How to truly treat others......

"In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.  If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.  If it is giving, give generously.  If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.  And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.  Don't just pretend to love others.  Really love them.  Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.  Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.  Rejoice in our confident hope.  Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.  When God's people are in need, be ready to help them.  Always be eager to practice hospitality."

Romans 12:6-13 (NLT)

Hope in the Darkness.....

When situations are bleak and hope seems millions of miles away, a light can be seen at the end of the tunnel.
This is how I see Southern Baptist Disaster Relief workers, the light at the end of the tunnel. We are there to offer that hope to those who have suffered loss and cannot seem to find it in the moment. Whether it is a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, a kind word of encouragement, a cup of cold water, or helping them recover items lost in disaster and restoration of their property. All of these are love in action.  We don't deploy for our own glory, but to give Glory to the One who ultimately gives this life sustaining hope we all long for.
Love for my fellow DR workers, not just those in California but every where in the United States and overseas.  We have a common ground and a passion to help the least of these in times of great need. The love of the Father pours from each of them in a way that I never thought I could see come from anyone aside from Jesus himself.
The following information is a current count of the efforts from Southern Baptist Disaster Relief:

Professions of Faith		198
Gospel Presentations		1,895
Chaplaincy Contacts		5,764
Ministry Contacts		21,125
Other Decisions		57
Volunteer Days		40,225
Meals Prepared		1,861,830
Mudout Jobs		1,626
Chainsaw Jobs		2,002
Fire Cleanup/Debris Removal		117
Repair/Roofing Jobs		364
Showers		20,635
Laundry Loads		8,063
Children Cared For		374
Gallons of Water Purified		10,761
Messages Sent		2,187

Please keep these men and women in your prayers as they continue their work for the Lord on the east coast. Many more days will be required to help the victims of Sandy. Because of the love the Father has for us, we have joy. Below is a video that some of the volunteers from Texas, Virginia and South Carolina put together to bring some holiday cheer at the end of a hard day.

Be Obedient....

In the Southern Baptist world the month of December is when we focus on International missions offering named after an incredible lady from Virginia, Lottie Moon.
This month the theme is Be Obedient. The videos are powerful and heart wrenching, I am trusting God that people will move once they see them.  In preparing for this offering time I am brought back to our own "missionaries" here in the states that are on the east coast helping victims with clean-up and recovery from a monster storm named Sandy.
Some of these volunteers, especially California volunteers, have to pay their own travel fares in order to go help. Airfare is more expensive this time of year, however can be cheaper if the duration of your stay is a long one.  Some of the disaster relief workers from other states like Missouri have been working in the New York/New Jersey area since shortly after the storm hit. California is scheduled to deploy December 8 and return December 17. Without the funds to do this more teams will not be able to answer their call to go and serve.
One of the videos I watched for the Lottie Moon offering month showed a young man who answered the call to serve as a missionary in China.  He expressed his concern that he wondered how many people in the states aren't answering their calls.  This also makes me think of our disaster relief team here in California. Without the monetary gifts, it's difficult to answer that call. We are all a team when it comes to helping our brothers and sisters.
If you would like to answer your call and Be Obedient, you can give monetary gifts to the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry. You can send your donations to: California Southern Baptist Convention designated for "Sandy DR Relief" and mail it to CSBC, 678 E. Shaw Avenue, Fresno CA 93710, attention Disaster Relief.
You can also visit the website www.csbc.com and click on the disaster relief picture.

Won't you answer the call today?

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it."
Matthew 16:24-25 (NLT)

One thing.....

Remain, Remained, Remains......these are all verbs and their meaning is: to stay in the same place or with the same person or group; to continue unchanged.

I deployed to Colorado with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief in July. We went with the purpose of helping victims clean up and recover their homes (what was left of them) from the wildfires that had ravaged the forest and the people there. In the two weeks that I was there I saw God's love and the work of the Holy Spirit first hand.

No matter what changes around us, whether it be the loss of a home, a job, a family member, a pet, or the loss of relationships, one thing remains.  God's love.

God's love is as the description says, unchanging. What ever we do, God loves us. What ever we don't do, God loves us. His thoughts of us are precious to Him. He regards us above all things.

In our pursuit of living according to how God wants us to live, we need to remember that His love is constant. It isn't fleeting, or temporary, it goes on forever. Another good word....forever; for a limitless time, continually. Incredible.

In discovering God's love while in Colorado, I also met the Holy Spirit. I call Him friend, fellow worker, the broken hearted. Why? Because I saw His work come full circle in helping each.  The only way we can truly love others like God loves us is to serve them.  Our love has to remain forever, just like Gods.

Once we understand and embrace this amazing, unchanging, continual love of God, then and only then will we be able to keep working along side the Holy Spirit to see the fruits of our labor.

"Long ago the Lord said to Israel: 'I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.' " Jeremiah 31:3

Love Forever......

No matter how many days, weeks, years between I still love you.

Its really amazing how when you reconnect with old friends it seems that time stood still, we are just older and somewhat more wiser now. I love this about true friendship.
Some years ago a very dear friend came back into my life. It had been several years since we had spoken or even saw each other.  When we did, it was as if there wasn't any time gone between all of those years.
More things were the same once we were in each others lives again.

Feelings from long ago came to the surface for me.

Each visit is cherished, and I wouldn't change them at all. However each visit those feelings become stronger, and each departure leaves an emptiness and longing to see them again.

How do you tell someone that you have known over half your life that you're in love with them and have been the whole time.

Waiting.........

So many times I have found myself perplexed as to many whys in my life. All of them of course are whys to the negative. Why do I not have a better job? Why do I not have my own home? Why are we not together anymore? Why can't I finish school? So many whys....

I have been blaming myself for all of these negatives. It's my own fault that we cant be together. Its my own fault for not having a better job to give us a nice home. Its my own fault that I haven't finished school. Then there is the BIG WHY in the midst of all of this why and self blame. God why wont you bless me? God what about your promises? I ultimately come back to more self blame here. My behavior is keeping those promises from coming through. I have beat myself up over this so many times, but for all the wrong reasons.
I played the fear card when it came to not receiving the blessings I felt that I deserved. Out of fear toward God I would straighten my act up until the results were futile. Nothing, no blessings still. I then would resign to the fact that, well, it just isn't meant to be. So I would resolve to a less than what I desire lifestyle and try to be happy with it. At least I was still breathing, right?

All of this why and self blame and changing of behavior and resolving to accept what I don't want continued over and over again. Daily, monthly, yearly.....a lifetime. Until one day....I saw things differently.

I'm not the one waiting on God to bless me and give me the desires of my heart. He is the one waiting on me.
Always has been.

He is waiting for me to change. Not just change my behavior temporarily, but change everything about me on the inside. My attitude, my words, my actions, my thoughts, my deep desires.........everything. He is ready to bless me and bless me in such a way that it will bring me to my knees in humble adoration to the One that created me for His purposes. He is holding back because I am not ready, and He knows it. He knows that he cannot give me the blessings until I fix myself, and fix everything that I am on Him. It's not really His timing at all, but mine. When am I going to change so that He can give me what I have been praying for? He's ready and excited to bless me....I am keeping Him from it.  He doesn't want anyone to suffer and lose out on anything. It can be too late though, but I don't want it to be too late.

"Don't overlook the obvious here, friends.  With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day.  God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness.  He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost.  He's giving everyone space and time to change." 2 Peter 3:8,9 The Message

How wide, how long, how high and how deep.....

Even though I have read the words many times over and heard the song and sang along with it....I dont believe I really comprehended them.
There is no measure to the Fathers love. It is outnumbered. More than the grains of sand, more numerous than the stars in the night sky. Considerably more than the hairs on our heads, yes even if you shave your head, it's more than that.
All I can do is just sit and be silent at this new comprehension. There are no words in response to it.

"Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is." Ephesians 3:17,18 (NLT)

All's of God

"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.  You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!" Psalm 139:1-6

Omniscience; God knows all things.
How very humbling to know that God knows everything there is to know about me, even things that I don't yet know. He sees all because he is the one who has planned out my life, no matter how far I stray he still knows. This is something to wrap your head around. Amazing that He loves us that much!

"I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.  If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.  I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night- but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day.  Darkness and light are the same to you." Psalm 139:7-12

Omnipresence; God is in all places.
We cannot hide from God. So many times have we wanted to. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God as well.  He knew where they were but asked them anyway where they were hiding. God gives us chances to reveal ourselves to him.  No matter what we do that is wrong, God still loves us. Stop trying to hide from him, he already knows.

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.  They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them ; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers! They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name. O Lord, shouldn't I hate those who hate you? Shouldn't I despise those who oppose you? Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart;  test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Psalm 139:13-24

Omnipotence; God can do all things.
God created us, every single detail. The color of our eyes, our hair, our skin even how tall or short we would be. How's that for being able to do all things?! He can and does do more than that! He can heal us from sickness (all kinds of sickness). In the bible Jesus (God in the flesh) turned the water into wine at the wedding at Cana. He raised Lazarus from the dead, and calmed the storm and fed the 5000. My God is an AWESOME God! His thoughts of us are also precious. When looking that word up in the dictionary it says that it is of high price. What a high price indeed that was paid for you and me!

Love #8....

Agape, Godly love...

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. it is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!"

Eighth, love believes the best about people; it "thinketh no evil" (KJV), "does not keep a record of wrongs" (HCSB). In other words, love overlooks insult or wrong (Proverbs 17:9; 19:11; Ephesians 5:11).
This is definitely God's love that does this!
I'm not sure about you but it's very difficult for me to overlook an insult or a wrong doing that has been made toward myself or even a family member. We need God to step into these situations and help us to love this way. Only by His grace and mercy will we be able to overcome ourselves and love in an agape way.
God love challenge #8, our final challenge.....
Pray that God can help you to believe the very best in everyone, no matter what they have said or done to you. This is most difficult of all, in my opinion. Especially when others continue to insult you. God's word says that "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers." Matthew 5:11 (NLT). We have to show love, it's not an option.

I pray that if anyone has been reading these past entries on love that you have taken away something that is helpful. Loving in the midst of controversy isn't easy, especially when division comes and lack of forgiveness. I truly believe that we can forgive when we can truly love someone regardless of how they treat us.

Love #7.....

Agape, Godly love....

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. it is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!"

Seventh, love is not easily provoked (irritated, exasperated, or made angry).
Does this mean that I have to keep my cool if someone, anyone, upsets me?
YES!
Jesus did not loose his temper when he was being wrongly accused before they crucified him. While they beat him he kept silent. I'm not saying that we should let people beat us physically, but sometimes when others do things to us ( wrongly accuse us, tell lies about us or to us, or just treat us badly) we are to STILL show God's love to them by not becoming instantly angry or becoming irritated. Seems the further in this we get the more challenging it is huh?
God love challenge #7...
When you're around the people that have or might treat you wrongly, treat them with love. Pray that God can help you keep your cool in situations where you might become angry with someone because of something they have said or done. This is really difficult for most people. When our feelings become hurt, it's not easy to forgive and /or show love to that person who wronged us. God can help. Always.
Stay tuned for our final God love challenge #8.......

Love #6....

Agape, Godly love....

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. it is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!"

Sixth, love does not seek its own things.
This statement can stand alone and speak volumes.
This type of love, Agape, is not selfish.  We as humans are very selfish. I cannot begin to tell you how many times my motives have been selfish ones in relationships with people. No matter what the relationship is. I know that I have been the receiver of selfish motives as well. It's not good to be on either end of this.
God calls us to love others and to hold them higher than ourselves. That what ever they need is more important at the moment than our selfish motives. Yes maybe we want to say things or do things just to "dig" at another person, but that is selfish and God says we are not to be that way.
God love challenge #6....
Put aside your selfish motives, whatever they may be and put others before you. Love them unconditionally without wanting anything back. Love just because God says to. I know, some people are difficult to love, sometimes things are done to us that we want to get back at them. But that is unbecoming (we have already covered that one). Try to love without reserve. Pray to God for help in this area. I know I have to every day..
Stay tuned for God love challenge #7.......

Love #5......

Agape, Godly love....

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. it is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!"

Fifth, love does not behave itself in an unbecoming fashion.  Believers are to avoid even the appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22).
Let's take a look at this. When we act unbecoming, we are acting , forgive me here, ugly. That's the only way I can put it. Just plain ugly. I don't know about you, but I don't want others to think of me as an ugly person. Any thoughts we might have toward others that isn't a loving thought, in any way is putting on that appearance of evil. Which makes us ugly.  In 1 Peter 3:4 we are to clothe ourselves with inward beauty and that a gentle and quiet spirit is unfading and precious to God. This will make us truly beautiful.
God love challenge #5.....
Take the ugly out and replace it with beauty. Sounds simple, I know. I do know however that God can change EVERYONE. I have personally witnessed this and am thankful that He does. Pray you can be changed from the inside out. God loves you no matter what. Show His love to others.
Stay tuned for God love challenge #6.......

Love #4.....

Agape, Godly love....

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. it is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!"

Fourth, love does not promote itself; it is not puffed up. Paul says in Phil 2:3 "In humility consider others as more important than yourselves."
As a mom, I can love this way with my children very easily. When it comes to loving others this way, especially if they have hurt me, its not so easy.
God love challenge #4....
Pray that God can instill in you the desire to consider others as more than yourself. I pray this every day. It isn't an easy task because of my human nature to be selfish, but it is necessary in order to live the love that God wants me to live.

Stay tuned for God love challenge #5.......

Love #3.....

Agape, Godly love.....

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. it is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!"

Third, love is not envious and does not jealously desire what it does not have.

How many times have we ever said, "oh, I wish I had ...."( fill in the blank.)
I can think of several times that I have said that, and filled in the blank with many different things that I wanted. Truth is, when you desire the things that others have or even just stuff that you wish you could have, makes you miserable. Have we ever thought that maybe we aren't meant to have those things, relationships, jobs, houses, cars, clothes, money. God has a perfect plan for our lives (Jer 29:11). Part of that plan is for us to show His love to everyone. Here's where the challenge comes in....
God love challenge #3....
When you feel you might be slipping into the "I wish, I had" mode, go to God in prayer and ask Him to take that from you. Thank Him for all He has given you and express to Him that He is all you need. Blessings will follow. Love others even if they have something you would like to have. This isn't an easy challenge, it will take time and work. Again, God didn't say living for Him was easy!

Stay tuned for God love challenge #4.......

Love #2.....

More Agape, Godly love....

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. it is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!"

Second, love is kind.
When translated kind means gracious, virtuous, useful, manageable, mild, pleasant, benevolent. Not bitter , harsh, hard or sharp.
Wow, how often have we been only gracious instead of bitter? Mild instead of harsh? I know personally, I haven't been on the good side of this with others that hurt me very often. I may not show it, or say it, but its in my heart....and that's what God sees.

God love challenge #2....
Be gracious, mild, and pleasant with everyone you encounter. No matter what your feelings are toward them. God commands us to love (John 13:34). The more we trust God to help us show the right characteristics of His love, the easier it will become for us to do it. God never said living for Him would be easy, its necessary.

Stay tuned for God love challenge #3.....

Love....

Agape; Godly love......

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
"Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  It does not demand its own way.  it is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless.  But love will last forever!"

First, love is long suffering. It doesn't seek revenge on those who have done wrong toward it, it suffers through those wrong doings so that it can act redemptively. How many of us can say we exhibit this characteristic of love? I know that I can't. 
This kind of love is overflowing with the name of Jesus....because this is who he is in every way, through every circumstance. To be able to see everyone and every situation through the eyes of God's love would truly be an amazing gift.

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud....

To always act toward everyone with patience and kindness is a struggle, especially towards those who have hurt us. No matter what the offense, we are to show patience, kindness and to be humble before them. Godly love, lesson one.....
God Challenge #1.....
Show patience and kindness toward everyone, even those who have hurt you. When you can do this and mean it with your heart, forgiveness and healing will come like a flood.
Stay tuned for lesson and challenge #2........

New....

As I sit here listening to the rain pour down outside, I am reminded of the storms that have just recently swept through my life. I am not only reminded of my own personal storms but I am reminded of the storms that very recently have touched the lives of those around me .
What is rain? Not in a scientific way, but in a figurative way.
Cleansing.
When I think about all the storms that have happened recently and in my past, the rain makes me remember what comes after it. Sunshine...blossoms....newness...healing.
Rain is necessary in every aspect of our lives, scientifically and figuratively. I welcome it with open arms. I want to be renewed with the assurance that God can and does cleanse me of all my faults and loves me no matter what. Through Him we are all made new, after the rain.

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.  The old life is gone, a new life has begun."  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Lion of Judah...Lamb of God...

Beauty for ashes......

I will never understand the ways of the world and the people of it. I know now that God speaks through everyone and everything, whether they are for him or against him. I thank you God for that.
I also thank him for giving me the ability to see that it is him speaking.
Brokenness is never good in the moment that it is happening, but the outcome can be. All those broken pieces and shattered feelings can be made new through Jesus. I thank him for that too. However, we have to let him fix it, not fight him. Instead of ashes and mourning we will have beauty and blessings. Run from the ones who are of the world, keep yourselves in God's arms and let him love you.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory." Isaiah 61:1-3
Amen

True Love Waits.....

I have made a promise...to myself, and to God. Nothing will change it.


"God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God."
Matthew 5:8

"Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10

"The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith."
1 Timothy 1:5

Be silent....and wait...

It always hurts to find out that you are not liked by people, especially when at one time you were very close. God knows what issues they might have. All I can do now is pray. Through prayer God has said to wait and be silent because this battle is His. I will listen, because silence is sometimes the best thing to be in. In silence we can learn so much.  

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters:  You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." James 1:19                                                                     

Beautiful.....

Emotional things of this world can wear on us. Not being loved by whom we may want to be loved by, or accepted into a certain circle of friends. Or even being acknowledged and noticed by anyone.
According to the word of God, we are precious to him....Psalm 139 says so. All of his thoughts of us are beautiful. And if we follow his commands, his promises to us will come in time.

Also according to his word beauty comes from within......

"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." 1 Peter 3:4

This beauty never fades. How wonderful to know that if we live by these words, we will always be beautiful.
No person can take that from us, regardless of what they think of us. God finds this beauty precious.

Confirmation.....

I just love how God speaks to us. Just when I think he isn't hearing me, I shut my mouth and pay attention. Amazing how that works.
Two separate situations that I have been praying over, have been given confirmed answers.....in the strangest ways.
The first situations confirmation is loud and clear...thank you God for keeping us safe through the answer. The second one is more subtle, but definitely God speaking.
The Southern Baptist Convention is having disaster relief training, and I want to go. Of course, sometimes I feel as if I am grasping at straws at what God wants me to do. So I threw my hands up and said, "God, what do you want me to do here?!" My answer to the first situation came that night, like I said, loud and clear. The answer to the disaster relief training came a day later, but of course, I wasn't listening. So this morning, God confirmed it. I shut my mouth and listened.
Thank you God for not giving up on me and for sending people my way to confirm your plans in my life. No matter how subtle, I will do my best to keep my mouth shut more and my ears open.

"The generous will prosper;
those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25

Oh Happy Day!!

"........Jesus is Alive!"   Luke 24:23

Knowing...

As I was watching a reality show with my daughter this morning a lot fell on my heart.
During this show one of the young men became depressed and anxious and needed to leave.  He even stated in this episode that he needed to leave in order to heal himself. He left the show and went home to his family.
While watching this I thought how lost our world is. How broken and hurting. We can try and fix it with worldly things but that wont really fix it, it will only mask it and numb it for us to have to deal with again later when we are in a worse state. When that kind of darkness takes you it's harder to resurface.
I liked that he said he needed to heal himself. We help in our own healing when we recognize we need to make some changes and we make that first step toward the right way. Jesus is ultimately our great physician. He alone can heal all our diseases. Depression is a disease, so is anxiety.
I find myself praying for this young man, that the things of the world no longer consume him. That he finds the truth through Jesus.
After watching this and feeling all of this heaviness on my heart, I thought of some other people that I personally know. Depression and anxiety have consumed their lives for years. To talk to one of them they say they are now free from depression and anxiety. This is what they say today, but their actions speak volumes in the opposite. The other person knows they suffer from these two monsters. They also know that Jesus is the only one to heal them. Are they at a place where they want to reach out to him? Sadly, no. Is the other friend? I am afraid they don't know who Jesus is and what he can do. Both people are wonderful friends, great people to know. Both lost and hurting in a world that doesn't care about them. A world that doesn't care enough to know their names, or wants to know their hurt. Only Jesus truly knows our names, knows our hurts, and cares enough to help us heal from them.
My heart is heavy today....
If not through me Jesus, through someone else. Please breathe new life into those that are suffering with internal demons that only seek to destroy what you have so graciously created. You know our names Lord......You know.

Breathe new life......

Father I praise you and all that you are....You alone are worthy of my praise.
Bring your Holy Spirit Lord and breathe new life into me. Create a fire that is unquenchable in my soul. Bring me closer to you Lord and your love.
Help me Lord put all of the hurts and mistakes in the past and keep them there. I am new today and forever in you.
Thank you for your love and forgiveness in my life Lord.
Use me Lord as you desire. Place me where you want me so that I can spread the good news to all around me. My heart is open to your will Lord.
Amen

We Are......

Compromised

When I think of the word compromised I think of things that are naturally strong and can withstand lots of pressure, except in certain areas that are weaker and compromised. Trees can be this way, strong and sturdy, people and animals can climb them. However if there is a branch that might have a compromised spot it will break under pressure. This also reminds me of our humanity and how weak we can be at times and how our hearts become compromised under pressure.

Satan uses these compromising areas for his advantage. Where we are at our weakest he attacks.
Doesn't matter what the weakness is, he is always there causing situations to happen to where he knows you can't resist and you cave in.

I recently read a book where the author talked about giving every area of our lives to God.  He said that he had a dream of three lines drawn in sand. The first line was only giving a few things in your life to God.  The second line was giving almost everything in your life to God, but not quite. The third line was giving everything to God, not keeping any area of your life. He said he struggled with crossing this third line for a long time, until one day he did. 

Our lives will continue to have these compromising areas unless we give every area of our lives over to God. It could be the smallest thing, but God wants it. Every area. All the painful ones, all the joyous ones, all the ones that haven't happened yet. Give them all.

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:6-8 NLT

Letting go......

We have all heard the saying, "Let go and let God". As cliche as it sounds, it's actually pretty sound advice.
Our sins, when we ask for forgiveness with sincerity, are removed and forgotten.

"He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west." Psalm 103:12 NLT

When we keep revisiting these things we aren't letting it go. We are hoarders of sin, even if it's been forgotten by God our Father.

For a New Year's activity I burned a list of hurtful things that happened in my life in 2011. I have always had a problem with letting go of things in my past that either hurt me or I just couldn't forget.
This year I made a vow to make it different.  I wrote my list ( 4-5 pages, I know) and at the kitchen sink I prayed and cried over that list, revisiting everything for one last time, then I set it on fire. As I watched it burn, a weight lifted off of me.

God is faithful and comes through for us each and every time we seek him.  It may not be in our timing, but God is there for us, always waiting and ready to hold our hands and lead us through the darkest of dark places.
This year is a lesson in letting go and letting God. It's never to late to grow in your faith. God has not called me to give up, he has not called me to run and hide. He has called me to press on in his will for my life.

"I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.  No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Philippians 3:12-14 NLT