Raise your voice…

Scared.
Alone. Innocent.
Angry. 

Just a few of the words that can be used to describe the victims of those enslaved in human trafficking.Most of the victims here are sold against their will, they are taken into captivity and used and abused every day.  They have no voice in the situation.  They live in hope that their cries will be heard one day.  While some may have been promised money and a good life, only to find out when they arrive to their destination that it’s all a lie.  They were lied to.  Now they’re stuck as a prisoner in a world of lies and abuse.  Will you speak up for them?

Raise your voice.  Shine a light on slavery.  Take a stand.  There can be some great power spoken in just those few words right there.  If you haven’t yet heard of the agencies that work to fight against human trafficking, you should check out the A21 Campaign and/or Abolition International.  They are doing some amazing things in the world to put a stop to the human trafficking issue and they are saving lives daily.  We have to speak up and share this message to be heard.  If we can make more people aware of the situations occurring than more victims can be heard and their lives can be saved.  Be the voice to the voiceless.
Proverbs 31:8, says; Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed. (NLT)
You might be thinking, ‘what does this have to do with me?  I’ve never seen it around here.’  Just because you’ve not witnessed it personally doesn’t mean in doesn’t exist.  Trafficking just doesn’t exist in the third-world countries.  North America is quite possibly just as big of ground for human trafficking as other countries are.  Many are being rescued from this horrific form of slavery every day.
These people are silenced in there suffering as they are enslaved by traffickers.  “Because every 30 seconds another human being becomes a victim of human trafficking".”  (A21 Campaign)
Natalie Grant’s song Home, is a great song to give hope to those who have been enslaved and rescued.    
You’re home, where secrets are told see a new world unfolding where hearts are one, the pain’s undone and you’re finally belonging, yeah and you need to know, you need to know you’re home, yeah you need you know, you need to know you’re home
Everything’s gonna be alright
’cause you’re home
feel the sun, your day has come
you’re not alone you’re home

Love the words to Natalie Grant’s song, Safe, which says; In Him, I am safe.  
I ‘m not gonna hide, I’m not gonna run away, I’ll uncover the scars and show You every mistake, Your love is mending my blisters and my bruising shame, here with you I am safe, I am safe, I am safe, I am safe…

So if you have heard this and want to do something about it, check out the websites from A21 Campaign and Abolition International and start a Love Revolution! 

Blessings and Be A Voice to the Voiceless,

Defying the odds...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my inspirational messages in the mornings, whether I'm reading them or listening to them over the phone.  This one came from one of my Mary Kay hotline phone calls the other day. 

This person based their discussion this morning about the story of the bumblebee.  It's such an incredible life story because the bumblebee was never intended to be able to fly because of its body size and wing span/size, it would be just impossible for this thing to fly through the air. Good thing the bumblebee never "read" that, right?

So what's to stop anyone from doing what they might be able to do if they never tried. If we never try something we will never know.  So..."if you thing you can, you can.....and if you think you can't, you're right!"

Turn the "impossible" into "I'm Possible!" Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  I love this verse! 

There's so much packed into these words. When we try to do things by ourselves we fail every single time but when we let Christ in and follow His plan instead of our own, things just seem to "flow" better. It may not be easy and and it may be really, really hard but it's extremely possible and always worth it! 

My favorite quote from "Soul Surfer" just happens to be, "I don't need easy, I just need possible!"  

Blessing to all,

Celebrate Life!

Well, I've been thinking about this recent conference I was able to attend back in October of this year, I was incredibly blessed to be able to listen to the hearts of several women of faith while in Sacramento, Ca.  
While each one of them had a completely different life story to tell, they all centered around their undying love for Jesus.  They shared of hardships and trials and even some of the tears and pain that occurred in their lives and how they had been brought through these trials to be able to see the triumphs and victories over these times to believe and see what lies ahead in their brilliant futures.  Each one of their stories ran over several years of their life where they had their ups and downs.  Sometimes just when things started to look up…their world came to a crashing halt! Then, when it seemed as if all they wanted to do was give up, they rose to learn from their past and push on toward their future.
Philippians 3:13-14 -- Now, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

I mean, have you ever felt like that?  Most of us have.  But, in truth, as it says in the scripture, in this life we will face trials….but take heart HE has overcome the world! 


Christine Caine was probably one of my favorites that weekend.  I love how she spoke on ‘a plague of frogs.’ I seen that scripture in a whole new aspect that day.
Christine shared that we are important – each and every one of us --  and God knows and cares from each and every one of His children.  It doesn't matter where we live or where we were born, we are more than just a number in the system, we all have a name and are fearfully and wonderfully made!  Whether we grew up and lived with our birth parents or if you've been adopted or if you live in a child care center somewhere...you are more than just a number in this big world....you have a name and you matter...and you are loved!
It says in Jeremiah 29:11, “’I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord…”  God’s got a plan, a purpose and a destiny for you!
I am fearfully and wonderfully made! 
Ephesians 2:10 -- For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

How are you going to live without your fear?  You don’t have to be defined by your issues?  Christ knows your name and who you are.  I can't wait to dive into Christine's newest book, "Undaunted," and learning more through her writing as well. 

Isaiah 49:1 -- Listen to me, all you in distant lands!  Pay attention, you who are far away!
The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.

Psalm 139: 1-24 --  www.biblegateway.com

O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

² You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

³ You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

⁴ You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

⁵ You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

You’re wanted!!!  You were made for more! The truth will make you free!

Galatians 5:1 --So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Angie Smith spoke about fear, and who doesn't have some kind of fear in their life, right?  Angie shared about fears through the voice of Hagar, and how when Hagar was sent off with Ishmael they face trials, their faith was tested but even  where human provision may have run out, the ‘well’ is always there and God was always with them helping with there needs. Hagar
   Genesis 21:8-21


Angie spoke about Psalm 139 today and the impact on this chapter in her life.

Angie told her story about here daughter and each of their births.  She opened with her twin daughters and how she had them figured to be the best babies in the world.  She had no trouble taking these angels to the store and out and about.  Although, her next child came to be the complete opposite.  "She's a negotiator" Angie said.  As she told the story about telling her daughter that if she would quit sucking her thumb for 2 weeks, she would take her to Toys R Us and buy her anything she wanted for not sucking her thumb for 2 weeks!  All in all and to quote "a very funny story" her daughter agreed to the proposition.  Well, 5 minutes later Angie found her daughter in her room sucking her thumb. When she asked her about their deal just earlier, her daughter turned to her saying, "eh...I'll just get it for Christmas."  Kids!

Now Angie told us of her cute little stories of her girls but she left one story for the end.  Her next little baby girl.  A little girl who halfway through her pregnancy, the doctors had advised Angie to 'end her pregnancy.'  They told Angie and Scott that their baby girl wasn't developing like she should be, she didn't have a pancreas, she didn't have 4 chambers in her heart and there were two other organs missing.  Knowing how strong Angie and Scott felt about the human life growing inside of her they trusted God and they continued to full term against the wishes of the doctors.  By their next appointment, the doctors were amazed about how much progress the baby had made.  Her organs had been developing and she had 4 chambers in her heart.  Angie made it to deliver her baby girl.  Although she was weak and small, they were aloud to hold their precious and beautiful baby girl for a couple hours on the day of her birth.  And even through they only had a few hours with her, she said that they would have a lifetime of memories  for as long as she'd lived that day, and they would never have traded that day of anything.  They loved and cherished every moment they had spent with their precious and beautiful daughter.

God sees you different than you see yourself. 

                                                There is hope beyond where you are right now.

Sheila Walsh is always amazing to hear and a blessing her hear her thoughts and teachings.  She spoke from Romans Chapter 12, identifying that there is ‘nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ.’  
   
   It’s not about who you are,     
   it’s about whose you are!      

         I am a daughter 
                of the 
                                                           King of Kings!



Shannon Ethridge graced us with her presence as she shared that God is more than sufficient to meet ALL of OUR needs! 



Shannon's life story was incredible to be able to listen to her heart as she  told her story.

I just want to break down some of my favorite quotes spoken by Shannon this day, they pretty much say it all about surrending your life over to God and letting go.  Knowing that we are going to make mistakes and even though we may fail at times, God is there to embrace us and pick us back up and dust us off.  

• Let God woo you and pursue you
  
• Embrace your bridegroom“

• Loving Jesus without limits!”

Even, the one of the few men (Ken Davis) that we there shared a few good points, 

1 – To believe with all of your heart that God is the author of ALL YOUR JOY!  
2 – To believe with all your heart that perfection is not a requirement! AND 
3 – To believe with all your heart that He will NEVER let you down!

God can take you where you are at!

There's a purpose and a plan for all of us!

God can meet you and take you where you are!  

1 Peter 5:6-10 --> upon reading this section verse 10, this does stand out as the key verse here.  No matter what we may go through, God is here for us and he will provide us with strength to be restored.  In the hands of God our brokenness is powerful.  More powerful than we could even imagine!
We can see the face of God in the brokenness, in the storms of life, in our trials and in our tribulations.  The difference in 'being broken' and 'being broken open' is when we find that we can let God in to help us heal.  God gives us those little signs of comfort that everything is going to be okay.
Listening to Sheila Walsh this weekend, made me think about a few years, remembering hearing from Tammy Trent.  These two ladies have amazing stories to tell.  In Sheila's book, Honesty and In Tammy's book, "Learning to breathe again,' tells the stories of how they've felt broken and how they've been restored.
His angels are all around us, whether they come in Hilton Housekeeping uniforms, a voice or hug of a stranger or even someone we know well.  We are constantly entertaining angels all around us.

     So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.  

     In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

God has His Purpose for all of us!  I love when I heard someone say this,  'God just teach me to sing and worship you in the middle of the storm.'  Because when we are in the middle of a storm that's really when we want to be focused on God.  Which really reminded me how much I really love the song from Casting Crowns, Praise you in this storm.  God will get us through the storms in our lives.  I can see the pictures -- standing on the sandy beach  in the middle of a rainstorm just praising God in the midst of it.  How amazing does that sound?

Romans 8:28 -- And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

I am a Child of God and Daughter of the King of Kings!  

I took a couple notes from one of Sheila's messages she shared and I wanted to share some of them here....

God let me reflect who YOU ARE!

A couple of points I've listed from the conference that I was at to help us reflect.... 

• It's okay to talk to yourself. :-)  Really it is! :-) You can ask yourself, who does Jesus love? For me, THIS GIRL! :-)

• Build an arsenal of the Word of God
• Dig for themselves/ourselves
• The Word of God is a letter written to YOU by GOD to help you.
• Create a stack of cards with verses that you can turn to
• Fear --> Psalm 27:1
• The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? 
     The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? 
• Anxiety --> 1 Peter 5:7
• Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
• Overwhelmed --> 
• My Grace is sufficient for you
• My Grace is enough for you
• Psalm 143:8......................Treasure deep in your heart
  Psalm 4:8
• The Bible is full of helpful verses for us to live by (God's love letter to us!)

• Surround yourself with good people.  You will be like the five people you are around the most!
• find yourself a mentor  -- someone older who can give you guidance, answer your questions and help guide you and just be able to be there for you.

God knows the weight of what we have cried, he holds our tears and he knows when we cry.  He is there for us!  He will wipe away every tear that falls from our face.

Revelation 21:4 -->  He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

Love this song from Sheila Walsh.  She sang it toward the end of the Women of Faith conference, so I though I would share it on here as well. 

You Raise me up - Sheila Walsh

Women of Faith part 3…bummer lambs

Bummer Lambs

"...My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love, Amazing grace..."

During one of Sheila Walsh’s messages she spoke about how sometimes, like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, you can be singing, ‘Somewhere over the rainbow  Way up high, There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue, And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true.’ And then, before you know it, you have no idea that a tornado is on it’s way, in the midst of our dreams.  But when we can't seem to go on anymore and we come to understand and realize that we can't do it alone...we see that God has been with us the whole time.  We just need to reach out our hand and God will pull us through.



Sheila’s book, Honestly, takes a look into Sheila’ childhood, through her 30’s and so on through her life.  She talks about how her life changed in an instant and how she just tried to cover up the fact that she was hurting inside by looking okay on the outside.  Which so many of us try to do, don't we?  We work so hard to make everything look so good on the outside so nobody can see what is really happening on the inside of our lives.  I would definitely recommend this book to read!   We all have dreams for our life and sometimes it just takes a little longer to get there.  We will never get something completely right....but God still loves us anyway!  He is there to pick us up when we fall...as we reach out our hand and grab a hold of HIS!
"...nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling..."

Sheila told the story of the shepherd and his sheep and how the shepherd will go and look for that ONE lost lamb. Then if something is wrong or that lamb is hurt the only hope is for the shepherd to come and lift the lamb up.  Sheep are the most defenseless of animals.  It’s known that an Ewe will reject one of her lambs after she gives birth, and that lamb will die of a broken heart/spirit unless the shepherd intervenes.  These lambs are also known as, bummer lambs.
The bummer lambs run to the shepherd because they get and they get it because they believe it!  
They embrace the relationship with the shepherd, because they know that they are loved!  They know where they can find help and a relationship.  They know that even though they wondered away, that they can come home again and be loved!
We are completely loved by God. If I could tell you just one thing...it would be that, You are loved more than you can ever imagine.  Each one of us can have brand new life and have a relationship with a God and Father that knows our hearts and our future.
The Shepherd is looking for you...where are you?  Will you embrace the relationship?  Because you are loved by the fiery LOVE of God!   

Matthew 18:12-14 If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.

When we come to realize that, I am not the good news…GOD IS!!!  God is the good news that we need to share with the world!  

Having a true and real 'best friend' relationship with Jesus and wanting to know that when I wake up in the morning, HE is the first thing on my mind, because HE is the one that woke me up that morning, and HE is the last thing I want to think about before I go to sleep, because HE will give me a great nights rest!  

The decisions that you make today will affect your future.




Amazing Grace...My Chains are Gone

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine  

Women of Faith...part 1 -- it's okay not to be okay

This past weekend I was able to attend a Women of Faith conference.  I've been able to attend a few of them before in the past and they have always been amazing and worth so much for all that I can take away from the conference.  The speakers are so full of life and their love for God shines all over that stage!  This conference was a one-day event, as the two-day event will take place later on this year.   The one-day is a great addition to Women of Faith if you can't make the two-day one, but I think this event just made me more excited to see, hear and attend the event again in October in Sacramento!  :-)  


There is so much to tell about this event because it was all so amazing!  So I think I'll break it up into a couple parts in this blog, so here is Part 1 of the conference...


Worship - They always have an awesome worship experience at these events.  With this being a smaller event, there were probably near 1,000 women singing their hearts out -- praising and worshiping an amazing God!  Especially when the music stops and it's just 1,000 voices praising the Lord.


We were then introduced to the main speaker Sheila Walsh, who was accompanied by David Pendleton -- ventriloquist and Scott Macintyre -- musician/singer, once on the American Idol stage -- more to come about his story later. :)
David Pendleton shared his message through comedy through ventriloquism. While Scott Macintyre shared his heart through music and how he "walks by faith, not by sight."

A Mosaic Stone --
 I don't have the one she was talking
about, but this one was pretty :)

Then, of course, there was Sheila Walsh who shares her heart every times she steps on the stage.


Sharing - It's okay not to be okay!


Sheila opened up with  Isaiah 61:1.  The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
Sheila told a story about her how things aren't always how they seem and how we may think we're getting one thing but we end up with something else.  She told a story about how her son (when he was younger) and how he saw this really amazing Mosaic Stone that was beautiful put together and written on.  He decided that would be a great gift for his mom.  Well, after ordering it and when it finally arrived, it was all in tiny little pieces that had to be pieced together.  She said he spent his time assembling the pieces and writing 'I love you, mom' on the stone, in time to give it as a gift, (which, I think it was for Mother's day one year).     If you could just imagine how delicately this stone was crafted together by a pair of hands and how much love was put into it.  It's how God forms His children, taking his time and giving each one of us special gifts to be able to use as we serve him in our life. 


Isn't that how we come to God though?  We come in our brokenness, struggles, fears and tears, only to find how much he can restore us to be whole again.  God gives us new life and pulls all of our broken pieces together when we can't do it by ourselves, just like the mosaic stone.   Even when our hearts are restless and we feel we can't go on anymore...God is there!  In the midst of it all, He's there for us!  He picks us up when we're broken, dusts us off, cleans us up and puts us together, because we our His Children.  We are Children of God!
We are here to become more like Christ as we enter into a relationship with Him.  He helps us whether the changes that lie ahead of us in our lives.  Through Christ's nail-scarred hands he stops our bleeding and heals our wounds.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
We can come with all of our baggage and lay them at the foot of the cross.  


If you saw all of your baggage laid down in front of you, would you take it home with you?  OR Would you lay it all down?

I'm with You

You were meant for more.  I live my life for God.  It's not about me, it's all about Him!  Just some of the statements we hear and talk about during our 
walk with Christ and our relationship with Him.
When you put your faith and trust in the creator of the universe, when you surrender everything; ultimately, to the one who knows you from the inside out, every part of you, including your future.  
We hear these words so often, but sometimes they're just hard to fathom.  We want to surrender everything. We want to trust that God has a plan for us.  But, sometimes are question back is...When God? When is it going to happen, for me?  
I mean, I know it's your timing but when?  We are constantly being little impatient children, it's part of our human nature.  We're like that child you see in the candy store, tugging at our parents side begging for that piece of candy we are so desperately wanting and we just have to have.  We want things now or in the time we think we deserve something.  It's not until something might finally happen to us when we finally realize why God has had us wait so long.  As He is preparing each and everyone of us for our own journey, and though we may not fully understand why, we ultimately know that our wonderfully Father has nothing but the best prepared and designed for his children.


As I listen to K-Love through out the day the song, I'm with you by Amy Grant and Nichole Nordeman has played several times now.  I love the words of this song and the way that the song describes the relationship between Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi.  It really just made me want to read this wonderful story, that I know I've read/heard so many times before, again to be able to recapture it again.

(Ruth 1-4)

I just love the relationship that was told about between Ruth and Naomi.  The story of the young woman who stayed by her mother-in-laws' side even after the death of her husband.  
Sometimes we don't understand what God is calling us to do, and we don't even know where to begin sometimes, but it's our devout faith in our God and King that gets us though some of the hardest times; because, we know that He has something better planned for us in the future.
Ruth loved her Heavenly Father so much that she was willing to devote her life to serving Him as well as standing by her mother-in-law, Naomi side.  She was willing to stay with Naomi's for the rest of her life. 
Ruth found so much in Noami.  She found this older, yet wiser woman.  She found a mentor. Someone whom she would be able to talk to, to confide in, to be a friend to and to learn from.
Again, this is another woman that God had more plans for.  It was then, while Ruth was working in the fields, harvesting the grain, she met Boaz.  This would be the man who had showed her kindness and ultimately being the man she will marry.  The story is an amazing story of faith, hope, love, commitment and devotion.


It's so amazing to be able to have a wonderful mentor in your life.  Someone you can look up to, ask question to, someone who has possibly been where you are/have been and can give you advice on how to deal with life as you grow in Christ.  It must have been an amazing learning experience for Ruth to have spend this time with Naomi as she grew in the time they were spending together.  
Take joy in those women who you can get advice from and can learn from.  I, for one, can think of several wonderful women that have had an amazing influence on me, in every place that I have lived from California to Indiana.  I am grateful for the woman that I have become because of their influence and I am so thankful for everyone that has been involved in my life in these place.  What mentors have you had in your lives that have given you a positive outlook on life? Have they increased you walk with Christ?  

I'm with you

Love is a hurricane in a blue sky,
I didn't see it coming, never knew why.
All the laughter and the dreams,
All the memories in between,
Washed away in a steady stream.

Love is a hunger, a famine in your soul.
I thought I planted beauty, but it would never grow.
Now I'm on my hands and knees,
Trying to gather up my dreams,
Trying to hold on to anything.
We could shake a fist in times like this
When we don't understand or we could just hold hands.

You and me, me and you,
Where you go, I'll go too,
I'm with you, I'm with you.
Till your heart finds a home,
I won't let you feel alone,
I'm with you, I'm with you, with you.

You do your best to build a higher wall.
To keep love safe from any wrecking ball.
When the dust has cleared, we will
See the house that love rebuilds,
Guarding beauty that lives here still.

Who can say I'm left with nothing?
When I have all of you, all of you, yeah.
In the way you've always loved me.
I remember, He does too.

What are you waiting for?

So you want to change to the world? What are you waiting for?  


Probably one of the most challenging questions for us to answer, right?  As this month I have read so much about human trafficking and how so much of the world is affected by it.  I can't help but wonder, as my heart cries out for these girls who are taken and sold, what can I do to help?  It's been on my heart for several years now since I first heard about this cause, and it's astonishing how this is not only happening overseas but right here in our own states.  The United States is probably one of the largest grounds for human trafficking existence.  There are many victims who are crying out for freedom out there.  If we can be aware of our surrounding and aware of what is happening in our own country, we can be looking to see what we can do about it.

As Galatians 3:26 says that, 'For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.'

I just love the words to this song by Natalie Grant (What are you waiting for?)  The words to the song just make you really stop and think about, is there a different you can make?  Sometimes I get that overwhelming feeling, So sad those faces on TV, If I tried to make a difference would it help anyway...

Do you ever look at those faces your see on TV or in a video and wonder, what can you do?  Well starting off what are your gifts?  Are you gifted in prayer?  Do you long to go out into the community and get your hands dirty?  Where are you being called to serve? There are so many areas to serve in.

But then I stop and to myself I say So you wanna change the world What are you waiting for You say you're gonna start right now What are you waiting for it only takes once voice So come on now and shout it out Give a little more What are you waiting for...
Isn't it so true?  It really only takes one of us to speak up, just one to take a stand and say I want to do something...I want to be involved!  


Then there's time we just don't know if we can do it by ourselves, I mean, we're just one person.  You can always find someone else who holds a similar interest and passion for serving as you.  Get involved in your local church or local mission group.  Sometimes I feel a little helpless Seems like I can't do a thing But anything is possible just you wait and see Good things happen if you just believe... 
BUT, that's right ANYTHING is POSSIBLE with God on our side.  
Someday somehow I'm Gonna take that step Cause time is ticking away Right here right now Before it's too late Gonna face tomorrow today....
When we take a stand, things start to happen!  Are you up for the challenge?


My challenge I want to end with is what can each one of us do for each one of our communities we live in.  Where can we start to make a difference?  It's not about being well known or it may not even seem like a real big deal to some, but the smallest of things we can do can sometimes make a huge impact in the world.  

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I found this video about a year ago, though it may be a little graphic and some points in the video, it points out that girls like this just need some one to believe in them, to offer a helping hand, to be shown love.                 

                 

**More information can be found about Human Trafficking from www.abolitioninternation.org  (The Home Foundation) about ways to get involved and host events.

Second Chance

Second ChanceBy:  Tami Gregor

Have you ever felt like the Samaritan woman in the Bible?  Asking yourself why would Jesus talk to me?  And why would he ask me to get a drink of water for him?  Jesus answers the Samaritan woman by telling her of the Gift that God has for her.  “Where can I get this gift?”  Asked the Samaritan woman.  She asks again, please sir…give me some of that water!  Then I will never be thirsty again. 

John 4:1-30 is where Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman.  See before, the Samaritan woman lived with five different men, the Jews looked down upon her, she was a woman and she didn’t have the cleanest reputation.

When the Samaritan woman met Jesus, she was then offered a safe, healthy and empowered life, unexpectedly.

After she met Jesus, she saw the love and mercy that Jesus offered her that she had never seen before and certainly didn’t deserve.  She left her water by the well and went and told everyone what Jesus had done.

Sometimes its hard when you think you have just totally messed up your life and no one can love you.  You have done so much wrong and your faith has just slipped away little by little.  But something happens and you see the life you have led flash before your eyes, and suddenly right where you are, you bow your head and pray, for maybe the first time, or for the first time in a long time.  You ask God to take control of this life you are leading and change it.

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live or what you have done.  Salvation is there for one and all.  Embrace the relationship that Christ has for you!

As it says in Jeremiah 29:11, God knows the plans He has set forth for your life .  Embrace Him.

God is a God of second chances.  Take that chance.

Grace and Peace to you all!

Called to Worship

I was reading my daily devotion from a Rebecca St. James book one day and it was just an amazing way of stating how we are called into worshiping God.  She states, "that God does not call us to be robots.  He gave us a choice."  God wants us to be joyful as we worship Him.  He wants to see smiles upon our faces and loving hearts.  Every time we worship God we are in awe of everything that he has done in our lives, he gives us the desire to raise our hands and praise his name!  When we focus on God, and take our eyes off of  ourselves we can truly worship our Wonderful maker! :)  Rebecca St. James puts it an amazing way, she says that whether we "lead or participate in worship, none of us are called to be a star -- God has called us to be servants." 

                                         

As we worship God with all our hearts we are desiring that personal relationship with Him.  We want to be able to give him everything we have and will be, because "he is all I want, he is everything," I love that way the song "Everything" states that Christ is all that we desire! :)  We want to be able to feel the extravagant love of Christ and be able to share his love with everyone around us. 

I've done a skit, titled 'Best Friends' about two little girls one of them a shy new girl, Mallory, and the other a hyperactive girl, Tami.  When the Mallory is sitting by herself talking to nobody, Tami, who has lived in the town her whole life comes up to talk to her.  She talks about how she does so much playing and reading her Children's Bible everyday! Her excitement is so high and full of joy that her new friend, Mallory, is now very intriged by this excitement, and now wants to know more about this sudden joy and burst of energy, that comes from this hyperactive new friend of hers.  When we share Christ with those around us, he is with us, in a smile, touch or voice, he is there to help us meet those needs of others. 

"Your love is extravagant, Your friendship, it is intimate, I feel I'm moving to the rhythm of Your grace, Your fragrance is intoxicating in the secret place, Cause Your love is extravagant..."  (Your Love is Extrabagant by Casting Crowns)