The Real Need

Psalm 66:19-20
19 but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!

She is, a mother, a wife, a teacher. She came from Ecuador looking for hope for a life better than the one she left behind. She found a place that would pay her more than 100 dollars a month. She could now feed her family and make sure her 17 year old son had an education and an opportunity to make something of his life. Her husband works two jobs carpentry and newspaper delivery. They get up every morning at 2 am and both of them pack and deliver papers. "The newspapers don't close down they are open on holidays and every day of the week" she explained. She said where she came from people who were doctors could not find work they drove a taxi or worked as a janitor. This is the woman I have worked with for the last three days. In these last three days she has touched my heart so deeply. Why does she work with kids when she has a degree in business management? She told me how her mom (who passed away from breast cancer) was a teacher and how she loves working with children. She is working with the children to teach them Spanish and to work on her English now. However, there is more than just the surface of this amazing woman. She gives everything she has for her family. She does everything she can for her job. She lives with a lump in her breast that she will have to have removed. She prays it is not like the cancer that killed her mother.

I believe strongly that God will hear her prayer. Here is a woman who came from nothing to give her son a life he can have opportunity and make something of himself. She explained to me how her son was so fascinated people throw away so many things. Where she came from no one threw away anything. I never knew a more humble and giving person. She has nothing to give but herself and she gives all of herself to her family and to her job. She does ask for a lot. She doesn't even ask for healing in her body. She just has faith that God will take care of her.

I learned something in the last three days. I learned that God loves a heart that is humble and that doesn't beg. I learned that God wants us to try our best and give our all and just know that He will provide for us and take care of us. We need to realize that when the bible says to ask for something in the name of Jesus it doesn't mean "Dear Lord can I please have a Wii or a Xbox360" God wants us to only ask from faith and only believe what we "need" to happen.

So tonight as you say your prayers before hitting your head to the pillow think about my coworker from Ecuador. How much do we really have? What are you believing God for that you "need"? It could be for something like healing in your heart from hurt in the past. For God to bring you to a place where you can allow love to enter in your life again. Whatever you need believe it in Jesus name... have faith and you will not want. :)

John 14:14
Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

Tune In To God

Psalm 66:17-18
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
How often I used to think that God was not listening to me. No matter how I prayed I felt He didn't answer me. Then when I came to realize all the times I've done the same to Him I felt ashamed. Why do I expect God to listen to me constantly complaining... constantly asking Him for things with an amen at the end? I don't listen to Him sometimes when He tells me not to do something sometimes I do it anyway. There were times that I've secretively lived in the midst of the miry clay and when I called out to God I could not hear His voice I could not even know that He heard mine. However He held on tight no matter how deep I sank. I wonder how many other girls have cried out to God while they were living in sin and wondered why God wasn't listening? When we get our hearts right with God ... we will feel God closer and hear Him more clearly. We are really the ones with the head phones on listening to what the world wants us to hear what they think is okay to do. We need to switch channels and listen to His will in our lives... even if it means changing things we have been avoiding removing from our lives because we think they make us feel good.

Time to tune in to God's word and focus on it so that when we face the world we will stay firm in the truth. Let the things you listen to be the right things. Let the choices you make be the right choices. May you hear God more clearly now that you are tuned in.

Matthew 6:33 AMP
33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

It's Payback Time!

Psalm 66:15-16
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.

When I think of everything that God has ever done for me and compare it to everything I do for Him I think of the scale in the science center of a preschool classroom. The children would load one end with rocks (what God has done for us) and the other side with plastic counting bears (what we do for God). God's gifts weigh more than we can ever imagine or compare to. Anything we do for Him will never be as much as what He has done for us. Now to make it even deeper. God sacrificed His son for us His only son.

Abraham was a serious man of God and only ever wanted to please God. He had a great heart and even though he messed up a couple times he still devoted his life to God completely. Everyone knows Abraham couldn't have a son ... and that God provided Abraham with a son it was a miracle. Issac his son grew up to be a boy any father would be proud of. Abraham was very proud to be a father and I'm sure it delighted him very much to have someone who he helped to birth into the world. Well, God told Abraham to sacrifice Issac to Him. Abraham didn't complain or anything because he knew that Issac was God's to take. Abraham obeyed God and was about to sacrifice his one and only son. The son God had blessed him with. Thankfully God at the last minute provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice instead. Isaac must have known how much value his life had. Isaac would have been a more valuable sacrifice then the ram but God had different plans for Isaac. God wanted to use Isaac's life as a sacrifice instead. Isaac through his salvation devoted his life to God.

That ram for us was Jesus just when we are on the edge of the pit of fire God provided Jesus so we would not have to burn. Because Jesus' sacrifice was so valuable it covered everyone. Anyone who calls on the name of Jesus and asks for Him to enter into their lives will be freed from having to burn in the fire eternally. Instead we now can sacrifice our lives to God.

So how valuable is your sacrifice? Are you giving God your all? Christ gave His all for us even when He was alive He helped heal people and feed them spiritually and physically. Jesus washed peoples feet even though it beneath his call of duty. There were no limitations to the sacrifices Jesus' made. So let's not limit our sacrifices. Let's give our all.

Romans 5:8
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Vow ... Not Vowel

Psalm 66:13-14
13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you—
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.

The "I"'s don't have it.

Vows are something that society has confused with vowels. Our pride is the thing that keeps us from fulfilling our vows. When we let the "I" get involved and only think of the "I" things get messed up. We have fathers/husbands that leave their children/wives that have made vows under God on their wedding day. Why because they don't want to face the responsibilities that marriage has to offer they get too caught up in their self, their "I". There are other kinds of vows people ignore also... vows of celibacy vows of honor... the list goes on. Even pastors today are entering into churches who have taken vows to live a godly lifestyle but somehow get away with not. This saddens me but it's not too late.

In this scripture David, a man who vowed so much to God and then royally messed up to gain earthly treasures and a woman... is remembering now that he had a vow. It is finally coming to his attention that he messed up but he wants to make it right with God. God is a God of second chances. He will allow us to come back to Him broken and humbled and get our life back to where it should be.

God is a God of mercy, He does forgive... but it's not just about repentance and forgiveness. We have a vow to God. When we ask Christ into our hearts we are vowing to serve Him completely and surrender to His will. We are no longer in charge of our own bodies. We are under His authority. If we break that vow we break God's heart. Why wouldn't we want to fully serve Christ after everything He has done for us after He gave His life, after He suffered so terribly. He walked through fire for us so we would be able to avoid the flames of eternal damnation.

What lies behind us now lies behind us, in Christ there is only our future. I have made mistakes in the past where I have not kept vows that I've made to God. Through repentance He has healed me and I continue to walk forward in purity and truth to honor and praise Him.

Remember it is a vow.... not a vowel... so keep the "I" out of it.

Take your vows seriously and everything we should do ... should be done as to God... under Him... for Him. Let's receive the forgiveness and get our lives back on track.

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Through the Darkness

Psalm 66:11-12
11 You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.

It seems that I had a day today that I thought I would never get through. I felt that God was trying to teach me resilience and appreciation ... and I think I finally learned. When I found out I lost a close friend from high school... and when I felt like no jobs are out there for me right now it was so hard to see hope. It was so hard to not take on that victim mentality that Satan tries to play on us. I even let it gloom the time I got to spend with my boyfriend. The few precious moments we have in life should not be wasted in a pity party or in a victims attitude.

Yesterday my best friend was reminding me we aren't victims we are survivors. We need to really seriously stop dwelling on our past and start putting our eyes on our future realizing there is a light ahead no matter how dim it may seem now. God has a plan and even when it feels like we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us! He walks with us and comforts us through every trial we go through.

Keep believing that there is hope and keep holding your head high. Realize when we are at our weakest God is still strong. When we can hardly speak we can still call on Him. He will bring us to those green pastures and lead us beside still waters. He will bring us "through" so keep moving forward.

Psalm 23:4
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Too Blessed to Be Pressed or Stressed

Psalm 66:9-10
9 he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.
10 For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.

Today my best friend and I were in the gym talking about how to tell the difference between an attack of Satan and a test from God. No matter if Satan is attacking us or God is testing us He will keep our path straight as long as we look to Him for guidance and proceed after His will in our lives. The place where we slip is when we take our eyes off of what God wants for our lives. We start feeding our flesh instead.

However God does allow "U" turns and He is forgiving. He will pick us out of the miry clay and set our feet back on His solid rock. We can rely on His promise that His mercy is new every morning. God wants us to get our lives together. God wants us to learn from our mistakes. He doesn't dangle them over our head to remind us of them but He does allow us to remember them so we can learn from them. He is a loving Father and wants what's best for us.

After convincing my friend that she does not need to settle for an abusive relationship ever again and she now knows how to detect one I am praying for God to put the best guy He has for her into her life at some point when it is His will. It seems I've seen a lot of women "settling" lately. Girls God didn't say He has "those" plans for you. God has great plans for you plans for hope and a future, plans for good and not to harm you! When we settle we are not trusting in God we are not realizing He has created us to be worthy. We are not in-line with His will and although He will pick us back up again... you may not like how He does it. Rest in God's arms and trust in Him don't make a move without His peace and blessed assurance.

Love you all!

2 Corinthians 4:8-9
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed

Getting Chiseled

Psalm 66:7-8
7 He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations—
let not the rebellious rise up against him.
8 Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;

For some reason when I was reading this verse I was given a picture from the book the Odyssey. There were sirens who sang so beautifully that it lead men to their death. The captain, knowing he was only mere flesh, had his crew tie him to the mast and resisted temptation going through the storm. He knew that if his crew saw that he could do it they would be inspired they would not abandon their ship, and they would get through the most dangerous storms and temptations ever. I was forced into reading this story in one of my secular English courses but in a secular school they tear it apart and make it into something to do with the worldly undignified junk. However, I felt God speaking to me as I read.

Last night in church our pastor was talking about Michelangelo and how when he created David so beautifully people asked him how he did it. Michelangelo's response was that he just chiseled away until everything that didn't look like David was gone. Our pastor explained that we were designed to be like Christ and God would chisel away anything that kept us from being like Him that was in our lives. I thought of my present storm. That song "Lead Me to the Cross" that has been in my head for weeks now. I remembered how imperfect I am and how much work my Master had to do on me.There is still so much to chisel away in my life. I remembered the captain of the boat who allowed them to hang him to the mast to save his people from death and I thought of Jesus. I thought of all the temptations He resisted. From the mast he could watch over his people. From the cross Jesus watched over us. I remember today how He said "God forgive them for they know not what they do".

Isn't it like that when we are lead into temptation? We go into it blindfolded most of the time we don't even realize what we are getting ourselves into. Everyone I love has offered me advice on how to deal with situations differently if I was ever in the situation of being falsely accused again. However, God spoke to me Himself last night and made more sense making me realize Christ too was in my shoes. God told me to turn the other cheek. I know it hurts to be accused of horrible things that aren't even true and it can certainly cause anger to rage up inside you. However, when that anger comes on me I have to allow God to chisel it away from me to make me beautiful again. I am sure that Jesus felt some temptation to become angry when He was nailed to the cross. I am sure He resisted that temptation and turned the other cheek. God blessed Him for that and God blesses others also for turning the other cheek. It hurt yes but we have been called to be persecuted we have been called to be martyrs for Him. We can't let our flesh grab us and pull us into being like the world. We have to stand firm on His word.

Matthew 16:24-27
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

God Makes a Way!

Psalm 66:5-6
5 Come and see what God has done,
his awesome deeds for mankind!
6 He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoice in him.

Yesterday I went to the beach with my best friend for some much needed girl time. The tide was so low and the sand was rippled. The water was so clear that from the pier you could see if there was any fish or anything. At this beach there is a rock formation that you can only walk out to if the tide is low. The rock was very crowded yesterday with all sorts of people and dogs :) It made me realize that that rock formation was like my calling, my dream, something I wished to reach. However, I only could do that during the right season and during the right time. I wasn't in control of whether or not I would be able to reach the rock or not God was. It all depended on Him making the way for me.

If I tried to reach the rock by myself with my own power I would not know what was beneath the murky water. It would have been far more dangerous. I might have even gotten sucked into with a current. It is much wiser to wait until the tide goes out. It is much safer to realize that He is in control not me.

As I was talking to my friend on the pier a man dressed in business clothing was standing by. He was listening as my friend and I talked about God's plan for our lives and how He has it all in His hands and we shouldn't worry. That God will lead us when it's His timing. Just then the man interrupted us and asked for directions. Then he said thank you and you are right God will work it all out for you. My friend was so shocked because she rarely sees God work like that in her life. We both giggled and suggested that perhaps he was a messenger from God to bring us hope.

As we were walking back to the parking lot just as I looked up into the sky and saw two clouds that looked like one cloud had been parted with a blue path I screamed "God where do you want me to go? WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO NOW?" Just then my friend got a "Hi Steph" from a couple on the bench with a cute bischon named Wilbur. because of the impecable timing of this event I was very curious to who these people were. Well, it was the pastor of the Whitney Avenue Church of Christ and his wife. While my best friend sat and talked about her life goals with the pastor... I sat with his wife and doted on the doggy. Just then she asked me what do I do. I was very brief and said well I was teaching I just got fired today actually. That lady was so encouraging with her words and wisdom stating how I have to keep moving on and realize God does have a plan. I opened up with her about feeling called toward missions and she suggested starting missions right here in Connecticut. She also started talking to me about Honduras. It was just an amazing moment I will never forget. Like the clouds in the sky that were parted I "know" God will make a way for me. I know He has plans.

Isaiah 43:16-19
18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

Letting Go and Letting God

Psalm 66:3-4
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.”

It is hard to be falsely accused of things. It is hard not to lash out with our words and redirect fingers at others when we have been accused of things. I have a problem with taking things personally. I don't internalize much of what people tell me because I don't absorb it. I know the bible says to guard my heart but I know it also tells me that I should watch what I say as well. I can't fight others accusations in anger.

Recently I went into a job thinking I was meant to go in and save the day. I was meant to turn chaos into calmness. However, things back fired and it seems things got worse. Parents started turning against me saying things that were not true. Even people I work with were saying things that were not true. I learned that no one knows what goes on in a classroom but you and God. However, if I didn't have people backing me up it wasn't worth the fight. So God packed my bags.

My boss said "you are just not cooperate". I completely agree. I am my own person I'm who God made me to be. I feel no shame in it either. Yet sometimes a square peg just doesn't fit into a round hole and no matter how much you try to jam it in... it will only create stress.

I can't do it all. I was talking to my best friend today at the beach about how no one can see the wind... but if you let the wind use something you can see it's there. I also reminded her that no one can see the Holy Spirit but if you let the Holy Spirit use you... others can see it. I feel that way also about our gifts. If no one let's us use our gifts no one will see they are there. I had a conversation with my boyfriend about not feeling used by God lately. I even had a conversation with my friend Dana at breakfast one day about how God's been telling me to keep my traveling shoes on because I feel He's got other plans for me elsewhere but I am not to certain where yet. I want to be used and I want to feel that Holy Spirit flowing through me like my soft purple head dress today that I "allowed" to flow in the wind. However, God wont start flowing through me until I allow Him to and give Him everything I touch completely.

God this is my life, these are my battles, these are my blessings... take it all into Your hands. Amen

Micah 7:8
8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light.

A Big God for a Small World

Psalm 66:1-2
1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
2 Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious.

This week I tried to explain to my students where Ireland was using our classroom globe. The children were all saying that Ireland was so small. :) I know they don't realize that the globe is a lot smaller than the earth. However, it makes me look at things their way. To them everything is big and ought to be big.

Aren't we glad that God is so big and we are so small? I looked at the globe again and thought just how big God must be to hold the whole world in His hands. I can't imagine how He feels about Ireland's size He created everything just the way it should be for a purpose. Sometimes my children tease each other about their height or age. They think the taller they are the more important they are. The children don't realize yet that it's the measure of a man's heart that matters. I am so glad God doesn't measure us on our size. Even Christ went to Zacheus' house to dine with him. Zacheus was a very small man but God showed favor on him and as a result of that Zacheus felt his life was important and he dedicated to the Lord. Everyone needs to feel important no matter how small they seem. The world is small to God but He loves it so much He gave His Son to die for it.

Children don't realize just how valuable small things are. A little smile can cause a domino effect of smiles to occur on a gloomy day. A little hug can fix a big booboo. A little love can cure a broken heart. If we just accepted things for being little then we would realize the world isn't so small after all... it's just right!

Psalm 19:1
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.

A 'Tude Test

Psalm 19:13-14
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Sometimes I complain a lot and get an attitude with people. I have a tendency to blame other people even though I know I am the one at fault. For example, I am the head teacher in my classroom and I know it is my responsibility to make sure everything gets done the way it's suppose to but I complain about people who don't do things the way they are suppose to instead of just making sure they get done. I realized today that sometimes it's easier if we don't complain... sometimes it's easier if we just meditate quietly in our hearts and try to keep a joyful and respectful spirit... one that honors God's in our actions and our words.

If we want to please God we know how... the bible tells us what to do when we are presented with criticism. The bible says a wise person excepts criticism and learns from it but a fool gets angry about it. The bible also tells us that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. If we step outside of the path that God has and wants us to be on we are dishonoring Him... that's not good. The bible also tells us that a person should be slow to speak and quick to listen when they are angry and they shouldn't let the sun go down when they still have a negative heart. In other words, we shouldn't linger in our negativity too long or it will effect our living testimony.

I was listening to the Christian radio station on the way to work when a program came on where a little girl was talking to her mom about how a girl at school knew she was a Christian when she didn't even tell her. The mom explained that when we act like Jesus others see Jesus in us. We need to make sure people see Jesus in us... when we don't act in love or peace we are not showing people Jesus... we are showing our flesh. I want to live my life to honor God in every way and that means I have to watch what I say or even think. Bitterness is a stronghold and I need to repent anytime I feel bitterness in my heart toward someone for whatever reason. We are suppose to forgive people like Christ forgave us. It's my prayer that the meditations of my heart and the words of my mouth "are" pleasing to God. If they aren't God can help.

Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Don't be a Dummy; Do What God Says!

Psalm 19:11-12
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

I was a little annoyed a few weeks ago because I had to take a CPR course for work. I was looking all over for just an "infant" CPR so I wouldn't have to retake the child one. I went to class finally thinking well, I will just renew my certificate now instead of in August. Reluctantly I got up super early on a Saturday morning and dragged myself to class. When I got there the instructor did say we were not going to be there all day, I was relieved... and then, he said we are going to learn "more" than what we paid for. Now I'm sure most people would love a free education however, I really felt like I wanted to just do all I could to get by. Not only did I leave the class with my CPR in infants and children but also in adults and the AED. God only knows where He has me going with this.

Sometimes we try to fight what God wants to teach us. Sometimes as Christian's we do everything we can do to just get by. However, when we are obedient or even sometimes when we are not God will teach us things that we may need at some point somewhere down the road. Our faults and our mistakes we make do teach us about life. If we were perfect there would be no room to grow. If we went into everything willingly we would probably avoid a lot of roads we don't want to go down that God has planned for us. It's hard to see things God's way but luckily... we shouldn't have to we need to just learn to trust Him even when we can't see, after all, isn't that what faith is?

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight

Love Yourself

Psalm 9:9-10
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.

The bible says how a woman who fears the Lord is worthy of praise. When we see the reflection of "reverence" for God in a women's life it is the most beautiful thing. Even more beautiful then supermodels with their fake air brushed makeup and their graphically touched up pictures. When we love God with all of our hearts in a pure way it shines right through us and creates an overwhelming sense of feminine beauty that no Seventeen Magazine can direct us on how to achieve.

I have had issues with my self image because of my Italian and Danish ancestors and the prominent unwanted facial hair. I am not very fond of hair on unwanted parts of my body. When one of my students today asked me why I have hair on my body ... I explained that everyone is different and some people just have hair on their body. I had to really bite my tongue about complaining how God made me that way. Then on the way home from work I saw a man who had Cerebral Palsy he walked with a limp and I felt so bad for him. My dad reminded me that the guy was probably happy to be alive. I felt ashamed for wishing sometimes that I was never born with this genetic unwanted hair. I have had my life almost taken from me on several occasions and I should be glad to have it. I should be happy in the way that God made me no matter what. What we need to remember sometimes is beauty is skin deep.

In whatever manner you feel that you are not beautiful enough remember that God created you to be beautiful. He made you to be fearfully and wonderfully made. Keep pure and your beauty will radiant from the inside out.

"Remember that when you look in the mirror it is okay to admire God's creation as long as you are admiring God's creation the way He made you giving Him glory" (Johnny)

1 Peter 3:2-5
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands.

Eye Love YOU!

Psalm 19:7-8
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

Today I was hanging out with one of my dear sisters in Christ who is an amazing example of this scripture. God longs to fill our hearts with JOY we may not understand it and we need to just let Him sometimes. Did you ever meet one of those people who are soooo full of God's love that they just sparkle and glimmer all over? Especially their eyes? Well that's my friend I was with today. That is how I want to be. When others see me I don't want them to see someone who constantly walks around grumbling and complaining I want them to see someone who is so full of the joy and love of Christ that they want in.

It says in Matthew that the eyes are the light of the body. I think of headlights on a car. The body of the car will not be safe if those lights don't shine to their fullest capacity. If we don't have the light of God shining in us and keeping us lit we will grow dim and might even stumble or cause others to stumble :/ It is important for us to continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit so we can stay lit. The story of the ten virgins in Matthew also talks about being filled with the Holy Spirit. Don't be without your oil in these final days. That oil is the Holy Spirit that keeps burning inside of us. We need to stay refreshed renewed and in the right mind a righteous state of thought with Him. We need to in order to light the way for others especially in these final days.

In one of the churches I attend with my family they are preaching on how to live everyday as if it is our last. We need to live like we have one month to live. I don't know about you but I want to make sure that my headlights are still working while my motor is still running. I want to make sure everything in my body is functioning properly and God is at the steering wheel. Down the road we are going to encounter all kinds of people. There will be people who will want to smash our headlights in and there will be people who are just standing like deer around them completely confused. Then there are those people who just make shadow puppets in the headlights and don't take it to seriously at all. We need to keep shining no matter what kind of people we come up against in life. We need to continuously shine and help light the path for others. We may not be on this earth a long time but while we are here let's live a life of Light and let the joy and love of the Holy Spirit come shining out of us.

Matthew 6:22-23
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Truth Time!

Proverbs 19:5-6
5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will not go free.
6 Many curry favor with a ruler,
and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.

It's so easy to get angry when people start telling lies about us to other people. It's so easy to feel hurt when people are judging you without even taking time to get to know you. It's also so easy to be controlled in your emotions toward those people in hurt to lash out and hurt back. Isn't it pointless though to hurt others when you are hurt? Does it prove anything? If anything it just destroys your relationship and anything that God is going to be glorified for.

I've been being easily led by my emotions lately. It's not really hard to do when we are women especially around "the time of month". Well, I've been going through a spiritual war field lately. I am getting easily offended because I am always on my guard. It's no mystery that I've been hurt a lot in the past by people I have loved and trusted. I did forgive them yes and it did help me to heal however, I'm still healing and I'm very sensitive to others opinions. I myself know these are strongholds that I need to deal with. However, I'm also the first person to tell you this ministry is not lead by a perfect person but a person who has persevered through trials and is trying to glorify God in anyway she can.

I learned I need to be careful myself not to become a false judge of others. I really can't prejudge what others think of me without hearing their side. Learning to just trust God more and stay in the word is important for that. God's word keeps me hearing God more clearly. It also helps me to see the truth for what it is.

John 14:6
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Reach for the Sky!

Psalm 19:3-4
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

Have you ever lounged on a grassy hill in the summer time and looked into the blue sky? I remember this past summer thinking how the same sky that is over me is over so many other people. When I ask children where God is they normally say He is "up there" and point to the sky. Whenever I want to feel closer to God I just look up. In our culture we are told that when you go to heaven you go up and when you aren't going to heaven you go down. Therefore we associate God with the sky and Satan with the earth. So why not look up?

Really? As a nation we are so focused on things of the world that we forget there is one sky above us all there is also one God above us all. We get separated by more than just oceans we are separated within our own faith by prejudgment and gossip. It is sad that our words separate us to such an extent. Whereas the sky is together as one because it stays silent and worships God in every storm no matter if it's sunny or cloudy. If we want to see something beautiful we need to come together and look up to the sky. We need to focus on what really matters... eternity and we all need to help each other get there.

Keep looking up and reach for the sky!

Colossians 3:2
2And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

Keep Looking Up!

Psalm 19:1-2
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.

I love looking up at the sky. Sometimes I'll see the sun shining behind the clouds making the edges of the clouds glow and shimmer. Sometimes at night I will sigh happily as I look up at the stars. I feel so much closer to God even though the sky is so big. Something about the heavens makes me stand in awe.

Sometimes we are so focused on things on this earth that we just forget to look up and admire what is above us. I was watching the movie Last Holiday and there was this scene where there was a beautiful mural painted on the ceiling of this very fancy hotel. A woman who was told she had a short time to live... noticed this mural and asked a lady who had been working their a long time if it has ever made her want to cry. The girl behind the counter said that she had never noticed the ceiling before. It's like that in our lives we get so busy taking care of things we need to do just to get through that we miss out on the beauty and wonderful things that are right above our heads, things that we really ought to take more time to admire.

So the next time you find yourself burdened and busy take a moment and look up and just realize what beauty is unseen right above your own head. It is really okay to look up.

Isaiah 40:26
Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.

Lost on Love?

Psalm 18:49-50
49 Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations;
I will sing the praises of your name.

50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing love to his anointed,
to David and to his descendants forever.

Do you know the one thing that was keeping me at one point in my life from fully surrendering to God? I had no idea what unfailing love was. I always felt that love had "conditions" if you weren't pretty no guy would love you if you weren't a follower the world would not love you. That was another thing! Why did I want to be loved by the world? I know that we are to love the world like God but I am sure sometimes love has to be one sided even if it hurts. God loves the world... and sent His only Son to die for their sins and still the whole world does not love Him back. In fact, there are some people who are resentful and bitter toward God.

I just find it fascinating that love is defined in worldly terms when the world is so unexcepting of true love. God's love is unfailing and yet people expect love to require actions. The world says in order for a guy to really love you they have to lust after you and demand physical stimulation. It's the same with girls today. If a guy just wants to have a relationship that is honoring and pleasing to God he can't even find a virtuous wife because most girls want to have a good time and move on to the next good looking guy. I was sitting in the break room at work today and a coworker got a text. I asked if it was her boyfriend and she said she didn't want to have a boyfriend, she just wanted to date. I was completely confused. People don't look at dating as a commitment anymore. People have no sense of commitment to love. Love has been lost! What is true love? What is unfailing love? How can someone know who God is if they don't even know what love is? God is love!

I've been through the dump with relationships seriously I've had just about ever stinker you can possibly imagine. I've been trashed for the trashy ones. I've been thrown out. I only stayed in the relationships as long as I did because I was looking for love. I wanted to know what "unfailing" love was. Unfortunately I never did. I am still in the process of learning what unfailing love really is. I know that every time I've been through the storms God has never left my side and even though I did stupid things He never let it hang over my head. God was the only one who showed me love. Thankfully now that I have become familiar with love I am able to see what true love really is. It has helped my relationships with my family, my friends, and my wonderful boyfriend (who loves me like Christ loved the church). In order to love you really do need to know what love is all about.

Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 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.