Clothed with Strength and Dignity

Happy Birthday U.S.A.

Happy Independence Day!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Happy Birthday to the United States of America!!!

Each one of these are different phrases we use to describe our celebration of our country's birthday.  When you stop to think about it, this day is more than just a day of BBQ's and Fireworks...it's a day of FREEDOM.  A day set aside celebrate the freedom that we have in this country.  A freedom that gives us the freedom to have a relationship with Christ with out having to hide it.  A freedom to tell others about the love that Christ has to offer them.  To study the Word of God, to pray...to not have to hide.  

Life, Liberty, Speech, Press, and Religion, we have all of these freedoms and rights in this country, but the freedom to choose Jesus Christ as our Savior and to worship God through out our lives, is the best kind of freedom that is ever given to us because no one can ever take it from you, no matter what.


“So if the Son has set you free, you will be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)

The following video is one that I came across while search for this song. Someone put together from the Rebecca St. James song, "America." As the song was written back in 2006 for the National Day of Prayer, this is just a reminder to be praying for our Nation everyday, and Honoring God for what He has provided us here.  Giving us the freedom through His Son.

So I just wanted to stop and say, Thank you!  Thank you to all who have served our country! And, Remember!  Remember what this country was founded on!  Remember the path that is provided for you!  Remember the plans God has for you!

REMEMBER!!!

                                        

Thank you and GRACE AND PEACE to you all,

When exposed to the light....darkness has to flee

                                  

This morning I was listening to an inspirational message, and let me tell you, I've done my best to make these daily messages a part of my morning, but in the last couple of months, I've missed more than a few messages, and I've really missed that I missed these calls.  Now getting back into the habit of listening to these daily inspirational messages I know why I truly enjoy and become motivated and inspired every time I listen to one of these amazing and inspiring leaders on these calls. 

Today's message came from the heart of Amber.  She shared about relationships.  I love this because relationships are truly what we were made for...what we were created for.  Our very existence is built around relationships. A relationship with Christ!  Our relationships with the people in our life! Everything starts with self-less thinking and it's bigger than just you.  When we think about benefiting others and how we can grow in our relationships we are leading with love, from the heart.

In today's message, Amber shared from an issue that had been discussed from Focus on the Family (a radio show on the Christian radio station).  In this, she shared how 1 in 3 women can struggle with depression, and how more women are medicated now than they were years ago.  In the past, women used to go out, get together at parties, talk, shop, have coffee, can food together.  Where as years ago, not every house had air conditioning, women were more apt to get out of the house and be social.  But now, there is so much keeping women inside, television, air-conditioning, modern conveniences, etc.  There are more women hiding away.  We need to get those women back out on the social scene, because women need their friends. We need to be able to have our 'girls night out', to be able to talk and share, because let's face it, we can't talk to men about everything!  If we spill out all of our word vomit about our lives all over men, all they're likely to hear is blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...  Which, is why we need our girlfriends to talk to, we need someone who understands what we're going through and will listen and help us.  If we keep everything inside, it'll just build up. But, it we expose it to the light, darkness has no choice but to flee!  

Ephesians 5:8-13 9 (NIV)--> For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

Performing "Girlfriends" at a Women's Conference

We can get together with our friends for 'girls night out' once in while just to be able to hang out and chat and be able to be vulnerable with one another, talk about our lives, share....so we don't let things build up, so we don't feel alone.  Sometimes all we need is to feel loved and know that we are not alone.  Then maybe we may find that someone else may have been through the same thing we have. 

We can make people feel good, make them feel happy!  Because it's your choice to be happy....so be happy!!! Show love!!!

Find your friends that you can talk to, those friends that will help build you up, and not tear you down.  You know that you will become like the five women you around around the most, so good friends can be so valuable to each an everyone of us.  

This message also reminded me of a skit/monologue I've shared before.  It's called, 'Girlfriends.'  It talks about how women need their friends, and how important it is for us to have our friends in our lives, whether we're married our single, we need our friends in our lives to be able to talk to.  We need someone to talk to, laugh with, give advice/get advice from, cry with and pray with.   Don't be afraid to be open and vulnerable with a friend.  The more you open up with your friends, the more you can share and open up and help them open up to our wonderful Father in Heaven.   

These are some of the verses I came across as I was reading into the message I heard today.  Sometimes I just love the way The Message Bible reads, as I share with you...

1 John 1:5 (msg) -- This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there's not a trace of darkness in him.

^{Matthew 5:14-16 (msg) --} "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Grace and Peace,