All Things are Temporary

       In the good moments and bad I often remind myself that the situation is temporary, that in a blink of the eye it could be over. In the good times thinking this way helps me to be grateful for whatever I am experiencing and enjoy the moment before it's gone. In the bad times it gives me motivation to keep moving, to keep pushing ahead because I know it won't last forever and in the end the Lord will use it for His purpose. Over the weekend I was talking with someone and we discussed this, how nothing last, how time is fleeting, and the importance to our walk of faith that we keep this in mind because it is so easy to get distracted by the temporary things whether they be circumstances or possessions.
       The scriptures say in James 4:14 "Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." This is a very humbling verse for some because it puts into perspective the truth of our situation, we are here for only a blink of the eye before we fade away into eternity. Life can feel like it is dragging on forever, that we have so much time ahead of us, but the truth is it can all change in an instant, it could all be over in an moment. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, but time in the afterlife is unending.
        Time is quickly passing away into entirety with each tick of the clock and nothing here on earth will last. Nothing last but the Word of God (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25), not that shiny new car you thought you couldn't live without, not that new cellphone you stood in line to get, and not the words you are reading now. Eventually your car will rust, the cellphone will break, and you will forget what I wrote. I want you to understand this and take it to heart, to really dwell on the fact that life on earth is temporary and that eternity and God's Word are forever because when you start to really get this deep down inside of you and remember that you can't take any of these earthly things with you, it will help you to overcome your desire for them. You won't need to keep up with the Jones' when you realize what the Jones' have won't matter in the greater scheme of things.
       Thinking on the glory of heaven and the shortness of our stay here on earth can help you to overcome the temptations of this world, and push forward in the bad circumstances, that is why Paul writes in Colossians 3:2 for our minds to be set on things above and not here on earth. When we focus more on where we are going and following Yeshua to get there we are less able to be distracted and more willing to do what is right. We think less about what we are going through and more about how can we use this for God? When we focus above and not below we are better equipped to hear God and know His will, because our wants aren't distracting as much and we are more in tune with His Spirit. When we focus not on what is fleeting (earth and everything on it) but instead what is eternal (God's Kingdom and His Word) we find strength to endure and push on, strength to overcome, and joy that is never ending. I hope that today I encouraged you to look past where you are to where you going and to let Jesus lead the way. Be blessed.
 
Psalm 39:4-7

4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. 5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. 6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. 7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you

Philippians 3:13-14   
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.    


     

No Prayer is Wasted

       Yesterday in several of the communities that I belong to I shared a praise report about my cousin. I have been praying for him and several of my other cousins who are unsaved for a while now and was very excited to find out this weekend that God has been working to answer my prayer. My cousin isn't saved yet still, but I trust the Lord to finish what He has begun. I know to some it may seem silly that I am praising God for answering my prayer when he still isn't saved and neither are my other cousins but I have found that praising God for each step of the journey keeps you motivated in prayer, and keeps you focused on goodness of God. Yesterday I decided to share this praise report for that reason and  because I wanted to remind people that prayer does work, but that it isn't always right away that we get our answers, sometimes we have to wait, sometimes we have to be persistent in prayer. And sometimes God answers our prayer and we know nothing about it.
       It was the last part I was thinking about this morning, because had my cousin not told my husband that he had begun praying, I never would have known that my prayers for him were being answered. My cousin and I honestly aren't that close, mostly because of an age gap of about 6-7 years, but he and my husband are friends being about the same age and able to relate on a lot of different things. This makes it a lot easier for him to tell Nick things than me, to him I will always be his little cousin, the little girl who ran her mouth and he had to always protect. It's been a long time since he has had to protect me, but I know he still sees me as that little girl, and it makes it hard for him to confide in me, that and I'm girl, not one of the boys. But anyway to get back on topic, if Nick had never told me that my cousin had begun to pray and believe that God was answering his prayers, I never would have known, and that sometimes is how prayer works, we don't get to always see the victory, sometimes we just have to believe.
       I don't know of any instances in the Bible where this is talked about, so if I'm wrong completely disregard me, but it is something that I thought of after the situation with my cousin. We don't always get to see the victory we pray for, sometimes we just believe that God is going to answer or has. This is often the circumstance with people online, many people ask for prayers in these Christian communities, and many will respond, but we don't always get to hear back from the person to find out how and when the Lord responded. Some people consider this wasted prayer and won't respond to prayer request online for that reason, but I disagree. I believe no prayer is wasted, God hears us and will respond, the response may be 'no,' but still we have done what is right by praying for one another.
       I could be wrong, but I don't believe that God only wants us to pray for the battles that we will see victory in, in the situations where we will receive gratitude for our efforts. I think sometimes we are supposed to pray just as an act of love and obedience. I think we are supposed to pray for people from a selfless place, not one seeking glory or recognition. I think sometimes we just need to count it as joy, as a blessing to pray for others, whether we get to see the answered prayer or not. And for me that includes those who have come onto my post with hateful things to say, or just being rude because  I know they need love more than anyone. I realize when I do this that I'll probably never get to see the fruits of those prayers, that I may never know if they eventually came to the Lord, but I know in my more worldly days that people did the same for me and it did bare fruit.
       I'm sorry for anyone who came to this post expecting a devotional today and instead got my rambling about prayer, sometimes I just have to type what is on my heart and mind. God bless you, and keep pressing forward my sisters and brothers for Yeshua's glory!

Matthew 5:44-48
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

James 5:13-16     
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

1 Timothy 2:1-4   
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Changing Seasons

       As the seasons of the year changes so do the seasons of life. Sometimes the changes are dramatic and sudden, and other times they are gradual, then again if you live in some place like Pennsylvania, the changes can be chaotic, one day feeling like summer the next fall or winter, until eventually one season finally takes over completely. The seasons and changes in ourselves are really no different. Sometimes when one season of life is ending and another about to begin I can release the particular thing, behavior, or person immediately with no problem or hesitation. Other times I may be successful for a day or two, then fall back into it, and still other times God leads me slowly, and gently day by day away from it and into the new without me ever realizing what happened until it was out of my life.
       I started thinking on this and the parallel between the two after reading someone's post about God changing the seasons of their life; I could relate as this has been a year of transition for me, going from one season of life to the other. For a long time my husband and I have rented and buying a house was a dream. This year that dream became reality and we are now entering into a new season of life for us, owning our first home. This transition was not a smooth one but one where it felt more like a battle, at times it was summer and often it was winter and fall, but now a single season has won out and we have a home.
       This isn't the only transition I went thru though as the year progressed. This has been year where God has pruned relationships in my life, and restored others as well. As the season for one friendship or connection ended  it was soon replaced with another, often it was connection that I thought I had destroyed or badly damaged, but God is helping to heal and restore now.  As I follow His lead and let go of those connections whose season in my life have ended I have also found that I have more peace and joy. It doesn't mean that I don't care about these people, or that I hold hard feelings against them, because not all these connections were bad. I just mean that when we act in obedience with the Lord's will He blesses us, His peace and joy are confirmation that we are doing what is right, even if it is painful for a time.
       The important thing that I wanted to get across today in these examples of the shifting seasons from my life is that we have to be prepared for the changes. Changes bring growth, they bring new opportunity, but if we are too afraid to obey, too afraid to let go and move on when we are told, then we can never receive the blessings that are attached to obedience. When we hold on to things that we are supposed to release we forfeit our peace, and can make ourselves stagnate spiritually.  Both of which leave room for the enemy to work on you, because whether you realize it or not, you have pulled away from God by these actions instead of into Him. Remember, we walk by faith and not sight, and that means we have to trust God fully in every season of our life and for every step along the way. Be blessed!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Daniel 2:21
He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding

Where There is Peace

       This week my husband and I had to make a huge decision, and it was difficult. We were between a rock and hard place; neither option really being exactly what we wanted, but we had to decide and fast because there wasn't much time. We asked for prayer, prayed continually ourselves, talked our options over with friends, read the Word and still we didn't know what to do. We knew what others thought and felt we should do, but we didn't have clear word from the Lord to make our final decision. It felt like we were being overwhelmed with stress, that chaos and doubts were plaguing our minds and hearts. Over and over we examined our options, talked them out and got no where.
       Then late last night I realized something that helped us to simplify things and decide what to do. As I sat beside my husband on the floor listening to him wrestle with this decision again the thought occurred to me that any decision I have had to make in agreement with God's will came with peace. Not that it was the easy decision or that there isn't stress and fear attached to it, but that in my heart I am at peace with the decision, I have rest in my soul over it. When I am walking in the Father's will in my soul there will be calm over the decision, and a conviction that I am doing right. I realized where there is peace, there is God because Yeshua is the Prince of Peace, and peace comes from God.
       When I shared this revelation with my husband we started to go over the situation again, for a final time and found that we both had peace over the same decision. It wasn't the popular one, we had been advised against it, but it is the one we felt God in, and that was enough for us. We know not everyone is going to like what we decided and what we are doing, but we are at peace with it. We truly feel that we are walking in God's will with this situation and we are trusting in that, we are trusting in our God.
       I wanted to share this today because I'm pretty sure we all struggle with these kinds of decisions at times, and from this experience I finally learned what to do. I learned that when I stop looking at the circumstances and start looking for God in it, that the answers and path can be discovered. It's when we take our eyes off situation and place them on God that we see the way out. Like a boat lost in a fog at sea, if we look for the light we can find our way to safe harbor. Jesus is our light in the dark, leading us ever closer to Him, but we have to keep focused on Him in every circumstance, we can't be overwhelmed by the fog.  I hope this blessed you today, and encouraged you to look to the light to find your way. Be blessed Today and always in Yeshua's name!

Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all

Overcoming the Lies

     I once saw myself as worthless, I believed my life was going nowhere and I had nothing more to look forward to than more poverty and more struggling to stay a float.  I believed that I didn't deserve love and that I had to earn it from those who surrounded me, but somehow I always just seemed to disappoint them or myself in process. I saw my life ahead of me as a long road of misery with no chance for opportunity or lasting joy. I saw myself as an old bitter lady someday because I had been dealt a bad set of cards and wasn't able to do anything about it. I saw myself as someone who would end up alone except for maybe a hoard of cats, because I didn't deserve love, I didn't deserve respect and I didn't deserve happiness.
       These are the lies I told myself, these are the lies I believed and operated under for a long time. Even after coming to Yeshua I still battled these thoughts and feelings, but as I grew to know Him and why He came; slowly they have gone away. As the truth came into my heart and filled my soul, the lies and fog have retreated. The more I came to know Jesus and how He sees us, how God sees me, the less I believed the lies I had once clung to. Just as the Word promises, if you cling to the Lord the devil will flee from you.
       I am thinking of this this morning and how far the Lord has brought me, how much He has changed me, and how that girl I was, the girl who felt that way could not imagine the life I have now.  I still have troubles, I still have issues in my heart and life that I am dealing with, but I know now that I am worthy of love, respect, and happiness. I know now that these are not things that I have to earn, that they are free gifts, the results of Love's sacrifice on the cross and the acceptance of Jesus as my Savior. I know now that I don't have to struggle alone because God is always with me and He is my refuge, my safe place of peace and clarity.
       I will be honest though, these changes in me didn't happen overnight. It happened over years as I steadily sought Him more and held onto the words of the scripture, using them as a sword to cut thru my pain and sorrows as I repeated the words and reminded myself of His promises. At every turn, at every bump in the road and heart ache that has come my way since then, His Word has held me up and encouraged me. In His Word I found the answers for my worries, the hope for tomorrow, and a reason to love others without fear of rejection. I found salvation and the keys to life in His Word, because the Word is not just the Bible it is Christ the Living Word (John 1:14) who died for us. Because of this, because of who God is I no longer see myself or my future the way I once did. Because Truth has entered my life and set me free from that deception I can now tell others with confidence,God is able and with Him you can overcome. Be Blessed, today and always my friends.

John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 4:25
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.     

A Brother's Forgiveness

     Earlier today I exchanged text messages with my younger brother and what he said brought me to tears. First, let me explain that my brother and I have not been good friends most of our lives, not that we didn't get along some of the time, but that there was definitely a lot of sibling rivalry between us. We fought daily, either verbally or physically and sometimes both, but at the same time we have been each other's shoulder to cry on. We have always known that if nothing else we had each other. We fought with each other, and for each other, and I think that's pretty common in siblings who are close in age, but still I did not expect him to say what he did. Since becoming adults, my brother and I have had  relatively few altercations, but this is still something that bothered me and  I have been praying for a while now off and on for healing in this relationship but I didn't imagine it would come about as it did.
       At first the conversation this morning had been about his health, my 'baby' brother is 6'4 and 200+ pounds with a lot of back pain that he has finally decided to see a doctor about. Today was his appointment and as he had promised he was letting me know how it went. After explaining to me his pain, what they had discovered was causing it and what the plan was to get him well again he told me "Don't worry though sis, I'll be able to help you and Nick move because they gave me a back brace, I just have to be careful how I lift." I was shocked and grateful! I really hadn't expected his help because of the trouble he had been having with his back and I told him so, but my brother just laughed and said it was no big deal we are family and that's what we do. This alone humbled me because I don't think I really deserve this level of kindness from him, but it's what happened next in our conservation that truly has me praising God today.
       As I said earlier, my brother and I fought a lot and to be perfectly honest I need to admit my part in it. I have not always been a good sister to him. I am tough on him, and unfortunately very often quick to judge him and point out his mistakes. I'm quick to lose my temper on him and too often condescending or dismissive where he is concerned. I know these things and have been trying to improve in these areas with varying levels of success and failure over the last year. Then when I shared my feelings with him on this my brother said something that not only humbled my heart further, it honestly took the pressure off me too.
       My brother told me that it was okay, that we were young and he forgives me. That we both made mistakes and that I had become an amazing woman in his opinion. That I had helped him to become a better man by all that unwanted correction. Suddenly all the guilt I carried was gone. There was no longer a need in my heart to 'make up for the past' because I now understood to my brother there was no hurt in the past anymore, just a future of being better friends and better sibling's.  I cried at this revelation, at my brother's love and forgiveness for me when I hadn't even forgiven myself. I cried because of the man my 'baby' brother had become and how his love and forgiveness had released me from the guilt I had carried. I cried because of how much this love and forgiveness reminded me of God's love for us. How with God, He no longer sees our past mistakes but sees us as new. I cried because I know God has answered my prayers for healing and reconciliation, I know that I was already forgiven and released, I just had to accept it. Praise God for the many wonderful ways He works!

Proverbs 15:30
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.
 
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool

Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known 
 
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him

      

Strength to Endure

       Times of great stress, times of many spiritual attacks, times when you feel like you are about to fall apart from the weight and stress of your burdens is all a part of the Christian walk. It is at these times that we are being molded and pressed the most, these times are the refiners fire purging us of our former selves and bringing us to a new level in the Lord when we stay in obedience through the trial pressing into Him for strength and comfort. This past year I have felt that I have been walking through the fire, and it ended with me doing as I said above, I began seeking Him more, leaning on Him more, and trusting Him more. This past year of trials has brought me to a new understanding of how faithful God is and how important trusting on Him is.
       This morning as I drove into work I thought about this, and how as I felt like I was breaking under the stress, as I struggled to focus, that it was only when I was focused on the Lord that I felt okay, that I felt confident and sure of what I was doing. That feeling of only having clarity during prayer and bible study is what caused me to seek Him more. I was in a state of stress and confusion and I desired His peace and the confidence that being in conversation with Him provides, I needed it and I realized I had to be in the spirit to achieve it. As I thought on this I realized that's exactly the purpose of these struggles, to cause us to go deeper into Him, to see our dependence on Him, and as I realized this I found the strength to endure.
       This past year has taught me a lot about dependence on God, that God is our strength and that the less we rely on ourselves and the more we rely on Him the more we will see the truth of His word manifested in our lives. Before this year I didn't know what it meant or felt like to say "your grace is sufficient" but now I understand and know Paul's words were right. God's grace is sufficient, it is more than sufficient, it is abounding!
       At the hardest times this year I have not been alone, God has been with me and given me the strength to continue on. Whenever I felt like it was too much or I couldn't take anymore, God was with me and would provide the comfort I needed in a word from the Bible, a post here or on Facebook, or a phone call from a friend, a card or devotional in the mail, a sermon that hit home, His comfort and encouragement was everywhere. Not once has He failed to comfort me when I have sought Him, and this built my faith and trust, this allowed me to lean into Him, and to have the strength to keep going when I didn't think I could get up. God's grace and his comfort have seen me through, they have been the breathe that renewed my spirit, and because of this I know I have the strength to endure much more. In His hands I am safe, and in His strength I will abide. Be blessed my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint

2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1 John 4:4
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
      

A Coal Miner's Legacy

    A couple of months ago I spoke to someone who was really down on themselves. They felt as though they had nothing to offer and had achieved nothing in their life. They were upset because they had not achieved success by the world's standards and felt that when they died there would be no legacy, no one or nothing to remember them by.  I at first tried to persuade them that leaving a legacy wasn't really important, that it didn't really matter, I told them that it was more important to love God than worry about leaving a legacy to be remembered, but this didn't work. They explained to me that it was important to them to know that they had done something with their life, that they had accomplished something in their life. So I asked them, if you are so concerned about leaving a legacy why not leave one that points to Jesus? Why not leave a legacy of love and faith? You love God so why worry about the world's standards, just worry about loving like Jesus and you will have been a success to God and could leave a legacy that will inspire your children and grandchildren.
       They didn't buy this either at first until I shared with them about my great-grandfather, a man I never met, but someone's whose legacy has touched my heart and mind since I was a little girl. My great-grandfather was poor, a coal miner in a small community with 6 children. From everything I have ever heard about him from anyone he was a good man, a God fearing man who loved others with his whole heart, he was the type of man to help anyone in need, even if it meant sacrificing things or needs of his own.  My great-grandfather didn't live long, only until he was 47, but the newspaper clipping and my grandma's own words describe his funeral as the biggest that their small community had ever seen.
       This man lived a life that is described as honest, and caring and he died hero, giving his life in an attempt to save two others when a mine collapsed. All three would perish but my grandfather's memory was lasting. I grew up hearing his name often, seeing his pictures and hearing of the love he extended to others. Whenever I would met extended family at reunions or parties and tell them who I was related to always I heard the same, "He was a good man and loved the Lord, he impacted me or my family in this way." Growing up it seemed that just by loving people and being kind my grandfather had touched lives in a lasting way, and this inspired me.
       As I mentioned earlier in this post, it was told to me and presented in a newspaper clipping that he had had the largest funeral their small community had ever seen, and it was all because he loved. He had no idea how many lives he impacted by his love and faith, by simply doing what we are all called to do, love each other. Knowing that, and thinking often about how he died and his funeral I realized that the only legacy worth leaving is one that points to Jesus. One that leaves hearts, lives, and families forever impacted by the love you have shown. His final selfless act of love ended his life, but his memory lives on because of the love he shared and the lessons in love that he taught grandchildren he would never know. His heart for others reaped support for his family in ways this humble man never would have imagined, but even he would have told you that it was because of God in his life and his faith that he was able to love like this.
       By the world's standards this may not be much of a legacy, he wasn't rich or famous, he didn't have nice things or break some world record. He didn't get his face on a box of Wheaties, or go down in the history books, but his love and faith touched others. His life was an example to me of what a Godly man should be like, patient, selfless, loving and kind, willing to go that extra mile for someone else, even at the cost of your own life. Three generations later his short life is still impacting people and I hope that when I tell of him to my children too that his legacy will continue to touch others for Christ. To me this is the only kind of legacy worth leaving. Be blessed my friends, thank you for taking the time to read what was on my heart today.

1 Corinthians13:1-3
 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Philippians 2:3-5
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

1 John 3:18
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth

How Can I Use This?

       This morning I was thinking about how sometimes we pray what seems endlessly for healing or deliverance from certain burdens or situations in our lives, but the answer may be no. I was thinking about this and someone I know with a chronic illness. I thought about how they get frustrated, how we all get frustrated that they have to be in so much pain all the time with nothing that can really be done to help them. Then I thought of something I really hadn't before. Maybe instead of praying for healing we're supposed to pray for God to use this situation. I started thinking that we are supposed to pray "God how can this situation be used to glorify you."
       I am beginning to see that sometimes it is in the healing that God is revealed and glorified, and sometimes it's in enduring the illness by God's grace and extending yourself in love to others through your pain, giving hope and inspiration to others around you by your love. I believe in total healing, I believe in miracles, and for a long time I have prayed and wondered why God had not healed this person, or taken others I know out of their difficult situations.  Then I read a post about finding the lesson in suffering and serving right where you are. These thoughts have rolled around and sat in my mind since then until this morning when that thought hit me during prayer; "God how can this situation be used to glorify you." It felt like an epiphany, a revelation of what we were supposed to do in these situations, but also more.
       I know and believe that God works all things for the good of those who love Him(Romans 8:28), I know and believe that God is good in all circumstances and that He can use what seems like bad for our good. But I never thought to pray like this for these situations before. I never thought to turn the suffering around to Him and say "God I know you allowed this for a reason how can I use this to glorify you?" I see now, as I think and pray on this even further that its not just a prayer or practice for the bad situations, or the sufferings I see that we are to do this with all things. With every situation and area of our life, we should be asking "how can this be used for you Lord?"
      I believe I am beginning to understand that if we mean what we say when we say 'God is first', or 'we are living for Jesus' that we must really be turning our entire lives over to Him daily. Each day our prayer should be 'how can I use this to glorify you,' we should be daily seeking to do and live a life that glorifies our King and points others to Him by our walk. I am starting to believe that being a Christian means in every situation and circumstances, in every aspect of our lives His will must be supreme. That whether it be our finances, our pain, a circumstance we are walking through, our family, friendships or jobs, in all we do we should ask, 'how can I use this for you?' I could be wrong, I could be taking this too far, but this is where I am being led, that the Christian life should be total devotion to Yeshua, total surrender of life to Jesus and His call. I hope you will pray and seek for yourselves, let the Lord lead you in His word. Be blessed In Yeshua's name.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths

Isaiah 40:28
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

Matthew 16:24-27
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God

Swept Away by Emotion

      Sometimes it feels like you should give up, that things will be too difficult and you shouldn't even try. You feel like everything is going wrong and you don't know how you will be able to make it work again. You try what you can and try to stay calm only to be met with more frustration. This is how I felt Saturday morning as I plugged in my tablet to begin writing in my novel over the weekend and work on an upcoming blog for this week. On Friday night all had been well and it worked fine, but Saturday morning the cord died, and so did the battery. The emotion I can say now was definitely blown out of proportion for such trivial situation, but in the moment that was what I felt like.
       I was mad to say the least but nothing I did made that cord work and when I looked closer I saw why. The cord had frayed and was now a fire hazard, so I quickly unplugged and set the cord to the side to cool, then decided to get on my phone and order a new one. This seemed to be a simple enough task, but nothing went smoothly Saturday morning. My phone is also badly in need of being replaced and malfunctioned the whole time I was trying to use it to find and order a cord. What should have taken 10 or 20 minutes was now taking me over an hour. Twice I became so frustrated with the situation that I threw my phone across the room, scaring the crap out of my poor cats, and probably further damaging my phone (not my brightest idea.).
       Although in reality this situation wasn't as bad as it seemed in the moment, at that time I felt like giving up. I felt like why should I bother. My phone wasn't cooperating, my tablet was dead and I didn't know if I would have access to the computer at work this week to post or work on the a blog at all. I didn't know how long it would be before I could again write and in my frustration instead of thinking of what I could do in the mean time to help my situation or take advantage of it,  all I saw was how difficult things were at the moment. All I saw and felt was frustration and how things weren't working out the way I wanted. I allowed this emotion to over take me and it led me to act rashly, like when I threw my phone.
     Eventually things did get worked out and I will have a new cord Wednesday, I also spoke to my employer and got permission to use their personnel computer until then, and I know if I am patient I will have a newer phone soon, whenever we get the money and opportunity to replace it. So why did I share all this? Because it is so easy to lose focus, to get swept up in the moment, in the emotion, and forget that things aren't as bad as they seem. After I got everything all squared away I took a good look at myself and this situation and realized how childish and immature I had acted. I realized how silly and selfish it was for me to be upset over not having a computer for several days, when others don't have homes. I thought about my actions on a bigger scale, and saw that I still have a long way to go when it comes to not letting the situation get the best of me. With God's help I know I can overcome my flesh and behave better in the future, with His help I know I can keep a right mindset and not be so selfish. Today I hope if you related to my behavior, or saw yourself in this post that you remember to focus on Jesus and not get swept away as I did, to look at the bigger picture and realize how blessed you actually are. Stay blessed brothers and sisters.

 Proverbs 16:32
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 25:28
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.


Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

James 1:19-20
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Help for the Homeless --- Drawing with Prizes

       Not long ago I was speaking with someone and I shared with them that there was a time in my life where I experienced having very little. I worked three jobs then and still couldn't keep up with the bills. Most days the only meal I had was toast and coffee, unless I could get a free meal at one of my jobs or church. Before this I had never really known what it was like to go without, my dad had always had a good job and provided our family with more than enough but I learned the harsh reality of being poor quickly after moving out on my own. Soon I knew what it was like to not know when you would eat next or if you would have the gas to get work, let alone home again. I experienced the dread of not knowing if you would have a place to live, or be able to pay your bills. I know the heartbreak of shut off notifications, and the frustration of literally counting pennies to buy something to eat. This wasn't an easy period of my life, but honestly I am actually grateful to have walked through this, I am grateful that I had very little for a time for a time, because now I understand that feeling in a way I never would have otherwise.
         After experiencing this my heart of compassion for those struggling in poverty grew, I wanted to help others who were dealing with what I was experiencing, but then I didn't have the means. Instead of seeing poverty as burden on society, I realized that most of these people were just looking for a hand up and not a hand out, much like myself. I gained a new perspective, a new way of thinking and a new compassion for the poor that I still carry today. It's the reason why most of the money I've made for my books has been given away, and why I'll continue to do that. It's why I carry money in my wallet set aside specifically to give to someone who needs it. And it's why I have decided that I will be collecting monetary donations for the homeless in our local tent city, from now until November. All the money raised will be kept on a gofundme account and will go to supplying the homeless with food, water, clothes, bibles, hot-hands, blankets and etc,  just in time for winter.   
     To do this though I need help, and I am asking all of you. I am asking you to look into your hearts and consider donating, any little bit helps. Then in return for your generosity you will be entered into a drawing to win prizes, where once a month until November, the two year anniversary of this blog, I will be choosing one person at random who donates at least $5 to the gofundme account to win a popular Christian artist's Cd of their choice which I will ship to your house! And in November I will be giving out two prizes, a t-shirt with my blog logo as well as a Cd! There is no limit to the number of times you can enter, so you can enter multiple times getting an entry each time. Winners will be announced on the last Monday of each month, the winner will then have three days to contact me back so I can ship the Cd or the prize will be forfeited and a new winner drawn.  I hope you will join me in giving a hand up to those in need.

To donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/da8hzc

Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. 

 

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

Don't be Afriad to Ask

       When I was growing up (and even still today if I am to be completely honest) I was one of those children who always wanted to make their parent's proud, I always wanted to get their approval, and tried to make them happy with me. I think a lot of people would or could probably say the same. It was my heart's desire to hear my mother say she loved me, or she was proud of me, to have my dad show that he supported me by showing up to my games when I played sports or to my events at school. But none of these things happened much for me and some not at all. So, then when I became a teenager these unspoken pains that piled up and continued to pile up lead me to resentment and bitterness towards my parents.
       For a while I allowed the hurt over these things to overshadow all of the other ways they did support me, they did say they loved and were proud of me. I saw only the pain they had caused me by not doing the things I needed and wanted from them so desperately. I didn't understand that they couldn't know I needed that reassurance from them because I had I had never told them that I needed it. I didn't understand that they were still healing themselves from pain from their up-bringings, I didn't see anything past my own hurt and the ways I felt they had failed me as parents. Then at twenty I met my husband, and his appreciation for my parents helped me to start to appreciate them again, even so though, under the surface I still carried that wound, still carried that bitterness and unforgiveness towards them in my heart. 
       Today though I am happy to say I finally understand and have finally forgiven my parents completely after confessing my hurts and my perceptions of the situations to them. Now I finally see that my mom never withheld love from me, and though she doesn't say it she was and is proud of me. I finally understand that it was just hard for her, growing up in a physically and verbally abusive household that she still carries physical scares from love is hard for her. I understand now the pain that she has spent her life learning to heal from was what kept her from saying out loud what she felt in her heart, and I no longer blamed her. I understand now that the reason my dad didn't go to my school events or games as much as my brother's wasn't favoritism, I understand now that he didn't love me less. I know now that is was only because he didn't think I needed him as much as my brother because I seemed stronger, and more emotionally capable.
        I wrote all this and shared it today because for a long time I blamed my parent's for my pain, but really it was my lack of understanding and stubbornness in not telling them how I felt and what I needed, and honestly I think sometimes we do the same thing with God. Instead of going to Him and telling Him what we need and what we want like He asks us to, we just expect it because well, He is God and He knows. The problem with this thought process is though that God wants us to come to Him so we can form a relationship. He wants us to talk to Him, to seek Him and for us to share our hearts with Him. Yes, He is God and knows already what we need and why, but He still wants us to ask because in the asking we make ourselves open to His presence.
       Sometimes we aren't getting what we need or want simply because we haven't asked. We expect it because of who He is, and then get bitter when it isn't delivered. We get mad at God because we feel like He "failed" us, when in truth it is only our lack of understanding of His character that is truly hampering us. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray without ceasing,  John 14:13-14 says whatever we ask in Yeshua's name will be granted, and Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to cast all our worries onto God so His peace will guard our hearts and mind, these verse aren't in the Bible by accident, they are an open invitation to ask anything, to tell Him anything, and to give Him our heart. Don't be afraid to ask, don't be afraid that God's too busy to deal with your concerns, and don't believe the lies that He doesn't care, these things are all contradictory to His holy Word and the character of God that is revealed in it.  Don't be afraid to ask, because sometimes healing doesn't happen until we do. Be blessed.

Jeremiah 33:3   
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known

Mark 11:24   
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Luke 11:9   
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you

1 John 5:14-15   
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

By Faith, Not By Sight

       Have you ever had anyone blindfold you and lead you into a room for a surprise? Do you remember what it felt like? How strange it is not to see and to have to depend on another person leading you to be your eyes? To have to trust someone outside yourself to lead you and to have to trust that they won't lead you into a wall, a chair, or a table, but that you will get to where they promised to take you? It's been a long time since I did this but today that's what came to mind as I read 2 Corinthians 5:7 which reads "For we walk by faith, not by sight."
       I have read that verse dozens of times before, in and out of context but never did I think of it quite like this before. Today as I read that verse I saw it with new eyes. Eyes that saw as we journey down the narrow path with Yeshua that we are in much the same position as the scenario I described above. I saw for the first time that when we walk in faith we are just simply holding onto Jesus as He leads us through and around the obstacles we didn't see to the reward at the end. And just like in the described scenario it takes trust to do this, because we can't see the way.
       This realization deepened another truth God has been helping me to see more clearly and understand, our total dependence on Him. For months now I have seen over and over in scriptures the message that seeking Him and following in His ways are the foundations for an abundant life, and this imagery I got this morning of being lead blindly by Yeshua as He leads with His sight and perfect ways made it even more clear. We are too trust Him totally. We are to allow Him to be our eyes and form our path, because on our own we are just blind, stumbling through the dark trying to make our way out, or too scared to move at all.
       Now I know some could argue or bring up the point that there are successful people in the world who don't know Jesus or have rejected Him, but the reward I mentioned in this post is not success, or wealth so pointing to someone and using that as an example to contradict the point is baseless, the reward here is Heaven, is standing in the presence of Jesus in all His Heavenly glory. That is the reward at the end of this journey for all who follow Him with their whole heart and devotion. Just because someone may look successful by the world standards doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean that they aren't still in the dark, all it means is they stumbled their way into a comfy, cozy, jail cell that satan is just waiting to slam the door to, but even there if they would call out He would come to them and lead them into light.
       I wanted to write this today and share my thoughts about this with you because as I realize that some times it can be really frustrating walking this path and seeing only maybe a step, or none at all. I know its difficult to act some times when we don't know how it's all going to pan out, but if we really walk by faith and not by sight we will trust Him. Really walking by faith and not by sight is leaning on Him, letting Him be your strength,  be your guide and depending on the Lord to get you to the finish line. Bless you brothers and sisters, in the name of the risen Lord Yeshua!

Psalm 37:5   
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Proverbs 3:5   
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Hebrews 11:6   
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
       

Balance the Time

       Last week I disappeared on all of you, it wasn't planned, but I'm glad I did it because today I feel great. During my unplanned time off last week my husband and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary and had a staycation, simply enjoying our time together at home and doing some things in the area we live we may not always get to enjoy. I had intended to only limit my time online and keep posting limited to one blog once a day, which I stuck to Monday. But then Tuesday came and I found that I couldn't fit it into the day, there was simply too much we were doing and had to get done, so I figured I'd catch up the next day. But when Wednesday came and I went to log into google, I decided that maybe I would just enjoy what I had without the extra distractions, so I left my phone off until this morning.
       I wrote all that partly as an explanation as to why I randomly disappeared for a week, and partly because I feel like with all this technology we forget to appreciate the people closest to us. That feeling or belief really that technology can so often lead us to take for granted what's really important is the reason that I stay off-line on the weekends, and will occasionally take these breaks from social media. By stepping back from social media, and turning off my notifications I can feel free from the burden of the constant beeping and buzzing of my phone, and I don't get tempted or distracted by it. When I do this I have no need or desire to check on things, because I know that it can all wait, and I am then free to enjoy the moment I have, the gift that God has given me in His beautifully crafted planet and the people He has placed in my life.
       I don't know if it's like this for everyone, but I look around and see so many people, families "together" doing things but they are all on their phones or tablets looking in different directions and not interacting. This breaks my heart. Family is so precious, and our time with them so fleeting. It seems like just yesterday I was holding my minutes old baby sister in my arms and giving her a name, it seems like yesterday I taught her to ride her bike, and brush her own hair, and now she's 15 and a freshman in high school, in the blink of an eye she grew up. I think about that and I think about our technology crazed society and it makes me so sad. We are missing out on so much by constantly feeling the need to be connected, we are missing true deep connections with our families, opportunities to build lasting moments, lessons, and memories with the people who are right there with you.
       I am not trying to bash on anyone, or make you feel bad. I understand many of us have to have our phones on for work and that we may not have a real family close by so we go online to fill that loneliness. And I can say from experience I have made some really good friends on line that I really do consider my friends, almost family, but the idea I'm trying to get across is, don't spend so much of your life online that you forget to live it. Don't spend so much time on line that you aren't fulfilling your purpose and that you aren't seeing all of God's blessings around you. Everything in moderation my friends! Phone's, tablets, and computers are great! They are convenient, fun, a good source of information and socialization, but you need to balance it with a life off line. Time with your family, friends, and most importantly God, time enjoying His presence and the love of others because this is truly important and truly refreshing. I encourage you all today to make that time, make time to log off, power down, and enjoy the simple pleasures that God has given you in your surroundings. Smell the roses and hug your children, show love to others by giving them your full attention. Give God your full attention, and all the glory. Be blessed.

Psalm 104:14-15   
You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven

1 Corinthians 9:25   
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.