Category: Gratitude

A Generous God

“He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” (Matt. 5:45)

I have four Doodles and they must have been reading the same book as this dog in the picture. I absolutely love my little fur-family, heck I bred Mama and helped her deliver 15 babies. I now have Mom, Dad, one of the daughters and one of the sons and let me tell you, Mom and her daughter Miss Pearl Jean can be mischievous. When I take one of the boys out for the day and the girls get left at home or if I am gone a little longer on a day trip then what they think I should have been, it is surprize time for me when I return. They have eaten my socks, a shoe, found goodies that I left for us up on the bar, heck they have even been known to eat a whole pecan pie and make it look like the dish was never touched. They are good at being bad. Nevertheless they know when it gets treat time, they will be getting one to.

God is universally generous. He does provide earthly, physical blessings like success or good weather, but true blessings come only through repentance. God will ultimately separate those who are doing evil from those seeking righteousness. Psalm 37:1-2: “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.”

Though God does love sinners and does bless them, His ultimate blessing is restored relationship with Him. Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Being blessed isn’t always about money or material wealth, it’s about spiritual well-being, inner peace, and eternal reward. If you want a true blessing get right in your relationship with God, not worldly success. Proverbs 13:21: “Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.”

Summary: People doing bad things may receive material blessings an enjoy them for a while in this life, but that doesn’t mean God approves of their behavior. Just because I give the girls treats when the boys get one, doesn’t mean I approved of them eating my sock or pie, I’m just being generous and reaffirming my love for them. For us, the ultimate fate of the wicked/wrongdoings is separation from God. He created us and He loves us, that is why He made a way for us to leave our old ways, our sinful ways and be reunited with Him through His Son Jesus Christ, God is full of blessings of all kinds, and we can be His family FOREVER all it takes is repentance and confession. Here is a prayer you can pray that you may be reunited with the Father.

God, I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that you raised Him from the dead. Through my confession I am saved. I ask that you to forgive me of my sins and wash me clean, make me new. Thank you Lord for loving me, receiving me and giving me life everlasting, I now belong to you, Amen.

All Have Sinned

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

Understand, there are NO perfect people, EVERYONE has sin or has sinned and we are all in need of a Savior!

God looks at sin differently than we do. We have a tendency to see sin as; big sin, small sin, Not that bad, really bad. I just told a little white lie at least I’m not like So & So, God will forgive me. God sees sin as a serious transgression that separates us from Him, disobedience and not holding up to the standard He set before us, sin is sin and that’s that. Sin separates us from God, because God is holy, He cannot tolerate sin because it destroys the lives of His creation/us, this is a spiritual death. He loves us so much even in our worst of worst kind of sin He still gives us a way to be redeemed from the destruction of our sins. He says, “If we will confess our sins, turn away from them, and accept Christ, He promises that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

It’s time we quit letting sin dominate our lives, it is possible to live a holy life. Will we ever be perfect? No, but why not do what you can to be the best you can? If God is willing to provide us a way out through faith in Jesus, why not take it? It’s a free gift, who doesn’t like gifts? Underserved gifts at that. I know I don’t deserve what Jesus did for me on that cross, but He did it and that is my gift from Him. Have you ever tried to give a gift to someone and they refused it? Maybe they were hesitant about receiving it because they didn’t feel they deserved it. Do you remember how that made you feel, the giver of the gift? Maybe you didn’t have the extra cash to get the gift so you sacrificed something else so you could afford it. Maybe you made this person something, it came straight from your heart. When I think about all that Jesus went through, so that I could receive His gift, it literally tore me up inside when I realized one day that I wasn’t receiving it because I didn’t think I was worthy of it and how that had to make him feel. Like He didn’t do enough, maybe He should have suffered a little more, then I would have felt worthy of the gift. Seriously y’all? Get rid of the pride. Again, I didn’t deserve it, you don’t deserve it, but guess what? He wants you and I to have it, and though it doesn’t cost us a thing, it cost Him everything He had. I get that we have a sin nature, but we also have saving grace. I feel like I know that better than anyone. My sins have been more than I could bear so I am grateful for the gift and you should be to. I honestly don’t know what this new thing is God is doing in me, there seems to be new boldness rising up in me that I never had before. Maybe it’s because we are getting closer to Jesus returning or maybe it’s just me getting closer to going to be with Him. Whatever the reason, there seems to be an urgency within me to get the message across to everyone I can, that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Y’all whatever your sin is, it’s not worth it, let it go, let Jesus redeem you from it, take the gift.

A New Chapter

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Transformation here we come!

Ruth: Her story of loss and widowhood was rewritten into one of redemption, honor and becoming part of the lineage of Jesus.

Job: His story of unfathomable suffering was transformed when God restored his life, giving him twice as much as he had before.

The Woman at the Well: Jesus broke her cycle of shame and failed relationships, rewriting her story into one of purpose as a witness.

Won’t He? Yes He will. God is not a respecter of persons, if he did it for them he will do it for me. God can’t do what our free will will not allow Him to, so here we go, have your way Lord. I Have struggled writing this today, I actually wrote it yesterday but when I woke up this morning the Holy Spirit had me do a little revising. I needed corrected about a thing or two. As I was writing I was steadily wanting to take over the message that He was giving me, taking the pen right out of His hand already. I heard Him loud and clear this morning saying, “If I’m going to be able to continue writing your story, you are going to need to surrender and be obedient as in the past when I was doing a new thing in you.” Correction is never easy, but oh so worth the value. Obviously being this is a new chapter in my life, I haven’t been here before so I have no way of knowing what this looks like, well not completely. God has been more than generous in giving me little peaks into what lies ahead, rather some areas that are going to require change. One of the areas is in stewarding my time. Who ,What, When and Why are some questions that I am going to have to ask myself before taking on the task. God revealed to me that many of the hurts I have been experiences in my life of late are due to taking on responsibilities of others that are not my cross to bear. When I look at ministry, it’s not just serving in a particular area of the church, it’s more than that. I see it in every area of my life. My family has always been my first ministry, unfortunately I have missed it on several occasions. I see a new range of focus in my future story. One that allows others to pick up their cross and follow Jesus, my only part is to lead them to Him. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I have missed it time and time again all because I couldn’t say no, or I didn’t want to see them going in the wrong direction so I took the cross for them, that is not nor ever was God’s best, it was simply me in a ditch effort to try to help, which I was the one who ended up in the ditch sadly to say. But hey, God’s mercies are new every morning and His grace is sufficient, to prepare a new way, a new path for me to walk in. Hallelujah! I have heard things said about me that are lies straight from hell. I’m not going to allow hate, resentment or unforgiveness to keep me from the place that the Lord is wanting to take me, instead I will say as Jesus said on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). I, like Jesus am feeling the immense pain from what others have said and done to me, but I too have to choose how I will respond. There are so many words in the Word of God that pertain to who I am, and I am claiming them for myself, that I may have life and have it more abundantly. God says, I am victorious, loved, redeemed (Proverbs 18:21) Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him …” This is a promise that God can and will use past negative experiences to create a positive, redemptive story in my life. I am ready to close this chapter and move on to the next. God is the author of my life, not my circumstances. The weakness that I have been feeling is going to be my new strength. In the book of Isaiah …a way in the wilderness; God says, where there is no clear path forward, He will create one. Rivers in the desert; where there is no natural relief or refreshment, God provides it. A little further down in Isaiah, God promises to pour His life-giving Spirit upon his weary people, all of this is for His glory. I am ready for God to receive all the glory in my new story. I’m done repeating cycles like the woman at the well. I’m looking for redemption like Ruth, to be honored for the good that I do. Not from people, but from my Heavenly Father, the One who knows me and knows my worth. Re-write, re-direct, whatever that may look like, I’m ready.

Letting Go …and Letting God write what I cannot.

Steal, Kill, and Destroy

The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Satan has a mission but Jesus does to. The thief (Satan) seeks to ruin, rob, and kill peace and joy, to wreck a person’s life. While Jesus brings abundant, purposeful life including peace and joy that surpasses understanding and circumstances. Today as God directs me in this message I want you to know this is a very personal message from the Lord to me yet I am to share it. There are a lot of people out here under attack and you like myself need to recognize who your dealing with. This is (spiritual warfare) and it will take God’s word to overcome the attack. Do not let the negativity and earthly fears grow inside of you, instead rise up and get in the Word of God and bring down every stronghold, every thought, bringing it into captivity to obey Christ according to His Word. Use the authority your Father has given you to fight these battles in the way that takes you from being a victim to being victorious. Reminding ourselves the battle has already been won by the blood shed on the cross, but we still have to live in this fallen world until we get to our final resting place and as long as we are here we will face trials and temptations, but His Word tells us that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-39) In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I heard the Spirit of the Lord speaking directly to me as my husband and I were talking and praying, that these attacks were very personal on me, because God had given me a mission, one I had become “INTENTIONAL” about giving my all to what He has called me to. The enemy was and is very unhappy about it so therefore I am being attacked in ways to try to keep me from doing just that. The enemy wants me to feel defeated and give up, but as much as he tries to destroy what the Lord has called me to, all the more strength is given me to be able to battle the storm. Like the eagle I spoke of in an earlier blog this week; Mount up and SOAR, if you have not read it I highly recommend doing so. God is doing a new thing in me, He is given me new strength, that I might fly higher than before. I can only know this because I am in my Bible, reading and believing in His promises to me. No matter the weapon that is being formed against me, it will not prosper (Isa. 54:17) Attacks and trials may arise but they will not succeed in destroying me. They cannot prevail against me for I am under God’s care. Any challenge or adversity will fail to prosper. Every tongue that rises against me in judgement will be condemned. These words are a sign of my faith in God and His Word, the words are meant for encouragement for when the enemy tries to lie to me through whatever his tactic may be. This is my confidence in God’s power as my defender and protector.

You may be reading this and do not have this kind of confidence in the written Word of God, maybe because you have never asked Jesus to be Lord over your life so that you can receive these promises from the Father. These promises are for those who believe, who are children of God. Well the good news is you can, right now. All you need to to do is pray this prayer and the same promises I’m standing on you can to.

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the Name of Jesus. I confess that I am a sinner in need of a savior. I believe that you Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. I ask you Jesus, to come into my heart and be Lord over my life, to forgive me of my sins. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10)

Now if you just prayed that prayer, you are now a child of God and the promises I’m standing on you can to. If you are already a child of God but have not been relying on His Word for whatever you have been facing in your life, may I suggest today be the day you start. Don’t let the enemy win, you can be victorious by living by faith, confessing scripture over circumstances, and trusting in Christ’s finished work rather than personal strength. Use your spiritual weapons.

Mind Your Own Biscuits and Life will be Gravy

“…aspire to live quietly, and mind your own affairs, and work with your hands, as we instructed you.” (1 Thess. 4:11)

Paul was writing to the Thessalonians to encourage them to live quietly and work hard, partly to avoid meddling and to set a good example for nonbelievers. I have been in the oven on this one for awhile. You know that refining fire kind of oven, removing the dross, working on becoming pure. In the process of it all, I have learned to be quiet and listen very carefully to the Holy Spirit regarding many things. One of those things was to quit allowing myself to be in the midst of another person’s affairs. Sometimes that can be hard if you find yourself there because some else put you there, thergo; free will comes into play. You have the option how you will react or respond to any given situation, in this particular case I chose silence. The old rule of thumb, silence is golden. Like pure gold once refined. Dross-free that is what I want to be. Silence is not the only thing I have taken away from the intense heat of the fire. I realize that it is my responsibility to search my own heart. I have been delving deep into my innermost being, allowing God to bring out the impure thoughts, feelings, things that do not edify or glorify Him, or others for that matter, but mainly Him. Rummaging through my heart and mind, investigating my thoughts and reasonings. Asking the Lord to reveal anything and everything so that I may be able to learn better habits in order to set better examples. It is going to take a whole LOT of “God’s gravy.” I’m the biscuit and God is the gravy. What I have found by doing this, God will pour extra blessings, joy and spiritual nourishment on me, the “GOOD STUFF.” This is called divine grace. It is an abundance of “God’s Great lake of Gravy,” salvation and love that covers all, “total gift” freely poured out. Most days it is little reminders of God’s love for me, extra little things to be joyous about. Just going along minding my biscuits, I mean business, while He pours the gravy, I mean grace, and love over me. Are you in need of some gravy for your biscuits? Go on and get’cha some, a BIG heaping helping, it’s free for the asking.

Romans 10:9-13

In My Element

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

When you see a smile like that on my face, you know I’m living my best life right here, right now, in the moment. Jesus’ promise of abundant life, begins right here and now. He wants us to live a rich, full, joyful life, one overflowing with meaningful activities, in fellowship with his people, all the while having His personal favor upon us. What a satisfying life when we are living in the abundance. The abundance of His grace, mercy and love. God even encourages us in Ecclesiastes (3:12-13,7:14) to enjoy our food, drink, and work as a gift from God. When I am in my element/ nature, near the water, under the sun along with a few puffy clouds in the sky, gentle wind blowing through the trees, I feel so close to God. I can sense His presence everywhere, if you could see inside of me, my heart would be one BIG smile. There is just something about being in His presence that makes life good and brings a purposeful feeling to me. Even though as you can well see I’m not even doing anything purposeful, I’m laying on a rock. Oh my gosh! Revelation …He is the ROCK! Whenever I am leaning on Him; the Rock, that is where my peaceful easy feeling comes from. When I am sitting here typing God is speaking to me the entire time. If you know the Father intimately, you will understand what I’m saying, if not it may sound a little crazy to you, but I am being as real and honest as I can be. I’m not relying on materialist things to find my contentment instead I’m just resting in Him, now back to being in my element/nature. I begin thinking things like God created all of this for me. He created the sound of the water flowing downstream over the rocks just for me to hear. The clouds that I’m laying there watching move through the sky and using my imagination seeing a bear, or a rabbit, or whatever it may be, is all for me. In the silence of stillness, He reminds me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He loves me, and cares for me and blesses me more than I can even receive. My cup truly runneth over. I’m living in abundance. I don’t want to sound ungrateful when I say, “I don’t have these same feelings in other places like I do here.” I think maybe it could be the mountains, yes I live in the mountains and the water and wildlife, and all the beauty around me keeps me in a sense of awe reminding me of our Creator’s limitless power, His creativity, He is an artist! I admire the work of an artist. I love photography and I know a woman that is an amazing photographer, I am in absolute awe of her work. But that does not even compare to God’s artistry. He created such a peaceful space for me to feel His presence, away from everywhere else. ABUNDANCE! To Him Be ALL the glory!

Rain On Me

“I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season-showers of blessing.” (Ezekiel 34:26)

I was at a prayer meeting for revival. As much as I tried entering in to prayer asking for the Spirit of God to pour down on us as a city, a nation, the world in whole I found myself drawn to repentance. Repentance for not loving others like Jesus, for the times I felt selfish or conceited, how much more I needed to look at others with a greater significance. I became very humbled in my spirit asking instead that I could have a mind more like Christ Jesus. When he was here on earth in human form, being he was born in the likeness of men through the Virgin Mary, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death on the cross. Of course I know I will never be able to compare to the One whose name is above all names, but I’m always going to try and when I fall short which is most days, I’ll seek His face in forgiveness. After that I was able to pray for revival again, first in me. I asked the Holy Spirit to shower me with abundance, a refreshing and divine favor that would bring forth more productivity in the things God had already called me to. To reach more souls in the streets, the stores, the churches, everywhere I am, including those of you reading this. I wanted new growth in me. I wanted to have everything I needed to do more good works for His glory. I wanted Him to pour down blessings on me like the rain, like spring showers, which as I’m writing this right now the rain outside is pouring down and I have had to restart my computer 3 times already due to the power flickering off and on. Maybe God and I got our wires crossed in what kind of rain I was asking for …haha, just kidding, but it really is raining outside I just thought that was rather interesting being I was writing in regards to rain. So my prayer for revival ended something like this; asking for an abundance of grace, mercy, and prosperity that would exceed what I had already been given, allowing me to be a blessing to others in new ways. Of course I did pray for others to receive those same things. Once we left the church I began sharing with my husband in the car what I had experienced in our prayer time being we were all praying individually, when I began to cry because I was still in that humble spirit state of mind and heart. The tears made it hard for me to speak, so I stopped talking and just rested in His presence the rest of the way home. I would have to say, my prayers were answered tonight, He poured down the rain like spring showers both in the spiritual realm as well as the natural.

Turn the Page

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer.29:11)

Like most people my life is a storybook. There is a beginning, a middle, and then there is the end, with a whole lot of pages in between. I had nothing to contribute in the beginning, the middle became my learning experiences, and the end will be determined by, if I walked in wisdom from the things learned in the middle of my story. Life can be full of twist and turns, highs and lows, good and bad. Times of sitting still or times we are on the move. Comical or serious, guess work, clockwork, does anything work? I believe for most people, and I would like to reiterate the word most, because I realize it does not apply to all, I believe the latter years to be a bit more comical than serious. We’ve already done the majority of our stressing over choices like; schools, home to buy, marriage, raising kids, how to keep up with the “Jones’s,” funny when I think about the things and people we worry about comparing ourselves too. Now I certainly cannot deny there are serious days, real concerns, and hurdles to get over, that is life to, but as we age we tend to have a different perspective about things than we did in the middle of our story. The younger me was a true believer in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The older me, nearing the end, sees grace or ignorance depending on who or what, just being honest. Which brings me to being honest, younger people don’t appreciate honesty as much as older people in my opinion. I am prepared now to hear the truth, nothing but the truth, so help me God. Younger me, “Just lie to me, I can’t bear to hear the truth.” The younger me didn’t want to be lectured on what’s right and what’s wrong, the older me gets annoyed at wrong doings and tries to right every wrong. The younger me was okay with what I considered “fire insurance” rather than a real relationship with my Lord and Savior. Now, He’s the first one I talk to when I wake up and the last one I talk to before going to sleep. As you can see a lot of pages have been turned in my storybook. I believe or at least pray that I have another chapter or two still left. Right now I’m on a page that the things I am doing are bringing glory to my Heavenly Father and for the first time in my life I can say with all certainty, I am loved, I am valued, and my story matters. What chapter in your story are you on? Is it time to turn the page? Do you have any idea how your story ends? You might be thinking, how is it that I know my ending is going to be okay? The answer to that is easy, it doesn’t end. I have been promised an everlasting life by the One who conquered hell and defeated the grave. My story just gets better and better, turn the page.

I can’t end today’s story without offering an open invitation to all who are reading this; you are welcome to come and be a part of my story. Jesus is the ONLY way to get there. If you don’t know the end of your story yet and would like to, just say this simple prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. I confess that I am a sinner, and I believe that Jesus you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. I ask you Jesus, come into my heart and be Lord over my life. I repent of my sins, and I trust in You alone for my salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9-10)

If you said this prayer I just want to say to you “you have turned the page and now you know the end of your story.”

Com’n In A Shout’n

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! (Psalm 149:3)

Sunday morning worship is the BEST. I’m not a good singer nor do I have instrumental talent, that’s why I love Sunday morning worship, these people on stage do. They are prayed up and anointed to bring the congregation into His presence. I’m not shy when it comes to worshipping my Lord and Savior. I throw up hands, I will jump, sway, stomp a foot all the while thanking God that no one else can hear me, but Him. Now at home or in my car it’s a whole different story, I let it rip. I’m all in. I love that no matter what I sound like, to God it is beautiful and He delights that my heart is focused on Him and He thinks this is the sweetest sound ever. Isn’t that just like a father? Always seeing the best in his child even when no one else can. Sometimes I just can’t help myself, I get this beating in my heart and overwhelmed sense of gratitude, for how much He loves me. I become so humbled before Him for all the goodness He has done for me, I mean geez …He saved my life! He set my feet upon a rock, He turned my life around, broke the chains that once had me bound, brought joy in the morning after nights of darkness, delivered me from SOooo many things, healed the deep wounds within me, gave me a reason to live, He set me FREE! It makes me want to SHOUT! I feel new strength and hope once I have been in His presence through worship. That is my best description of “JOY.” Nobody can love me like that and I’m gonna let Him know! You know God doesn’t just love to hear us sing praises to Him, it is a declaration of our trust in Him. It shows Him our surrender when we will humble ourselves and worship Him. He actually views it as an act of obedience, adoration, and a pleasant offering. God “inhabits” or dwells within the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), affirming His presence. It shows Him that Jesus Christ really does dwell within us. So if you ever see me shouting praises to God, just know God is rejoicing over it.

Practical Advice

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

I’m just full of practical advice like, Going hunting? You might spend some time at a gun range or target practicing first. Want to lose weight? Eat things you don’t like, you’ll eat less. Want to save money? Quit spending. Things always breaking down? Try regular maintenance. You have no peace? Stop dwelling on things that you can’t fix anyway. Don’t like what some people are saying about you? Stop saying things about some people. Don’t like the rain? Be patient it will stop. Can’t sleep? Don’t take things to bed with you that don’t belong there. Your family falling apart? A family that prays together, stays together. Clothes don’t fit? Lose weight, gain weight or buy new clothes. I could go on forever, but I have more to say regarding practical advice. There is a thing called “Biblical Practical Advice.” It focuses on applying wisdom to our daily lives. Some of the key principles would be: practicing empathy, managing finances wisely, working with diligence, maintaining patience, cultivating healthy, respectful relationships. We should be better listeners than we are talkers. Learn the “Golden Rule” do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Don’t speak disrespectfully about others. Don’t take revenge on those that have wronged you, instead show kindness whenever possible. Work like your working for the Lord. Be like the ant in (Proverbs 6:6-8), be faithful in small things, baby-steps. “I am a BABY-STEPPER.” Stop trying to impress everyone, focus on impressing the One who matters. Be patient, it builds character and it shows God is in control not you. Avoid arrogance, “Do not cast the first stone” and be honest about your own mistakes before criticizing others. Use your personal gifts to benefit others rather than for selfish gain and actively forgive others, recognizing everyone makes mistakes. Now how many of these do you think I have down? If I was to be honest, I’d say NONE. Every day I have to repent in one area or another. But, knowing all these things gives me direction on where I want to be. I can set realistic goals, ones that are obtainable. Bottom line the Bible is full of Practical Advice. It is our instruction book for life, life more abundantly. So next time you find yourself struggling in an area, open it up. Get you some good “Biblical Practical Advice” that’s also called, Wisdom.