"God Moves In All Ways"

I want to talk for a moment about being a vessel for God. If any of you are like me, I don't feel worthy to be used by God.  Mostly, because I can't seem to get all of my stuff together...

One day, I was praying and I felt the Holy Spirit tug on my heart and say, "You don't have to have all of your stuff together, you just need to be a willing vessel". I was so blown away, because it is true for all of us. If we were to wait for God to use us until we cleaned our lives up, we would never get there. I felt God saying, "My Grace is Sufficient, I will do the cleaning..I just need you to be willing..I will direct you, if you are willing". You know, at that very moment, I felt a heavy burden lift. Because, I knew Jesus has already done the cleaning, I just needed to surrender and let God's Grace does the rest! That is so powerful! God is faithful, even when we aren't.

Let's take a look at 1 Kings 19:11-13  for a minute "the Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (Elijah knew that the sound of gentle whisper was God's voice. He realized that God doesn't reveal Himself only in powerful, miraculous ways. To look for God in something big (rallies, churches, conferences, highly visible leaders) may be to miss Him because He is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humbled heart.)

So, I ask all of us just one question. How are we looking or listening for God? Let's step back from the noise in activity of our busy life and listen humbly and quietly for His guidance. It may come when we least expect it. Stay awesome and encouraged!

"Growth Is Painful"

"I feel like a banana that's being peeled one strand at a time. And each time a strand is pulled off it causes extreme pain. It's as if the peels are the outer shell of my life, and God is ridding me of all things that He knows I don't need in my life. It is extremely painful and sometimes very grieving. Only to think, I know there's got to be a reason for all of this because Romans 8:28 says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." So, as we surrender our lives to Him, we give Him free reign to start peeling off the edges of the areas in our life that don't need to be there. Just like a mother must go through pain to have a child, but once the child is here, the pain is soon forgotten. From my experience, sometimes we must go through what seems to be excruciating pain whether its physical or emotional first, before we experience what God has for us."

"I am painfully learning that joy doesn't come from the outside, it comes from the inside. And that, only God can bring us true joy...Joy unspeakable! When we've lived our lives, and done things a certain way for so many years, it's hard to let go and allow God to shape us and mold us into what He wants."

These feet are my feet, and they symbolize that Jesus keeps them walking; literally and spiritually speaking..I've been through a lot, some things in which I brought on myself, and other things I didn't..However, God is good enough not to punish me, but to love me and re-direct my life, my steps, if you will..We serve a loving Father who wants the best for us. So, if you've ever thought, "I just can't go on anymore", look down at your feet as a reminder that God has kept you walking and He will never give up on you..He loves you and I more than we can ever imagine. No matter how much of a mess we have made our lives..Look to Him and trust Him with your heart today..Will you? I have!

"Letting Go"

"The pain that hides behind these eyes is deep so deep, 

I cannot sleep, I look in the mirror and what do I see, 

but two blue eyes looking back at me, they are deeper than what appears,

the pain I feel is  deeper still, it feels like being pierced by a thrown spear,

Lord I'm asking that you take this excruciating pain away,

and do it quickly with no delay, 

I hurt in my heart, in my body and find it hard as to just what I'm trying to say,

Except for asking You Heavenly Father to take this from me today"

(Isaiah 53:5-"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.) 

"You know, it is really hard to let go of something or someone that means so much to you. Sometimes it feels like your heart is going to explode out of the massive pain that is felt from a divorce, loss of a job or death of a family member. Almost like a Tsunami that comes in and destroys everything, unrecognizable to the eye than before. The pain makes you feel like nothing can stop the total devastation of the heart. The pain is all too real, like your heart is literally being torn apart from your chest. Let it go and give it to God. lay it at the feet of Jesus. Worry brings fear, releasing brings faith! I stand firm to you Lord!"

"A Firm Foundation"

"The tides of life are forever turning, at the same time God's changes to hearts is churning,

We don't always need to move the way the wind blows,

We just need to get on our faces, seek God to know which way to go,

Because lots of times the picture is so unclear,

We must put our car in neutral and let God steer,

At times we feel we are at our wits end,

Only to find that God has rescued us yet again,

So I suggest you hold on to what you've got, whose blood was shed, your price He bought."

"Wait For the Lord"

(Psalm 27:14)-"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (David knew from experience what it meant to wait for the Lord. He had been anointed king at the age 16, but didn't become king until he was 30. During the interim, he was chased through the desert by jealous King Saul. David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of his promise to reign. Later, after becoming king, he was chased by his rebellious son, Absalom.)
Waiting for God isn't easy. Often it seems that He isn't answering our prayers or doesn't understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking implies that God in not in control or is a liar. But God is worth waiting for (I am learning this one). Lamentations 3:24-26 "calls us to hope in and wait for the Lord because often God uses waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us". So, I challenge you to make good use of your waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to teach you in them.

"Is Christianity our Title or our Actions?"

Is Christianity a noun, or a verb? Well, the Bible says, "They will know us by our love", not by holding up a sign (metaphorically speaking) telling the world we are. So, I wonder, is it right to justify who we are by our words or by our actions? I think we all know the answer to this question, if we really think about it. The commandment that was given by God was to love one another. (1 Corinthians 13:4-13-"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.)  So, I leave us with one thought (me included)...are we a doer or do we just talk about it?

"God Doesn't Go Against His Word"

First of all, God doesn't go against His Word...what He says, if we hear Him right, is Truth..the Word of God says, "Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever"(Hebrews 13:8) He doesn't change His mind and put us on this roller coaster ride of emotions...A loving God doesn't play games with our Hearts like that..He heals our hearts...into peace, not confusion..
God is the ONLY one that can provide us with "a peace that surpasses ALL understanding (Philippians 4:7) during our most dark days". And if you ask Him to give you that kind of peace and focus on Him, and not the problem (no matter big or small) God will give you a peace, that no man can give, one that we surely can't explain during our most difficult times. He is truly faithful! Let me say this, as I encourage, God is also using my words to encourage me. Because, I need to hear it over and over again :) So, I challenge all of us to put our faith in God who is the only one who brings genuine peace."