10 Pounds Lighter

Do you want to feel 10 pounds lighter?

If so, find Jesus. He promises to lift all those bent beneath their loads. (Psalm 145:14) 

He also says, "For my yoke fits perfectly and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:30

Jesus can bear the weight, let Him.

God's Standards

"Wickedness never brings stability; only the godly have deep roots." Proverbs 12:3

Jesus may my roots grown down to the deepest depths of Your love and living water that my every movement, every thought, every action and reaction, every spoken word, and even the way my blood flows and heart beats, will produce godliness.

True success is found in those who are firmly rooted in Christ and His Word. They display honesty at all times and in all things. They commit themselves to The Lord. They commit their work to The Lord. They do what is right. They refuse to slander others. They do not harm others. They do not speak evil towards or about others. They despise persistent sinners. They keep their promises even when it hurts. Their lives display integrity. They are found trustworthy and even their character is a reflection of Christ. 

The wicked are self seeking, unstable, dishonest, they gossip, ignore instruction, hate correction, prideful, mock others, they neglect their family to get ahead in their careers, money is their God. Their roots only dig deeper into wickedness and their lives continue to produce wickedness. 

Our standards of success should not be established or determined by man. They should and are determined by God and His Word. 

 

Things I Use

I thought I would share with you a few things that I am using to help me manage my time wisely. Especially now that I am rising earlier. 

1st-My power verse-This of course changes weekly.

     "Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom." Psalm 90:12. 

             ~I want Jesus to teach me exactly how I can make the most of every second. Because one day I am going to die and I want the hash in the middle of my birth and death to be jammed pack full of purpose, a legacy remembered for ages, and a pure reflection of Christ. Christ used all 33 years of His time on earth wisely and I want to do the exact same. I know this will be hard at times and I know Satan will throw those arrows, but I also know in Christ I can and will be victorious even in the difficult times. I don't want to be remembered as a selfish, lazy, worldly focused woman. I want to be remembered as a God-fearing, serving, loving woman who made use of every second God gave her. 

2nd-I have created a The Morgan Family Planner-I love everything and anything organized. From the inside of every drawer, to my attic, to my husbands clothes, to my lessons for Sunday School and Bible Studies.n So this is heaven in a notebook. 

I can't remember for the life of me where i got the cover, but if I find it I will add the attachment. I want this sweet lady that created it to receive the credit. 

3rd-Inside the Binder- of it I have created tabs for my daily and weekly to do, which I call "Fulfilling His Purpose"   recipes, exercise, important dates, an address book, and important numbers (For the babysitter-if we ever decide to finally use one :) 

My all time favorite page that I fill out is the "Fulfilling His purpose" Here is a quick pic of it. 

I absolutely love this page. I usually keep it in my book, but have decided to hang it on the fridge for the whole family to see it, and because well, I love my binder but I don't like it to sit out on the counter. Once the week is over I will put it back in the binder and get a new one. 

4th-The Daniel Plan (By far one of our greatest investments. This book has been life-changing and it is Biblical based which is HUGE to us. I highly recommend it!!) I can't speak enough good things about this book. My shopping list, our workout plan, our recipes all come from here. I also have the Daniel Plan Cookbook! Listen when it comes to cooking I need all the help I can get! And I love that all these recipes consist of foods that God created in the beginning. There are so many man made foods it's unbelievable. So this teaches you the difference between them. Like I said, it is AMAZING! 

5th-Bills! Bills! Bills!-We use Dave Ramsey, so I keep track of all our bills using an excel spreadsheet G and I created, based off of Dave Ramsey. I have a binder I keep all our bills in. I really actually enjoy paying our bills and G likes it to. He use to do all of it, but the more we prayed about it and realized he didn't have very much time with football, I took over, and because my strength is being organized and it's his weakness. Since he is no longer in football, we do it together. I only keep our bills 2 calendar years (for tax purposes) then they meet Mr. Shredder. When the first year rolls by, I remove all of the bills from the binder and place them in a shoe box. I only keep the tear off portion of our bills. It's cleaner and less bulky, and they fit perfectly in a shoe box. It also saves so much time. I mean who wants to spend countless hours paying bills, not me! Nor do I want to look at a big box or filing cabinet filled with junk. I am not one to keep things, not even my boys papers from school. (Unless it is extremely necessary.) For some reason I mentally can't handle excess. It's just not needed. Less is way better for me. I would rather invest my time investing in them instead of in an object that will perish in the end. 

6th-Investing and Serving Others-this requires diligence. People need people. God made us that way. In order to manage my time wisely between the top priorities Christ has laid before me and investing  in others, I leave it completely up to Him, and He always provides the time for fellowship, discipleship, teaching, and growing. When Christ reveals your gift to you, He also sets aside the time for you to be able to fulfill those gifts and but prepare as well. Preparation requires listening. Listening to Him! He is the teacher, I am just His tool.  Mine is teaching and writing (and not like spit out a book writing.) and both of those require adequate amounts of time. When I prepare for a lesson it takes an entire week, along with a good 4 hours on Saturday. So I really have to be mindful of how I use my time. When your a wife, mama, daughter, sister, business owner, friend, and invested in discipleship's, you have to depend on the Holy Spirit. Time truly is of the essence. I have really been learning lately to be mindful of every second. I really like TV, but TV is a waste of time anymore. I could sit in front of the TV for hours and in doing so waste hours that I could be serving Christ, my family and others. This is something I have really been praying to have a distaste for. Could you imagine if I didn't have a conviction for Facebook. Oh mercy help me, I would probably waste hours looking at others lives rather than going out and investing in the lives of others. I am thankful He has given me a distaste for that. I am here to impact lives for the sake of Christ. "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…" Matthew 28:19

Be wise with your time today sweet ones. May each second be used for the Glory of God, fulfilling the purpose He has placed within you. 

If you have any questions or comments please leave it on the comments section on the blog. 

Rememberie

As we were studying our Bible verse this morning Dax says, "Mommy, I just don't have a good rememberie."

Avery on the other hand starts shouting, "Mama that was one of my verses from Church. I know that verse mama!"

Whether we have learned and know it by heart or we struggle with our "rememberie" God's Word is applicable for us all. 

He makes it possible for everyone to understand it. 

"My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those who WANT to learn." Proverbs 8:9

On another quick note. Today is day 3 of rising early. Jesus had me wide awake at 4:45. I rose had an amazing quite time and then witnessed a horrible chain of events. Our chickens were murdered last night. Saddest thing for this family of four. We love fresh eggs and the boys loved those chickens. So I might not have gotten other things done on the list due to clean up, I was able to catch a few extra minutes with my hubby. 

Let your joy overflow today sweet one. 

Altar Sunday

Rise and Shine brethren and run to the Altar of God. He is waiting to meet with you. Don't keep Him waiting.

His mercies are new for you today. His forgiveness is real and available. His love is overflowing. His presence is breath-taking.

Don't miss out on a life-changing experience.

Day One

Today is day 1 of making rising early a habit. Although I was awake at 5:20, I did not get out of bed. G had to be up that early to get to Abilene, so I was awake to tell him I loved him. 

Then I drifted off to sleep while I was praying for him. This is not a fail for me, because I did get out of bed at 6:45 on a Saturday. 

I had a great hour and half quite time before A got up.

So far I am pleased. I know through the power of the Holy Spirit it will become easier, especially as my body adjusts to a new sleep pattern. 

 

This morning as I studied these women, I  found that each of them rise early. 

Proverbs 31:15 says, "She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls." 

There is a reason she rises early. Because there is only 24 hours in a day. So in order for her to make use of the time given, and the gifts God has entrusted her with she knows she must rise early to...

1. Meet with Jesus

2. Plan out her day

3. Provide for her families needs

Because when those are done, she too, is out the door serving, working, supporting her husband and taking care of others. 

She is always placing others before her self. I want my life to reflect those same character qualities. 

Jesus you have given me a new day to rise early and meet with You and take care of my family. Those are the two most important gifts You have given me and I want to honor You and them. I know I will have days I struggle but I trust in Your strength and the help of the Holy Spirit to help me overcome temptations of laziness and selfish thinking. Thank You for this amazing privilege. Amen

GET UP! GET UP GET UP GET UP!

I am NOT a morning person, but I so desperately want to be one. Why? Because there are so many things I can get done, if I would rise earlier.

1. I could exercise in the morning rather than at night.
2. I could spend even longer with Jesus, of which you know I would do all day if I could.
3. I could get the house picked up before we all left.
4. I could visit with my hubby more.
5. I could get ready without being rushed.
6. I could have a healthier breakfast for my family
7. I could get a few loads of laundry done.
8. I could get dinner ready to be cooked when we got home.
9. I could spend more time in prayer.
10. I could spend more time meditating on my Bible Verse with no distractions.

My husband is not a morning person either, but he rises early anyway and I admire him so much. He is so strong mentally and well let's be honest, that man does NOT have one ounce of laziness in him. Sigh. And he probably still hears his dad's voice saying, "GET UP! GET UP GET UP GET UP!" (You have to say the second part fast, with a real deep voice and LOUD)  does not thrill me, loves, nor does it thrill my boys when G does it. But it got G out of bed growing up. For me growing up, I heard my mama and daddy's sweet voices, "Get up baby, you need to get ready." Along with some kisses. It's the difference between all girls and all boys. Jesus wake me up with authority, excitement, and sweetness. You know I function best that way:) (Squirrel, sorry)

So, here is what I have decided to do. I have began to focus on the attributes of the Proverbs 31 woman, along with some other women in the Bible. I am examining and learning how they managed their time, so I can manage my time better, and stop being so lazy!!

Jesus has given me life, and in return I need to be living this life the best I can for Him and for my family.

I also want to make use of the 24 hours He has set in a day and if I am sleeping, I am missing out on what He wants to do in and through me.

The first place I need to begin, is by listing out the top 5 priorities. These priorities are all 100% God centered. He has to come first before anything else can be done. So with that here are my top 5.

1. Spend time in prayer. For me this is our morning conversation. It's where He speaks, I listen. I speak and He listens. It's a conversation. Before I can begin to study His Word and absorb all He wants to teach me, I have to visit with Him and get cleansed and purified. I never want there to be any hindrances between Him and I.

2. Sit at His Feet and Learn-This is when I remain silent and listen as He teaches me. Right now He is teaching me the Book of Proverbs and about some extraordinary women.

3. Meditate-This is where I put application to what He just taught me. I do this by focusing on the particular passage I am storing for the week. I speak it over and over, then He and I visit about how I can apply it and ways He will allow me to use it.

4. Prayer-prayer for my family, the lost, my Sunday School Class, those who have requested prayer, and so forth.

5. Worship-this is the time I start wrapping things up and begin to worship the Lord through thanksgiving and praise. This is ALL about Him. I write them out, I speak them, I (attempt) to sing them, and I just allow my heart to be fully devoted to Him.

So those are my top 5! After that is where the prioritizing begins.

What things need to be done in this day. Starting with the morning.

 Keep in mind, my husband and I are so super busy with running 3 clinics, so a majority of my day is occupied with helping him do that.

So I always try to plan between that. My days run in segments time wise.

If I will rise earlier around 5:00 am. Then I will have from 5:00-6:30 with Jesus, and I need every ounce of that time. After that I can be 100 % devoted to my boys and G and making sure they have what they need to start their day off great!

I will be honest, I have REALLY struggled in this because like I said, I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON! Just the though of my alarm going off early makes me tired. :)

But, Jesus and my family are more important than my laziness and selfishness.

My husband and I are currently going through the Daniel Plan, which is a must read if you never have. In the book Rick Warren made a few comments that have imprinted themselves within me that have really convicted me and left me desiring to make the best with the gifts and time God has given me, because in Heaven, I want to be found favorable and even more useful than I was here on earth.

He says, "God is testing you on earth to see what He can trust you with in eternity. He is watching how you use your time, your money, your talents, your opportunities, your mind, and yes, even your body."

I don't know about you, but I want to be trusted with much when I am in heaven. In order to do that, I need to make good use with all I have here on earth. I have failed at this, and probably will fail again and again, but my heart is devoted and dedicated. I will keep going in His strength.

Please understand, it's not an earn your way agreement. It's a relationship. It's understanding your unworthiness and His holiness. It's knowing what He has done for you and what He has given you, that makes you pleasing in His sight. That gift is Jesus Christ and it's all about a personal relationship with Him. It's desiring to do all these things because of your love for Him.

Jesus I can do nothing in my own strength or willpower. I am quite aware of this. I have tried far to many times. So today, I relinquish all control. I am Yours. Every ounce of me. I need the power of the Holy Spirit within me. I need help getting out of bed in the morning. My mind is weak, yet so controlling and filled with self. Help me Jesus fill it with Your Word, Your promises, Your thoughts, that I will be able to overcome the lures to stay in bed, the lures to tend to my flesh. I know it will be hard, but I know it's possible. All things are possible through You. Amen

One Lost Person

Would you spend time praying for one lost person today. It doesn't matter whether or not you know their name or know them personally. God knows them. He knows them in detail. So just pray for them.

Intercede on their behalf with urgency and brokenness. Pray for them like you would a loved one. Pray with boldness yet fear because of who you are speaking to, God Himself.

Pray for them, not because you have to, but because you know what's at stake. Their soul! Pray for them because you know what awaits them if they don't turn to Jesus-Hell.

No matter where you are or what you are doing, pray for them all throughout your day. It might just save someones life.

Upcoming Bible Study-Don't Miss It

I am so excited about our upcoming Bible Study. It will begin March 24 @ 6:30 at my house. All in the Midland area are welcome to come.

We will be studying the book of Proverbs. So far we have a great group of women signed up to come and as we look forward to this day we are in prayer for all that God is going to do.

You are being prayed for and we want you to know you are loved and adored. Come just as you are ready to dive deeper into God's amazing Word.

We believe God is going to do great and mighty things through this study and we don't want anyone to miss out.

If you have any questions please contact either Lauren Hobbs @ law0184@hotmail.com or myself @ coffeeatthecross@gmail.com

You are prayed for and we look forward to seeing you.

For more details on how to get to my house, please email me.

The Establishment of Family

"Those who bring trouble on their families inherit only the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise."  Proverbs 11:29

In the beginning we see the establishment of family when God brings Adam and Eve together and then when Cain and Abel come along we get the fuller effect and importance of family.

God gives a clear picture of this verse and it's meaning when Cain kills Abel.

Because of Cain's jealousy and anger he brought trouble, hurt, sorrow and loss on his family when he killed Abel.

As a result of Cain's actions, God said, "You are hereby banished from the ground you have defiled with your brother's blood. No longer will it yield abundant crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless fugitive on the earth, constantly wandering from place to place." Genesis 4:11-12

Not only did Cain commit the first murder, he also became the first homeless man.

The establishment of family was to ensure we would have a support group, encouragement, acceptance, love, protection, and trust.

When we allow sin to come in our lives and begin to overtake us, we begin to separate ourselves from the one thing we should be clinging to-family.

What is causing you to separate yourself from your family? Is it jealousy, pride, anger, bitterness, shame etc.? Maybe you are doing it to please someone else.

Whatever it is, I pray you will turn to Christ and allow Him to heal you, restore you and your family, and bring healing.  Don't be the fool that inherits only the wind.

And don't allow Satan one more minute to make the wedge bigger or sink his lies even deeper within you.

Think about the cost. Is it worth it? Is your family worth losing?

The Search is Over. The Good is found in His Word.

"If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!" Proverbs 11:27

It seems today, not many look for that which is good. Rather we hear and focus on our problems. 

In doing this we fill ourselves with things that tear us down, frustrate us, consume us and even destroy us. 

God says if we search for good we will find favor. 

I want that favor, but more so I want to focus and be filled with that which is good, life giving, hopeful, joyful, and promising. 

All those things are found in God's Word. He is good. His Word is good! His love is good! His promises are good! His mercy is good! His forgiveness is good! 

I want my life to reflect His goodness, so in return others will desire His goodness. 

Altar Sunday

It doesn't matter where you are at, at this very moment, God is present. He has never left your side. Take time to praise Him right where you are. Take time to worship Him and be with Him.

God just wants your attention and love. You don't have to be inside the Church walls to spend time with Jesus.

God made that possible when He gave you Jesus.

Brought to Life

"But blessed are those who trust in The Lord and have made The Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

I was instantly reminded of this the other day when I saw these two trees. 

How perfectly they described this passage. I love it when The Lord brings Scripture to life through His creation. 

What passage has Jesus brought to life for you this week? 

Spring Break Get Away!

This is one thing my hubs and I LOVE doing. Fishing. And competing while we fish. 

I won't mention who won...ME! Not by the number of fish caught, he smoked me on that. But I smoked him on size. 7lbs!!! That fish is not pictured! 

Pops came in third, and did it gracefully. G got his love for fishing from his dad. And all three of us always have a blast. 

How Do You Make Use of Your Time?

How do you make use of the time, money, gifts, and abilities God has given you?

Do you use them wisely or foolishly?

Jesus knew how you would use all He gave you before you were ever born. "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Psalm 139:16

What's so great about Christ, is He gives us the opportunity to make wiser decisions with what we have been given. But we first must know Him. We must also have a desire to please to Him. "While we live, we live to please the Lord." Romans 14:8

 Moses says in Psalm 90:12-"Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom." The more we grow in wisdom the better we will be at using our time, money, gifts and abilities wisely.

We can get a good glimpse of how we use these things by evaluating our lifestyle.

The Beauty We Seek?

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears The Lord will be greatly praised." Proverbs 31:30

A woman's beauty is found in the image of Christ.

The more Christ is seen within her the more beautiful she is.

The more she clothes herself with His Word, the more radiant she becomes.

She is aware that her physical beauty will disappear, being remembered no more. So she seeks to leave the lasting beauty of Him, His love, His joy. For those she knows will last forever.

Which beauty are you seeking to obtain? That of the worlds or that of Christ?

Your time, actions, focus, speech and investments will reveal the truth of the beauty you seek. 

To See as You See

37 

"Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word." 

Psalm 119:37

These eyes don't see as You see. 

You see His blood. You see perfection through Him. You see a soul You love, have rescued and belongs to You. 

You see things with a wider lens. You see with compassion and gentleness.

Your eyes never grow weak, they never close. 

These eyes, let them see what You see. 

Fill them with the same vision of Your Son.

May they not focus on anything other than You, Your Word, Your truth, Your promises, Your love. 

Change the vision in these eyes to see the lost as You do. To see the broken as You do. To see the widowed and orphaned as You do. To see those in slavery as You do. 

Change the vision in these eyes to see me as You see me, loved, saved, valued and adored. 

I Am Yours

"I am yours; save me! For I have applied myself to obey your commandments." Psalm 119:94

Jesus teach me to let go of me, so I can be filled with You. 

Teach me true surrender. 

Teach me how to lay my willpower down and pick up the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let Your work of transformation begin within me.

Purify me. Cleanse me. Revive me. Fill me. Use me. Shape me. Mold me. 

Jesus I want nothing more than for You to have complete control, for then I can know for sure that my every move, every thought, every action and reaction, and every spoken word will point and reflect You. 

Make even my blood flow with godliness, truth and love. 

Jesus I am Yours! 

Altar Sunday

Go to church to be changed, not just for a pep talk. 

Live a life "That is"

What if...more people liked me?

What if....I was prettier?

What if....I was thinner?

What if....I was more godly?

What if...I read my Bible more?

What if...my marriage was better?

What if...I was married?

What if...I had more money?

What if...I had a better job?

What if...I fit in more?

If I could be more like her/him, then I would...

If I could just have more money, then I would...

If I could just look like that, then I would...

If I could get my kids to be more like theirs, then I would...

If I...

It goes on and on. It's a vicious cycle. 

And one I believe Satan likes a little too much. 

He loves that we question our worth. He loves that we compare ourselves to others. He loves that we are believing his lies.

He loves to hear us doubt God's promises and truths.

Satan loves what if's. 

Jesus on the other hand loves those who walk confidently in His truths and turns all those what if's into actions.

Your beauty is found within.

Your health is founded on God's strength, not your own willpower to be healthy or thin. 

Your godliness is found in your obedience to Christ.

Your desire or lack of reading God's Word is a reflection of your relationship with Him. When that grows so will your desire to read the Word.

Your marriage is a reflection of your marriage with Christ. If He comes first so will your marriage.

Richness is found in Christ. There will never be a greater or longer lasting wealth.

Your job is the one you do for Christ, not man.

Don't desire to fit in, desire to be different. 

Let Jesus set you free from the what if's. Start living a life that is. 

"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Stern

Sometimes being stern comes across harsh, mean and unlovable. And yes, sometimes if our intentions are just that, then yes it encompasses all three of those things.

BUT. When our sternness is done out of sincere love and to teach, then I believe it expresses love.

Jesus was stern. His yes meant yes and His no meant no. His rules were His rules. His laws were His laws, and when those were broken or misconstrued, He meant business. His rebuking and teaching was stern, not because He demanded His way, but because He loved us and loves us. He wants the best for us and from us. His sternness is intended to purify, cleanse, renew, remind, and redirect us from that which is sinful, wrong and displease the Father.

The Pharisees and Sadducee's displayed the opposite kind of sternness. They were harsh, mean and unloving. Their intentions were always selfish.

When times call for sternness, be sure your heart's intentions are aligned with the Word of God and the leading of the Spirit.

It's never easy to give or receive, but if we will allow it, it will teach us and help us grow.

So as you study God's Word today, remember this, "For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." Hebrews 12:6

Food for the Soul

Are you seeking healthy, life long nourishment that feeds your soul?

If so, seek to be filled with kindness. Kindness that not only nourishes you, but nourishes all those around you.

"Your own should is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel." Proverbs 11:17

Jesus clothe us in kindness. May we pour it out just as You have poured it out upon us. Amen

May They Become the Desire of His Heart

We pulled up to the house and Dax said, "Mommy, do our neighbors go to Church?"

Me, "I am not sure baby, we should invite them."

Dax, "Ya, because they might not know Jesus, and that is not good!"

May his heart grow more and more with a passion to share Jesus. May the lost become the desire of his heart. 

Be Different than the Norm!

Ladies, if there is anything we can learn from the Word of God, it's that true beauty is found within. All to often we compare ourselves and envy women who we see as prettier, smarter, more put together, etc. But the truth is, that prettier, smarter, more put together woman, could be an absolute disaster on the inside. She could have a heart of stone, yet is able to portray a false outward appearance. She could be the most broken woman, but hides behind her physical appearance, success, or earthly possessions.

We have all known women that we believed had it all together, until we really got to know them. Their actions and speech revealed something quite different.  We have also know some very beautiful women who had worldly hearts, and we have all known woman whose love for Jesus makes them radiate with indescribable beauty.

As women, who claim to be "true" followers of Christ, let's not pretend to be more than what we really are, sinners saved by grace, daily in need of Jesus.

Let's be women who are found beautiful inside because of the love of Jesus in us, not the love of the world and physical appearance.

Wouldn't you rather be known as the woman who reflected Christ, loved others, was real and honest, rather than a woman who reflected the world, was fake, broken, and pretended to be someone God never intended her to be in the first place.

Ladies, God has entrusted us with the opportunity to set a Godly example for young women. Don't lead them astray, or lead them to believe their physical appearance is greater than their heart for God. Tell them, that though this has become the norm for women today, for those in Christ, its not the norm. Encourage them to have a relationship with Christ. Encourage them to clothe themselves in His Word, His truths, His promises, for then they will truly be clothed in beauty.

Let's be women who encourage and build one another up, who challenge one another to be all they can be for Christ, and who hold one another accountable because of our desire to honor and please the Lord.

If you find yourself constantly comparing, constantly feeling insecure, constantly striving to look pretty outwardly rather than inwardly, constantly finding yourself jealous of others. Run to God's Word and let Him remind you who you are in Him. Let Him wrap His truths and promises around you and let Him remind you it's about what He thinks, not what another man or woman thinks.  Stop letting Satan convince you and fill you with lies.

The more you know Christ, the more you will desire to please Him, to be your best for Him, to honor Him and serve Him. The more your relationship with Christ grows, the less it will be about you and the more it will be about Him.

Who are you investing more in, Christ or yourself? Who are you trying to impress, Christ or man? Who are you comparing yourself to, Christ or others? What are you trying to fill your emptiness and void with, Christ or the world? Let these questions help guide you daily as you do all that you do.

Ladies, be the woman that stands apart from the rest. Be the woman that allows Christ to be seen. Be the woman that clothes herself with the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Be the woman that exudes honesty, humbleness, and selflessness.

Be the one that lives out, believes, and clings to the promises of God. Be different than the norm! 

"Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands." 1 Peter 3:3-5

Altar Sunday

Spiritually there are many of us having an affair. Who or what are you cheating on Christ with?

Today you have the oppurtunity, better yet everyday God gives you the oppurtunity to return to Him. 

Will you give your heart back to Him?

It's An Extra Special Day

This truly is my greatest joy, waking up and meeting Jesus. Today is extra special for many reasons. 

1. I can see His Word and make out the words. 

2. I get to spend extra time with Him while the boys play and G works in the yard. 

3. I get to prepare lessons for the sweetest group of women in West Texas. 

4. Today is one day closer to Jesus.

5. Today His mercies start fresh. (Thank You Jesus!)

What is Jesus allowing you to do today that is extra special?

Dax Update

For many of you who know Dax's story, know it hasn't been the easiest five years of his life, but it hasn't been the worst either. 

A couple of weeks ago Dax had some more testing done. 

Allergy testing to see where he was, simply because his poor skin, nose and headaches were not getting any better no matter what meds he took. Those results showed his allergies have doubled  since 2012. 

He was such a trooper. Here are a few pictures. He is such a big boy.

This is just a hint of how bad his skin is. This has been all over his body.

His other arm. :(

These popped up not even a minute after they applied them. 

I failed to get a finale pic of his back after the 25 minutes due to his discomfort and severe itching.

We now carry an EPI pen, and will begin allergy shots twice a week for the next five years. 

We also had his MRI done due to the headaches. This went great. The cyst has not changed, it's not gone but it's not growing. Praise The Lord!

We now can confirm the headaches are all sinus related. 

He had his blood tested again, we do this every six months to see if his IGA is coming up any. Unfortunately they are not, and his vitamin D is extremely low. 

Though we were disappointed about those results we are thankful and feel like we are finally moving in a good direction with this sweet little guy of ours. 

He is so strong, sweet, funny, hyper, busy, smart and challenges us daily with his questions. 

I just couldn't love these three boys of mine anymore than I do. My heart often feels like erupting because I love them so much. 

They humble me, teach me things about myself that I desire to change to be better for them, and their love for me, well, there is nothing greater.

👀

Hello Sweet Ones,

I have missed each of you so much and am so thankful for all the prayers. They were very, very needed, as my eye surgery turned out to be a lot more painful than I ever intended. 

I am doing much better and actually get the bandages off this morning. Due to the complications in my left eye it is extremely blurry so I am depending more on my right eye. 

But it will get better and I am so thankful. I have learned how much I have taken my sight for granted, not just physically but spiritually as well. 

This is the longest I have gone in 33 years without being able to read and study God's Word. I have been able to listen which I am so grateful for, but reading it and writing it is my passion, so I look forward to being able to see His Word soon.

My husband and Avery have been a true blessing, reading your emails and texts and replying for me. 

I am truly blessed to have such a sweet and caring family. My mom and dad came and stayed and helped with the boys which is always a treat. 

I hope God has filled you with amazing new glimpses of His presence and truth. 

Is He found in You?

"Love does no wrong to others."  The Lord said. 

I sat there and listened as He spoke those words over and over to me this morning. 

Jesus, I know this and desire this but there is so much hurt in this world. There are so many broken families, broken people, lost people, hurtful words, anger and violence.

"Because there is so little of Me found in man. I am love." Jesus replied

Will you be love today? 

Don't Be Fooled

"Riches won't help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death." Proverbs 11:4

Need the Lord clarify anymore? Riches, nor popularity, nor fame, nor believable speech or outwardly put together appearance help you on the day of judgement. 

Rather it's an obedient and loving heart that matters most to Him. 

It's the one who seeks to please Him, honor Him and tell others of Him.

Most importantly it's having a personal relationship with Him. 

When you have that, you will have a heart that desires to live a godly life for the One whom you love more than breath itself. 

Don't be fooled by the worlds standards. Trust in the Word of God. 

Overcome

"The father instantly cried out, 'I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!'" Mark 9:24

Let's be over-comers.

Over-comers of…

doubt
sin
addiction
lies
jealousy
gossip
bitterness
anger
selfishness
insecurity
laziness
adultery
murder
homosexuality
greed
pride


Let's cry out just as this father did, (my paraphrase) "Jesus I do believe, but help me overcome ______________." You fill in the blank.


To be an over-comer is to literally rise above whatever enslaves you. In order to rise above it, you have to believe Jesus can and will set you free from it, and when He does, you have to leave it at His feet returning to it no more.

Overcoming something takes time. Remember you didn't crumble or become addicted in a day, it was a slow fade.

Sunday School

We have already begun our study of the Book of Exodus, but would love for you to come join us. If you are unable to, let me know, and I will send you my outlines for each chapter.

We are only on chapter 4, we are breaking each one down, desiring to learn and know as much about our amazing God has possible.

Be blessed sweet ones.

Are You Honest?

"Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty." Proverbs 11:3

Honesty, its rare these days, yet when found and received you can't put a price on it.

When we lack honesty, we lack trust, faith, confidence, and even integrity.

Dishonesty is found in one who is fearful, lazy, jealous, bitter, and insecure.

Honesty is found in the one who knows who they are in Christ.

Honesty is found in the one who understands the Holiness and Power of God.

Honesty is found and given by the one who understands that they will be held accountable for every idle word spoken. They speak the truth because God is truth and God lives in them. They are honest because they desire honesty in return. They are honest because Christ commands them to be honest.

Don't let dishonesty be found in you or heard out of you.

Jesus reveal any dishonesty that is within me. May my words always be filled with Your truth. Amen

We All See Differently

"Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!" Psalm 119:5

It might not be your conviction, but it could be someone else's.

You might not find anything wrong with it, but someone else might.

You and the Lord know what actually went on, but to someone else it was perceived differently. 

Your expression of frustration might have been just that, but to the one listening it could have been taken quite differently.

We must always be mindful of how our actions and speech affect others. 

The way you act, the things you do, the words you speak, will either draw others to Christ or away from Christ. 

Never do something that will jeopardize or hinder someone from coming to know Christ. 

And ladies always be wise with your words and the conversations you have, especially if you confess to be a follower of Christ. 

If a new believer or lost woman hears you utter words of hate, dislike, and gossip about another person, it portrays Christ in a negative light, and it reveals an ugliness about you. 

If we are going to claim to be Women of God lets live as Women of God who reflect Christ in every area of our lives. 

Altar Sunday

If there was no one there to lead worship, would you still worship?

If there was no one there to teach you the Word, would you open it anyway?

If you woke up and found everything gone, would you still praise His holy name?

They Way They Communicate

God made men able to relate to one another in ways, we women often don't understand. For these two, it's found in the most unusual ways. 

Sometimes they communicate in silence, other times they communicate with a simple look. Lately, they have been communicating with music. 

If you know anything about this little man of ours, he seldom stops moving. It is very rare to find his body in a manner of calmness, but lately, his daddy has been able to calm him, comfort him, communicate to him, and fill him up with an unexplainable amount of peace and contentment. 

I am thankful for an extremely patient, talented, loving, compassionate man of God that G is. I am thankful for the time G now has to invest more in the lives of his boys. I am most thankful for his ability to communicate to our two boys and for the desire he has to set a Godly example for them. 

I pray they grow up to be the amazing men G is today. 

The Truest Expression of Love

The truest expression of love is not found in flowers, or chocolates, or candlelit dinners. It's not found in money, or kisses, or cards.

The truest expression of love was found on the Cross.

"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." 1 John 4:9-10

The Most Thankful is the Most Joyful

"You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done." Psalm 92:4

Our greatest joys can be found in the simplest of things.

The most joyful person is the most thankful person.

She Said...

"Be as creative as you can be. The sky is the limit." 

We laughed the entire time making this. Thanks to Pops it turned out great. 

Are You Godly?

Two ways to tell

1. "The godly person gives good advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off." Proverbs 10:31

2. "The godly speak words that are helpful, but the wicked speak only what is corrupt." Proverbs 10:32

This Doesn't Come Close

He was my Pastor for 4 years. He has been my mentor, best friend, accountability partner, and even my competitor in dominoes, for the last 7 years.

There are an endless amount of words to describe how amazing he really is. G and I could spend hours on end telling you what a blessing he has been in our lives. We have laughed and cried with him and his precious wife many times over.

We have spent many Thursday nights competing in dominoes, stayed up late visiting and doing lots of eating.

There has not been a time G and I have not savored being with him and his precious wife.

He is the most humble man who oozes integrity and Jesus in the most amazing way. He never takes credit for anything, rather he always gives God the glory.

He is loving, yet firm in his faith. He never sugar coats the truth. He is passionate about the Lord, the Word, the Church, and people.

He has a love for his family that radiates out of each one of them. His wife is his greatest companion who is always keeping him on his toes and making him laugh. She is the greatest encourager and helper to him. There are only a few like her and God blessed him with one of them.

Do you know there are people God gives you specifically? God gave me him. He has been the greatest encourager in my walk with the Lord, in this blog, and in my teaching. Most people use commentators, I use him. (We laugh about this)

His knowledge of the Lord amazes me daily.

I can't express how much I love and respect him. There is a not a day that goes by that G and I don't thank the Lord for two of the greatest best friends.

I could fill page after page telling you about the amazing qualities God has filled him with and the way he has blessed me and my family. But rather I want to tell you that this man, today much like Paul is struggling with illness.

His body is tired, but his Spirit is as willing and strong as ever. Like Paul, he keeps pressing forward doing all that God has called him to do, sharing the message of Jesus Christ. These words from Paul describe him exactly.

"As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God." 2 Timothy 2:6

Tonight, he could use faithful prayer warriors, those who commit to praying when they say they will. He could use many flooding the Most Holy Place on his behalf for healing. And not just prayer for him, but for his family as well.

Would you commit to praying for him for the next 10 days, PLEASE!

Why just 10, because I believe that our God can do abundantly more than we could ever dare to ask or hope for, and I believe that our God can move mountains. I also believe that with unwavering faith that God can and will do something amazing and jaw dropping in 10 days. And please understand, as we have already visited about this, he and I know that however God chooses to heal him, is gain!

So with that, I am asking you to pray for one of the most precious and amazing men in my life for the next 10 days.

I have left him nameless, due to the fact that he never wants attention draw to himself, rather he wants God to receive all the attention. He is humbly crazy amazing like that!

I will give you a few specifics to pray specifically for.

1. Wisdom and discernment for the doctors
2. Peace and comfort for him and his family
3. Rest for his tired and hurting body

My tears daily flood the Most Holy Place for you sweet one.

Altar Sunday

Awaken Church! Let the power of God move you to revival!  

When Clarity is Given

When God clarifies your purpose, and opens your eyes to the reality of what it entails, a sense of understanding and peace fall upon you.

"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you." 2 Timothy 4:3-5

How to Stay Focused

How do you keep your focus on Christ in the midst of all the craziness?

Three ways

1. Pray
2. Read the Word
3. Trust His Promises

When You Work

"Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically." Romans 12:11

When you work…

Work joyfully
Work diligently
Work enthusiastically
Work thankfully
Work selflessly
Work lovingly
Work humbly
Work intentionally to please Him, honor Him and reflect Him.

"Work hard and cheerfully at WHATEVER you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Colossians 3:23

Brotherly Love

This is the sad face of a little boy who LOVES his brother so much he cries when he leaves.

This is what we hear every morning,"Bye Avery, I love you so much. I am going to miss you. I love you." Then the door closes and it's tears for this little man. 

Heartbreaking but heartwarming all at the same time.

Love that these two love each other so much. 

Always

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." Isaiah 55:10-11

All we have to do is make ourselves available and useful to The Lord and He will do the rest. 

You are never a waste. You are loved and desired. He wants to help you fulfill the purpose he has placed within you. 

This should excite us. It should drive us to do more for Him. Jesus never fails! His Word will always accomplish what He wants it to and it will always produce fruit. 

11 
    

You Choose

I am loving my study of Proverbs. I love the simplicity that is found within every verse.

The Lord makes it so clear the benefits of being godly verse the destruction of being a fool. Every passage gives us a choice. Will we choose to be godly and live a godly life, reaping the blessings, OR will we choose to live foolishly reaping the consequences?

Here's a little example of how I break each passage down, and yes I am going passage by passage. I want to make sure I digest every ounce of wisdom God wants to pour over me.

This is one example.

"Disaster strikes like a cyclone, whirling the wicked away, but the godly have a lasting foundation." Proverbs 10:25

The Fool
-Will be whirled away

The Godly
-Will have a lasting foundation

It's our choice. Will we choose to be the fool that will soon be whirled away or will we choose to be godly and stand on our lasting foundation, which is Jesus Christ?

Then to really grasp what the Lord is saying I do some major cross referencing along with what I call CAB (Command-Application-Benefit)and I LOVE IT!

Matthew 7:24-25-"Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on a solid rock."

     -What Command is God giving in this passage?
            *To Listen and Obey

     -How can I Apply this today?
            *Speak less and listen more-then go and DO what God has commanded me to do. Jesus help me to always have my eyes, heart, mind and ears open and ready to hear from You. 
            *Listen to the advice of the godly. Listen to the voice of God. Listen to my family when they speak.
            *Do what God has commanded of me-love, be gentle, react calmly, react when the Holy Spirit prompts.

    -The Benefit (s)
         *I will grow in wisdom, I will remain on Christ's lasting foundation that is solid and unwavering.

There is so much to gain when choosing to be wise.

Psalm 15:1-5 is a continuation of the benefits of being godly.

"Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and DO what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to slander others or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise persistent sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who do not charge interest on the money they lend, and who refuse to accept bribes to testify against the innocent. Such people WILL stand firm forever."

I don't know about you but I choose to be godly and live a godly life. To me the choice seems simple and the benefits of living a godly, wisdom filled life far outweigh any worldly benefit.

What will you choose today?

Altar Sunday

Jesus came to set us free. He paid the debt for our sin, let's walk in His deliverance. Let's approach the altar of freedom and be set free from the bondage of sin.

Ladies, A Challenge.

Ladies as we approach another new week, let's seek to build our spouses up.

Our sweet men carry such a big load. 

They carry the load of...

Being the leader of the home

The finacial leader

The provider

The protector

The Spirtiual leader

The need meeter (I know meeter is not a word, but is my lovely word.)

The mind reader (Yes ladies we do expect this)

The encourager 

The helper

And so on. It's a heavy load! 

So here's the challenge.

Rather than place more on them by expecting things from them only Christ can fulfill, let's focus on helping ease their load. 

How do we do this, for starters, let's nag less and encourage more. Then, let's look to Christ to be...

Our Leader

Our Provider

Our Protector

Our Need Meeter

Our Helper

Our Encourager

When we take this off our spouses and place it upon Christ, not only will it lighten their load, but it will place our trust in the One for whom it should be in, in the first place-Christ!

Ladies, if we put Christ first in our lives and focus on serving, pleasing, and honoring Him, we will then desire to serve, honor and please our spouses. 

Christ should always be our main focus! 

This Sweet Lady

Kassie Garlock is the precious woman who did an amazing job updating my blog. She is very talented, and knew exactly what I wanted, even when I was unable to explain it. I am so thankful for her vision and guidance in making this blog so amazing. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. If you are ever in need of a face lift for any of your Social Media, give her a shout. You will be blessed! Thanks Kassie for making this experience so wonderful.

Be a Student that Studies

"But don't just listen to God's Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." James 1:22-25

When we take the time to "study" God's Word, we are also taking the time to "apply" His Word.

Look at the key words in this passage.

Listen-if we just read through rather than study, we are not really listening. Studying requires you to listen to the instruction given. Which then requires our next key word.

Do-This is a required action. While reading and listening are good, doing is even greater.

Look Carefully-when reading we simply focus on the next word ahead, rather than looking carefully at each word spoken. When we study, we pay attention to detail, we dig deeper and we seek to see the details that make up the bigger picture.

       -I love the example the Lord gives us in this passage. He uses our physical feature to drive His point home. A quick glance does not suffice. Imagine if you had to get ready in the dark. You would have no idea what you looked like, until you stepped into the light and stood in front of the mirror. This is exactly what Christ is telling us. Taking a quick glance into My Word is not going to really benefit you. You will still be standing in the dark. You need to look carefully into My Word, focus on all its features, take it all in, and then make use of it by applying it.

Let's be students of the Word!

3 Rules to Godly Advice

"The godly give good advice, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense." Proverbs 10:21

3 Rules to Good Godly Advice

1. Always speak the truth (Even if it hurts)
2. Speak only when the Spirit directs
3. Speak of what God's Word says, NOT what your feelings say.

Jesus guide and direct our speech in every way. May the advice we give always be useful, helpful, God led, Spirit directed, and based on the truths of Your Word. Amen 

Several Things to Try

There are three things to try today.

1. Study God's Word rather than read God's Word! (There is a HUGE difference.)
2. Be FULL of thanks rather than FULL of complaints.
3. Speak only words that build up, encourage and breathe life into others.


"So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10-11

Knowing When

"Dont talk to much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow." Proverbs 10:19

Knowing when to listen and when to speak is such a treasure we should all be in search for. 

Let's be listeners and discerners of the Spirit's leading. He will always let us know when it's time to turn off the flow. 

Jesus direct my speech today that it will be life giving. Prompt me at all times when to speak and when to remain silent. Amen

A Thankful Melody

May our lives be a thankful melody heard by all, for the goodness of Christ that lives within us.

Altar Sunday

"We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.” Genesis 35:3

We can all relate to God's goodness, protection and presence. Let's offer the sweetest sound of worship, praise and thankfulness that will fill every inch of heaven. 

Jesus Makes All Things New

Isaiah has been restored!

Love, love that my baby loves God's Word so much. 

When Longing turns into Pleading and Interceding

I have this unexplainable desire to be in a state of worship that brings the presence of God so near to me I can't move. It's a longing for Him that will always be, until He takes me home.

Do you ever have that deep longing for His closeness?

So much so you want to feel Him breathe, hear the beat of His heart, and feel the warmth that radiates off of Him?

In these moments of deep longing, I know it is Him drawing me closer. It's Him reaching out and desiring to be with me, this moves me to tears every time. The Most Holy God desires to be with me.

His love is so binding, so powerful, so moving, so humbling, so filling. I can't ever get enough. I can never get close enough, at least the way my heart desires. But one day, one day I will. One day I will be in the direct presence of the Father. One day I will be complete, longing for nothing.

Yet in the midst of my deepest longing, I am suddenly interrupted by the overwhelming thought of those who have never experienced His love, His calling, His presence, yet they have all sensed at some point Him drawing them in, yet they ignore Him, they run from Him, they deny Him.

This thought makes the longing in my heart expand, deepen, even ache because of the loss. Lost lives perishing in a place where there is no love, only suffering.

Then I realize the greater purpose of why my heart longs for Him. Because I have realized what I have been saved from. I have been saved from the place of suffering, burning, and agony.

Yet so many have never realized this. So how can I through Christ tell others what He has done? How can I show them, explain to them what His death and blood has done for them?

How can I express the urgency of this before it's to late?

This brings me to a place where my longing turns into crying, pleading and interceding for the lost.

Jesus please show them what You came to save them from. Show them it exists and is real and if ignored will be their eternal forever home. Yet it's not home, it's torture, it's suffering, it's worse than anything they could ever imagine. Show them why You came and what You have done for them and what You are preparing for them, Heaven. The place where You dwell. The place where love abounds. The place where there is no hurt, no pain, no suffering, no sorrow, no longing; just peace, love, joy, and an overwhelming amount of goodness, beauty, and Jesus. 

Jesus may the existence of hell be so real it becomes life changing. Amen

Open The Eyes Of My Heart

No matter your earthly state, God can and will ALWAYS bring glory to His name. So much meaning in these words. This is such a powerful testament to how amazing our God is. 

Our Relationship

I always seem to be brought back to this particular passage, "Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." Exodus 33:11

The more I understand the significance and importance of my relationship with Christ, the more I realize how important it is for me to invest in Him, like He does in me.

This will always be a relationship where His investment far outweighs mine. He is Perfect. He is Sovereign. He is the Creator, Holy and All-Knowing. His invest and love will always be greater, and I am ever so thankful for that. 

I desire with every ounce of me to invest in Him like He so desires. I want our relationship to be real, genuine and like no other relationship. I want to have those face to face meetings with Him like Moses did. 

I can sit here and type a million "I need to's" but I don't want my relationship with Him to be "Jesus "I need" to spend more time with You. "I need" to invest in us more. "I need" to talk to You more. "I need"to…

I want to be all in, completely and fully devoted, giving of myself at all times to honor and please Him. 

The Lord is showing me daily how important our relationship is, without Him nothing matters. 

Without Him, there is no joy, no hope, no laughter, no life, no healing, no purpose. 

Just yesterday, as I was driving home, the Lord revealed to me a greater sense of urgency to invest and commit more to our relationship. 

Jesus wants more from me; more attention, more time, more listening, more communicating, more trust. He wants that face to face meeting with me, daily, with no distractions, just pure undivided attention. 

Jesus could walk away from our relationship at any time. He has that power, authority and right. He doesn't have to be with me. But He chooses to. 

"I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't chose me, I chose you." John 15:15-16

He chose me. I am chosen by the Most High. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The Great I AM!

Through the Holy Spirit in me, I want to have such a thriving relationship with Christ that every time I leave His presence my face is glowing from being in His Holy Presence. 

"When Moses came down the mountain carrying the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn't aware that his face glowed because he had spoken to the Lord face to face. And when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses' face, they were afraid to come near him." Exodus 34:29-30

 

BAD GIRL!!!

When a four-legged creature does this

And this

And this

You get this reaction from your 7 year old, (All CAPS to express the loudness and frustration) 

"ZOEY MORGAN, NO MA'AM. THAT IS GOD'S WORD. YOU NEVER CHEW ON GOD'S WORD, IT IS HOLY! BAD GIRL! BAD GIRL!"

"Mama she ate Isaiah."

We can't bring ourselves to even throw it away. 

Stunted Growth

Your spiritual growth will be stunted, if you live in a state of comparison.

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." Galatians 6:4

THREE THINGS

Three things to help heal a complainers heart.

1. Joy
2. Prayer
3. Thankfulness

"Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Altar Sunday

Go to the altar expecting God to do something amazing, mighty and bold. 

Then watch as He does.  

Expect It then Live It

When is the last time you woke up and expected God to do something completely unexpected and life changing through you?

Let that day be today. Look for Jesus in a way you never have. Expect to be used and changed for His glory, like you never have.

Live your faith boldly and in such a way it catches the attention of others.

"God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us." Ephesians 3:20-21

Endless

When you allow the Word of God to become alive within you, your opportunities, abilities, and joy will be endless. 

Dare to live bodly. 

Lasting Success

True success is not measured off of worldly performance, rather off of fruit produced.

In the end, worldly success will not be able to withstand the fire, but true success, that produces Godly fruit, will remain forever.

"Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. 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. Only then will you succeed."  Joshua 1:7-8

Seeing Him Through Them

His sweet little hand reaches out to find mine. He grabs hold and whispers, "Mommy I will protect you."

His compassion overwhelms me. 

Through him, I get glimpses of Him. 

He looks at me through the phone and and without a word being said, I see the need his little heart has. The need for his mama. The need to be right next to me. No one else will suffice. His little voice cracks as he says, "Mommy I miss you." 

And I, I try to stay strong, encouraging, and remind him it's only a little longer. But longer to him feels like an eternity. Especially at 5!

His longing for me, reminds me of my longing for more of Him.

The way they love. The way they need. The way their little hearts express themselves, all reminders of the way I need Jesus.