weapon to punish him, when in reality it's only the children who are being punished.
Of course she was right and as I sat in the chair, all my words came back to me yesterday about unanswered prayers and taking God out of the box. I have been praying every morning that she would be revealed and that this child would have relief before he does something he will regret. I have been praying about a corrupt judicial system that allows people to take kids away from parents that could be beneficial in their life. I have been praying for one judge to see the chaos that has been caused and let this father be part of his children's lives. This man was a millionaire in 2006 and now is completely broke. Those kids mean more to him than life, don't we want that ladies? I do. I want men to stand up and be part of their children's lives so that they can grow up and be great men.
In all this, I see it as an opportunity to bring Christ forward in this child's life and in his dad's life. I have become bolder, through my experience, while writing this blog and I am praying that both of them will experience God fully and passionately. If they must face this trial, and by the way it's been 8 years, then please Lord, let it be for Your glory.
I tell this story today because we are paralyzed without the will of God. We must pray for His will to be done and then let him work. My worry must disappear and in my peace; I must count on my Savior. I have watched God move mountains in peoples lives and I am asking all of us to unite and pray that God would move mountains for these boys. I have never been a fan of one parent over the other. We need to pray that families stay together so that children are protected from the wars we create. I thank God every day that he repaired and restored my marriage because I want my sons to know that God is good and that He is sufficient in all things.
Ladies, will you please join me in praying for this family and families all over the world that look like this one? I know that suffering is part of this life but I also know that God is merciful, powerful and awesome. I need you to be praying with me that he would heal families and give boys and girls all over the world the ability to know Him in all things.
Ephesians 2: 1-10 NKJV:
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of the world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit, who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the 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 with Him.
I may not ever know what the purpose was behind this great tragedy but Christ does; and I find comfort in that. He calls us to remember that together He has brought us to Him. We have faith because of Him and none of our works matter. So in today, I must rest and believe that He will show mercy on these children and that in all their suffering; He will prevail. With all my heart, I believe that this situation will be for His glory and my role is to pray for every family, in every nation. If you're out there and going through a similar situation, read my words and know that God puts people just like you, on the hearts of people just like me. May God keep you safe today and may He bless you as you pray for families everywhere.
My prayer today:
As I do every morning Lord, I come before You a woman with a desire to pray for others. Today, I pray for a family that wars over children and leaves those children without hope. Please Lord minister to this family, lift them up and help these boys and their parents know You. I am praying that the corruption in our court system would cease and that children in all nations would be able to participate with both parents. I pray for women, that we would be obedient to You and that You would protect us from Satan. Our children were not given to us to use as weapons. They were given to us to raise in Your name and I am praying that every woman will do so. Children are a gift from You, that should be cherished, loved and provided for. When we allow ourselves to become angry and bitter, there is no way for You to come in. I ask that You would create an army of warriors to pray for the broken families today and that each of us would surrender our will and become one minded with You. You are the thought leader behind the family and if You're not in it; it's a mess. I ask that women everywhere would be lifted up to You today with the message that You are with us and we are Yours. Please protect our families and open doors, as we minister to those that need You. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
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