Stop looking at your circumstances…

Music Video:  Hurricane (Natalie Grant)
Stop looking at your circumstances and just look up!

I love the song Hurricane by Natalie Grant!  While I was at a Women of Faith conference this past year, Natalie spoke about several of her songs from her most recent album, Hurricane. Telling a little bit of the behind the scenes with the songs and why some of them were written and the importance they have on her life.
Natalie referred to Matthew 14, and how Jesus showed up during the storm, but the storm continued.  Even though the storm is all around us, Jesus is with us through the storm.  Just like He was with Peter.  Jesus reached out to help Peter walk on water.  When Peter doubted his faith he started sinking, it wasn’t until Peter kept his eyes on Jesus and kept his faith strong that he was able to walk toward Jesus on the water.

I love what she has to say  about this…
Something about that story jumped off the page in a new way for me that morning. What stood out to me, was that there Jesus stood, and the storm was still raging. Jesus had come to them now, and He was right there. He could have stopped the storm, but it was still raging. As Christians, we think if you have enough faith, your life will be perfect and your trials will disappear. The fact is that sometimes your trials will increase. (Natalie Grant, New Release Tuesday Interview)

Matthew 14:22-33 is where Jesus walks on the water during the storm.  This excerpt is from the Message Bible.  As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.  Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”He said, “Come ahead.”Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”

In 1 Peter 5:10, it says that, 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. (NLT)

In this world we will have trials, but with our faith and hope in Christ we will be given new strength.  As Christians, our trials will increase and it’s how we deal and react to these trials we face that shape our lives we live.   So even though we may suffer/hurt for a little while, we will gain the strength to overcome our trials and we can rest with Christ.  God will strengthen you in the midst of your trials.  When you stop looking at your circumstances and just look up you can find the strength you may never have known you had.  So when you feel that there’s nothing more you can do and you feel weighed down with your heavy burdens, just remember that the God says, ‘come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.’  He is with you in the midst of your storm and you are being transformed from the inside out. 

Keep looking up and following HIS PLAN for you.  Just remember, He’s going to say you are worthy! Worthy of so much in your life. 

Blessings,

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,

Before you speak…T.h.i.n.k.

Coffee Chat #4

It’s coffee time! I love being able to go grab a cup of coffee with a friend and just be able to talk with each other about what’s been happening in our lives.  It feels great to be able to really connect with friends, it’s how we are able to keep so close.  So why not make that same commitment with our God, Our Father.  Schedule a coffee date with Him every day and catch up on life’s standings.

I can’t believe that it is already March!  So much has happened and so much is getting ready to happen as we speak.  I just want to say that, it is so true that with God, all things are possible.  Even when trials come your way, the trials with give you more strength that you could ever imagine.  God is with us in our trials and He is always there in our lives.  So let us rejoice in the trials just as we rejoice in the great things that happen in our lives, they only make us stronger. 

   I love the T.h.i.n.k. picture to the left here.  Some great questions to ask yourself before saying something to someone.

   I was listening a message and the speaker was reading from James 1.  It says in James 1:2-4 (AMP) that, "’to consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, when ever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.  Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring our endurance and steadfastness and patience.  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.’
There’s that saying that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.  We are to listen to one another twice as much as we are to speak.  While for some listening is actually a great spiritual gift of theirs, whereas, for others it’s a daily battle each day.  The mouth is said to be known as sharper than a double edged sword, and if you know anything about swords…that can really hurt when it pierces you. 
It’s quite possibly one of our biggest challenges as humans…watching what we say, because let’s face it, we are human and sometimes that ‘filter switch’ doesn’t get flipped in our brains and we tend to blurt out whatever is on our mind without even thinking about it.  For one, you never know how someone is going to take a criticism and if you are too blunt with your words you could hurt someone more.  We need that empathy for people, we need to be able to see ourselves in their situation to be able to see how we would like to have someone react to us.  Without empathy, you could end up hurting feelings and doing far more damage to the self-esteem in people. 
People don’t like to be pushed around.  Although, some people tend to be ‘go with the flow’ people a little bit more, but don’t try and take advantage of their kindness just because they don’t say much.  They are observing the situation going on, they are noting behavioral patterns, if they feel taken advantage of or not understood, chances are they are not going to trust you as much as they would someone who is more real and willing to listen to them. They will ‘clam up’ more if they feel you’re pushing them.  So speaking harshly to them could hurt them as well, so listen to them more, understand them and be honest with them, in a loving matter, and the trust will be stronger.
Kindness will give you strength and others will respect you for it.  Be real, be genuine, be honest and think before you talk and act.  You’ll be respected for it in the long run. 
Sometimes people will hurt you with words.  But we don’t have to retaliate and sink to their level.  If we can rise above of the situation and put one foot in front of the other and keep moving on and past them, we show that we have the dignity to come away from a bad situation and show love with our actions rather than words of anger.
I love listening to Lysa TerKeurst and reading her posts. She always tends to have those real-life honest moments that we all have in our life.  She seems to get the reality of being real with people. It is so true that in order to reach someone you have to be real and be honest with them. But you have to do it in a loving way. People may not want to hear what you have to say but if your honest with them they will hopefully be honest with you. Sometimes we end up in situations we don't like but if we trust Jesus and can keep moving forward. 
I'll end with this great gut-honest prayer by Lysa TerKeust, “God I don’t love this situation.  But I love You.  Therefore, I have everything I need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and will walk though until I get to the other side of this.  I trust in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Blessings,

Don’t just go to church…Be the church!

Music Video: Build Your Kingdom Here!

I’ve been thinking about this blog lately and I really want this to be a place where I can come together in fellowship among friends on here, but I also would love this to be an open fellowship place where we can share thoughts and ideas about sharing the Love of Christ to this world.  The main goal of my blog is to be able to share openly and honestly about what we are feeling and how we can help each other out. So, I would love for you to link up here with me or if you like message me your email and I will add you to my email list here also. 
I love the song that comes on the radio every once in a while, Build Your Kingdom here.  I love how this song reiterates that, We are Your church.  We need Your power in us.  Because honestly speaking, that’s what it is all about.  We are the church!  We are the people that God sent to spread HIS WORD!  We were created for this.  It shouldn’t matter what building we are in, whether it’s a nice, pretty on the inside and out, or typical church building or just an old abandoned warehouse building that needs a lot of tender loving care to keep it up.  If we are all really serious about getting out there and ministering and serving our community…nothing else would matter.  We do this because we love God!  We are humble in what he did for us when He sent His Son to save us from our past and sin.  We are grateful and we want to share this wonderful gift that has been given to us with everyone we come into contact with.John 3:16 says that, “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Our question to think about is how can we get these great words from God out to the people of this world?

It’s all ties into us being the church, and having that reminder to us that each one of us have gifts and we don’t all have the same gift.  We all have been given different gifts so we can come together with our gifts and help people as one body of believers.  When we come together as a church, we come together to help and build up each other as one body so that we as one body can go out and reach those lost in the world.  We work together in unity so that others will see that love penetrate from our hearts to theirs. 
In Matthew 28:16-20, (The Great Commission), Christ tells us to go out into the world to share the good news.Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
1 Corinthians 12:27 says, All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.


We are never alone when we talk to people.  Even as we are chatting it up with a random stranger in the grocery store and we have nobody physically by are side; we as followers of Christ, having studied God’s Word, have God with us 24/7 giving us the words to speak and the wisdom to say them to the people that we come into contact with on a daily basis.  Which is why it’s so important to find a daily bible study or devotional to study on your own every day.  Our time with God is the most important time we have available to us and our number 1 priority.  I love starting my day out with God. I find that if I make it a point to wake up just a little bit earlier before my day starts, grab my cup of coffee, my Bible and my journal and spend that time in reading and praying with God, I tend to be in a happier state of mind through out my day.  Now mornings may not work for everyone, some may prefer afternoons, evening or nights.  I’m just saying that we need to make God our #1 in our life. 

I love the last verse to the song, Build Your Kingdom here.  **Build Your kingdom here. Let the darkness fear. Show Your mighty hand. Heal our streets and land!  Set Your church on fire!  Win this nation back.  Change the atmosphere! Build Your kingdom here! We pray!**This verse can really show us that we can go out to the streets and minister to people.  Don’t be afraid of what’s out there because God’s got us.  He can help us share.  He doesn’t call the qualified…He qualifies the called.  He does this through the gifts He gives us that I mentioned earlier.  So let’s go an win this nation back.  Let’s set out to do this work that was set out for us to do and not worry about ‘our circumstances.’  Let’s take US out of the picture and put GOD into the picture. It is not about us, but it is all about HIM and we are building the Kingdom of God!
So let’s get out there and BE THE CHURCH and serve.  I pray that we can have the strength and courage to step out of our building we meet in during our worship times and be the church out on the streets and in this world we live in.

 Grace and Peace to you all,
Blessings!

Motivational Monday

I love coming across these little motivational messages.  Because it is important that we make time to spend with God, each and everyday.  It’s for our own benefit and growth.  My favorite time of time to have “quiet time” is in the morning, right after I wake up.  I feel that when I dig into my bible study I feel so much more refreshed to begin my day and more prepared to encounter challenges through out my day that come up.  I feel like when I open up my day first thing with God, although I also like to talk to Him more all day long as I am making my daily decisions.  And, it really does put everything into perspective, doesn’t it? 

What’s your favorite time of day to sit down and talk/listen to God?

Wake up.....you've been rescued…

I was reading back over my notes I took from a Women of Faith conference in October; remembering the message from Christine Caine on that Saturday.  I feel so blessed to have been able to attend the two-day conference and to be able to hear from so many inspirational speakers.
Christine Caine, author of the book; Undaunted, started out in Matthew 6, reading the verses where Jesus is feeding the 5,000.  

She addressed us with a few points and questions...

Key Point:  Jesus can not multiply what we don’t recognize!Reflect Point:  Would you give Him what you have?

What would you have done in this situation if you were there?  What would you have been thinking?  Would you give up everything for Jesus, if He asked you to?  Something to ponder, right?  Great thing is what we give up to Him, He just multiplies into more.  I mean, how awesome is that?

Christine also talked about the A21 campaign.  These girls that are being rescued day after day from a life of trafficking are miracles just because they are still alive after suffering as they do.   Same as we were rescued by God in any or whatever situation we've have been through.  Then the wonderful part is that now we have the chance to rescue others, just as we have been rescued.  Even though there are times we may feel broken…it’s through the brokenness that we need the grace of God.  
I love this next quote that she used when we feel like we are too broken or not good enough.  “The devil on his best day, didn’t take you out on your worst day!”  How powerful is that?  God is with us on good days as well as bad ones and He is there when we fall and to help us get back up again. 

The same God that is with you in the storm will get you through it.  Because storms will come in your life.  It doesn't matter what happens in the world we have an eternity with God, sealed to be with Him forever, when we enter into a relationship with Him.

It’s time for the church to grow up and not just exist!  It’s time for us to do something about reaching the people out there in this world and sharing the love of Christ and why it is so important to believe and develop a relationship with Christ.
Also, don’t think that YOU need God any less than you did before.  We need Him just as much now.

The same God that was with you then is with you now! 

Heaven is for Real

 

This is a great book! Easter 2014 the movie releases. Check out the trailer below.

 

 

 

 

You gave Your life away...

Love this song we sang in church this past Sunday. Here's the chorus...powerful words! 

"...You gave, You gave Your life away
You gave, You gave Your life away
You gave, You gave Your life away for me

Your grace has broken every chain
My sins are gone, my debt's been paid
You gave, You gave Your life away for me..."

Coffee Chat #3

Hello to my readers, I hope everyone has been great!  This past weekend I was so blessed to be able to attend the annual Women of Faith conference. As always I’ve came back to incredibly blessed to be in the presence of God at this conference with these other women.  Singing, praising, worshipping and listening to other women share their faith and story. 
I was able to hear from some incredible speakers such as Lysa TerKeurst, Roma Downey, Anita Renfroe, Kari Jobe, Judah Smith (the one guy speaker there other than MercyMe), Natalie Grant, Christine Caine, Angela Thomas and Mercy Me.  I’m sure that each speaker that shared left a profound impact on each person in the room, I know they did for me.  
Each speaker has their own story to tell about their life experiences they have had.
I’ll take these next few coffee chats to talk a bit about these inspirational speakers I had the pleasure of listening to.   Let’s get to know a little from Lysa TerKeaurst this week, shall we? 

Lysa opened up with 2 Samuel 20. With the title of her message, ‘One Wise Woman.’ 
The first lesson we learn from this section is that, you do not mess with the anointed and appointed.  In the start of this scripture we learn of a troublemaker called Sheba.  (I included the link to the above scripture for you as well).

As we read through the scripture we learn about a Wise Woman.  Here are a couple points we can learn from her.  Her approach and how she had dealt with the situation of ‘the troublemaker.”  We learn that a servant-hearted woman is a wise-hearted woman and because of her willingness to show up in the midst of everything happening, God sees, God notices and God smiles. 
Second, we can learn from her assurance.  She was peaceful and faithful.  She relied on her identity to over shadow her circumstances.  I am a child of God; therefore, …
Her assurance was rooted in reality.
And, third, we can get advice.  Philippians 4:13, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” See we can use the New Testament through the Old testament.  See how they go together so well. 

Lysa told a story of her daughter who set out to be a pole vaulter.  Every time she would get out on that track she would counter on her 10 fingers, I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength, she ran and jumped and fell flat.  Although, at the end of the meet she was still like, I am a pole vaulter, every time!  She did this for, I think 3 years before she finally grabbed her pole, counted on her 10 fingers, ran, jumped and sailed over the bar and broke the school pole vaulting record that year.  Persistence pays off in the end, right? 

She established a pattern of discipline and kept pushing toward her goal.

What pattern of disciple can you establish?  How does this scripture affect you? 


Blessings,

Praise Him in the hallway...