December 2015

               I experienced God’s true, deep down love and joy this Christmas, it wasn’t in the form of gifts given or received.  It wasn’t in the songs on the radio or the time I didn’t have to spend at work…although all those things were nice, but instead it was being in the moments and pausing as they happened.  It was found in the time I took to take in all that was around me, whether with others or by myself, that God showed me Who and What He truly is. 

               As I sit and think about this past month I can’t help but to tear up again at how much God loves me and I pray with my whole heart that He will help me to remember this time.  Whenever I feel empty, sad, lonely, frustrated and even angry…that He will call to my remembrance December of 2015.  I want to share some of what I wrote to God with you in hopes that you will look back, or even currently see in the big and the small, just how much God truly cares.

            You blessed me with a word of encouragement from a stranger:”…joy and peace overflowing in her heart…”. This was just the beginning to what You had in store for me, in fact I think this was Your way of telling me to open my heart because You had some things to show me and some true love and joy to pour in.  

You blessed me with a beautiful weekend with my mother where I completely and totally enjoyed her love and presence.  This is where You showed me that even though You are my all in all, You also understand and realize that sometimes it’s the loving touch and time with a loved one that fulfills that need we sometimes long for.  While there, You showed me my first sunrise, which I can’t even begin to express in words.  As the sun rose, You filled my heart and soul with Your greatness, love, joy and true peace.

You blessed me with an answer to a long awaited prayer of being able to spend time with and love on my bonus daughter and to see my children experience that same joy.  This is where You showed me that You’re always listening, always caring and ever faithful.  Teaching me to trust Your timing, Your will and Your way. 

You blessed me with some of the most amazing time off with my family for Christmas.  A time that I know to be all Your love and pure joy surrounding me.  I loved every moment with my husband from eating out, movies, shopping together, holding hands and talking about any and everything.  My children were happy and content and it never ceases to bless my soul with the gifts they give me.  Not because of the possessions or material worth, but because it speaks to my heart that they know me so well.  They know how much I love You and how they don’t have to spend much, if anything at all, to make my heart smile. 

YES…December of 2015, for me, was Your love towards me and with my whole heart and everything that is within me I say THANK YOU FATHER!  Your love for me is so unconditionally amazing, pure, faithful and true.   

               My prayer for all of you in the coming year of 2016 is that you will take the time to pause and enjoy the moments that God puts before you.  I pray that He will open your hearts and pour in a love so pure, a joy so fulfilling and a peace so calming that you will have no choice but to know that it is Him. Happy New Year; 2016!  May you be blessed and be a blessing!

He Is So Faithful

      This weekend God took the time to see me and my needs…He blessed me and filled me up in three different areas of my life and He used three different avenues and people to do it with.  Anyone who knows me knows that I believe in the power of prayer and that I love to encourage others, but few know of the deep desire I have to be exactly what God has called me to be…yet the fear and uncertainty is so strong that I hide more often than I step out.

      The first blessing came on Saturday when I was blessed to be in attendance at the 5^th annual Sing, Dance, Pray for a Cure, hosted by two very special friends.  Their mother passed away 3yrs ago from breast cancer, yet this hasn’t stopped them one bit.  In fact it has pushed and inspired them to keep going in her honor and for God’s glory.  They walk out God’s love in their actions and words and it reminds me that we can always say what we think is right or what we think others want to hear, but the true meaning to sharing God is in the way we live our lives. 

      My second blessing came on Sunday in church, through the sermon of one of our pastors.  She talked about each of us having our own praise and service for God and the Kingdom, which is unlike any other persons.  When we compare ourselves to others; “I don’t have those skills”, “I can’t praise God like that” and “I’m not good enough to step out and serve”, we are telling God that He made a mistake in us.  This is an area that holds me back so much.  I can encourage others, but can never seem to speak it over myself.  I let fear stop me and the enemy to cause me to compare myself to what I see in others, BUT her sermon spoke to my heart!  It is my deep prayer that God will burn this on my heart and blesses me with the courage and strength to step out and do what He has called and equipped me to do. 

      My third blessing was when I decided to take some time to myself and go see the War Room. I totally believe that prayer is the most powerful gift that God has blessed us with and I try to use it in every area of my life.  It’s no secret that at one time my marriage was really rocky, but I never let that stop me; I never allowed the enemy to halt my prayers and let me tell you…they work!!  When our hearts are pure and our intents are righteous, He hears, sustains and guides our every step.  I know it’s easy to let the enemy overtake our minds and allow doubt, confusion and even fear to drown us, but God is so much bigger than that.  I have…I am a testimony to that and will tell it to anyone who will listen. 

      It is my deepest prayer that any and every time my heart seems to fail and my mind seems to doubt, that God will bring this past weekend to my remembrance and once again ignite this fire that burns within me.  

Just Live

God is ever so faithful, always on time and marvelous in His ways.  Three people poured into me this morning….it was random and they all said things that uplifted, further encouraged and blessed my spirit.  Now, this is not unlike God, He is always there and has guided me through some very rough times.  He’ll send a word through someone, a hug from the Holy Spirit or just make me aware of His presence.  However, the glory I find right now, in today’s blessing, is that I woke feeling so very happy and overjoyed already.  At the beginning of the week He opened a door for my family and last night blessed me to hear a sweet and beautiful voice; and that right there was/is enough and has filled my heart with joy!!  But, He didn’t stop there…He’s still continuing to fill me to overflow with His love, joy, grace, and peace.

I’ve been feeling God pulling me higher; to another level of spirituality, severing and ministry.  I have no doubt that He is using this and other things as my platform. Back in May I took my daughter to a grief seminar to help her better understand and process the passing of her brother, admitting that it was just as much for me and during it I heard God speak to me.  Now, I have heard what He said a few other times through other people, things I was reading and in my prayers, but hearing it this time confirmed what I believed and resonated with my spirit.  He told me to LIVE; one step at a time, one day at a time, but just live.  I can’t control everything or everyone around me; trying to orchestrate and maneuver things with my good intentions, hopeful thoughts and (if keeping it real) probably some selfish motivations too, but instead I have to trust Him and control what I can knowing that He will take care of the rest.

Since then, this is something I have said to myself often; to remind me that God is in control and He wants me to live so He can work in and through me.  My prayer today is that I will not allow fear of the unknown to stop me; that I will not worry about how, who or even when, but instead trust him without fail and allow my faith to grow. 

Serving Others

1 Corinthians 12:26-27 (NIV) ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Serving others; this is something that has been weighing so heavy on my heart lately. We can always lift others up in prayer, but we also have to realize that, at times, He requires more from us than that.  We are the hands and feet of Christ and if we are living a life for Him then we must also reach out as He would do. 

I think sometimes we get lost in what can we do. A situation can look too big and we allow fear to stop us.  Possibly we feel like what little contribution we can offer would be too insignificant to even matter.  However, the truth of the matter is most times it’s not the “action” we perform as much as it is the heart and motive behind it that really makes the difference.  

There are so many ways we can reach out to others; cook a meal for a family, offer to help the elderly around the house or even just to sit with someone and offer them your undivided time and attention.  There is so much hurt, isolation and blindness is this world that a simple heartfelt conversation with sincere intentions could truly be the “miracle” that someone needs in their life.  

This past Sunday my Pastor asked us: of all the time you’ve been coming to church, sitting in the same area and coming to the same service, how well do you know the person next to you?  Think about that! How often do you encounter the same individuals and not take the time to actually talk to them; to get to know them and be there for them if you can be? 

  

Mark 10:45(NLV) ⁴⁵ For the Son of Man did not come to be cared for. He came to care for others. He came to give His life so that many could be bought by His blood and be made free from sin.”

Our own Heavenly Father sent His only Son, not to live a selfish life in royalty as He so deserved, but instead to serve others.  To give of Himself in word and deed that we may know what true service and love are.  

If we as Christians can’t be the hands and feet of Jesus: to serve, lift up and just plain be there for others…then what is our real purpose?  Reach out to someone today; give a kind word or an unselfish gesture…take the time to get to know someone and offer yourself.  I’m pretty sure in the end, they will not be the only one blessed because your actions will bless your heart and your life too.