He Works For Me

In a couple weeks, I have the opportunity to share my story at a women’s breakfast event at a local church. The theme of their event is “Celebrating God’s Love”. As I prepare for this day, I find myself repeatedly overcome with emotions when I think about how much God loves me and you. The One who gave me the gift of grace which I did not deserve has become my greatest joy in life!

I John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God.  And that is what we are!!”

When I read this verse, I often think about the love I have for my children. There is nothing that they could ever do that would take away my love for them. I know that no matter what paths they chose in life, I will always be there for them. But my love for my children doesn’t even come close to the love that our Heavenly Father has for us. Even in the midst of our darkest hour, He is right there fighting for us. Isn’t it awesome knowing that we are His children!

I love what Beth Moore says in her book, Breaking Free: “If I had to define my relationship with Him by one general statement, I would tell you that He is the absolute joy of my life. I don’t just love Him. I love loving Him. Surrendering my heart to Him has not been a sacrifice. I don’t know any other way to say it: He works for me.”

She later goes on to say, “I want God to be the greatest reality in your life. I want you to be more assured of His presence than any other you can see or touch. This can be your reality. This is your right as a child of God. We are destined to this kind of relationship with God.”

Praise God for his ever-abiding presence in our lives!

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”  – Isaiah 43:2-3

Checking In

Hi Everyone!

Wow, it's January 16 already, and I am just checking in for the first time of the New Year. I am hoping everyone had a wonderful holiday! I was able to enjoy spending lots of time with my family, so I am thankful for that.

So, as I mentioned, I am just checking in. Unfortunately, I am in my busy season at work. Did I ever mention I am an accountant?  This time of year, everything hits at once! So, for the next five weeks, I will pretty much be consumed by my work.

I have to admit that I was a bit discouraged by my busyness because I feel as though it is keeping me from spending time with God and doing what I feel He wants me to do. Then a friend reminded me that we all go through seasons and that God is using this season for preparation of things to come. And, I know great things are to come, so I will keep running towards that goal.

One passage I always remember: Habakkuk 2:2-3, "Then the LORD replied: Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

If you feel God is calling you for a specific purpose but it seems as though it is taking forever to get here, know that it will happen in His time. Just like the verse says, it will not delay. So, while I may have to put aside my blog and a few other projects for a little while, my eyes will still be focused on Him. I hope you will do the same when you find yourself overwhelmed by the busyness of life!

To Save Our Loved Ones

Question for you: When did God lose His power to save our loved ones? Did He somehow decide not to save our family members for whom we have prayed for faithfully? Have you given up hope?

I know there isn’t one person reading this post that doesn’t have someone they love that is lost. It may be a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or some other relative or friend. If you are like me, you are deeply worried at the thought of their not being in heaven with you some day. How awesome would it be to see them have a relationship with the Lord!

The Lord said to Judah, “Is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?” (Isaiah 50:2).  The simple answer is that God can save our loved ones! In 2 Peter 3:9, it tells us that God wants for all to be saved. He has done everything in His power to make a way for salvation.

God has given all of us gifts that show His concern for everyone’s salvation. The first is the Word of God. In this perfect Book, God reveals Himself to us. We get to see the love He has for sinners and His plan to save them.

The Work of God is another gift to us. If we look back through history, we can see the hand of God performing mighty works. All of these works have been designed to bring a saving knowledge of Him. How about in Christ? He is the ultimate work of God who sacrificed His life so that all can be saved if we just believe in Him.

God is capable of doing what we ourselves cannot do. We can plead, nag, even beg our loved ones, but we can never open the doors of their hearts. Only God can do that. John 16:8 says, “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.”

We may never know when and how God is working in their hearts, but do not give up on them. We are to pray and be patient and He will gather in our loved ones, one at a time! Live your life for Jesus in front of them at all times and God will do His part!



I Wanted to Dropkick Her

Last night, I relived my Black Friday experience as I waited in line to get into my kids’ Christmas program (mom, I know you are chuckling about where I am going with this). A large crowd waited eagerly outside of the gym in hopes of finding seats close to the front. Now, the rule was no saving seats, so it was first-come, first-serve.

As the doors opened, the large crowd raced to their seats ignoring the well-being of those around them. As my mom and I and the kids entered a row, a lady from the row behind us quickly pulled a chair out in our row and proceeded to come up into our row.  We were down two seats. So, as we went to sit down in our remaining seats, an older woman scooted her butt in behind my son’s so she could sit down. I politely said to her that we were sitting there. To my dismay, she proceeded to tell me how rude I was, stood up, turned around, and reminded me one more time of my rudeness, and then found a seat closer to the front. All I could sarcastically say was “Merry Christmas.” And, then my blood began to boil. Do you know that feeling? And, literally, I wanted to dropkick her across the gym. A drop kick in soccer is when the goalie, instead of punting the ball down the field, let’s the ball bounce on the ground first and then proceeds to boot it down the field. Yep, I wanted to send her flying.

That’s horrible, I know. It just blew my mind as I looked around at the madness! Did I mention that it was held at a Christian school? Shouldn’t we all have been acting differently? Are we not the body of Christ? As I lay in bed last night, I began to wonder if my actions should have been different. Should I have given her our seats or was there something else I could have said instead of a sarcastic “Merry Christmas”? I knew for sure that I shouldn’t have been so angry about it, and I wished for that chance again to do it right.

Anger is not necessarily a bad thing because it is a desire for change. But spouting off at the first wrong doing is definitely not the thing to do. We should also not let anger sit and aggravate us because it can cause bigger problems down the road. James 1:19-20 says, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

Anger is very powerful and can lead to destruction. So, how should we handle it? When we become angry, we should stop and think about why we are angry and about what it is about the situation that we wish was different. Taking this time allows us to examine ourselves. Luke 6:41-42 says, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.”

When we feel anger rising in us, we need to have self-control. Ever count to ten? Try it sometime because it actually works. I practice it often with my kids :). Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” Sometimes we need to train ourselves. Remembering what the scriptures say about anger and about how God wants us to act in those situations can help us to be His light that shines for all to see.

As we celebrate this Christmas season, we are going to be faced with many challenges when it comes to shopping for gifts or even spending time with relatives. When issues arise that make you angry, take a step back and take a good look at the situation. Luke 6:36-38 says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure -- pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

Remember to love one another…and forgive.



Christmas Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zduwusyip8M

This video was shown at my kids' school today.  Very Cute!

27 Dresses

Have you ever seen the movie “27 Dresses”? I loved it! It’s a romantic comedy about a single woman who has served as a bridesmaid 27 times! She struggles on number 28 with the idea of supporting her sister at the altar in spite of having fallen helplessly in love with her sibling's handsome fiancé. For as far back as she can remember she has given up her own happiness for the sake of those she loves most. As she comes to grips with her true feelings, her life begins to change in ways she never expected.

For those of us who have been brides, hopefully, it was an amazing day that we will never forget. Some of you have been dreaming of that day since you were a little girl and most likely have it already planned out. Did you know that your Maker is your husband – the Lord Almighty is His name (Isaiah 54:5)?

Many people of the Christian church are unaware of our wonderful calling as the Bride of Christ. Isaiah 62:3-5 says, “The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see — a splendid crown in the hand of God. Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride. Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.” 
    

When we refer to the church as the Bride of Christ, we are talking about a relationship with Jesus while we are still here on earth (the true Wedding Day will take place when we are in heaven with Him). This relationship with Him is so close and so spiritually intimate, that the best metaphor to portray is that of a bride and groom. If you think of the bond that you share with your spouse, the closeness that you enjoy, and the pleasure that you receive from one another, it is just a small glimpse of the everlasting relationship with Jesus Christ. The amazing truth is that our God has chosen us! He pursued us and purified us so that we may be His Bride!

I love what David Wilkerson says about the Bride of Christ, “The Bride of Christ rests in His love. She is confident He knows where she is, how she feels, what she is going through, and what is best for her. His loves gives her peace and calm. She knows He will not allow anything that will cut her off from Him or hurt her. He is going to preserve her because He said, ‘She’s mine!’”

What must we do as the Bride of Christ? We must realize the importance of Christ being first in our life. We must wear His name! Peter said that "neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). We must not commit spiritual adultery by becoming worldly! “Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:2-3).

I challenge you to seek that deeper and more intimate relationship with Christ. He does not only want to be our salvation but our bridegroom! Ephesians 5:25-27 says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”

It Starts With One

If we were to compare ourselves to Billy Graham, we would feel pretty insignificant. He is a man who has witnessed to millions of people in his lifetime. But, have you ever thought about how many lives could be changed by our witnessing to just one person?

My great grandfather, Pop Pop, was born and raised in the Catholic Church. Every Saturday, he would go to confession. On one particular Saturday, as he was trying to think of his sins for the week, he realized that he didn’t have any to share. So, he felt like he needed to make stuff up. It dawned on him how foolish it was that he was going to some man every week to ask for forgiveness. The next day, he decided to go to an Assemblies of God church near his home, and that same day, he accepted Christ into his heart.

Once Pop Pop found Christ, he started inviting others to church. As a result, his brother and sister-in-law and their family became saved, as well as my grandfather and his brothers. It continued to grow from there. My grandfather and the pastor from his church would travel through the streets of their town with a loud speaker announcing a revival at their church. A lady standing on the corner attended the service that weekend and she, too, accepted Christ. As of this day, many of her family members are born again believers.

My Pop Pop is now in heaven with Jesus, and thankfully, I can say that our family will see him again some day. It took one person hearing the message of the cross and believing for it to be passed down from generation to generation. It is awesome to know that I am now passing that on to my children.

Remember, it starts with one. While you may not realize the impact you are having on others, know that as you plant the seeds, God will use it in great ways just as He did with my great grandfather.