No spirit of fear here!

Philippians 4:13 ~ I can do everything through HIM who gives me strength.

Isaiah 40:31 ~ but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Psalm 34:4 ~ I sought The Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

I have something really amazing to share with you today!

I have just returned from an awesome weekend retreat with 60 something women. We feasted on HIS Word and lives were changed! I am so blessed by new friendships made and old friendships being strengthened. GOD is GOOD!

The story that I am sharing today, is not my own. I asked this sweet woman if she would allow me to share it. Why? Because….I want you all to see that there is POWER in prayer and that FEAR has no hold on you when you fully trust God. THIS IS HER TESTIMONY..all glory to GOD. ALL GLORY TO GOD!!

Thank you, Tawanna, for allowing me to share your story…I love you and I am so very proud of you!

In her words:

The Bridge

Every year, our church holds a women’s retreat at Epwroth by the Sea on St. Simon’s island. The retreat has been a blessing to me and my family because every year, I leave something on the island, and bring home something new that I have learned about the goodness and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I look forward to this yearly ritual that we have come to have where we spend the weekend in fellowship and worship. We sang, we prayed, we danced, we laughed, we cried. Trying to put the weekend into words is a bit challenging but if I had to chose one word, I would chose the word blessed because that is how I feel every time I am on that island.

The one struggle that I have is crossing that bridge that connects the island to the actual town. The first year that we went, I was riding with 2 of my dearest friends. As we started to near the bridge I looked to my left and at first I didn’t know that it was an actual bridge. From a distance, it looked like a big building, I thought to myself and said out loud, “Hey guys, check out that bridge. The blue is so beautiful it almost looks like the color of the sky. As we got closer to the turn my friend in the back said, “That’s not a building it’s a bridge.” As I burst into laughter, I told my friends that I was so glad that we wouldn’t be going over that contraption. I then started to laugh and make comments about the courageous people that went over it daily and I started to thank God that we were not amongst them. The more I talked the more my friends became quiet. They had no idea that I had a fear of bridges, being over water, and certain high places. As I am talking and laughing and talking and laughing, I realized that the turn that I was making towards the left, led me right towards that bridge. Well I started to yell and scream and panic. I started to drive in the middle two lanes, so the people behind me and the people that were trying to come down on the opposite lane, had to merge into one lane. As they honked their horns and yelled at me, and some made obscene gestures and said obscene things, I panicked even more started yelling back and telling everyone that I am on a retreat and that they cannot yell at me. You see I was like Peter in Matthew 14:29. We were all doing fine as we were driving and God was leading us, but I took my eyes off Jesus and started to let fear abide in me. This caused me to panic and to start driving in the middle of the bridge.

On the very last day of the retreat, our beautiful pastor’s wife Lanelle Rogers, asked that the ladies of the retreat pray for and with me, that I may conquer my fear and successfully cross that bridge. I crossed it, but I wasn’t trusting God. I allowed my friend to drive while I sat in the backseat sobbing with a huge sweater wrapped around my head. I placed the garment over my head as soon as we left Epworth by the Sea and did not take it off until I was told that we were well across the bridge. I didn’t want to see what was going. That weekend I had learned so much and was filled with so much love for Christ but I still was not trusting in him.

This year I was blessed to go back. I was so excited that I was able to attend. I asked my girlfriend and fellow sister in Christ Kim Wade to drive as I started to speak fear into my life. I told her that I just knew that I wouldn’t not make it on my own and made her drive. We had agreed that I would sleep the entire way there, and I had gotten up at 2am that morning so that I would be tired and would want to sleep. Kim and I have not seen each other in months so we did what ladies do best. We talked, and talked, and talked. Before we knew it, my phone rang and it was the member of the church that we were following, Lisa Colburn. She called and said that we were approaching the bridge and that she wanted to warn me because she knows of my fears.

We were approximately 5 minutes away and I allowed fear to take over my body. As we crossed the bridge I pulled my shirt over my head and started to scream and holler. The more I hollered the more I panicked. I started to hyperventilate and then before I knew it I was unable to breathe. In the midst of me trying to catch my breath, I became nausea. I closed my eyes, open the car door (not knowing that we were going 55 mph) and started to vomit until my stomach was empty.

I then spent the first night of the retreat staying up until 2am trying to find alternate routes off of the island so that I could avoid the bridge on the way home. While staying up I missed the fellowship that was going on downstairs right beneath me and later discovered that there was only one way off of the island, and it was over that bridge.

This weekend we learned how to abide in God and to allow Him to abide in us. I really paid close attention to the messages that were brought, the testimonies that were shared and on the last morning, once again, my sisters in Christ wrapped their hands around me, surrounded me and prayed on me and for me. Prior to leaving God sent an angel in the form of Heather Dawkins. As she hugged me she prayed for me and that I would not only make it over the bridge, but that I would open my eyes and look at the beauty that God has created all around me. As she prayed, I thought to myself, “how could I be afraid of God’s beauty?” It was then that I started to think about the bridge and what it represented. That bridge and my fear of it, represented the chains that had me in bondage. I then wrote down things that had me in bondage on several slips of paper and folded them into little pieces. As my friend and I crossed the bridge, I cracked the window. Although nervous in the beginning, I started to quote the scripture 2 Timothy 1:7, for God did not give us the spirit of fear. And I just kept reciting that scripture as I threw the slips of paper out of the window. When I looked at both sides of the bridge, I became humbled by the beauty that surrounded me, and how awesome God’s works are. That bridge no longer represents my fears, but the relationship that I have with Christ as his daughter. I am set free, no longer bound, no more chains holding me.

2 Timothy 1:7: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

WOW!!! Isn’t GOD good!!!!???!!!! So many people were praying for Tawanna…and they never ceased to pray and care… The BODY of Christ lifted her up…and allowed God to use them in her life. Please feel free to comment on this post and tell Tawanna what you thought of her awesome testimony…and share it with others..so that GOD can receive the glory that HE so deserves.

Until Next Time,

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV84)

Today… I am thankful for so many things and Granny Shiver tops the list.

Our Granny Shiver passed this earth and entered into HIS presence this morning. I guarantee you there’s a party going on!!

Granny.. Or Grandma.. Or Mama or Hilda.. However you may have known her.. I knew her as a strong and loving woman. A lady who accepted me as one of her own.. (Even though I wasn’t her grandchild by blood) She loved life and she loved the Giver of Life! It was evident. Her actions proved what her lips professed.

Granny possessed a strength that can only come from a real relationship with her Heavenly Father. That strength got her through many losses..many tough times in her life. That strength was Jesus in her.

But you know what? I’m gonna quote her: “I can let it make me bitter or better.” She chose better!

She knew how to live. She lived with no inhibitions. She loved with all she had & would even give you whatever she had. Granny was loved by many.

I’m better for having known her. She lives on through her children, grandchildren, and great grands… Her legacy will remain!

See.. God was first. She had her priorities straight. She missed her husband every single day since he left this earth and entered into the presence of Jesus. She took care of him while he was here. She raised her family.. And she did it well.

She could make the best homemade lemonade… Banana pudding.. Cobbler.. Mayhaw jelly. (Remember the room filled with jars) .. The list goes on.

Her thumb was green.. not brown like mine. She loved her flowers.

Oh and her grapevines! Man..

She loved her family! All of us.. Blood or not.. She loved!

I’m not even going to try to list everything.

Too many memories.

Too many things and funny stories to list.

I’m thankful to have married into this family.

Something tells me that she and Granddaddy danced a little jig and ran into each others arms when she took her last breath here. I bet it was beautiful!

The Bible says:

John 10:27-29~ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Those verses bring comfort and assurance.

I’m thankful that God put my husband and I together. Through a friendship that I had with his cousin. I love our family. I’m blessed with my family and my family by marriage..

I’m so proud of our family. We may not get together as often as we used to, but when there’s a reason to celebrate or a tragedy strikes.. This family unites and stands behind one another. Unity.

I can’t close without saying that I’m so thankful that Granny was an authentic Follower of Jesus! What comfort to know where she is and that all who are also authentic followers, will see her and Granddaddy (or Pepa) again!

So.. I have to ask…Do you know my Jesus? Are you really following Him? Don’t waste another minute of uncertainty.. Don’t waste another minute living with doubt or living without the peace and assurance of truly Knowing HIM.

And one more thing: Do you really love?
Do your actions prove what your lips profess? It’s not too late.. To love.

Thankful and Blessed..

Until Next Time,

Heather

by: Heather Dawkins
 (future home of CrossPointe)

We all make choices. Many choices in our lifetime. Every choice has a consequence. Every choice matters.

Thank goodness, our God is a God of second chances..and third chances….

I’ll be honest. My choices didn’t always bring my Jesus glory. I made that choice though.

I wasted precious time as a teen. Thinking that I had to fit in. Feeling like I never did. Making wrong choices just so that I would feel comfortable. All the while, professing to be a Christian.

Sometimes my life looked like it should. Sometimes it didn’t. That’s NOT okay.

I let my lack of confidence..rule me.

I let the world influence me. My focus was on me instead of on God…where it needed to be. Nobody is to blame, except ME.

Things  haven’t changed that much in 20 something years. (as far as feeling like you have to fit in goes)  I know that kids today still struggle with feeling like they just don’t fit in. Feeling UNCOMFORTABLE around the “crowd”. AND..making bad choices because of that.

TO YOU,  I SAY:  It is better to NOT fit in. It is BEST to STAND OUT and STAND FIRM in JESUS.

You may never get another chance. We aren’t guaranteed our next breath.

It was ONLY after I truly SURRENDERED to HIM, that I began to feel comfortable in MY SKIN.

So many times..people think that SURRENDER is a bad thing. As if  it takes away your FREEDOM.

When in fact, it is the OPPOSITE.

With SURRENDER, there is TRUE FREEDOM. A peace that surpasses ALL understanding.

We all have a choice. FOLLOW HIM or FOLLOW THEM.

Matthew 16:24 (NIV) ~ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself  and take up his cross and follow me.”

NOW, I love not fitting in with what the WORLD thinks that I should look like, be like, act like, or desire.

The BIBLE tells us that we are NOT to look like the WORLD. Authentic Christians CAN’T look like they did before. Authentic Christians will have a “before and after picture”.
James 4:4 (NIV) ~ You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 

I’m just so very thankful that my JESUS loved me even when I didn’t bring HIM glory. I’m so thankful that I took that step that made all the difference..when I said,   ”I surrender, God..I cannot do this on my own..I want to glorify YOU..and I am so sorry for the times when I failed you. I will follow you no matter the cost, because the relationship with YOU outweighs everything else.”

Sure, I am STILL a work in progress. HE is not finished with me YET.

Philippians 1:6 ~ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Will you take that step? The step to TRUE FREEDOM? Stand firm and STAND OUT. It’s really the best feeling in the world.

Romans 12:2 (NIV) ~ Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.  

(Maybe you have already taken that step. That is WONDERFUL! Maybe this post will help you in helping someone else then.)

           Until Next Time,

 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

~ Romans 2:13 (ESV)

   I can watch Cooking shows on TV, collect recipes, buy cookbooks…but that doesn’t put dinner on the table.(just ask my sweet husband..:) )

   I can read God’s WORD, but just “reading” it isn’t enough. I can even memorize scripture..but what good is that if I don’t put it into practice.

   If you buy the bait for fishing, and you don’t put it on your fishing pole..How do you expect to catch a fish?

   I can own 5 or 6 Bibles… BUT, if I am not studying HIS Word..the BIBLES are just decoration or dust collectors.

   Getting the picture yet? 

   Followers of Christ are called to ACTION. Complacency isn’t an option.

   What good is it to KNOW GOD personally and keep that knowledge to yourself?

   If we keep God hidden, then we are NOT doing…we are simply hearing.

   I always feel the closest to God when I am serving others. I feel the closest to HIM when I am giving of my time and resources to others..in an effort to further HIS Kingdom. There is NO BETTER feeling!

   Why do you/I feel so good when we help others..monetarily, with our time, etc.. ?

   I believe the reason is that we are letting Jesus SHINE through when we serve. We are putting HIM on display..not ourselves..but JESUS.

   It is important to remember that if you are serving with the attitude of: “look at me”, that you are not shining for Jesus. That is shining for yourself. Yikes. Reality check. Been there and done that.  Don’t want to do that again. Who hasn’t? Unless you are perfect, that is.

   Are you hiding Jesus?

   Do you need to come before HIM and be honest about anything?

   As I shared yesterday, He already knows. AND..He is merciful and He is a forgiving God!

   I guess that the point I am trying to make is this:

   KNOWLEDGE WON’T CATCH A FISH…

   You (or I) can know all the right things to say and do, but if we don’t DO it…what good is that?

   We (those of us who know, believe & trust in our Savior) are called to be Fishers Of Men. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus tells Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men.

   Matthew 4:19 ~ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

   Jesus is the light that shines within us..the light that we are supposed to shine for others to see and come to know Him. Jesus tells about this “light” in Luke 8:16.

   Luke 8:16 ~ ”No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”

   I love how Jesus speaks to us. He uses stories..illustrations..so that we can “get it.” The verse above is as clear as it gets. That’s what it’s all about friends! Letting our light(Jesus) shine! By living what we profess to believe. By serving. By loving. By giving. By forgiving. In every way..to let our light SHINE. Knowing what to do and DOING it are two different things.

   Matthew 5:16 (ESV) ~ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

   Love this song by Kari Jobe… listen and enjoy! 1-02 We Are

  Striving to SHINE for Jesus!

P.S. The links that are scattered through this post are of previous posts that I have written. You may want to read them again. I especially love the one about the Fishers of Men… Also, feel free to share my blog with others..It is my hope that others are reached for Christ through the writings in this blog. Blessings to you all! Shine on! ~ Heather

I have started several posts and even have 11 in the “draft” or unpublished phase. It’s just not their time to be posted yet. As I was sitting with my family..I felt the urge to write the poem below. I used to write poetry a lot, but it has been a long time.

My hope is that the poem below will make you really think. Really seek HIM. Really look within and ask yourself…

“I am living for HIM or for me?”

“Do my actions match up with my words?”

“Do I need to BE STILL and SEEK HIS FACE more?”

“Am I giving HIM my all?”

A beautiful sunset from God

WHAT IF?

What if…we smiled at a passing stranger and that one small act changed the course of their day?

What if…we took the time to just listen more?

Would we hear something more than before?

What if…we took more time to spend with God and pray? 

Would we make more of a difference with our day?

What if…we gave more of ourselves..to the sick and the poor?

What if…we heeded HIS call to help and to serve, when HE called…not after we went the wrong way?

Would we be able to pass them by anymore?

Would we realize the blessings we had missed along the way?

What if we trusted HIM like never before?

Would we step out into the unknown and feel safe?

What if we gave all we had…like HE gave for us?

Would we be able to show more grace? 

What if… we loved like HE loves…with a merciful heart?

Would we be making our  world be a better place?

What if…we forgave those who once held a place in our hearts?

Would we feel joy and peace in its place?

What if we learned to BE STILL and SEEK HIS FACE first?

Would we keep living our lives “our way” ?

Written by:

Heather Dawkins

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) ~ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Psalm 105:4 ~ Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

The time to seek HIM is now.

Until Next Time,

These are all pictures that I have taken of crosses.

I am studying Genesis – Deuteronomy right now with a group of ladies. We just finished Exodus and are now moving on to Leviticus. As we were watching the video that goes with the study, I was struck with a frightening thought. One of those thoughts that really puts things into perspective.

If I was living in Old Testament times, I would have had to bring at least one innocent animal to slaughter as a sacrifice today. Why? Because as my day just began, I had already had a slip up….or two. (Praise JESUS for conviction that only comes from a real relationship with HIM .)

(For more information on Old Testament sacrifices, please look in Leviticus in your Bible. There is SO much to share on this topic and it will make you think..)

The teacher on the video explained animal sacrifice in OT times so well. She said that a perfect unblemished animal would have to be brought and that you would lay your hands on its head…a symbol of your sin being moved to the animal…and then you would have to slit it’s throat and you would get blood on your hands. What a visual reminder of sin and the sacrifice that HAS to be made because of it. (There were lots more details..so, read Leviticus.)

Remind you of anything?

Jesus and the cross at Calvary?

Jesus, the PERFECT and SPOTLESS sacrifice for your sins and mine. Jesus…the sacrificial lamb. God’s view on sin never changes. There always has to be a sacrifice because of sin. Sin is UGLY in God’s sight. In the OT times, the unblemished animal was the sacrifice and today, Jesus is the unblemished sacrifice.

1 Corinthians 5:7 ~ Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast- as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Law turned into Sacrificial Love that day on Calvary. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us to be able to receive the gift of eternal life. Don’t get me wrong, GOD has always loved us. HE just loves us so much… realizing how much we needed a Savior…that HE provided the Ultimate sacrifice in the form of HIS Son, Jesus Christ!!

Aren’t you thankful that you don’t have to perform the rituals of OT times?!

I wonder, Do you know my Jesus? It is about relationship…Not religion, not following laws because you think you are supposed to…but following GOD because you have the desire to!  Do you know HIM?

If you DO, do you realize what a GIFT HE gave for you and for me? You have two choices and you are free to choose between two masters..but the consequences remain the same. Eternal life or eternity in hell. Choose Jesus!!!! Please…choose Jesus…

Luke 24: 46,47 ~ He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Romans 6:23 ~ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 6:24a ~ No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.

Until Next Time,

P.S. ~ If you’d like to receive these posts by email, Just sign up on the top right hand corner of my blog page. You can also “like” my Simple Truths Blog FB page or follow me on Twitter @hgdSimpleTruths !

I’m back!!!!! As I was walking this morning through my neighborhood, I knew that I was supposed to share something today. I told you in my last post that I felt the nudge to be more TRANSPARENT and VULNERABLE with you all. So, here I am..and I hope this post blesses you.

There is a part of me that still struggles with insecurity at times. Thank goodness, it is nothing like before. BUT, every now and then..I listen to the negative voice instead of the voice of my Father God. That is backwards my friends..I should be able to hear God better than the enemy.

For many years, I struggled with feeling like I fit in. If you have known me a long time, you may not even know that about me. Why? Because, I hid it. Or, I tried to hide it.

Even up until a little over 2 years ago, the thought of going to a function with my husband (you know, the ones that you have to mingle and actually “talk” to people at) would make me sick to my stomach.

Those who didn’t know me well may have thought I was a snob. Why? Because, I don’t hide my feelings well. I am sure I looked miserable.  I just felt like I wasn’t good enough..and why in the world would they want to talk to me?

It was a MISERABLE place to be in…feeling “out of place”. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t feel comfortable like everybody else.

Then…it hit me…THEY MAY NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE EITHER. Or, maybe they do.

I was so shy, that even speaking to people as I walked past, was nearly impossible. Most of the time, I would just look down or away. Appearing..snobbish. Not at all who I really am.

Guess what?

After coming to CrossPointe Valdosta, I began to grow so much in my relationship with God. I came to the realization that I had only scratched the surface of the relationship I could have with my Savior. I had been lukewarm. Saved at a very young age…baptized at age 18…serving…teaching…but still, just lukewarm.

Praise Jesus! God wooed me to Himself. I fell in love with my Savior. I began to grow and God began to change me. I realized that I had never fully surrendered to HIM. I had been living a life of trying to be good and follow all the “rules”. I realized through teaching and preaching at CrossPointe, what a REAL relationship with Christ Jesus is! I went from lukewarm to ON FIRE for God! Surrendered and filled with Jesus!

I have a desire to speak to EVERYBODY now! I LOVE meeting new people now! I no longer dread “get-togethers”! I LOVE them! The only explanation is GOD!

2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) ~ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

God is LOVE. I now can truly say that it is GOD that is loving on people through me. It is God that is making me lift my hand and smile and wave or speak to strangers! In fact, the other morning as I was taking my girls to school, I waved at a car that was driving by. My daughter said: “Momma, who was that?” My reply:”I don’t know baby..I just felt like waving and being nice.” It happens ALOT.

1 John 4:16 ~ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Listen, I still get called to get out of my comfort zone. In fact, at our women’s retreat, I was asked to be in charge of the Icebreakers. No problem..and then on the day of, I find out that I had to get on stage with a MICROPHONE to explain them, etc.. YIKES! That old voice of insecurity popped up…“Who do you think you are doing that? You can’t do that..That’s not you..” Guess what I did?! I told that voice (which, by the way, IS the enemy) to GET THEE BEHIND ME & Be quiet!

You know what? I loved every single minute up on that stage! It was a blast! If I had not stepped out of my comfort zone then I would have never known how much fun it could be!

There are other times when that voice of insecurity pops up. Yes, sometimes I do listen to it. Then, through His merciful ways, He reminds me that I am HIS and that through Him I have overcome. I’m not who I once was…and by HIS mercy and grace I am moving daily in the direction He wants me to be. It is a conscious choice..a daily battle that we are in. To stand firm in GOD and keep moving forward. Persevering. Growing. Changing. Like a caterpillar..a Beautiful Metamorphosis.

I am so very thankful for the real relationship I now have with my Savior. My Jesus. My Heavenly Father and Best Friend. It IS REAL and if you feel loved by me..just know that it is God loving you through me.

I have to ask, Do you know my Jesus? Do you need to train yourself to listen to God’s voice,  instead of the enemy’s voice that speaks insecurity and negativity?

I promise to continue to “BE REAL” with you all. Share with you again real soon! Blessings!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

As I was exercising on my treadmill (yay me!!), I had my earphones in and was listening to some awesome praise and worship music. It is a wonder that I didn’t fall off. Picture it : Treadmill…Music…Caught up in worshipping my Redeemer..hands raised…eyes closed…it was beautiful. Thank goodness. Believe me, it could have been ugly….I really do trip going UP steps. It’s happened..more than once, my husband and girls can tell you.

One of the songs that just got to me was Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman.

Some of the song: Blessed be Your name, when the sun’s shining down on me..Blessed be your name….. Blessed be Your Name on the road marked with suffering….Blessed be Your Name..When the darkness closes in on me, still I will say..Blessed be Your Name! You give and take away..You give and take away..My heart will choose to say..Lord, Blessed be Your Name!!!

It just hit home with me. That no matter what. No matter the hurt..no matter the anger..no matter what..I can and will choose to say: Lord, Blessed be Your Name!!!

With Joy and complete Adoration. I am completely in love with my Savior…

See, Scripture tells me that EVERY  good and perfect gift is from above!

James 1:17 ~ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

AND then….Born Again by Third Day came on. I’m not gonna lie…I was having a mini-revival..in my exercise room..just me and God.

Here are some of the words to that one:

I was lost when You found me here..I was broken beyond repair..Then You came along and You sang a song over me! It feels like I’m born again, It feels like I’m living, for the very first time, for the very first time..in my life…   The life I have now, it is only the beginning! Feels like breathing, feels like I’m moving, For the very first time…

Listen to me friends, hear me when I say…these words spoke to me!

It is how I felt when I finally surrendered and waved the white flag of control over my life. You can be in church your whole life and still miss it! You can answer the call of salvation…and still miss it!  Rules…Rules..Rules…NO…it is about RELATIONSHIP! This is so important to me…I want everyone to Get It! My relationship with God..it is so amazing now! I GET IT…and I have finally given up on doing things “my way” and then giving it to Him. He wants it all. He wants us to talk to Him. He desires a relationship with us…in our sinfulness..our ugly selves..He Still Loves Us. Now, I am not at ALL saying that I live life perfectly now…I am saying that my heart’s desire is to live a life holy and pleasing to God. Because I realize that I have a need for Him..every minute of every day..and He IS Good!

I absolutely LOVE in Matthew 9 ..when Jesus straightens out the Pharisees. Read it with me..and picture the scene.

Matthew 9:10-13 (NIV) ~ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat  with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

  BAM !!!

Could it be any clearer? Could you totally see this happening today? I know I could, because there are still those that think just obeying RULES is the “ticket” to Heaven. There is no ticket. It is a free GIFT. Paid for in full by Jesus Christ once and for all on Calvary’s Mountain! Can I get an AMEN!!! There is a cost though.. and that cost is surrender. Let’s also never forget the cost that HE paid…the sacrifice HE made. Out of LOVE…for YOU and for ME. We are to continually choose surrender and relationship to/with HIM.

Look at those verses…see how relational Jesus is. He ate dinner at Matthew’s house. Think about it. He spent time with those who desired Him and with those whom the Pharisees looked down their noses at. He didn’t act as if they weren’t good enough. The Pharisees lived their lives following rules…they even questioned Jesus. We aren’t really different…at some time or another, I was a Pharisee. Then…came surrender..which then brought freedom. Like the song said…Feels like I’m Born Again, Feels like I’m Living…

I just had to share with you all…just how pumped up I am today…because of Jesus. Because His Mercy is NEW Every Single Day. I want you all to know that He Loves You…flaws and all. AND then…when you wave the white flag, He’s gonna bless you beyond your wildest dreams! You won’t be able to hold it in. You will GET IT…You will get what I am saying!

Just know this JESUS loves YOU. Yes, YOU!! Lay it down at His feet….Don’t just try to appear HOLY…Be HOLY as you are called in Christ Jesus.  God desires for us to realize that we need HIM …that we can’t do it on our own.

2 Timothy 1:8,9 ~ So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.

Jesus Loves You…Yes, YOU!!

Until Next Time,

   We spend much of our time preparing for things that are going to happen. Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Sporting Events, School and Work. Do we spend as much time preparing for Jesus ?

   He IS coming. Are you prepared for Him? Do you know Him?

   This fact is beyond exciting to me!!! Talk about a PARTY!!!

   Maybe you DO know Him. So, are you doing your best to make sure that others know Him too? As true believers, we are called to go and tell others about Christ Jesus. We are to go and make disciples. What’s a disciple? A follower of Christ.

   Matthew 28:19 (NIV) ~ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

   I know that when I am preparing for a special occasion, I tend to give it my all. Well, Jesus IS coming back. I have to ask myself…and I hope you ask yourself too, if I am giving Jesus my all.. Am I doing all I can to spread the Good News?

   John 14:28 (NIV) ~ You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

   The fact of the matter is that none of us know when our time on this earth is going to be over. None of us know when Jesus is coming back either. We have to be prepared for it now!

   Matthew 24:36 ~ No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

   Matthew 24:42 ~Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

   Matthew 24:44 ~ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

   Those are just a few verses that relate to Jesus coming back. I don’t know about you, but I want Jesus to say to me ,”Well done,good and faithful servant.” I also want everyone to know my Jesus! Not just because not knowing Him guarantees them a ticket to Hell. I want everyone to have the peace and feel the love of my Savior! There is NOTHING like it. Nobody and no “thing” can fill the void that you have if you don’t know Jesus. Only Jesus can fill the emptiness.

   Only Jesus can get you to Heaven. He paid the price for every single sin when He suffered on Calvary’s cross. He defeated death when He arose from the dead. He defeated death for you and for me as well. Eternal life, make sure you’ve got it.

   Colossians 2:13,14 ~ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

   It is only Jesus that we need. Only Jesus that can save. Only Jesus that paid the price for our sins.

   Until Next Time,

The picture above is of part of my flowerbed…and as you can see, the weeds are taking over. I was going to pull the weeds. Why pull them when I can spray some weed-killer on them and be done with it??

Then, it hit me… So many times we try to do everything ourselves (at least, I do) and God is right there waiting to be my “weed-killer”. He says that we have not because we ask not. We go through our day, struggling with different issues…ignoring the fact that He is capable to do the impossible if it is His will. So, why don’t we give our problems to Him.. ?

James 4:2,3 (NIV) ~ You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

I will be the first to admit that I am terrible about asking others for help…and even worse about letting others help me. I am trying to do better though. I used to be really independent. So much so..that when I was sick and needed help …I would apologize for being sick. Seriously. It is different with God.

God is The Ultimate Weed-Killer. We have to surrender to Him first though. Surrender our will. Surrender our independence. Surrender our problems. Surrender our weaknesses. Surrender = Complete Trust. Surrender also = Complete Peace and Freedom.

Everybody has had weeds of some sort in their life. Weeds choke the life out of you. Weeds cover up the beauty. Weeds get out of control really fast.

What weeds do you need to pull or better yet, let the weed-killer handle for you?

The first step is trusting and believing in Jesus. Next, you have to admit your “weeds” and start getting rid of them. Finally, you have to surrender to Jesus. Trust Him. Let Him.

1 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) ~ Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch – as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

The enemy (satan) wants you to keep the weeds in our life. As long as we keep sin (especially hidden sin) in our life, the devil has got us right where he wants us..in bondage. Miserable. Unable to be free to do God’s work.

What weeds might you be holding on to?

I am not asking out of judgement. All have sinned and fall short.. (Romans 3:23). It is an everyday decision to choose to let God lead the way.

1 Timothy 5:24,25 (NIV)~ The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgement ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

Jesus loves you. He loves you and He is patient and forgiving. There is nothing too bad or too ugly for Him to forgive.

Here’s the kicker…want to know how He is the ultimate weed-killer?? Well, it’s simple. When He forgives us of our sins He forgets them too. They are gone for good..unlike the weeds in my flowerbeds that keep coming back. You know though, if our weeds (sins) keep coming back, it is our fault. Yet, He is still faithful to forgive us our sins. What an awesome and loving God!!!!!

1 John 1:9 (NIV) ~ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:12 ~ as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Until Next Time,