Wholeness

I'm always to thankful and grateful that there is wholeness in our Lord. When the apostles healed the lame man at the gate called Beautiful, they stated that by the name of Jesus, and faith in His name, the man stood before them whole. He was healed. Only a few minutes before he was lacking and in great need, but because he came into contact with the One who could heal, he was made whole.

I love Isaiah 9:7 in the Message Bible. It states that God's wholeness is unlimited. I love it! No matter how ugly our sin is or how many times we've committed that sin, we can receive wholeness from our Jesus. He never runs out of forgiveness when we are truly repentant. AND He never runs out of wholeness. I can be whole in Him always!

Blessed Indeed

Isn't great to know that regardless of life's circumstance, how you feel, and/or what you think; if you are a child of God and you have accepted His son as your personal Savior, you are blessed! Sometimes we think we're blessed if we have what we want in life. If I have the right car, right spouse, live in the right house, etc., I'm blessed. But God's Word tells us that we are blessed simply because Jesus has forgiven our sins. Let's read it together. Acts 3:26 states, "To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to BLESS you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." (Caps all mine:)

Iniquities according to the Greek word means unrighteousness and wrongfulness. Acts 3:26 is telling us that Jesus was sent to bless us by turning us away from our wrongs. Having our sins "blotted out" as Acts 3:19 states, is the greatest blessing we could ever receive from our God. No matter what car we drive or if we even have a car determines our blessing. Even if we are sick in our bodies and we need God to touch us physically, we are blessed if our sins have been forgiven.

I love that God sent His son to allow me to live a blessed and abundant life. Jesus is the Prince of life (Acts 3:15) and He came to give us life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). I may not feel blessed or even believe I am living an abundant life if I look around me and see the material items others may possess. But I promise you that material items do not give life. That is given only to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. He came so that I may live. He came so that you may live.

Thank you Lord for your sacrifice. Thank you that when we repent, you not only forgive us, but allow us to be refreshed in Your presence. You are the Life Giver and we are blessed indeed !

Levi

Just wanted to show off my little Levi. He's so precious and I love him SO much!

My Story

On Sunday Elder Burden began discussing the fact that each of us has a story. A story of redemption and that story is a story that will give God glory. I want to write about my story. I hope you are encouraged.

In 1996 my cousin and I were looking for a church to attend that we both liked. Though I was looking for a church to go to, it was only for the purpose of attending because I knew it was the right thing to do in my life. I really can't say that I was a miserable person or that I was searching to make life better in some way. I wouldn't have said that I was lacking in joy or peace. I was existing and I really didn't have any complaints. I was working a full time job, living on my own, and making life happen for me and for my then 2 year old, Seth.

After a few months of searching, God led me to a church through my neighbor (who is now my husband) and after attending for 6 weeks, I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. I knew about the Lord, about what He had done for me, and basically what I needed to do to live my life according to His word. I had been reared by a father and mother who loved the Lord, and as a matter of fact, I was a preacher's kid !

In June 1996, exactly 14 years ago, I surrendered my life to my Mighty Creator. I knew there were some areas I needed to change, but I loved the peace of having accepted Jesus and knowing that my sins were forgiven. I look back now on my life then and I am so thankful that those "things" I had to give up didn't keep me from seeking a relationship with my Father in heaven. I would give up those things over and over again to have the joy, peace and hope that I have today. I never realized there could be such overwhelming joy in life. The overwhelming peace truly does surpass all understanding. It's an amazing peace and it is indeed joy unspeakable!

I have been married for 13 years and all that my husband and I have gone through (which has been much) has only strengthened my faith and hope in my Jesus. We have had to deal with the circumstances of a blended family, serious health issues, death of our loved ones, broken hearts and betrayal by our friends, a growing personal business, and a bankruptcy (to only mention a few :) But regardless of those issues and situations in our lives, we have overcome. We can overcome because Jesus Himself overcame the world. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us - no matter where we are in life and no matter our circumstance. He is an everlasting God. And His love NEVER fails. NEVER. He is such an amazing and incredible God.

If you haven't experienced His love, His peace, or His joy, then I encourage you to open your heart to His and welcome Him in. You will not be disappointed by His peace or joy. There is no God but Him and no peace or joy like His. His grace is for you and His mercies are new every morning. God bless you and may you be overwhelmed by your Mighty Creator !

Serve the Lord

I was reading in 1Samuel today and discovered a scripture that I find very intriguing. It is 1 Samuel 12:20-21. It states, "Then Samuel said to the people, 'Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 'And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.'"

I have seen a mindset in people for years. The mindset that they have committed so much evil and sin that God will not forgive them. I know for some it is an excuse for not following or surrendering to God, but others truly believe that God could not possibly forgive them for their wrongdoings. Their sin in their own eyes is so great that they can not forgive themselves and they are sure God can not and will not forgive them either. To forgive such great sin is mind boggling to some. Why would God forgive such evil? Why?

Well, let me answer that question for you - God is a loving, caring, compassionate God. His desire is to have relationship and communion with his creation. Sin in God's eyes is equal. What I'm saying is that a "little" white lie to God is as great a sin as murder. He does not measure sin the way man measures sin. The Bible tells us that we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. When God sent his son Jesus to die for the sins of mankind, He did not categorize which sins would be forgiven and which sins wouldn't. God's word tells us that we are to repent (turn away from our sins) in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. We are to confess Jesus as Lord and we will be saved. Nowhere have I ever read that God only forgives someone if they've committed a "small" sin or if they committed only unknown sin. God forgives our repentant hearts even when we knowingly committed the sins. The key though is that we are repentant. Our hearts are broken with Godly sorrow and we turn from that sin. We must also realize that God's forgiveness never runs dry. As long as we are repentant and our hearts are turned toward God, He is willing to forgive us. He WANTS to forgive us. That's the kind of God He is :)

According to Samuel, regardless of our sins and wickedness, we must still serve the Lord with all our hearts. Yes, we fail. Yes, we fall short. Yes, we do stupid things, but God wants us following Him. We are not perfect and we never will be. We can not save ourselves. Only God is perfect and only God can save.

What does Samuel say will happen if we turn away from the Lord? He says we will go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver. Why not? Because they are NOTHING. Are you wondering what "empty" things Samuel is talking about? Well, I can think of a few. Let's see; a few would be drugs, sex, perversion, money, material items, the opposite gender, and alcohol. When we turn aside from God, from His ways and from His direction, we will look for "things" to fill us. These "things" will only bring us emptiness. Only God can fill us. Only God can make us whole. Only God redeems and only God forgives.

Turn aside to the One who is the giver of life and let Him fill you up.

Emotionally Driven

Good evening everyone :) I'm very much addressing the women with this post, but you men may very well be empowered by it as well.

How is it that we as women can have an issue for 18 years and not ever really address it? I'm talking about an open wound, an emptiness, a lack within ourselves. We deal with so many emotional pains in our lives and I'm wondering to what degree do we allow healing? Have you ever been hurt by someone or something and when you get the courage to talk about it or share it with someone close to you, you're shut up; either by someone's words or by their obvious body language? We women are emotional beings. It's true. We hear with our emotions, we respond with our emotions, we deal with life through our emotions. I've had to tell myself on many occasions in my life to stop being emotional, to think with my head instead of my heart.

This is what I want to speak into you today: allow God to heal you. Seek direction from Him about your healing and He is sure to lead you.

I believe many of you who are reading this right now know exactly what healing needs to take place in your life. I believe there are those of you who have repressed and suppressed for so many years that you don't even realize that who you are today is a reflection of the pain within you. We become angry because of our pain. We become bitter, hateful and ugly because of the pain in our lives that we have never dealt with. Our family members hurt us, our husbands, our friends. Sometimes intentionally, but most of the time unintentionally. But the hurt is the same. We tend to define ourselves by our emotions, by our feelings, or by who has and who hasn't loved us. We place value upon ourselves based on how we've been treated rather than what God's word says about us.

Do you know that it takes 50 positives to cancel out or destroy one negative? It's true. That's why it's so difficult to overcome those painful words and actions brought on us by others. But let me encourage you today to encourage yourself. If others aren't speaking those 50 positives into you. Then do it yourself!!! Do you need some help? Ok, repeat after me.

Say this:

I am an incredible woman.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I am created for greatness.

I am beautiful.

I have gifts and purpose for which I was created.

I have power and authority given to me by Jesus Himself.

I am a child of the Most High God; a daughter of the King, a princess.

I matter. My thoughts matter. My emotions matter.

I deserve to be whole and healed in Jesus name.

I have the right to grow and to go.

I have the power to become all God has created me to be.

WOW. That feels great! And guess what? It's true. Say that a few times a day and you're sure to begin living it.

Be blessed. Be healed!!!

The Reigning Authority

I am so overwhelmed by this mighty and awesome God that I serve. How blessed it is to be in His presence. How comforting it is to know that absolutely nothing in life is bigger than He is. Do you know that nothing is impossible for our God? Nothing. He is and has the reigning authority. Man's authority and power are limited. Not our God's! He always has the final say. Thank you Lord.

Last spring/summer (2009) Phillip and I went through the worst financial time of our lives. Every material possession other than our home we lost. Everything Phillip had worked for in his business was taken. The reputation we had built in the community was at stake by the words spoken against us by selfish, hard-hearted, bitter men. We came to understand that the loyalty we gave to the business world was not reciprocated. The world around us was more unstable than it had ever been. There were days of fit throwing, kicking, and screaming. Days were spent questioning God about our circumstances. Days (months rather) when our 6 figure income had decreased to zero figures. How did this happen? How could this happen? WHAT was happening? We were devastated. Life as we knew it was no longer. I spent hours crying and Phillip spent hours burdened and suffocated by life's issues.

As I look back now on those months of confusion and uncertainty, I can see the mighty hand of a very powerful God. At the time I saw and felt only my situation and the pain it was inflicting upon me. I saw one possession of mine go from my hands to someone else's. Either because we had to sell it to pay the mortgage or because the bank repossessed it. My children lost their possessions too and this was a hard sight for me to see. The most amazing thing to me now as I look back on it all is the grace my children gave to Phillip and me. I never saw an attitude from them when their toys were taken by someone else. They just seemed to accept the fact that mom and dad needed the money and that was that for them. How truly precious they are to me. My sweet little (or not so little) boys. How could I be more proud of them?

Now - a whole year later and I can tell you that God is a God of restoration. Have you ever heard the lyrics, "God will make a way when there seems to be no way. He works in ways we can not see. He will make a way for me"? And that He did. He has restored. He has opened my eyes to so many things. I see now how foolish Phillip and I were in so many areas and how life goes on no matter the situation.

My very wise mother wrote in my 6th grade autograph book these words, "What the caterpillar calls the end of life, the Maker calls a butterfly." What a truth to hold onto. When it seems the darkest and there appears to be no way out - God performs a miracle! Even in death - God performs miracles. That's just the kind of God He is. He never leaves the lights turned out too long. My Dad used to tell me, "why complain about the darkness when there's a candle in the house?" Thanks Dad! Today, I choose to light the candle. And I thank my ever amazing Savior for being the Reigning Authority. I'm so glad He has the final say.

And hold on to this truth - He has the final say in your situation too ! Hold on for He WILL make a way when there seems to be no way.