Speak LIFE

If there was ever a trophy for complaining, I would have had a home full of them. It’s the truth. I could find the tiniest thing to complain about. After awhile, it became habit. I would get up complaining and my body would respond because I would feel tired and weary. I would feel agitated. Soon, I realized that I needed to be careful about WORDS because eventually, they become ACTIONS. Then, those actions soon become HABITS. I still fail in that area but it is nowhere near as bad as it used to be. I think more before speak. Words have so much power. As I look back, I spoke ALOT of negativity over my life and the lives of my children. I spoke ALOT of curses over our lives. Although I can’t go back and change the past, I can make TODAY better. I do my very best thinking before I speak. I want to speak WORDS OF POWER that come from ABOVE. I want to speak God’s Love and Provision over both me and my children’s lives. I don’t know about you but I am fed up with negativity’s words and energy. So much inspiration comes over me when I speak God’s Word over my life. These are the WORDS that I want to become ACTIONS that form into HABITS for me. Life and death is your mouth. Life and death is in my mouth. We have to start speaking LIFE over every situation in our lives. All things are maintained through the WORDS OF GOD. Speaking His Word may not seem to be working instantly but we must activate faith instead of sight because GOD IS WORKING. The Bible gives us stories where God declared what He was going to do BEFORE it even happened. That is proof that through the power of words and faith, we can declare things as if it is already there!

When the words of doubt and fear start to enter your mind, repeat Phillippians 4:19 as many times as you need to. It says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.“

Expecting YOU In Others

On this journey, I have been the author of my own disappointment by expecting WHAT I WOULD DO in others. I love to help others and will hide my hand in doing so. I don’t help to get a hand clap, a pat on the back or a post dedicated specifically to me on social media. I help because I have the heart to do so. I encourage because I know what it is like to be in a dark place needing encouragement. I love to listen and give godly counsel. That’s just who I am. But before my walk with the Lord became so deep, I got all twisted up in thinking all people should be like me. They should help, too, because it should be in them to be that way. Oh, how I disappointed myself. Oh, how it hurt deeply. As I kept living, I learned that you can cross an ocean with others who wouldn’t even cross a puddle for you. I learned you could help others today and they act as if they don’t even know you tomorrow. In knowing all of this, I also learned that when Jesus is at work in you, none of WHAT OTHERS DO IN RETURN matters. All that matters is that YOU DO WHAT JESUS WHAT DO. DO without EXPECTING YOU IN OTHERS.

“…..do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35 NIV).

Why Me?

Something happened to me on yesterday where I literally wanted to throw in the towel. This year has just began and honestly, very little has happened that has really been good. When I did get alone to myself, I talked with God like I normally do. I asked Him questions like I normally do. And one of those questions was, “Lord, why me?” I mean I feel like I have been doing the best I can. I know God. I seek to follow God. I read and study scripture. I do my best in applying God’s Word to my life. I treat those I encounter with kindness and love. I pray for others. I help others. I wanted to know, “Why me?” Why does all of the BAD seem to happen to me?

When I asked God this question, I was instantly convicted. God directed my attention to Job in the Bible. Job questioned God as well but who was He was he to question the Almighty? Who am I to question the Almighty? Questioning God is a sign of immaturity. When things are going well for us, we feel satisfied but when those tough times come upon us, we have a hard time holding it together.

Job was an example of faith and then it hit me – I should be an example of faith as well. In the final chapter of Job, he was restored. The purposes of God were accomplished through Job’s suffering. As a result, Job was greatly blessed. I had to repent of asking the question of, “Why me?” Just as Job, I must always acknowledge that God is in control of everything and I must submit humbly to Him while waiting for His instruction.

 “So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said” (Job 2: 7-10 NIV).

The Gift of Confession

Losing your sense of purpose happens. So many of us have been there and some are still there. There is a loss of purpose to ourselves, to others and to God. Many of us can’t even recall when it happened. So much can happen in life causing us to feel worthless and helpless. We lose sight of who we are in God and we no longer commit ourselves to a higher purpose.

Well, it’s time to confess those feelings to Lord. Confession is an act of faith and one of the greatest gifts you can give to Him. He knows that none of us are perfect. And a great thing about God is that He wants us to give all of ourselves to Him – all of the good, all of the bad, all of the pretty and all of the ugly. He wants ALL of each one of us. When we confess and give ALL of ourselves to God, our sense of purpose can be restored. Our lives will have a meaningful purpose.

Until we confess our sins, we will be worn down with anxiety of all kinds. Until we confess our sins, happiness and contentment will seem to be worlds away. Until we confess our sins, a dark cloud may be in the midst wherever we go.

The Lord is always ready to forgive so it’s time that we be ready to confess any and all sins. It’s time that we be ready to confess anything that is weighing us down. It’s time to go to the Lord in prayer and receive the cleansing that only He can give us. Let’s go to Him in prayer. Jesus suffered on behalf of the forgiveness for our sins.Christ fully understands our pain and He can lead us to the Presence of the Lord where we will receive mercy. The joy of forgiveness follows confession.

“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalms 32:1-5 NIV).

When The Enemy Attacks

I am nowhere near who and what I used to be. Walking with God has not been easy but it has been worth it. The deeper I get in God, the more the enemy attacks me. In the past, when attacks came my way, they would literally take me down instantly. I didn’t know how to withstand the attacks. But now that I walk with God, I can stand against them. I get irritated and sometimes, weary; however, I will never bow to the enemy. I stand in prayer. I stand in God’s Word. I stand when I don’t see relief or change instantly because I stand in FAITH.

The enemy has a very bad habit of making his attacks seem so big and so impossible to overcome. We need to make a good habit of reminding the enemy that GOD IS BIGGER AND WITH HIM, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. God never said that walking with Him would be easy. I haven’t seen that anywhere in the Bible. But in His Word, He reminds us that He is always with us and we are never alone in these attacks. His Word also reminds us to have no fear. The enemy uses the tactic of fear to drive us further away from God. When I am at work and fearful thoughts about what I am going enter my mind, I break out in a spiritual song. My coworkers, of course, think I am crazy but magnifying God through praise is one way to defeat fear.

There are many other tactics that the enemy uses in his attacks against us but none of them is BIGGER than God and never will be. The battle is not ours; it is God’s. We can’t win a spiritual battle in our own strength. We need God. The devil was defeated at the cross and He wants each one of us to forget about that. Christ has victory over Satan and we fight from that victory!

“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 41:10 NIV).

The Prodigal Parent

I accepted it. My kids are not perfect. It was the hardest thing I had to accept but I had to. I brought all five them up in the church but that doesn’t make them out to be perfect, right? I was brought up in the church as well but later rebelled against my parents. My mom always told me in my rebellious years that I would see myself again (x2) and you know what, she wasn’t all of the way correct – I am seeing myself again (x10)!

In today’s society, however, it is way more dangerous than it was during my younger rebellious years. And we didn’t have SOCIAL MEDIA. What kids see on social media, they are starting to repeat. I am referring to the NEGATIVE things they are seeing. They are learning REBELLION in a whole new, way and it functions in a HORRIFYING way. Some kids today think it is very cool to disrespect their parents, leave home without being told to do so, sneak guests of their choice in the home, disrespect school officials, not go to the school at all, wear their pants sagging to their knees, etc. I could literally go on and on. Because of this, parents have to really enforce rules at home and stick with those rules. And once parents enforce the rules, some kids enforce their rebellious ways. The devil isn’t playing; he wants the lives of children. He will use whatever tools he can to manipulate and deceive them.

I recall the story of Adam and Eve. They had it made, they? God told them they could eat from ANY tree in the Garden of Eve EXCEPT for one. Just ONE – The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And what did that old, trifling serpent do? He used manipulation and deceived Eve and Adam fell right into the trap. As a result, they suffered the consequences of their actions and was exiled from the Garden of Eve. God still loved them. He gave them freedom to choose when they were tempted and He hoped that they would would choose to stay in the Garden and spend eternity with Him. Based on this story, it appears that God is the first Prodigal Parent so surely He knows how other parents of rebellious and prodigal children feel.

Reflecting on the story of Adam and Eve is helping me in dealing with my children. I love my children; however, rebellion will simply not be tolerated in my home. I will not be manipulated or deceived by their wrong actions. I will not give the devil a room in my home. He is not welcome in my home nor on my property. I pray for my children and they may turned back to The God who the devil wants them to not believe in. I plead Psalms 91 over the lives of my two adult children, my two teens, my preteen and my two grandchildren. My two adult children and two teens know better so I have placed them in the Hands of the Almighty to deal with. Letting go of the disappointment, shame, anxiety and fear is a daily process but God is helping me to do. I trust Him with my children wholeheartedly. Just as Adam and Eve had to face the consequences of their choice not to obey God, my children will have to face theirs. I did my part training them up in the way should go. I also remember how God awakened me and restored me in the past and I know that He will do the same for my children.

Some days, it’s hard to keep me head up high. Some days, I cry on the inside. Some days, I lash out. Some days, I am OK. But everyday, I am praying and talking with the Lord. There may be other parents  out there like me so you know where I am coming from. For the parents who do have great children doing great things, I commend you and pray that God keeps blessing you and your children. And please don’t ridicule or mock at the parents who haven’t arrived at the point you are at but lift us up in your prayers and keep us there. We need it.

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son” (Hebrews 12:5‭-‬6 NIV).

God is Our Safe Place

I bring you greetings from the floor of a hall closet in my hallway. The weather is bad here and the local weather station has advised that all of us in the area find a safe place away from windows.  As I sit here crammed up with my 10 year old daughter and a grandbaby, I think of how so many run to everything but God in the midst of trouble. Some turn to other people, drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. These things only offer temporary relief. God provides everlasting relief. It is my prayer that everyone acknowledges God as a safe place. He has what it takes to make things better for each one of us.

“God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him” (Psalm 46:1)

Start the New Year With Jesus

Well it’s the first day of a new year. Although there was a lot I didn’t accomplish in 2022, I don’t have a long list resolutions to pursue. All I want to do is start again with Jesus. After all, He did wake me up today. I am still breathing so that is proof, alone, that He is not done with me yet.  There are still some things that He wants me to do. There are people that He wants me to help. There are places that He wants me to go.  This year, I am claiming a more powerful strength that can only come from the Almighty. I am claiming to accomplish some great things this year. I choose to start this year with Jesus as My Guide. I choose to walk with Him on both the smooth and rocky roads. I choose to put Him first in ALL that I do. I choose to go deeper in God’s Word.

As we enter into another year, it is important to remember that all joy, goodness, completeness and contentment flows from ONE source – the true spring of living water which is Jesus Christ. I don’t know what your resolutions and plans are for 2023 but don’t start the New Year without Jesus.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

Press On

The year of 2022 has been a trying one. It was filled with much chaos, irritation, frustration, disappointment, heartache, procrastination……I could go on a bit further but I will stop right there. I could hold on to everything that went wrong this year and complain about everyone who did me wrong this year but I won’t. I can’t go back and change anything that has happened this year. I can, however, take the lessons that I’ve learned from it all that didn’t go right and PRESS ON.

I can PRESS ON in pursuing a deeper relationship with Christ. I can PRESS ON in developing a more consistent prayer life. I can PRESS ON in becoming who God wants me to be and receiving all that He has for me.

Life hasn’t been so easy for me and perhaps it hasn’t been easy for you. The devil wants each one of us to throw in the towel and give up but we must stay in faith and not give up. We can keep PRESSING ON towards Jesus where an abundance of blessings, health, wealth and the riches of God in glory will pour over us and overtake us.

Keeping PRESSING ON my sisters and brothers in Christ!