Warning!

"You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. They will betray friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that." 2 Timothy 3:1-5

There is a reason Paul warned Timothy of the last days, and there is a reason this passage still applies to us today. We need to be warned, aware, and conscious.

These things can take root within us, our families, our homes and our Churches. For some, this may already be the case. So how do we rid our homes, our lives, our families from these things?

Three ways

1. Understand none of us are immune.
2. Go Straight to the Root.
3. Combat it with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

If we think we are immune to the attacks of Satan, we have another thing coming. He is constantly planning and scheming, he waits until we are weak, and then he attacks. We are susceptible.

We need to learn, evaluate and get familiar with the root of what causes these actions-selfishness.
When we focus on ourselves, the desires of our flesh, and feelings we literally remove Christ from the center and place ourselves in the place He should be. This will always produce problems, stress, frustration, and more selfishness. In order to put Christ back in the center you must daily put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your Cross daily and follow Him. You literally have to wake up and run to the foot of the Cross and lay your selfishness down.

Then, you have to put on the armor of Christ and be completely on guard at all times. You need to tune your ears to His voice and listen. None of these things are easy, but if we choose to do them day in and day out, we will be able to look back and see how He has guided us, protected us, and helped us grow in perseverance, self-control and faith.

The greatest asset we have is His Word. We need to be storing it within us every second, constantly meditating on His promises, seeking it out like we would lost treasure or hidden money. The more we store His Word, the stronger the Holy Spirit is within us, and the less likely we are to give into our selfishness.

Jesus, uproot the selfishness within us and replace it with Your truths, Your promises, and selflessness. Take complete control of our lives in every area. Guard us from our own selfishness. Jesus bring healing to those who are living in the bondage of selfishness. Bring freedom and healing to the families who have allowed sin and selfishness to divide them. Amen

The Beauty in the Scars

It's easy to live in a way that hides the truth of who we really are. But to live in a way that shows the truth of who we really are, is hard in a world where there is constant judgement.

Those who are able to say, "I am sinner" and allow their sinfulness to be exposed, are the ones who speak and live the most powerful testimony.

They have realized their need for Jesus-their Saviour. It is through that realization they are able to stand firm. They understand the meaning of mercy.

They no longer live chained to their past, or in the fear of judgement. They live in the freedom of His forgiveness and grace.

Their scars become beautiful stories of redemption. 

They are able to fully grasp the purpose and meaning of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. 

They have been set free. 

"Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 7:24-25

As You Age...

Beauty is found in the woman who ages in wisdom, truth and love.

Beauty is found in the woman who grows in self-control.

Beauty is found in the woman who holds her tongue.

Beauty is found in the woman who displays a life of selflessness.

Beauty is found in the woman who matures in her faith.

Beauty is found in the woman who speaks with honesty.

Beauty is found in the woman who plants peace.

Beauty is found in the woman with a gentle and quiet spirit.

As you age, do you age in beauty?

"You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. That is the way the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands." 1 Peter 3:4-5

Altar Sunday

At some point, if we want to experience freedom, we have to be willing to lay our selfish desires at the foot of the Cross. 

The Right Kind of Approval

Seek the approval of God more than you seek the approval of your flesh.

Don't Make a Promise You Can't Keep

"The Lord hates those who don't keep their word, but he delights in those who do." Proverbs 12:22

Now days, your word means very little. Even a signed contract can be broken. In Bible times, someones word was solid. It held firm.

Our words have become futile, fickle, and ever changing. We make rash promises to God and to people.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-6-"As you enter the house of God, keep your eyes open ad your mouth shut! Don't be a fool who doesn't realize that mindless offerings to God are evil. And don't make rash promises to God, for he is in heaven, and you are only here on earth. So let your words be few. Just as being too busy gives you nightmares, being a fool makes you a blabbermouth. So when you make a promise to God, don't delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don't follow through on. In such cases, your mouth is making you sin. And don't defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved."

So often we make promises to each other that we either never intend to keep or can't keep. If you give your word, be sure you commit to keeping it. If you know you can't, it's better to be honest and tell them, than to break it.

Jesus help us be mindful of how we approach You, and the vows and promises we make. May we never make rash promises that we never intend to keep. In times of suffering, sorrow, fear and frustration, may we remain silent and listen for Your voice. Amen

Only God

Who, other than God can display such beauty for the world to see?

Who, other than God can paint the sky with such detail?

Who, other than God can reveal His  presence in such a majestic way even the non-believer, believes?

There is no-other. Only God, the Creator. 

"Praise God in his heavenly dwelling; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!" Psalm 150:1-2

Acceptance

"It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in people." Psalm 118:8

The more we look to man for acceptance and happiness, the more disappointment we will experience. The more others put their acceptance and happiness in us, rather than Christ, the more disappointed they will be.

Let's look to Christ, He accepts us as we are, loves us unconditionally, will never disappoint us and fills us with an unexplainable amount of joy that no one can take from us.

If you are constantly feeling down, depressed, frustrated, and irritable, take a step back and examine why you are feeling that way. Is it because you are looking to man to meet the needs only Christ can? If so, turn to Jesus, dive head first into His Word and let Him lavish His love upon you.

It's a daily choice. Will you choose Christ's acceptance and joy or will you choose man, whom disappointments?

Beauty in Rest

When you can't bring yourself to wake your baby up, because there is beauty in his heart and mind at rest. It's a beauty magnified by Jesus at work within him, preparing him for the day ahead. 

Thank you for the rest You provide Jesus. 

It's Not Guaranteed

We all know the one thing that is inevitable-death. Yet how often we live as though we are immune. We live as though tomorrow is guaranteed.

But tomorrow is not guaranteed, nor is making it through today. That is why making the most of each second, minute, hour, is crucial. Being conscious and aware that our life is like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow, will awaken us to savor each minute God allows us to have. It will shift our focus off of ourselves and onto the things and people that matter the most. Our families, the lost, the widowed, the orphaned, the poor, the least of His.

It will revive us, challenge us, and fill us with thankfulness and joy. Why? Because when we realize at any second it could be over, we become mindful of our blessings. When we realize at any second we could lose someone we love, we become mindful and thankful for them.

Today, spend your minutes being thankful, prayerful and joyful. Ask the Lord to help you be mindful of how you spend your time today.

May we spend more time impacting others for the sake of Christ than we do on serving our flesh.

"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it's here a little while then it's gone." James 4:14

Altar Sunday

We are to only stay at the altar for a period of time. Then we are to get up and go out and "do" act, live out, serve. 

The Difference

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:16-17

Do you know the difference in a child and   an adult?

The child desires to learn. The child loves unconditionally. The child is pure at heart. The child is able to be shaped and molded. The child easily forgives. The child holds no record of being wronged. The child seeks to understand. The child easily believes. 

There is a reason Jesus says to have child-like faith. 

As adults, let's seek to obtain that child-like faith we once had. Let's stop allowing self and the world to conform us to it's liking and start conforming the world and self to Christ's liking! 

A Good Indicator

"If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind." James 3:13-16

Disorder-to disturb the regular or normal functions of.

When we allow selfishness to take root within us and we constantly feed it, we produce words and actions that are worldly, and we ensure they always point to us.

Because we have allowed our hearts to be saturated with self, when the attention is taken off of us, or we  feel as though we aren't in control, disorder begins.

I like to refer to self as our Miss Me. Miss Me can't go two seconds without being fed. She thrives on any and everything that feeds her. Such as; attention whether earned from good or bad behavior. Lies that make her look better or help her be praised. And anything that is materialistic. Her speech contains the word  "I" and the focus in every conversation revolves around her or her family. Her concern for others is rare. 

When her regular routine is thrown off, beware. She will either shut you off or let you know about it.

We all have a Miss Me, but we all also have a choice. We can either choose to give her complete rein of our lives, or we can allow the Holy Spirit to put her in her place. 

If you wonder how much control she really has, ask the Lord to show you. and when He does, listen! 

And if you are willing and really do desire to know the truth, that if listened to, will  set you free, seek out those who know you well and will answer you honestly. 

But be prepared for their answer, because when truth is spoken to Miss Me and she is called out for her actions and speech, she can get really defensive. 

So be sure when you ask the Lord and those you love to tell you, that you are really ready to receive it. 

And if you do ask, and you get mad at them for telling you, or you let it hurt your feelings, then let that be a good indicator of how big your Miss Me really is. 

Let James 3:13-16 be one of the tools you use to put Miss Me in her place. Remind her constantly who God is. 

Unity in Love

There is no greater joy than hearing my three boys fuss over who loves mama more. 

As I sat back and listened to them my heart literally felt full, thankfulness overflowed. 

It was a healthy discussion, one that said together our love for mama is more than she can contain. It's stronger! 

May our love for Jesus be the same. May there not be a competition based off works, that fights to love God more than another, rather, may there be a unity that overwhelms and fills His heart because the love we have for Him as one is so strong. 

Two Simple Questions

How does Jesus see you?

How do you see Jesus?

It's Time to Put It Down

When will you remove the magnifying glass Satan puts in front of you, and hold up the Word of God?

God's Word reflects beauty and love. 

Start April off with a new look, new vision and new perspective of who you are in Christ.

Loved

These are just a few of the most precious God loving faces you will see. 

My heart overflowed with complete joy at our first Bible Study. God was ever so present teaching us His amazing truths. 

Ladies I pray God will give you a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your lives. I pray He makes you wise with spiritual wisdom as we study His Word. For then the way we live will always honor and please Him and we will continually do good, kind things for others. All while we learn to know God better and better.

It is a complete joy to serve Jesus with you. You bless me with your love for Him. 

Altar Sunday

Jesus didn't enter this world dressed to impress the highest officials or kings. His appearance did not attract them either. 

Instead Jesus entered this world wrapped in the only cloth Mary could find. Then placed in a manger, better yet placed in a feeding troph for animals, to save sinners like you and me.

Jesus didn't place us here on this earth to impress the highest officials or man. He placed us here for His glory, His honor and to worship and serve Him. 

As we enter the House of The Lord lets remember why we are there. 

Isaiah 53-it's worth the read. 

Family

I love to see families love one another. As we were leaving Alldredge I glanced over to see this sweet family getting in the car. They were a young family. After putting their babies in the car, he embraced his wife, kissed her, and gave her the sweetest hug. Her face lit up! 

It's the little things that remind me of the reason God established family. 

Family embodies love, protection, joy, companionship, comfort, the freedom to be you, acceptance, and if established on the Word of God, reflects the family of Christ. 

It's a beautiful thing! 

What's even more beautiful is that we have been adopted into God's family because of Christ Jesus. This family, is the only family that will remain when Christ returns. Are you apart of the family? 

"Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:4-5

His Joy and Crown

"A worthy wife is her husband's joy and crown; a shameful wife saps his strength." Proverbs 12:4

A worthy wife whom brings joy to her husband brings joy to Christ.

It is the investment in her relationship with that Christ that will overflow on her husband. 

Her desire to please the Lord will be shown through her love and respect for her husband.

She encourages him. She honors him with her words, actions and body language. 

She builds him up. She is gentle, kind, loving and finds joy in serving him. 

The shameful wife tears him down, disrespects him with her words and actions. Goes around town causing dissension among friends. She struggles in her relationship with Christ. Therefore, her relationship with her spouse brings frustration, unrealistic expectations, constant nagging due to her own unhappiness, discontentment, complaining, and insecurity. She bases all things on feelings, and reacts off her emotions, rather than God's truths. 

How would Jesus describe you as a wife today? He is the only one that will give you the honest truth, and we need the truth in order be set free from the path of destruction that will soon destroy our home and family. 

Jesus may my marriage and life be a true reflection of my relationship with You. Amen