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Posts Tagged ‘Jesus’

Day 4: Jehovah Shalom (My Peace)

Posted in God Is: A 7 Day Devotional, tagged , , on September 4, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Jehovah Shalom

Judges 6:22-24

22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”

23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

When the Lord told Gideon that He was sending him to save Israel out of the hands of the Midianites, Gideon replied, “Pardon me, my lord, but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

Not only did the Lord save Israel out of the hands of the Midianites, He did it with only 300 men! Gideon must have thought God was crazy when He told Gideon his army was to large. He must have felt that he was crazy when he faced the Midianite army with only 300 men, but he obeyed God and God gave him the victory.

Gideon faced an overwhelming battle, but he walked in the peace of the Lord, knowing that God was with him. Gideon could have run in fear. No one would have blamed him. Instead he chose to trust God to fight the battle with him. He knew God’s peace.

In my life as a single mom, there have been many times when I have struggled to feel the peace of God. I have dealt with overwhelming anger, fear, bitterness, and the list goes on. Peace alluded me, until I found my Jehovah Shalom, my God of peace. My life still gets crazy and sometimes I do still feel overwhelmed, but I know I have a God of peace who is willing to walk this out with me.

If you are feeling overwhelmed in this season of life, know that we have a God of peace willing to give us the gift of peace. All we have to do is ask!

Philippians 4:7

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

The peace of our Lord and Savior will guard our hearts and minds! If you are feeling overwhelmed today and think that peace is something that you will never attain, I encourage you to say this prayer:

Jehovah Shalom,

My God of peace! I am feeling so overwhelmed right now. I feel chaos and stress around every corner. I hunger for the peace that surpasses ALL understanding. I want that peace in my life that comes only from you. I know that it is a gift and I only need to ask and open myself up to receive. I am surrendering everything in my life that is overwhelming me and keeping me from feeling your peace. I am letting go of that control that my circumstances have on my life and I open my heart and my mind up to receive that peace that only comes from you. I accept the gift of peace and I trust you to walk this out with me. Thank you Father for the gift of peace!

Amen

If I can pray for you, or guide you along the path to peace, please contact me! I am here!

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Poverty: Part 1

Posted in Social Justice Issues, tagged , , , , on August 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

According to: http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats

  • Almost half the world — over 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.
  • At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.
  • According to UNICEF, 22,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.”
  • Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.
  • 15 million children orphaned due to HIV/AIDS (similar to the total children population in Germany or United Kingdom)

These are staggering statistics! Why are we not doing more to end poverty? I know that the Bible said that we will always have the poor among us, but are we using that as a cop out, so we don’t have to do anything? Are we using that as an excuse to sit on our apathetic rear ends and ignore the poor around us?

I think we are. We are also great at placing blame on those living in poverty, “they are just lazy” “they don’t want help” “he/she is a druggie, why should we help?” I agree that there are those living in poverty because of their own poor decisions. I, also know that, many living in poverty are there because of governmental actions, downsizing, generational curses or natural disasters. There are many reasons why people live in poverty and guess what, it doesn’t matter!

Jesus never questioned why someone was poor. Of course, He already knew, but it didn’t matter. He loved people regardless of their situations. He ministered to people even when their circumstances were because of decisions they made. Jesus did not judge and we shouldn’t either.

In my own family, we have taken in transients who needed a place to crash for a few days. They were dirty, stinky, and their clothes were tattered, but we loved them for who they were on the inside and they were great guys. They were 3 of the most polite young men I have met. They did dishes without asking and had a great time just hanging out with a family. I would not recommend this without much prayer and good judgement, but you never know when you may be entertaining angels unaware (Hebrews 13:2).

Acts 4: 32-35

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Acts 2: 42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

In today’s church, we tend to be of the belief that this way of living was only for the early church. That is so not true! Their example is how we should be living now! We should be taking care of our own families, neighbors, communities, as the Church and not depending on government agencies to do our work for us. When we depend on “someone else” we may be missing the opportunity to witness to someone who really needs Jesus in their lives. Maybe Jesus is all that it will take to take someone from poverty to prosperity. When we wait for “someone else” to care for the poor, we miss the opportunity to love as Jesus instructed us to love. We need to open our hearts and start living out our faith in the example of the early church.

The poor may always be around us, so make that decision today to love as Jesus loved, even though someone may not have had a bath in a week or a month. Take the time to love as Jesus loved and wash the feet of the poor, taking the time to build a relationship that may end up being a blessing to you instead.

Let’s BE the church. Let’s BE an example of Jesus to those around us. It doesn’t matter why the poor are poor. What matters is that they know Jesus. Are YOU being Jesus to the least of these around you?

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Wholly Committed

Posted in My Daily Life, tagged , , , , , on August 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

radical obedience

I have found myself contemplating this week, what it means to be wholly committed to God. What would my life look like if I lived my life in radical obedience to God?

The one thing I came up with is that I don’t want to just BE a Christian, I want to BE a follower of Jesus Christ. I want to BE an example of Jesus in this world. But how?

Jesus knew his Father. He was intimate with God through the Word. I need to know the Word of God, so when I am dodging the fiery arrows of the enemy, I will be prepared. I need to know the Word, so when I have an opportunity to witness to someone, I can do so in confidence.

Jesus prayed. Jesus spent many hours in prayer and communication with his Father. I want my prayer life to be about open communication with God. Jesus listened, as much as he prayed. I want to listen to what my Father is telling me. I want to have an open heart, exposed to my heavenly Father.

Jesus obeyed. He never questioned what his Father told him to do. He obeyed even to death on the cross. I want to obey regardless of the consequences. I want to obey without fear, knowing that my God has my back. I want to be zealous for God, never questioning His will.

Jesus loved. Jesus loved everyone. He knew his mission was to the Jews, but that did not stop him from loving and ministering to the Samaritans, the adulteress, the woman with the issue of blood, the leper, etc. I want to love like that. I want to look at everyone around me with eyes of love and not judge because someone may have greasy hair or may smell. Love does not judge!

My Savior Jesus,

Give me a heart like yours. I open my heart to you. Come dwell within me to the point that those around me see more of you, than of me. Teach me to pray like you pray. Teach me the Word of the Father, so that it will be hidden in my heart. Teach me to obey without question. Teach me to love without judgement. My one desire is to be like you. I never want to be cut from the Vine. I am wholly committed to you, Jesus!

Amen

Being wholly committed means that when people see me they see Jesus. I fall flat on my face, at times. My one desire is to be Jesus to this broken world.

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Day 1: Jehovah Jireh (My Provider)

Posted in God Is: A 7 Day Devotional, tagged , , , , , on August 11, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Jehovah Jireh

Genesis 22:13,14

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by it’s horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

In chapter 22, God told Abraham to take his son Isaac and sacrifice him to the Lord. Abraham obeyed, and took his son to sacrifice him. Abraham had faith that God would not harm Isaac. God had told Abraham in Genesis 17:19 “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” Abraham knew that God would not break His promise. God provided the ram to take Isaac’s place on the alter.

As a single mom, there have been many nights when I have laid awake and worried about finances. I worked part-time and lived paycheck to paycheck. Over the years, my faith in God has grown, as Jehovah Jireh (my Provider) has time and again provided for us. For many years, as the kids were growing up and out of clothes, every time I noticed that one of the kids was in need of clothes, someone would come with a big bag of clothes that fit that specific child. The giver never knew of the need, but God did. I came home from work one day to two big trash bags full of clothes for the girls, who were growing like weeds. I never found out who left them. We always had food. Even though vehicles broke down all the time, I always had transportation. I have been blessed with an ex-husband, who has helped out in many ways. I have always been grateful for a God who provides for His children.

Are you in need, my friend? Go to God and tell Him of that need. He already knows, He is just waiting for you to come to Him. Lay it at His feet and allow Him to provide. If it helps, say the following prayer:

Jehovah Jireh,

I know you are my provider. I come to you now and lay _______________ at your feet. I am surrendering this need to you, Lord and I, like Abraham, trust that you will provide at this time. I give thanks, knowing that you are already at work on my behalf. Thank you, Father.

Amen

If there is any way I can pray for you, contact me and let me share this burden. I want to remind you that our God is a God of love. He loves you and He will take care of you. Trust Him!

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Day 5: Learning To Dance In The Rain

Posted in Contentment: A 7 Day Devotional, tagged , , , on August 7, 2013| Leave a Comment »

girl-dancing-rain1

2 Corinthians 6:10

Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians 8:2

In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

According to Merriam-Webster.com: to rejoice means to feel joy or great delight. I want to be this person that rejoices in times of sorrow, blesses others even while living in poverty, and knows that I possess everything because I have Jesus, even though I may have nothing of value on this earth. I want to be this person! And not just sometimes, ALL THE TIME!!!

Being content means more than serving where we are, changing our materialistic attitudes, and being content with our paychecks. Being content, also means that we can rejoice when the car breaks down, when the kids are screaming at each other, and when you lose the job you’ve been at for 19 years. How can we rejoice when things get tough?

1. Get into God’s Word! This is so important! The Bible is full of encouraging verses to help us through the difficult times. Start digging and see what you find.

2. Start a gratitude journal (or use a journal you are already using). At the end of every night list 5 things that happened during the day that you are grateful for. Even on the worst days, God sneaks the blessings in; make a habit of looking for the blessings as you go through your day.

3. Get your praise on! Even if your day is the pits, make a habit of praising God anyway. Praise God simply because He is in control and can deal with any situation.

4. Step out in service to others. When you step out in service and take the focus off your own situation, it is easier to put things in perspective. You may find that there are other people in the world with tougher situations than yours.

5. Pray. Pray. Pray. Whatever the situation, give it to God. Our Father in heaven can handle our problems better than we can. On our own we are powerless to solve any of our problems, but with God as our life partner, we can accomplish all things, we can solve all problems.

Always remember that God is for us and not against us. It may be tough to rejoice today, but rejoice anyway! God is on His throne, aware of everything that happens in this world. He knows that you may be hurting today and wants to guide you to the place where you can be truly joy-filled. Our loving Jesus wants us to be able to dance in the rain.

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Day 3: Wise Words From John The Baptist

Posted in Contentment: A 7 Day Devotional, tagged , , , , , on July 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »

ladder_to_success

Luke 3:14

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely – be content with your pay.”

This was John’s reply when a group of soldiers came to be baptized and asked John what they needed to do. Wise words that are just as applicable today as they were then. We live in a time when the daily mantra seems to be, “more money, more money, more money.” This is not how Jesus lived and this is not how Jesus instructed his disciples to live:

Luke 9:3

He told them: ” Take nothing for the journey- no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.”

WOW! This is such a departure from how we live in today’s society! Most people today are to busy climbing the corporate ladder, trying to gain more prestige, earn more money. It always seems to come down to earning more money. It’s always about the money. We have past the point of just working for enough to pay for our basic expenses. We now work ourselves sick trying to pay for things that we really don’t need. This was not God’s plan for us.

Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

If we are in Him, God will ALWAYS provide what we NEED. According to Matthew 6:25, what all we really need is food, drink, and clothing. I know, I know, things are different today and we need more than they did in Bible times. We need cars, shelter, utilities, phones, etc. I agree that these are needs in today’s society and God is completely aware that times have changed.

If we become content to live with what we NEED, instead of everything that we want, we will be able to stop the stress filled cycle of working for everything that we want, only to find out that we never have the time to enjoy those things, because we are working ourselves sick to keep up with this lifestyle.

I want you to ask yourselves the following questions:

1. Am I working myself sick to pay for a lifestyle I never get to enjoy?

2. If I am completely honest with myself, what are my basic NEEDS?

3. How is God leading me to simplify my life (either in my career or at home)?

4. Write down 3 action steps you can take to simplify your life.

5. Give yourself a deadline for completing those action steps.

God wants us to live joy filled lives! Embrace the life that God wants for you! You can do it! God is always willing to walk the path with us!

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Fear Not

Posted in My Favorite Scriptures, tagged , , , , , on July 21, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Fear Not

 

If we are honest with ourselves, we can ALL confess to being fearful of something. Dictionary.com defines fear as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined. Certainly, there are real dangers in the world that we have a right to be fearful of. On the other hand, many of our fears are imagined or we live in fear of what MIGHT happen. I have lived most of my life dealing with social phobias, panic attacks, partial agoraphobia, worry, and paranoia. I have let fear control my life to the extent of allowing my social phobias keep me from God’s will of sharing my testimony with other women and encouraging them in their relationship with God. I recently discovered that there is a “Fear Not” in almost every book of the Bible. God does not want us to live our lives trapped in a prison of fear. I was so afraid of being hurt and rejected because of past hurts and heartaches that I built a wall around my heart and became a prisoner of my fear. I am so much better now, but it is sometimes a day to day struggle. Will I “Fear Not” or will I allow my fears to control my life? Below are 10 of the “Fear Not” scriptures I have found. I pray that they encourage you as they have encouraged me.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Isaiah 35:4

say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:13

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Isaiah 43:5

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

Isaiah 54:4

Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

Luke 2:10

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Luke 12:7

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 12:32

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

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.

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Living with Diabetes

Posted in My Daily Life, tagged , , , , , on July 19, 2013| Leave a Comment »

prayers-for-healing-cancer

 

 

Philippians 4:13

I can do EVERYTHING through him who gives me strength.

I have been a diagnosed type 2 diabetic for 3 years now. If you are not a diabetic, let me tell you that diabetes is a chronic illness that consumes your life. It is a constant struggle with maintaining glucose (blood-sugar) levels, constantly having to analyze when and what you eat, staying away from sugar/carbs in a sugar/carb obsessed world, losing weight, and facing the fact that I will have to live with this for the rest of my life. I did well and lost 45 lbs. my first year. I still do okay, but I often feel completely overwhelmed and when I look at the fact that I am only 43 and am living with what could be considered a life and death disease (depending on how it is maintained) I feel completely unable to maintain this disease alone. I am scared that I will die before my kids are all grown. I feel guilty when I eat a candy bar, ice cream or other sugar. I feel completely unable to discipline myself  to exercise and eat right. I feel totally helpless right now.

This is something I will always struggle with. I know that I can not deal with this illness on my own. I am not strong enough or disciplined enough on my own. I have to believe that through Christ, who died for me, I have the strength the conquer this thing. I have to be willing to surrender this illness to God, who is in control of ALL things. I am weak, but He is strong!

If you are overwhelmed in any area of your life, surrender the situation to God. God is so good and merciful to meet us where we are. God loves you and wants to walk this journey with you. He never expects us to struggle alone. Cry out to Him, tell him your struggles. He already knows, He just wants to hear it from us. I will be walking this path with you. Remember, my friend, you are never alone!

Dearest Jesus,

I am coming to you now, to surrender this struggle with diabetes. I am admitting, what you already know, that I am to weak to carry this load alone. I need you! I need you to help me do what I need to do to live a healthy long life. On my own, I am weak, but with you beside me, I am strong. I thank you and praise you for loving me enough to carry the load of diabetes with me. I trust you completely and I never want to live without you!

Amen

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Taming the Tongue

Posted in From My Heart, tagged , , , , , on July 10, 2013| 2 Comments »

think

 

 

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

If I am completely honest, I have to admit that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart have not always been acceptable in God’s sight. I have been guilty of yelling at my kids when I am frustrated and overwhelmed. I have been guilty of snapping at the cashier in my impatience and I have been guilty of complaining about co-workers when they aren’t doing things my way. I have also been guilty of thinking un-Christlike thoughts. I don’t like when I do these things and am immediately filled with remorse. My loving Father in heaven convicts my heart and brings me back to Him.

It is an ongoing battle though. Every day is filled with opportunities to lash out with unkind words and harbor unkind thoughts.

James 3:5-8

5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

I know how discouraging this verse sounds. How can we ever gain control over our tongue, if the Bible says that no human being can tame the tongue? And if the words of our mouths stem from the meditations of our hearts, then what hope is there to live like Christ? I am here to encourage you, my friend, it does take some discipline on our part, but if we make the effort to be the example of Christ in our own sphere of influence, God in His mercy and grace will show us the steps to take. Below are some ways to become that example of Christ that God calls us to be:

  1. Study God’s Word: Meditating on God’s word allows us to hide His word in our hearts so that we may not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). If you are struggling with an issue today, rest assured there is a scripture that addresses that issue. The Bible is definitely my go to book when dealing with a tough situation or simply to sing praises to my compassionate and loving Father.  There are many free Bible studies for women online and relatively inexpensive on Amazon.com. If you have a Christian book store near you, check there also.
  2. With today’s obsession with media and entertainment, it is easy to let things into our hearts that are evil. I have been astounded at the violence and sexual content in television shows lately. We have to make the decision to turn the T.V. channel/radio station or turn them off to keep our hearts pure before God.
  3. Think Before You Speak: this is one I have trouble with! When someone says unkind words to me or simply has a different opinion from mine, it is sometimes hard for me to keep my mouth shut. Especially, when my pride has been wounded and my ego bruised. I constantly feel like I have to defend myself or have the last word. I have gotten better at keeping my mouth shut, praying for wisdom in the situation and choosing my words more carefully, so I don’t add fuel to the fire. As in many other areas of my life, I am a work in progress. Sometimes we simply need to walk away from the situation when our evil tongues are itching to sting someone with it’s deadly poison. In those situations where we can’t walk away, pray for God’s wisdom in dealing with the situation. I promise He will give you the right words to use in every situation.
  4. Pray: I am constantly in prayer throughout my day. Now, before you think I am some super spiritual person, let me reassure you that some of those prayers are of a whiny child simply wanting an easier day at work. I know people who can sit in prayer for hours at a time and I am glad that there are those who feel called to that type of prayer life, but I am not one of them. With 5  kids, a job, and other responsibilities, I have found it necessary for me to pray on the go. God has called us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) anyway, so it makes sense that being in a continual conversation with God throughout our day is going to help us in deflecting the poison arrows of the enemy.  Asking for forgiveness immediately when we sin, asking for wisdom, patience, self-control etc. immediately as a difficult situation arises, saying a prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude when given good news or when we have been the recipient of God’s favor. Being in that continual conversation puts us in the place where the meditations of our heart will be acceptable to Him.
  5. Get involved in a local church: getting together with other Christians provides us with a support system when we need one and accountability partners when we are facing the temptation to sin. Becoming active in the local body of Christ keeps us close to the Vine (Christ) and provides the strength we need to keep the enemy at bay.

I have addressed five important ways to stay close to God and be that example of Christ in our lives. It takes discipline. Being a Christian is not easy, but it is so worth the effort to have that peace in my life, even in the midst of chaos at times, that comes from knowing and living in Christ. Being attached to the Vine gives us power over Satan and allows us to live victorious lives no matter what circumstances we may be living with. I encourage you to incorporate these steps into your life and you will find yourself a living example of Christ. We cannot tame our tongues on our own, but with God’s help the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts will be acceptable to the One we seek to honor and glorify.

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Babies and Bi-Focals

Posted in My Daily Life, tagged , , , , , on July 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I know it’s been a couple of months since I posted. Those couple of months have been eventful and have left me reflecting on life and God’s will for mine. I am facing a new season of my life and it has left me excited and scared about where God is leading.

babies

I started having to face the fact that I’m not getting any younger last year when my oldest daughter, Cherokee, graduated high school. In October I was completely unprepared to hear that I was going to be a grandma. In March, Cherokee and Nick were married. Last month, Kiowa graduated high school and is making that transition into adulthood. On June 8th, I turned 43! 43! WOW! On June 13th, my beautiful granddaughter Ava Rose was born and I became grammy to this precious baby girl. Well, you might think that would be enough to convince me that I’m getting older, but God seemed to think I needed another reminder. I have been having a hard time focusing when I read. I have had a hard time seeing the small print of my Bible. I love to read, so when I was forced to change the font on my kindle so I could actually read the print, I knew it was time to go to the eye doctor. As a diabetic, I know how important eye care is. I knew bi-focals were a probability, but until the eye doctor actually said I needed bi-focals, I was able to live in denial.

readingowl

 

 

I can’t live in denial anymore. I am entering a new season of life. I still have dependent children at home, but I know that my life has shifted and God is preparing me to answer the call He has placed on my life to encourage and minister to women. I now have a choice in how to accept this realization that I am getting older. I can either kick, scream and deny this reality or I can accept it with grace and look with excited expectation at what God has planned for my future.

Entering a new season of life is never easy. We may be fearful of the changes that are coming. We may feel a sense of loss when we realize that changes sometimes mean losing those things or people that are near and dear to us. Believe me, I know it isn’t easy, but God wants to walk through this transition with you. God wants to give you a peace that only He can give. God knows what the future holds for us and He loves us enough to walk through this new season with us. There is never any reason to fear the future. Trust God to work ALL things out for you. Your heavenly Father is waiting, with a hand held out to you. Take His hand and step into this new season together.

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