Planning on Him, in Him, about Him, and for Him

 “You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” Proverbs 19:21

I am sure you can tell God is teaching me something, and hopefully you as well, about His leading and guidance in our lives.

I love how the verse yesterday and today both start with how we can make plans, ours or many, but then ends with how God determines the steps and purpose of those plans.

Today the Holy Spirit spoke something very powerful within me. If I am making plans for my family and myself today and next week, they need to be aligned with the Word of God. And He must be included in every plan.

Spending time with the Lord as individuals and as a family MUST be the very first thing planned and done. G and I need not to determine worldly plans for our family, but spiritual and everlasting plans. We must plan on teaching our boys about Jesus and His Word today. We must plan on when we will do that as a family and when G and I will do that as a couple and as individuals.

We must plan on applying what we study in God’s Word today, through our actions, speech, thoughts, and attitudes. Today God will carry out His purpose in spite of whether or not G and I do. Today He will determine our steps and it will be up to G and me whether we walk in those steps.

We can make a lot of worldly plans, but I would rather make spiritual everlasting plans, wouldn’t you?

Jesus help us to not get caught up in planning around things of this world. Instead may our plans be made for You; to know You, to invest in You as a family and as individuals. May we plan to teach our boys about You and the importance of putting You first. Straighten out our priorities Lord. Amen

Planning in the future of this day.

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9

I am not sure I would consider myself or my family planners. Actually my husband and I are really last minute planners. We get a thought or an idea, and, if we are able, we go and do it. It just seems to work best for us, especially since G’s job is time consuming.

Honestly, I have never been one who has found future planning so necessary. However; I do have many thoughts of the future for my boys, but never make concrete plans of what we will do. I do have hopes of what I would like, but that is as far as it goes for me and I believe God has a very specific reason for that.

Only He is able to see my family’s future. Only He knows exactly how far in the future we will go. He does determine our steps and He tells us that in our passage above.

Maybe that is the reason my future is the two days or two weeks that are ahead. I think I would become so consumed with planning for the future that I would forget to live in the day I have been given.

I cannot see what my future in this ministry is, but I can see that today He is determining my steps and I need to just keep stepping today. I need to plan on sharing His name and His message in the future of today.

What if we planned the future of today out? Before we lay down tonight, what if we planned on being obedient and sharing the Word of God, His love, and His grace before we went to sleep? I mean isn’t five o’clock today considered the future? It is what lies ahead of us, isn’t it?

He determines our steps, and today, He could determine our step to be in Heaven with Him.

Jesus thank You for allowing my mind to only go so far into the future! Thank You that I am only able to see the future of today, this week, and next week. May my plans in this day align with the steps You have determined for me today. Amen

We will be robbed! They will be robbed!

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.” Ecclesiastes 11:4

What can I apply today from this powerful verse that cuts to the core of my heart? I can apply faithful action, action that moves with the commands of the Spirit. Actions that look down to ensure every step I take are placed in the steps of His.  

I can apply the reality that perfect only exists in the Holiness of Christ, not in human form. Therefore I must not allow this perfect to keep me from stepping forward-forward in His direction. It will rob me if I let it, this perfect condition. It will rob me from growth, from wisdom, and it will rob the lost from hearing the message, seeing the compassion, and experiencing His grace. 

It will rob that woman He laid on my heart to pray with, to hug, to encourage. It will rob my marriage from being the best it can be. It will rob my boys from desiring more of Him. It will rob those who are lost, broken, or lonely from experiencing the love and presence of Christ. It will rob the one trapped in sin from experiencing the freedom of grace. It will rob the hopeless from finding hope. It will rob me from being the blessings of Christ. And it will rob me from being a light.

Why do I wait? Why do you wait?

This perfect, it only comes in the form of heaven. This earth cannot hold perfect nor can it grasp it.

So we need to act today and wait no longer for the perfect time to speak of His name, to share His grace, or to study His word. It is time brethren!

Jesus help us to act on the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Keep us from waiting to do what You have called us to do today. Amen

His Workmanship

"He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the green grass grow in the mountains pastures." Psalm 147:8

"Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds! Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being." Psalm 148:4-5

Jesus Your workmanship is breath-taking. Thank You for giving me the vision to see the works of Your hands and for the ability to capture it and stand in awe of it. Amen

Through Your Eyes I see…

“His eyes are like doves beside brooks of water; they are set like jewels.” Song of Songs 5:12

He looks at me tired and worn from the heat and long hours he puts into work. He looks at me with those beautiful brown eyes and they speak so subtle yet strong, “Pray for me, pray for us, pray for these kids, just pray.”  

So my sweet love I will pray. I will pray, and I will know, that this Mighty God in whom we serve will meet the needs that pour from those beautiful brown eyes of yours.

Those eyes of His, they can speak to my heart in ways I cannot express. They give me a sense of peace, joy, love, and protection.  Yet all the while display his needs, his hurts, and his fears, when his words are nowhere near.  Those brown eyes of His express a love for which I know can only be given through the eyes of Christ.

He is who I see when I look into those brown eyes of G’s. I see the eyes of Christ looking at me, and though he disagrees, he doesn’t get to see what I see.

You my precious love are dark and dazzling. You are better than ten thousand others! Your head is the finest gold. Your eyes are like doves beside brooks of water; they are set like jewels. Your cheeks are like sweetly scented beds of spices. Your lips are like perfume lilies. Your arms are like round bars of gold, set with chrysolite. Your body is like bright ivory, aglow sapphires. Your legs are like pillars of marble set in sockets of the finest gold, strong as the cedars of Lebanon. None can rival you. Your mouth altogether is sweet; you are lovely in every way. You, sweet man are my lover and friend. Song of Songs 5:10-16 (My paraphrase)

Jesus You have called him to be more than a coach. You have called him to be a reflection of You. You have made him strong and courageous, loving and kind. You have given him a heart like Yours and it radiates through his eyes. You do not leave him in need, yet You supply his every need. You know his strengthens and You step in where he is weak. Blessed are You, O Lord, who created, equips and love this man You have made and called to lead. Amen

The Church

“And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence.” Ephesians 1:23

Do you ever wonder what God sees when He looks down at the Body of Christ? I do!

I wonder if He sees unity or a bunch of broken limbs trying to go in different directions?

When we hear the word “Church” today our first thoughts are of a building. What comes with that building-a name, Baptist, Church of Christ, Catholic, Pentecostal, Jehovah Witness, etc.

But what does the “Church” really mean.

I have asked a precious and dear friend of mine Ryan Burchett to take a few questions a little deeper about Church.  It is lengthy but every bit is very important and necessary. I hope you find this extremely helpful especially if you are searching for a church home or if you have not attended church, maybe this will be an encouragement as to the necessity of going.

1.      Church membership – what is the significance of being a member of a ‘church?’

2.      Have we not fallen away from our real membership, Christ, because we are so caught up in the number of the ‘church’ membership?

3.      How much different today is the meaning of church compared to the church in the Bible?

*First, we need to ask the question ‘why does the Church exist?’

Ephesians 3:10-11

“to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord”

-The Church was established in Acts so that God might be made known to the world.  He died for ALL people, so it’s our job as the Church to show and tell of that great gift of grace.

*Church membership – what is the significance of being a member of a ‘church?’

Hebrews 10:24-25

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

-First, we meet together in our ‘churches’ so that we can be an encouragement to one another in the faith.  Meeting together in fellowship/worship is very important to that faith.

Ephesians 4:11-13

“It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

-Secondly, we meet together in our ‘churches’ so that we can be instructed and taught, and through that instruction we reach full unity as a church body.

Bottom line, if we aren’t meeting together in fellowship with a Biblical church, we’re starving ourselves of Biblical teaching and instruction from those called by God to teach us more (pastors, etc.), and we are depriving ourselves of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Jesus.

*Have we not fallen away from our real membership, Christ, because we are so caught up in the number of the ‘church’ membership?  How much different today is the meaning of church compared to the church in the Bible?

-There are so many churches out there today, that we can’t make this general assumption for every single one of them.  The fact is, yes, some churches have gone astray and teach false doctrines such as Joel Osteen’s church in Houston (and others like it) that teach a ‘health, wealth, and prosperity’ gospel.  Then, there are others who fall under the ‘Emergent Church’ movement.  They practice things like meditative prayer, which is a pagan Eastern culture ritual to hear from the spirit world.  They also teach there is no Hell amongst other things.  Again, false doctrine.

-However, there are other churches which are very Biblical and teach the truth in God’s Word as it’s presented.  So we can’t make this claim of the church ‘falling away’ for everyone.

-On the other side of things, we may have the question ‘why are there so many different denominations stemming from the same book (Bible)?’  There’s something like 500+ different denominations that all claim the same Bible.  That’s simply a human issue.   Someone gets upset or disagrees with an interpretation; they make up their own interpretation, and form a new denomination.

-How we go about this division is by looking at the core issue:  Does this difference in this particular denomination make or break the core theology?  In other words, does that view/interpretation of that particular church change the gospel message?  Does it change who Jesus is?  Does it change the End such as what Heaven and Hell are, or if they really exist?  These would be crucial issues that matter.

-Issues that wouldn’t really matter, for example, would be like the difference of opinion over using musical instruments or not in worship.  Church of Christ will not use instruments for their own reasons.  Baptists do.  Both can seemingly find Biblical evidence to back up both points.  So what do you do?  Ask the question, does this change the core of Biblical theology?  Does playing/not playing music change who Jesus is?  Heaven or Hell?  The Genesis record?  The gospel?  No, it doesn’t, so it’s not a crucial issue.  That’s how we go about it.

-Another great message about issues like this is found in Romans 14.  We all have different convictions than one another on different issues because none of us are on the same level in our Christian walk as the other.  We’re all on our own walk with God.  We’re all on the same path, but we’re at different points on that path:

Romans 14:1-14;22

^“1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. ² One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. ³ The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. ⁴ Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. ⁵ One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. ⁷ For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. ⁸ If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  ⁹ For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰ You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. ¹¹ It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’” ¹² So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. ¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

²² So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.”

-We all have different convictions about things, but as long as they don’t go against the essentials (gospel, deity of Jesus, etc.) then God says ‘That’s ok.’

One last thing; what it all comes down to is finding a Biblical church.  Does the Bible give us things to look for in a church before we make a decision to join that body?  Yes it does!

1.      What is the IMAGE of that church? Colossians 1:18

a.      ^“18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

Where do we see this image in Scripture?

a.      Creation – Genesis 1:26

b.      The Fall – Genesis 5:1

c.       Israel – Leviticus 11:44

d.      Jesus – John 14:9, Hebrews 1:3

e.      The Early Church – Gal. 3:26-27

f.        God’s Glory – 1 John 3:2

2.      Is there GROWTH in that church?  Colossians 1:10

a.      ^“10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

What kind of growth should we see?

a.      Members gain a sense of responsibility in evangelism

b.      Increased prayer

c.       Members sharing the gospel

d.      More spontaneous ministry activities

e.      Informal gatherings characterized by spiritual conversation

f.        Increased & sacrificial giving

g.      Increased fruit of the Spirit

h.      Members making career sacrifices or changes so they can serve the Church

i.        Husbands leading wives sacrificially

j.        Wives submitting to their husbands

k.       Parents disciplining children in faith

l.        A corporate love for the lost

3.      What is the source of LIFE in that church? 

a.      The Church finds its life as it listens to the Word of God.

What does this life give us?

a.      Security

b.      Joy

c.       Peace

d.      Purpose

e.      Victory

I know this is a lot of info and lists, but if we can go through all of this as we search out a church, we will find the place God wants/needs us to be.

The bottom line is no church gets everything perfect all the time.  In fact, the early church in the Bible didn’t either.  They had just as many problems, if not more, than our churches do today.  They had false doctrine being taught.  They had people splitting churches and causing arguments.  They had people not tithing.  They had people not observing the Lord’s Supper properly.  They had people who would skip church.  They had idolaters, fornicators, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, etc. in their churches just like we do today.  What should that tell us?  Christ will take care of His church.  We just need to apply the Biblical principles that we went through above and remain faithful.  If a church that we are a part of is not doing the Biblical things required of it, then we need to find one that is.  But we cannot afford to leave church fellowship altogether.

Ryan also has a blog called Along the Way you can find the link under Blogs that Inspire me. Check it out!

Living and Being

Living for Christ takes trust, thought, and discipline. Being Christ-like takes desire, action, and surrender.

Jesus the day I asked You to live within me was the day I began living for You, but I want to do more than just live for You, I want to be like You. Amen

...yet I stay, trapped in the fear of me.

I sit here weeping and broken, crying out, “I know there is more Lord!” I know You have called me to do more, more than sit within the comfort of these four walls. More than writing the mere words You put upon this page. More, Jesus, there is more. I sense it; I hear it-Your whisper, “Go and do for Me. Be the hands and feet of Me. Love and be loved.”

All of these whispers I hear, yet I stay, wondering how, where, when, even if it is really just me hearing me, or trapped in the fear of me. But then again I hear the whisper. “People need Me, they need to feel Me, see Me, and know Me. Let Me use you to be the Me in flesh. Go my child, you who are covered and wrapped up in Me…the very blood of Me. Go!”

Yet again I ask from the very brokenness of my longing soul, in words broken from my crying. “How Lord? Where? Who? Are You sure me? What if…”

“Just go, I will lead the way.”

“Who makes mouths? The Lord asked him. Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say.” Exodus 4:11-12

The Cost

“So no one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me.” Luke 14:33

I could spend each day telling you about what our days are like in the Morgan house. From the things my boys do, to G's ministry as a Football coach. And though those would keep you very entertained, they would offer nothing compared to what Jesus has to offer you through His Word.

So I stick to what He has called me to do, share His Word, His life, His adventures, His ministry. I write about Him and what each day is like with Him.

Unfortunately, Jesus is not very popular because many do not find Him as entertaining as some of us do. To you I ask why?

Nor do many people like to hear His Word, His stories, His adventures, His ministry, because it causes an uncomfortable feeling within them. To that, can I say, join the crowd, there is nothing comfortable about conviction, no matter how close you are to the Lord. However, it is needed, necessary, and rewarding when you heed to the Holy Spirit's warnings. It is life-changing and life-saving!

The road is narrow and often lonely; it is not for those weak in faith, but for those with persistent faith willing to obey no matter the COST. It is the very road G and I travel on and the road we teach our boys to walk down. No matter the cost!

Jesus says, "If ANY of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life." Luke 9:23

We have counted the cost of following Christ. We have familiarized ourselves and have received full knowledge of what the costs are; persecution, separation, His pleasure over our own, constant cleansing and purification. Giving more than there is to give, for the sake of Him receiving all He can receive. Standing out rather than blending in, standing firm in His truth rather than giving in for the sake of worldly acceptance. The cost of being hated, not accepted, even often un-invited. Constant persistence despite those unwilling to hear, even the cost of our lives for the sake of Christ! We are willing to be talked about, laughed at, ignored, disliked, and even broken, all for His glory. We are willing to have little so others can have more. And we daily choose to give up ourselves, our wants, our needs, and our comfort, all to follow Him.

“So no one can become my disciple without GIVING UP EVERYTHING for me.” Luke 14:33

Jesus keep us in constant check. Keep us from desiring the things of self; luxury, worldly gain, wealth, praise, and popularity. For we know those things have no lasting value, nor do they offer true life. Amen

Politics, Appearance, or Worship

“Passion for God’s house burns within me.” John 2:17

Jesus, His mother, and disciples just left Capernaum and were headed to Jerusalem for the annual Passover. As they made their way to the Temple, Jesus walked in to find merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices and saw money changers behind their counters.

Jesus became so angry He began chasing out the animals turning over tables and scattering the money changers coins all over the floor. “Get these things out of here. Don’t turn my Father’s house into a marketplace.”John 2:16, how dare you come into My Father’s house and use it for your own self-gain.

How dare us enter our Father’s house and use it for our own self-gain. Jesus sees our true intentions for being at church. What is yours, politics, appearance, or true worship? Not only are we to not use the Lord’s house for self-gain, but we are not to use our bodies which are the Temple of the Holy Spirit for ourselves. Our bodies belong to Christ and if we use them carelessly that anger’s the Lord.

Just as Jesus shouted in the Temple to get all that garbage out and not use His Father’s house as a marketplace, He tells us to get the sin out and not use the Holy Spirit’s Temple as a place of gluttony, sexual immorality, lust, hate, greed, etc.  Our bodies were bought at a high price and are to be used to bring honor and glory to God not ourselves.

As we clean out our Temple’s for the Holy Spirit to live in, then, as we enter the house of the Lord we will have true worship in our hearts. And that my friend is very pleasing to the Lord!

Two things the Lord takes seriously-His Father’s house and our Temple’s. (Bodies) And we should also take very seriously as followers of Jesus Christ, those two things. Don’t wait to prepare your hearts for worship Sunday morning, prepare your heart every day. Don’t use the Lord’s house as a place to be seen, go to the Father’s house to bring true sacrifices of praise, with an alert and open mind to receive your daily bread, and to worship and fellowship with other believers as one body. Use your body to be a reflection of Christ and His word, not as another moving object that blends in with the world.

Jesus fill each of us with a passion for God that burns within us. Amen

A Temporary Home Mover-Part 2

“For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come.” Hebrews 13:14

Texhoma, Lubbock, Copperas Cove, Texarkana, Carthage, and Jasper are just a few of the places I have lived in the last thirty plus years of my life. As I look back on each of these places the Lord has shown and revealed to me His hand,  His presence, and His love that has been upon me. He has opened my eyes to see moving as something positive and for His purpose, name, and honor. Here are the last of now!

Copperas Cove-was my first town to live in as a young college grad and working woman. I unfortunately allowed some insecurity to carry over into this town which caused for poor decision making at times. I was introduced to working in the real world with people who believed in all different kinds of living. It was a place where the Lord taught me that reading my Bible and not applying it out was useless and would make no impact until I actually lived it and used it. Copperas Cove was the place where the Lord introduced me to the love of my life-my husband.

Texarkana-was the town where Garrett and I moved as a new married couple. It was a place that really did turn out to be greener on the other side. It was where we purchased our first home and where the Lord heard our cries to be parents, and where I brought God’s beautiful gift of life home all wrapped up in blue. It was the town where we started new and fresh as better followers and imitators of Christ. Texarkana became the town where we fell in love with some of our dearest friends that we still love, adore, and have in our lives today. It was the place where God showed His faithfulness to those who seek Him through prayer with unwavering faith, and taught Garrett and I to depend on one another. Texarkana became the place where the Lord would begin His amazing work and call in my life to pursue Him through ministry, as He opened the door for me to stay home and be a mom and seek His face hours upon hours.

Carthage- it is the place where I felt the most at home. But I need to tell you, I did not feel that way at the beginning. I had no desire to live in Carthage, I was comfortable right where I was and that was at 5005 Pinecrest circle. When I first drove through Carthage I thought how could you live somewhere that had no Super Wal-Mart and no homes available to live in. But I also knew it was an opportunity given to my husband to pursue his dream as a coach. The first year was rough, living in a rent house, having a 6 month old, living out of a storage building, and re-modeling a home right smack dab in the middle of football season. But in those four years we welcomed another beautiful gift from God wrapped in blue, were apart  of a church home that surrounded us with the godly friends we have always prayed for, and a wonderful group of College students that God so graciously placed in our lives to teach and love on. We were able  to watch as the Lord’s seed began to sprout in the lives of our boys, and as He worked in Garrett’s life through His ministry as a coach, and also in my life, as I daily sought to serve Him through the ministry of writing, and building friendship’s with women throughout the community. Carthage has been and will be a place we will always hold close to our hearts and call home, no matter where we are.

And now Jasper. God has HUGE plans for us in Jasper and we are thrilled to take on the calling of the Lord to serve Him in this community. We have already seen the Lord at work and we have joined Him in those places. We are excited to see all He has in store for us and we are even more excited to see all He wants to use us for. We have been placed outside of our comfort zones and are thrilled to be uncomfortable for the Lord. For in that our faith has, is, and will be strengthened, and we are realizing our complete need for Jesus, thus opening our eyes to take it one step at a time, trusting in Him to equip us with each step. We are clinging to that promise, comfort, and protection and are very thankful to be found available and useful for the Lord to use.  

As I look back on these places I am comforted and filled with joy to see the Lord’s hand, presence, love, and guidance have never wavered or went away. It brings me assurance that when He calls us to move again He will be there as well. He will have already prepared that place for His work, His ministry to be spread through a family who desires nothing more than to be servants and messengers of Jesus Christ.

Which leads me to this conclusion; just as Jesus had no home here on earth, either do we, our true home that awaits us is only a blink away and it will be a home that will last forever! It is the home I long to be at with my family and brothers and sisters in Christ. So until then, I don’t mind being a traveler or a temporary home mover. Because all these places I have been and will be at until I reach my final and permanent home, are places where I get to see more of the Lord at work and where I am challenged to grow stronger in my relationship with Him and step out and live by faith.


 The Lord desires to use us for His glory.  He is constantly removing us from our comfort zones, so we never become complacent. Thus, developing an intimate love and trusting relationship with Him. The Lord has not called us to another country to be Missionaries, He has called us to be town to town missionaries who are willing to go to the places where His children need to hear His name and be encouraged, helped and loved. Now I understand why we have moved so often, because the work He has wanted us to do was completed, and I know without a doubt there have been lots of mess ups and ignorance, but He always accomplishes what He wants done through every situation. 

Lord we commit to go wherever You send us, for we know and have seen all that You can do through Your children who seek Your face, humble themselves and pray to be used to the max capacity our weak mortal bodies can be used. Lord we will continue to follow in the footsteps of Your Son until we reach our final home in glory. Amen

A Temporary Home Mover-Part 1

“For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come.” Hebrews 13:14

Texhoma, Lubbock, Copperas Cove, Texarkana, Carthage, Jasper, and… are just a few of the places I have lived in almost thirty years of my life. As I look back on each of these places the Lord has shown and revealed to me His hand, presence, and love that has been upon me. He has also opened my eyes to see moving as something positive and done for His purpose, name, and honor. Let’s start with the first two!

Texhoma- was and is a place that will always be so dear to my heart. It was the place where I was born and raised for 18 years of my life.  It was where I heard the Good News preached with so much power it scared me to think of life lived any other way without Jesus would be just plain stupidity. With that it lead me to open my heart to the Lord and follow Him in obedience through baptism of which was done by a man that looks just like Jesus more and more every day, my precious daddy! Texhoma was a place as my husband calls it “Pleasantville.” My home out in the country was filled with love that covered every square inch of it, built by the hands of my mom and dad and their best friends who worked hours, days, and months. It was a home where laughter, arguing, friendship, security, and the word of God lived and were heard every day. Texhoma was the place where my love for the Lord and His house began!

Lubbock-was the hometown of the college I had always dreamed of attending, it was the college where my two older sisters attended, of whom I wanted to be like. It opened my eyes to living in the real world and being surrounded by thousands of people who were all so different and influenced me in good and really bad ways. It was the best time period of my life but it was also the worst time period of my life, because I allowed Satan to lure me in the college life and the need to be accepted. The Lord taught me the importance of church family and godly friendships that I so wish I would have pursued from the beginning. I instead chose to fit in with friends who didn’t really care or know any different than making poor choices, of which I began to copy. The whole time the Lord never took His hand off my head or my heart!

How have you seen the Lord work throughout your life? Isn’t it amazing to see how far He has brought you? That is why I love writing so much, because over the years as I go back and read all that I have journaled with the Lord, I get to see how He answered my prayers, and worked in different situations. Not only that but He has shown me how much I have grown more into the Woman of God He has called me to be! I look forward to being 80 and seeing how much more I have grown, learned, and where all I have walked with Jesus.

Jesus thank You for revealing to me how protected, loved, and forgiven I am. Amen

No Holding Back!

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:30

As we bring our study of love to an end, we are going to go out with a bang! We are going to give every part of ourselves over to the Lord. We are going to do just as our verse commands us to do. We are going to love the Lord our God with ALL of our heart, ALL of our soul, ALL of our mind, and ALL of our strength.

How do we do ALL of that? That is a great question and here is how. First, we are going to show God our love by obeying His commandments. We are going to start focusing on Christ alone by changing our thoughts to His word, by opening the door to our hearts and inviting Him in. Then we are going to take our eyes off of this world and put them on the things of heaven.

Secondly, we are going to start living each day as though it was the day of His arrival. We are going to choose to love Him and show it by our actions. We are going to step out with boldness and confidence in the Lord. We are going to become true lovers and followers of Christ by meditating on His word and developing an intimate relationship with Him.

And Finally, We are going to live by the Spirit’s power each and every day and let Him control our lives. We are going to accept and receive the gifts of mercy, grace and love given freely to us by the Lord and be humbly thankful for them, and in return we are going let those gifts be an outpouring onto the lives of all we come in contact with!

“Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29

Jesus there is none like You and there is no love that can satisfy like Yours. Teach us to live in Your love. Amen

To My Loving Father,

 I want to shower you with all the honor, glory and praise that my weak mortal body will allow. I want you to feel and see the love I have for you from the very depth of my soul. My precious Father I will sing with joy to You, for it is fitting to praise You. I will praise you with song, for Your word always holds true and everything You do is worthy of my trust. Lord you love whatever is just and good and Your unfailing love fills the earth. You merely spoke and the heavens were created. You breathed the word and all the stars were born. You gave the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Lord may everyone in the world fear You, and stand in awe of Your name. For when You spoke the world began, it appeared at Your command. (Psalm 33:1-7)

My Mighty God and King I will praise you from the bottom of my heart; Lord no one can compare with you. (Psalm 35:10) I will praise You at all times. I will constantly speak Your praises. I will boast only in You Lord. May we tell all of Your greatness and exalt Your name together. (Psalm 34:1-3)

Abba Father I will daily seek to obey all of Your commands and I will cling tightly to Your promises. Father may all I say and do be pleasing to You my rock and my redeemer. Jesus I will praise Your name forever! I will search Your word each day and sit quietly in Your presence. Lord I long for the day of Your return when I can join You in heaven forever. I thirst for You the living God and as I come running to You, You always satisfy my thirst.

May I reflect You in all ways and God just as Your Son sees what You see and does what You do, may I too do and mirror all that Jesus does. Lord as each drop of rain falls and covers the earth so may my love and obedience fall and cover You.

I love You Lord and I lift my voice, may it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear. Lord thank You for Your greatness. Thank You for Your loving kindness. Thank You for Your word that brings healing and love to every man and that brings honor and glory to Your name.

 With all the love my body can give,

Your humbled child!

Smothered!

One of my biggest fears came through a dream I had the other night and as I sat straight up in bed recalling all that I saw and felt my heart broke. My nightmare, my husband said he didn’t love me anymore and he left! As I woke my husband to tell him, I began to cry. He sat up and wrapped me in his arms reassuring me of his love. As I laid there I felt the overwhelming thought of an even bigger devastation arise within me, the heart of God and how it must break as He looks down upon His people. What was a nightmare for me is reality to Him, which made my crying turn into weeping. But today we are going to change that, today we are going to lift up our hearts to the Lord and "Smother" Him with our love. And not just today but every day until He returns.

Serenade God- “I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1 Each day we wake up our very first thoughts and words should be of praise to the Lord. Not only will it be a sweet satisfying sound to the Lord but we will notice a change in our attitude as well.

Meditate on His word-“Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it.” Joshua 1:8 As we meditate on the Word we invest time with God which results in intimacy, knowledge, and a deeper relationship, all of which He loves!

Obey- “Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them.” John 14:21 God also says in 1 John 2:5 “But those who obey God’s word really do love him.” If you really want to show God you love Him then obey His word-All of it! This is the biggest action of love we could display!

Trust in His Son-It pleases God when we trust in His Son Jesus Christ and when we believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. “If you trust me, you are really trusting God who sent me.”John 12:44 Trust brings peace, security, and life!

Honor- “Give honor to the Lord, you angels; give honor to the Lord for his glory and strength. Give honor to the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” The Lord deserves all the honor and from our whole hearts! Stand up my brethrens and clap and shout in honor of the King!

Exalt-“For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.” Psalm 97:9 “The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock! May God, the rock of my salvation, be exalted!” 2 Samuel 22:47 May we always exalt the Lord and never lose sight of His supremacy.

Rejoice-“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 Celebrate each day the Lord made, He made it just for you, so be glad and smother Him with your love!

Jesus may You absolutely be smothered today by our love and obedience. Amen

All patched up!

“They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.” 1 Corinthians 7:13

 I love my Bible and if you asked my husband he would say that was an understatement. My Bible is worn and falling apart, literally, and has been taped together so many times. But for me this worn out Bible is filled with many tears, conversations, laughter, and love between the Lord and me. It is my security blanket!

About a year or so ago I came across a lady in Lifeway who was helping me with some things and we got to talking about our Bibles. I began telling her how mine was falling apart but as long as I could, I would just keep taping it together. She then mentioned to me about a place they send Bibles like mine to be re-bound and put back together like new. My excitement went through the roof. I was so excited, until she told me it would take 6 weeks to get it back. That, I was not quite prepared for! “SIX WEEKS? Wow that is just a really long time.” I told her. She said, “Well think about and bring it in if you change your mind.”

I got in the car and began to tell Garrett the news, I was fine until I got to the six weeks part, and I lost it. Yes, I cried! Puzzled by my emotion he asked what was wrong and I said “You don’t understand, I cannot be without my Bible for 6 weeks and clear across the country at that.” Of course trying to find a solution he said, “Well why don’t you just get a new one or use one you have at home?” He has not been the only one to tell me that, but, for me that is NOT even an option. Yes there are many good Bibles, but this one, well; it has a lot of mine and Jesus’ conversations in it and it is just…

Anyway, do you know what the greatest thing about all of this is? When we get worn and torn, when we begin to fall to pieces, God does not trade us in for a new one, He gently pieces us back together and stronger at that. God keeps us just the way He made us and by the time our journey ends the patchwork, the stitching placed by the Lord will be so beautiful and will be filled with tears, laughter, and our deepest conversations.

Some of you might have things in your life that are valuable to you and that you would not trade in for a new one. I hope God is that value because to God we are His value. So cling to that promise and find joy in all the trials, in all the brokenness, in all the rips and tares of life, and know that God does not trade you in for a new one. He loves you just the way you are and is right there to patch you up. Let your patches tell the story of God’s love and share it with others.

I am happy to report I have had my Bible re-covered and bound and it is all nice and patched up. And I only had to part from it for two weeks! I even adjusted well to the temporary Bible I used and found it as a blessing to have a spare, being there are so many people who don’t even own a Bible. It challenged and encouraged me to send out Bibles to those around the world and with the help of Brother Tilley I have been able to do just that!

Jesus thank You for patching us together time and time again and for loving us just the way we are. Amen

How loyal are you?

"Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation.” Proverbs 3:3-4

It is time to continue on and apply the love Jesus has given us. It is time we take the gift of Christ’s love and give it back to God. So over the next week we are going to shower, smother, and pour our love all over the Lord. Get out your buckets of loyalty and get ready to unload them on the Lord.

As you reach for your bucket of loyalty make sure that you are going to be 100% committed before you pour. I say that because God wants and deserves to be lavished with our loyalty to Him no matter what! God tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:21-22 “You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do you dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy as Israel did?” It angers the Lord when we do not give Him our complete loyalty. Check your bucket and make sure it does not contain mixed loyalty.

How much loyalty does the Lord require? “Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me now! Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead.” So how much loyalty does the Lord require? All of it! God says, “I do not come second to anyone or anything.”

We also need to make sure we don't fall into the same trap the Israelites did. They were only found to be loyal when around those who were devoted to God.

When the new generation of Israelites grew up they did not acknowledge God nor did they remember what He did for them. As a result they did evil things in the sight of the Lord and began worshiping other Gods. That angered the Lord and he turned them over to marauders who stole their possessions and every time they went to battle they were defeated. After they became very distressed the Lord rescued them. He raised up judges to rescue them from their enemies, but they still refused to listen and continued to show their loyalty to other gods. The Lord continued to rescue them from their enemies because He took pity on His people, but when the judge died they immediately went back to their corrupt ways behaving worse than those who had lived before them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. (Judges 2:16-19)

Let me close with a question? Where does your true loyalty lie? Do you put the Lord first each day or do you put other things before Him? It is so easy to let the things of this world and even people lure us to be loyal to them, but it is God that we must be loyal to first and always!

Lord show us where are loyalty is, if it is not in You and You alone reveal that to our hearts so that we can be completely loyal to You every day until You call us home. Forgive us for putting other things and people before You. Amen

Stalker

"Teacher, he said, we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are proof enough that God is with you. Jesus replied, I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:2-3

How well do we know Jesus? I mean how well do you really know Him? Do you know what makes Him laugh? Do you know what makes Him joyful, sad, and or angry? Do you know His laws and commandments? We want to learn all about others when we first get to know them, but what about Jesus? 

Are you getting me? Jesus lays it all out for us in His Word! He shares His emotions with us!

Maybe I have it all wrong! How can we understand love if we don’t even know about Christ? There is so much more to whom He is then the stories we have been told. He is alive and real, He is holy and pure. We have to get to know Him from the inside out! We have to become His stalkers. Don’t people who stalk others pretty much know there every move, their favorite color, etc. We need to become that way about Jesus. We should absorb ourselves in His word and get to know all there is to know. Once we learn who Jesus is, then, it will be that much easier to reflect Him. We should want to wear what He wears, do what He does, and say what He says.

Nicodemus was a Jewish religious leader, a Pharisee in the high council. Nicodemus new the Old Testament better than you know your favorite song. He knew all the laws and all that was required in order to follow and obey the law. But do you know what Nicodemus did not know? He did not know who Jesus was and what made Him so important.

Do you know what Jesus knew about Nicodemus? Everything! Nicodemus was different than His other leaders, in the fact, that, deep down inside of him was something that made him intrigued with who Jesus was. So one night he went to visit Jesus himself. Throughout their whole conversation Nicodemus shows His lack of knowledge of Christ, and Christ shows us His patience, His importance, His love, and His sympathy towards people who are living in the darkness. Nicodemus also shows his desire to understand Jesus better. And because of that by the time their conversation was over, Nicodemus left a new man, and He left realizing the significance of knowing Christ. We need to be like Nicodemus and go directly to Jesus ourselves and find out who He is.

Open up His biography and start reading it and meditating on it. Get to know who Jesus really is!

Jesus today we cry out asking for You to come down and show us who You are. Lord we want to know every little thing there is to know. Don’t leave anything out! Amen

Open it!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

When you receive a gift do you just let it sit there for days before you open it?  I mean really, it kills us to see presents under our tree and know we still have two more weeks or days before we can open them.  Well what do we do with the gift God has given us? Do we leave Him just sitting there for days, months, years or do we rush to open Him up?

God gave us the gift of Christ and inside Christ is love and joy. So why do we let Him sit, why do we push Him to the side?  Why do we wait for special occasions, death, tragedy, or sickness to open Him up?

God freely gave us this gift with complete expectations for us to receive it and open it immediately. Once we open up Christ in our hearts we then need to let Him out for the world to see. We need to embrace and cling to the gift of love and joy and not hold back from Him or others because we are afraid of being hurt, rejected, or disappointed. Those three things are inevitable they will happen, but with the gift of Christ’s love we can claim victory over them.

Just as we anticipate the worldly gifts we are given, as we frantically open them to see what is inside, full of excitement and wonder. We should be even more anxious and excited to open up Jesus every day and see what is inside of Him.

Maybe you have something coming up that you are looking forward to, or maybe you are going through a drought and feel like you have nothing exciting to look forward to. Can I encourage you to look forward to opening up Jesus’ love for you? Each day you wake up, be excited to open up Jesus and His Word and see what He has in store for you! There is one thing I know for sure about My Jesus, He never disappoints. He always goes above and beyond what we can imagine, He gives us daily gifts, and He is worth opening up!

God thank You for giving us the best gift-Jesus, Your Son! Jesus it is a wonderful pleasure to open You up every day and see what is inside awaiting me.  I look forward with complete anticipation and excitement of my future in You. Amen

Lavish!

“But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 5:10

Have you noticed our study on love has been of Christ’s love for us? It is essential that we take all of Him and His love and place it inside of us. The truth is, before we can begin to study how to love others, we have to study how we are loved and by whom we are loved. Jesus!

I must emphasis that it is a daily process and there will be times when we feel down in the dumps or we notice our love life is suffering (our love life with Christ) but we can overcome our blues by clinging to the cross, storing God’s word in our hearts, and letting Him lavish us with His love.

Do you know what it means to have Christ lavish us with His love? It means to have it in abundance, given generously and extravagantly. Jesus says I pour my love, I bestow my love, I smother you with my love, I cover you with my love, I load you up with my love, and I shower you with my love.

 There is not a stronger dose of love ever prescribed and it does not get any more fulfilling, satisfying, or rewarding than to be lavished with the love of Christ.

Jesus would You lavish each and every one of us with Your love today. What an amazing gift You have given us. Jesus we desire nothing more than to be completely smothered in Your love. Amen

Let Him O-U-T!

“For love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God-for God is love. 1 John 4:7

Over the last two weeks we have been learning of the greatest display of love! Christ’s death. It has been so wonderful spending time with the Lord and hearing Him retell the story of His love for you and me. It has been probably the most emotional couple of weeks for me, but so reassuring and wonderful as well.  God is love and He gives us the gift of His love daily. He holds His love from no one!

And here comes the tough part! We are the ones that hold our love from God and others. We keep our love in a container within our hearts and only allow it to come out when we feel loved. But now that we know love is not a feeling, but a choice and action, we can let it out! We also have seen and learned from the best, exactly how to do that, and that is by placing Christ and His love within us. Praise God He did not keep His love in a container!

“For love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God-for God is love.” 1 John 4:7 yes it is really that simple and good!

God is love and love comes from God. It does not come from us or anything else. We can try to love on our own and as we do, we will find it to be exhausting, draining, and honestly miserable. But my friends when we step aside and let God within us love-priceless!

Now understanding God’s love and being filled with God’s love are two completely different things. You see, Satan understands God’s love, but He is not filled with God’s love and his actions show that. Do your actions, thoughts and words show you have God within you? Just as our passage says, anyone who does not love does not know God. In other words with God in us it is impossible for us to not love. Isn’t that just amazing?

Put God inside of you and let His love fill you up and overflow out of you. Let it out, let Him out and share His love with the world.

Jesus as I was once told our weak mortal bodies cannot contain you, so today Jesus we are letting You and Your love out that is within us. We praise You Lord that You make all of Your characteristics available for us to reflect once we place You inside of our hearts. Forgive us for trying to contain You and for being stingy and selfish with Your love. Amen

Pardoned

“For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.”1 Timothy 2:5-6

There is no better lawyer to plead our case then Jesus Himself, which makes receiving Him and accepting His love all that more important.

Dialogue

The Client: I have heard that you were the best lawyer in the world and I was hoping that you would defend me before the Judge. You see I am guilty of many sins and I am ready to come clean and be held accountable for the decisions I have made.

The Lawyer: You have come to the right place and I just so happen to be the very one who can defend you.

The Client: You can, really?

The Lawyer: Yes and I have a very good feeling that the judge will find you not guilty!

The Client: But how is that possible I have committed these sins?

The Lawyer: Yes I know you have, but, let’s just say I know the judge on a personal level! However, before we begin, I need to make sure you have complete faith in Me and that you know I am more than just your lawyer.

The Client: Okay! Who are you?

The Lawyer: I am the Son of God and it is My Father who just happens to be the judge. I was sent to earth to take upon Myself these very sins you bring before Me. In doing that, I was placed upon the cross and crucified. I am the perfect Lamb of God who was slain. It is my very blood that brings atonement and forgiveness. Are you aware of the Prosecutor?

The Client: No!

Jesus (The Lawyer): He is very persistent, conniving, sly, and good at twisting and turning My words around. He is going to try and do those very things today. He will even try and question you, but I just want you to stay silent I will handle him. I have already paid for you in full. Do you believe that I can and will save you from the death sentence of your sins?

The Client: Yes!

Jesus: You just stay seated I will speak on your behalf!

The Judge (God): Would the Councilmen please step forward? Counsel for the defendant what is your plea? 

Jesus: Not guilty Your honor!

The Judge: Prosecutor what do you have to say?

Satan (The Prosecutor): He is guilty and I can prove it!

Jesus: Your honor if I may?

The Judge (God): Go ahead!

Jesus: (Jesus places His nail scarred hands up for the Judge to see.) Your honor as You can see I stand before You today pleading the case for my client. He has come to me, Your honor and admitted the wrong he has done and as I stand before You today, I have proof that I have taken those sins upon myself. I have paid for them in full! It is my hands I hold out to You today, and it is the blood I have shed that is the perfect sacrifice.

Jesus: Your honor today I have entered into heaven itself to appear now before You as his/her advocate. (Hebrews 9:24) I love them Your honor. I love them so much, I now live forever to plead to You on their behalf.

The Judge looks over at you and says two life changing words, "NOT GUILTY!"

Jesus did more than just die, He rose again and sits in honor at the right hand of God and pleads for us daily. He is our Mediator, our Advocate, and He fills the gap between us and God. Draw a cross and place your name on the left side of it and place God’s name on the right side of it. Now put Jesus’ name in the middle. He is the bridge; it is through Him that brings reconciliation with God.

Jesus it is through You that we have life and receive love on a daily basis. It is You that pleads before Your Father on our behalf. Thank You for filling the gap! Amen