Category Archives: Jesus

Closure 11/19/15 

19 Thursday Nov 2015

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That day started off ok. Kids at school, hubby at work, coffee in hand and I was good to go. My heart knew what that day was though…it was the anniversary of my dads home going. Although, I no longer grieve like I used to, that day, my heart ached differenly and it hit me out of the blue. As I was going through some old photos I came across one that punched me in the gut. I remembered that moment in time. How I felt. My situation. It came back like a flood and overwhelmed me with guilt. 

I had regret. Lots of it. My mind raced with what would have happened had I done things differently. There was so much fear then and now regret. Lord why now after all these years would I feel this way? I know the Lord didn’t show me this so I could wallow in self pity. No, he showed it to me so he could heal it. His intentions are for our good but no good can ever come out of a wound unless we allow Jesus access to heal it. Regret has a way of eating at us. No closure. No rest. Again, like so many other times I had to give it to him otherwise it would rot and torment me. 

Let me encourage you to not shy away from the gentle hands of Jesus when you’re in pain. We tend to retreat and succumb to solitude and isolation when we hurt. Jesus draws us out of hiding and into his safety. It’s there we find peace, healing, and release. Our burden is lifted. We get clarity. A new perspective. Hope renewed. Closure. A new chapter!! 

 

Unashamed 11/13/15 

13 Friday Nov 2015

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Good afternoon y’all! 

I hung my head in shame for surely it was my fault. Something I did or said set them off. Who else but me could be to blame? Their own words and actions convicted me everytime. I was convinced they were right; every word, unwanted advance, touch, and violation…guilty. 

Abuse, date rape, and years of bullying broke me down and I lived like this for years. Lies upon lies I bought and agreed with. It was so deep that I was full of dysfunction and toxicity. What a mess I was. Although the actions of another were not my fault it did lead to unhealthy choices of my own. It was easy to be manipulated when I failed. Seperating the two was an impossible task and I needed rescuing. 

Jesus in his loving kindness showed up in some miraculous ways to break every lie I believed. It didn’t happen overnight. Day by day he led me and I followed down a path of healing and amazing grace. He drew me in with his love and told me his truth. Truth that set this fearful and ashamed woman free. I will never deny the saving power of Christ that took every broken and shameful place in me and gave it purpose. I stand here unashamed and free and it’s all because of Jesus’ great love for me!!

Not Finished 11/12/15 

12 Thursday Nov 2015

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Good evening friends! 

Let me give it to you straight…you is good…you is kind…you is purposed. 

Your life was destined for a purpose with a specific process that’s only for you. 

I know your journey has been crazy, emotional, surprising, and tiring. It has you second guessing your dreams, your desires and future. You’re looking around wondering if any of this matters. It does! How could this possibly get me to where I want to go? It will! No one sees me. No one hears me. What I do doesn’t matter. 

The devil is a lie! 

The mere fact that I am writing this to you today is proof that you are seen, you are heard, and your life matters more than you could imagine! All of your behind the scenes are being recorded and will one day be a highlight reel for all to see. Don’t stop! Keep going! Keep doing what you love even though you feel no one is watching. Your destiny is being perfected in these small mundane moments of life. 

Don’t despise small, ordinary beginnings. Remember, Jesus was born in a smelly manger surrounded by live stock and dung. Believe that he is faithful to complete what he started and let him finish it. I can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve!! 

It’s Messy 11/10/15 

10 Tuesday Nov 2015

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Good afternoon friends! 

Every six weeks {sometimes 4} I venture into the dreaded act of…coloring my hair. I wish I had the genes of no greys but I don’t. My father had salt and pepper hair in his early twenties and those genes have been passed down generously to me and my children {you should see my 12 year olds hair}. 

Every lady who desires to wash that grey right outta her hair knows my pain. The process is messy, time consuming, and expensive. Yet, like moths to the flame we go, like clock work, through the process because in the end we look…not old. Lol! 

When the desired result is one we seek to have we endure a process that is less than desirable to get there. Baking a cake, dying our hair, building a house, having kids, breaking free from addictions and old habits, losing weight, it all requires a process. Sadly, some give up mid process simply because the mess deceives us of our progress. What we see and feel is not always comfortable nor accurate. This is a trap…a deadly one. 

Don’t allow the mess of the process to hinder your overall goal. Can you imagine if the baker stopped mid process simply because the ingredients didn’t look like a cake? Your life is a series of processes that must finish in order for you to be the best you. It’s gonna be messy. It’s gonna be hard. People will judge. You’re gonna want to quit but I encourage you to stay the course. Give yourself some grace. Don’t look at what you see now. Hold onto the hope that this too shall pass and when it does…mmmm cake!!! 

Don’t Delay 11/9/15 

09 Monday Nov 2015

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Good morning friends! 

There is no such thing as “random” in the kingdom of God. His word says he delights in the details of our life {Psalm 37:22}. Have you ever had a thought to do something for someone? Bless someone? A name just pop up in your head? Maybe someone is heavy on your heart? Those are details!! 

For over a month I had this feeling that I was to bless a friend financially. I was sure it was the Lords leading and I needed to be obedient. However, I didn’t immediately react. I procrastinated. I got distracted. The longer I delayed the more I doubted if I should do it. Situations came up that made me question if I could even afford to do it at all. Finally, God had to remind me in a dream to do it. Uh oh! Thankfully God is merciful and slow to anger otherwise I would have been in a lot of trouble {I’m thinking like a mom}. 

A few days ago I got a call from my friend and as she told me her about her situation I just cried! I wished I would’ve been obedient sooner!! Maybe I could’ve spared her some unnecessary heartache. Oh how we need to obey because we never know who or what is on the other side of our obedience. Although I didn’t know her situation God did! 

If God has laid someone on your heart or you feel a nudging to act…do it! Make the call. Send the card. Pray. Write the check. If you don’t see how it will help or how you can do it step out anyways. He knows all and sees all and you may be the answer to someones prayers including your own. 

Homesick 11/6/15 

06 Friday Nov 2015

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Happy Friday y’all!! 

Today I am feeling homesick. There are moments that this journey wears on me. I get tired and I miss the comforts of home. I miss my family. I miss my friends. Not everything was perfect but I had a comfort zone {don’t we all} and I would have never left except to be obedient to the Lord. 

Sometimes our obedience leads us on a journey to lonely places. I recall the story of Abraham. The Lord called him out to a place where he had never been. He just went. He gathered his family and went. He didn’t have a plan. He had faith. He trusted blindly. This decision of obedience will always cost us. We will lose some things, some people too. We will leave things and people behind. We will take a huge risk in the hope of God being faithful. 

In Hebrews 11 it tells us there are rewards for such faith. It’s the hall of faith. What a list of amazing people doing extraordinary things for God. These were everyday people like you and me. They got homesick. I’m sure at times they wanted to go back {the Isrealites did}. I sometimes want to too but on days like these when home seems so far away I choose to remember everything God said and did. I take my tears to Jesus and he comforts me with hope. Hope for all he is going to do even though I don’t see how. I am comforted knowing that I am not the only one who took a risk and left home. I am encouraged that like Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and all the others who have walked a journey, that I too, will be rewarded for my faith. What an honor! 

Keep Asking! 11/5/15 

05 Thursday Nov 2015

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Good morning friends!!

Every year my husband and I request that the kids make their Christmas list {open season lol}. I must say the kids don’t disappoint as their list can be quite extensive. This year was no different but I noticed that my teenager had a really hard time making a list {will wonders never cease}. You’d think I’d be happy…no list…no gifts. Right? I was curious to what was taking him so long so I asked him. He said that what he wanted he knew he wasn’t going to get so what was the point in making a list. Hmmm. Not the answer I was expecting. 

How many times have we refused to go to the Lord with a request simply because we didn’t think he would answer us? 

I was hurt because I asked him to ask and he didn’t trust my heart towards him. He didn’t see it that way. He saw the times that he asked and didn’t get what he asked for. Sound familiar? I am not insinuating that our request is like a Christmas list or that the Lord is Santa Claus. It’s the principle here of asking when told to ask. The Lord tells us to pray; to bring our request before him continually. Often times we stop asking because we haven’t received in a way we expected. Just like my son, we don’t trust the heart of God towards us. We see an unanswered prayer and our hearts get hardened and distant. We get discouraged and disappointment sets in and we no longer pray and seek God for our needs and desires. 

God asks us to ask and seek him and he knowing the plan for our life will say no at times or not now. This is NOT him not answering or not hearing you. This is his protection over you but do not stop asking!!! Don’t be discouraged over a no or not yet. Be encouraged that the Lord knows your end from your beginning. He sees your need and wants and has a plan to meet them all. In the meantime he’s working on your behalf in unexpected ways. Trust the Fathers heart towards you…you are after all his beloved child. 

A Good Father 11/4/15 

04 Wednesday Nov 2015

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Good morning friends!! 

I woke up this morning singing a song about what a good Father God is. Seeing God as a father can be very hard for some; it was for me. We tend to look through the lense of our personal experience with our own dads. If our experience has been bad or even non existent it will be a challenge to see God as he really is. 

I love the movie “Father of the Bride.” I can not watch that movie without crying. The way George Banks loves Annie just melts my heart. He wasn’t perfect, in fact he was hilariously cheap but his love, admiration, respect, and devotion is what I imagined a dad’s love should be like. 

No matter what your experience has been I’m hear to tell you that our God is a good Father. His word says it. His actions prove it. His track record is flawless. He can be trusted. He doesn’t withhold good from you. He will always keep his promises and meet your every need. His plan is not to harm you but protect you. He stores your tears and knows the very number of hairs on your head. There is not one moment of your life that he has left you or forgotten you. He sees you. He ears you. He is for you and his heart will always be to give you all of him. 

Lord I pray today that you heal every broken part of us that keeps us from seeing you as you really are…our good Father. Comfort those of us who still grieve over the loss of our father and relationship. Bring peace and quiet the noise that drowns out your voice. In Jesus name…Amen! 

Hello Change 11/1/15 

01 Sunday Nov 2015

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Good afternoon friends! 

Hello November! Where has the time gone? It’s the holiday season already? Are you ready? I am! 

This season is my most favorite. When I feel the change in the weather and see the leaves changing colors I know it’s fall. From here I can expect the holidays to be close by and the hustle and bustle to begin. 

I often say that what we know to be true in the natural is also true in the spirit. God has his tendencies. There are things we can be sure of when one season ends and another begins. Look around you and tell me what you see. Is there chaos? Things shifting? Change happening? Things a little messy? Have you been feeling the ache of transition? Well, then get ready for something new! It’s a new season! There has been a process of things slowly dying and now it’s time for them to fall. This is good! Don’t look around you and be dismayed by what’s no longer there. I doubt the trees cry over the dead leaves falling. Don’t cry over what was! Rejoice! God is making room for the new. Look forward with great expectation! It’s time!! 

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.
 Isaiah 43:19 {NIV}

Fight!! 10/29/15 

29 Thursday Oct 2015

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Good afternoon friends!! 

Today I want to encourage y’all to fight the good fight of faith!! This life is full of battles that we will have to press through. I often hear the misconception that as Christians all will be well with us; that we will have a perfect, trouble free life. Huh?! No disrespect, but what bible have you been reading? 

All through out scripture we see faithful men and women of God who encountered trials and troubles in their life. They too, wondered where God was; does he hear me? See me? Abraham and Sarah were childless for years, Joseph’s family betrayed him and sold him as a slave which caused years of unfair injustice to him, Saul tried to kill David, Job lost everything and all he loved. Those are just to name a few who had to fight to continue to believe that God was faithful and would do what he promised. 

Issac was born to Sarah at 90 years old, Joseph became second in command over all of Egypt, David became King and Job received double of all that was lost. You make look today at your situation and say impossible…I say take another look. God is about to revive that which you thought was dead! He’s going to restore you!  

What is your battle today? What is it in your life that for the moment has you believing it’s over? Financial loss? Sickness? Family trouble? Do you need hope? Joy? Strength? Encouragement? My friends, there is only one answer and his name is Jesus!! He promised life abundantly to those of us who trust in him. His word says that we are MORE than conquerors! We have victory because of his great love for us. These trials weren’t meant to kill you but to prepare you for an amazing future. Don’t give up now! Keep on pressing through!! Look up!! Believe!! Hope against all odds that Jesus will do all he said he would do!! You my friend are gonna make it and come out with double for your trouble!!! 

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.      Romans 8:35-37