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Archive for the ‘From My Heart’ Category

You Are Loved

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , on May 5, 2015| 2 Comments »

You are loved

Don’t believe the lies of Satan when he tries to tell you that you are not good enough, that you will never succeed. When you believe those lies, eventually you start to internalize every little word of advice and even constructive criticism as a failure on your part…this leads to low self esteem and kicking yourself for every little thing you do wrong…no one is perfect…we all make mistakes…we all mess up and forget things…remember who you are in God! You are a one of a kind chosen child of the King and He does not want you beating yourself up over stupid stuff…if you need to change something, make the change and let it go…God loves you for who you are and believe me He knows that we are imperfect…

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The Thorn In The Flesh

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , on May 5, 2015| Leave a Comment »

thorn in the flesh

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

No one really knows what the thorn in Paul’s flesh was. It doesn’t really matter what it was. What we do know is that, it was a messenger from Satan, sent to torment him and keep him from becoming conceited. God refused to remove the the thorn in Paul’s flesh. I have wondered if Paul had an arrogant personality and God used this thorn to remind him of who was in control.

Poverty has been the thorn in my side for 22 years now. I have prayed for God to pour out financial blessings on me and my children, but He does not. That isn’t to say that He doesn’t provide. He absolutely does provide! Vehicles break down, but I get to work and the kids get to where they need to be. We have a roof over our heads and food on the table. It is hard to struggle paycheck to paycheck, but I know that my survival completely depends on God. I understand that God wants me to experience true Holy Spirit given joy in my life regardless of how much money I have in my bank account. God wants me to look to Him for fulfillment and not material possessions. God wants me to trust Him to provide for my needs instead of trying to provide for myself without Him. Only in depending on Jehovah Jireh alone does my relationship with Him grow in intimacy. Only in trusting God alone is my relationship with Him taken to the next level. It is not always easy and there are times when I want to scream at the unfairness of it all. Why should millions of people have to suffer in poverty when there are many many people who hoard their wealth, refusing to share with those in need. I will admit that even after 22 years I am still learning to be content with my circumstances. I am a work in progress!

What is the thorn in your flesh? Have you cried out to God to remove it? What is the lesson that God might be wanting to teach you by not removing it? Will you allow God to work in your heart and draw you closer to Him?

In a journal or other safe place I urge you to have a conversation with God and open your heart to what God is trying to show you. Let it all out. Don’t be afraid to open up your heart to God. He can handle it. God has not placed this thorn in your flesh to punish you, but to mold you and to draw you closer to Him. Stop fighting it and find out what it is God wants you to know.

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Make Me An Instrument

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , on March 9, 2015| 2 Comments »

St. Francis

The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

                             -St. Francis of Assisi

Life can be stressful. Life can be full of disappointments and tragedy. It is what we do when hardships come that will make us or break us. We have a choice; will we wallow in self-pity or will we become an instrument of peace? We pray for God to reveal our purpose, it is often in these hard times that our purpose is revealed. Use your circumstances to reach out to others that are going through the same thing.

You are never alone in what you are going through. Reach out in love to someone who needs some encouragement. God loves you, my friend.

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Making Disciples

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , on January 13, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Making Disciples

 

 

I have visited churches where the pastor will give a Hell-fire and brimstone sermon and then give an invitation for baptism. Not surprisingly, there have been 20 to 30 being baptized on those days. Did they really accept Jesus into their hearts? Did they really understand the meaning of following Jesus and the implication of baptism? Or were they scared into baptism to fill a quota?

I have seen church leaders that only care about the numbers: how many members their church has, how many baptisms they do every week, how many converts they have every week and how big their buildings are. The one thing that has bothered me, is the fact that once these baptisms are over, these people are left to struggle on their own. They go back to their lives and are left to find out for themselves what following Jesus really means. Most will give up and not darken the doorway of a church again. This has to change! Church leaders need to wake up and follow the example of Jesus, making disciples.

Jesus was all about building relationships. When Jesus called the disciples, He made the commitment to spend time teaching them, making sure that they were ready to be sent out on their own when the time came. Jesus was with the disciples 24/7 while training them to be disciples. Their training was the most important thing. He knew that in order for them to succeed in proclaiming the gospel He needed to build a relationship with each one and spend the time training them. He invested His time and resources in training these men.

Are we, as church leaders and Christians taking the time to disciple new converts? Are we willing to sacrifice our time and resources to invest in someones life, making sure that they really understand what it means to follow Jesus? Are we willing to follow through, even if it takes years before someone is ready to fly solo? If we want to follow the example of Jesus, we better be ready. We better be willing.

America has become the largest mission field in the world. Our churches are failing in the most basic of Christian principles: making disciples. We, as Christians, are failing this beautiful, awesome country because we refuse to invest in the lives of those around us. We are failing our country because we refuse to make disciples. There is an URGENCY!!! This is a call to ACTION!!!

GO OUT AND MAKE DISCIPLES!!! Right now and right where you are!!!

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One Community

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , on December 14, 2014| Leave a Comment »

one community

 

 

1 Thessalonians 3:12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 3:2,3 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.

Paul tells the Thessalonians in his letter to them that they are to love and encourage one another. He acknowledges that they are doing this already, but says that they need to do it more and more. Paul sent Timothy to encourage the Thessalonians in their trials, just as we are to encourage other believers in their difficult times. Paul did not send Timothy to judge them for not doing better, just as we should not judge the attempts of others. There is an urgency to start loving each other and encouraging each other, instead of tearing each other down. We need to embrace our differences and learn from those differences, instead of looking down on others who aren’t like us. When we judge and refuse to love those who are different, we become no better than bullies. Look around you and open your heart to those who need to be loved and encouraged. Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life for us. Can we love those around us with that same kind of love?

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Here Am I

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , , on December 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

send me

 

 

Isaiah 6:8

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Have you heard the call of the Lord on your life? Have you ignored the call because of fear, inconvenience or it is simply to much of a sacrifice?

I have. I admit that my fear and lack of faith in God’s ability to provide has kept me living in mediocrity. Oh sure, I may have said, “send me” but inside I was hoping that God would say, “that’s okay, I’m just kidding.” So, I have remained living in disobedience, frustration and mediocrity. I yell at God to give me an opportunity to be used in full-time ministry and then when He does, I run the other way and don’t look back. I blame God, but really it is all on me. I sabotage my own opportunities by living in fear and refusing to trust in my heavenly Father.

God has been working on me. He has been pruning my character and getting me ready to serve Him full-time. He has lovingly brought me to the place where I am willing to step out and live as George Mueller and countless other missionaries, in complete dependence on God to provide. Am I at a place in my faith journey where I am able to give up my reliance on a stable paycheck, the security of knowing how the bills will get paid or how we will be fed? Am I at a place in my faith journey where I am willing to move ahead, even if it means leaving family behind because they may not approve of what I am doing? Can I give up material possessions and conveniences to serve God and trust Him to provide what we need?

God has been working on my faith and again today, asked me these same questions through a Facebook post on a friend’s page. Am I ready to step out in complete faith? Are you ready to answer the call that God has placed on your life, regardless of the sacrifices?

My answer, ” Here am I, Lord, send me!”

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The Gift Of Christmas

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , on December 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Baby Jesus

 

This last weekend saw the kick-off of the Christmas season. It started with Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. It continued with Small Business Saturday and ended with Cyber Monday. The purpose of each of these days is to reinforce commercialism and consumerism in what should be a sacred time of year. Christmas has become a stress-filled, frantic time of year when people spiral into debt and depression. It isn’t supposed to be this way. It was NEVER supposed to be this way! I admit that in the past years I have stressed over not having enough money to buy my kids “enough”. Ultimately, within a week, the gifts would be lost, broken or forgotten. Buried in a corner, like what most of us do to Jesus, the reason we have a Christmas at all.

I decided this year would be different for me. I am buying each of my kids a gift I know they will use and enjoy. I have put up a simple tree. I am not worried about buying a huge amount of gifts for my kids. It isn’t about what we get. It is about what we can give. Jesus gave us the gift of all gifts, His life. Let’s honor Him this season and give to those who may not have a Christmas at all. There are homeless men, women and children in our own cities that will not have Christmas because of poverty. There are children living in the foster care system, who will not have a Christmas. I know, I was one of them. There are men and women serving in our military who are stationed far from their families, who will spend Christmas alone in their barracks.

Christmas is not about buy, buy, buy and me, me, me. It is about giving people the gift of love and respect. It is about giving the gift of yourself to someone who may be hurting or heartbroken. Most importantly, it is a time to share the gift of Jesus with those around you. I am challenging you to forget the commercialism of Christmas and remember why we have a Christmas at all. His name is Jesus.

Jesus is the only Christmas gift that any of us really needs. Remember Jesus!

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Encouraging Words

Posted in From My Heart, tagged on November 18, 2014| Leave a Comment »

encourage

 

 

Encouraging words are like manna for the soul. They boost our confidence and our spirit when times are tough. While out running errands today, I stopped at Subway for lunch. The sandwich artist was a young man who was noticably nervous. As he fumbled with my sandwich he apologized and explained that he was new. I had already guessed that. I waited patiently while he made my sandwich and fumbled with the cash register. Before I turned to go, I wanted to leave him with an encouraging word, “hang in there, your doing fine”. He gives me a thumbs up and smiles. It was easy for me to empathize. I remember many times when I was the newbie and shaking in my slip resistant shoes. Even now, after 6 months at my current job, which on most days I like, I have moments when my confidence is shaken and I feel like running for the door. It is in those moments when I hear that encouraging whisper from my Heavenly Father, “hang in there, your doing fine”.

In the midst of our daily activities, keep your heart open for those moments to encourage those around you who may be the newbies, those around you who may be hurting, those around you who simply may need to be encouraged. Those moments are there, if our hearts are open to them.

God Bless!

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Teach Your Children: Not To Conform To The World

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , , , on November 11, 2014| Leave a Comment »

conformed to the world

 

 

Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I have been dismayed at the number of Christians that think it is okay to take part in secular activities on a regular basis and think that it won’t affect who they are. I have been heartbroken for the church of today, that even pastors think it okay to take part in secular activities and even bring those activities into the church. The pastor of a local church I attended for a few months thought it was okay to host “The Walking Dead” parties every week when the show was on. These parties were held in the church. This pastor also thought it was okay to show videos on Sunday mornings of comedians sitting in a bar, drinking alcohol. My kids had gotten comfortable at that church, but I was not comfortable with my kids thinking that all of this was okay. We left. The pastors justification for all of this was that he wanted to bring people into the church. He used worldly ways to bring people into the church and gave them enough of the world to keep them in the church. That church is growing by leaps and bounds, but my heart breaks for all of those who attend that think that all of this is okay. This pastor is forgetting why God sent the Holy Spirit. If we stay true to God’s word and believe, then He will work in the hearts of people and bring them into the church. We are so set on making things about what suits us, that God gets left out of the equation. We then twist scripture and fool ourselves into thinking we are doing God’s will. I can see God looking down on all of us and shaking His head in frustration because we just don’t get it. There was a discussion about taking part in secular activities with another pastor of another church I attended for several years. He said that if these activities affect us then we were never pure in the first place. News flash: none of us is that pure! None of us will ever be pure enough to engage in worldly activities and never have them affect our christian walk. This pastor authorized a youth trip to one of the Twilight movies for the middle school girls. Needless to say that we are no longer at that church either.

Don’t get the impression that I think I’m perfect. I am far from perfect and my choices aren’t always ones that Jesus would approve of. There are two T.V. shows that I love that I need to give up because they don’t pass the Jesus test. For every T.V. show, movie, song, activity, decision, ask yourself, “would Jesus approve of me watching/doing this?” I believe that each of knows if Jesus would approve or not. If the answer is no, then don’t watch or do what it is your asking about. I love the Gilmore Girls, but would Jesus approve of my watching the show? No, He wouldn’t. He would not approve of Grey’s Anatomy either.

My 12 year old son, Ty, is a bit of a ladies man. He has two girlfriends and has had three. I asked him last night if he thought Jesus would approve of having two girlfriends. Ty knew that Jesus would not approve. I asked him if he cared about what Jesus thought. He said he did care. I asked him what he thought he needed to do. He said break up with one of the girls. When we put our own decisions to the Jesus test and start making wiser decisions about what activities we participate in, we set an example for our kids that they will remember when it matters.

Will they always make great decisions as far as what they watch and listen to? Will they always make wise decisions as far as what activities they take part in? No, they will not. My 18 year old daughter, Cree, watches the Walking Dead. All three of my daughters like the Hunger Games movies and the Twilight movies. They know I don’t approve, but they are old enough to make their own decisions. I have planted a seed in their hearts and I trust that God will cultivate that seed. When we continue to watch things like the Walking Dead, It will desensitize our spirits and we begin to think that it is okay to conform to the ways of the world.

A challenge to you:

Go through the T.V. shows, movies, music that you enjoy and put them to the Jesus test. Will they pass? If not, what are you going to do about it? Are you willing to give them up for Jesus?

If your kids are watching, listening to media that you don’t approve of, ask them if Jesus would approve. They may not care if Jesus approves. When you ask them to put their activities to the test, it makes them think about what they do. They may not care right now, but the seed has been planted, trust God to work in your child’s heart.

It isn’t easy to watch your child making decisions that we would not make. Do not worry, sweet momma, your child is in God’s hands. Do what you need to do to set that Godly example, point your kids in the right direction, pray over your children and trust God to do the rest. He will.

Use the Jesus test and renew your heart and mind and that of your children. You can do this! God is with you to give you strength.

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Teaching Our Children: The Fruits Of The Spirit

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on November 6, 2014| Leave a Comment »

fruits of the spirit

 

 

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

 

I will admit that as a mom, I don’t always exhibit the fruits of the spirit in front of my kids. I try, I really do, but sometimes I get impatient and frustrated with the messiness of life. There are moments when the kids are screaming at each other and I am tempted to echo that ancient commercial and yell, “Calgon, take me away!” There are times when I know that they get it and other times when I wonder if they ever will. I know that if I want them to live out the fruits of the spirit in their daily lives, then it has to start with me, as their mom.

It is up to us, as moms, to set the example of the fruits of the spirit. We have to live it out in our daily lives. We are a role model for our children. They look to us and mimic how we act. I don’t want my children to imitate my mistakes, I want them to imitate the characteristics of God that they see in my life. So, how do we teach our children to live as examples of the fruits of the spirit in the world? It starts in how we relate to them.

LOVE: 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

 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. 

JOY: 

Psalm 27:5-7

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. 6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. 7 Hear my voice when I call,

Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

Psalm 47:1-3

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. 2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,  the great King over all the earth. 3 He subdued nations under

us, peoples under our feet.

 PEACE:

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 4:8

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

PATIENCE:

Romans 8:25

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Psalm 40:1

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

KINDNESS:

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Proverbs 11:17

Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

GOODNESS:

Romans 12:9

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Psalm 116:12

What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?

FAITHFULNESS:

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

Proverbs 28:20

A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

GENTLENESS:

Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 

Galatians 6:1

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

SELF-CONTROL:

Proverbs 25:28

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

Proverbs 16:32

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

I have given you a couple of verses for each characteristic, but there are many, many more for each one. Read each scripture and reflect on how you can model each characteristic in your life. I encourage you to take each characteristic and make a list of ways that you can model that characteristic to your children and others. I challenge you to look up other verses for each characteristic and compare them to the characteristics you are modeling to your children right now.

No one is perfect. We all mess up. If you mess up, apologize, right the wrong and move on. It is an ongoing process and you won’t always get it right. None of us do. I want you to know, though, that you are not in this alone. There are millions of moms around the world that struggle in their role as a mom, just as you do, just as I do. If you need someone to talk to, I am here. You are not alone, sweet momma! God is with you, each and every day. Trust Him to help you in your role as parent.

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